4th Grade Curriculum
Students in 4th grade begin to attend religious school twice a week, as their study of both Hebrew and Judaica increases. The Judaica curriculum provides students with opportunities to learn about life cycle events, Israel, and the Prophets. In each of these content areas, our goal is for students to look at Judaism and make meaningful connections about how it relates to their lives. Through projects, discussions, debates, and games, the students’ learning truly comes to life. Our Hebrew curriculum strives to prepare students to be active and participating Jews throughout their lives. After a thorough review so that students master the Hebrew alphabet and vowels, they will begin to work on Hebrew through prayer so that they develop their reading fluency along with their familiarity of various blessings and short prayers.
Books/Materials
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Judaica
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Hebrew
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*Teachers’ Guides for all series are located in the office. Please consult these guides when planning lessons as they contain specific teaching objectives and a variety of suggested learning activities.
Essential, Guiding Questions
1) How is the Bible relevant to our lives today?
2) What can we learn from our Biblical figures’ experiences (both their acts of heroism and the mistakes they made) to help us make decisions today?
3) What are the different ways we celebrate being Jewish throughout our lives? How do these life-cycle events connect us to God, to our tradition/history, and to our community?
4) How are the Jewish people connected to Israel? What is your connection to Israel?
5) How does knowing Hebrew help you to better understand Judaism?
Evidences of Understanding/Experiencing
Upon completion of the year, students will be able to:
- List at least 10 Biblical figures and explain an aspect of their story
- Express the lessons that those Biblical figures/stories teach
- Reflect on modern day dilemmas through the lens of the Bible in order to articulate possible actions/decisions in line with Jewish values
- Describe each of the following life cycle events and identify rituals/traditions associated with each (Brit Milah/Baby Naming, Consecration, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, Wedding, Funeral and Mourning)
- Explain various reasons why Israel is considered the “homeland” of the Jewish people
- Identify the following cities/areas in Israel and explain what makes that place special: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Negev, the Dead Sea, Be’er Sheva, Masada, Haifa, Lake Kinneret
- Describe similarities and differences between life in America and life in Israel
- Correctly identify the name and sound of every letter of the Alef-Bet
- Correctly identify the sound of each vowel
- Decode lines of unfamiliar Hebrew text with ease
- Express why they feel it is important to study Hebrew and how Hebrew helps connect them to Judaism
- Participate comfortably in tefila
Bible Scope and Sequence
(taken from Explorer’s Bible Teacher’s Guide)
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Chapter Title |
Core Concept |
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The Great Miracle |
There are times we must act based on our faith and trust in God and in ourselves. |
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God’s Gift |
Holiness connects us to godliness and guides us to the path of compassion, peace, and justice. |
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The Courage of Two |
We need both courage and optimism to attain our goals |
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Joshua Fights for Freedom |
Freedom brings with it both blessings and responsibilities |
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Deborah’s Help |
To reach our goals we may need to ask for help and collaborate with others. |
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Samson’s Purpose |
We each make unique contributions that help bring shalom— completeness—to the world. |
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Ruth’s Choice |
When someone chooses to become Jewish, that person becomes a full member of the Jewish community. |
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Samuel and the King |
We need to use good judgment to determine whether we should follow the crowd or make an unpopular choice. |
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David’s Friends and Foes |
The rewards of friendship are uniquely precious. |
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Solomon Chooses Wisdom |
It is not enough to be smart. We must use our wisdom to make wise choices. |
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Elijah’s Challenge |
We should not put our faith in the false gods of today, such as material goods and fame. |
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Jonah’s Message |
Just as we must be ready to repent when we do wrong, we must be willing to forgive others when they apologize for their mistakes. |
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Isaiah’s World of Peace |
It is up to each of us to create a better world, a world of justice and peace. |
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Jeremiah, the Chosen Prophet |
Young people, like our students, are the future of the Jewish people and are valuable beyond measure. |
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Queen Esther Saves the Jews |
All Jews are responsible for one another. |
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Daniel’s Risk |
It is important to speak up respectfully and appropriately when others do not act correctly. |
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Ezra and Nehemia Rebuild Jerusalem |
When something has been lost or destroyed, it often takes courage and determination to rebuild and start again. |
