"Hanukkah" (Day One—Monday—First Week in December)
Book: Grandma's Latkes by Malka Drucker
Summary
: Molly, finally old enough to help Grandma in preparing latkes for Hanukkah, learns about the dramatic story of Antiochus and the victory of the Maccabees.
Objective
: First graders will enjoy a Jewish tradition told by a grandmother to a child their age as they think about stories told by their grandparents.
Procedures
:
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1. Puppet, Blue Monday will lead a discussion by asking the children to tell him stories or events told to them by a grandparent.
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2. Blue Monday assists in reading the story,
Grandma's Latkes
.
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3. Questions from the story: Why do you think Antiochus wanted the Jews to worship his gods and not their God? How would you describe Mattathias and his sons? Why didn't all of the Jews fight in his army? Do you agree that it took a lot of courage to fight in the Maccabee's army? Why? Why didn't the Jews celebrate Hanukkah in the beginning of the story?
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4. The children will enjoy helping to make and eat latkes in class.
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5. The children will write an essay about a story or event that was told by a grandparent. Where were you when the story was told? What happened in the story? Why was the story told to you? How did you feel? Why?
"Folk Tales" (January)
Book: Zlateh The Goat And Other Stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Story—"Zlateh The Goat"
Summary
: It is Hanukkah and the family does not have enough money to buy candles, potatoes,, and oil for pancakes nor gifts for the children. Therefore, Aaron's father tells him to take the family's goat to town and sell him. On the way Aaron encounters a blinding blizzard, becomes lost,, and ends up in a farmer's haystack. For three days he survives on Zlateh's milk and warmth. When Aaron is rescued, there is no thought about selling Zlateh again.
Objective
: The children will enjoy a simple story about a boy's survival through the loyalty of his goat as they think about a tall tale of their own.
Procedures
:
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1. Puppet, Blue Monday, will open a discussion by asking the children about animals or pets that are special. Did you ever have to part with a pet? Why? How did you feel?
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2. Blue Monday will assist in telling the story "Zlateh The Goat."
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3. The children will write a story about an animal, exaggerating the story and adding some humor to their tale. Who is your animal? Where is your animal? What did your animal do? Why did he do it? How does he feel? Why?
"Passover" (Day Three—Wednesday—First Week of April)
Book: A First Passover by Leslie Swartz
Summary
: A Jewish family waits for their papers so that they can go to America. In Russia the Passover is observed in secret. Grandfather tells Nathan about the ancient flight of the Jews from Egypt to freedom. Nathan discovers that unlike the ancient Jews, he and his family will be taking a jet to their freedom in America.
Objective
: First graders will enjoy a story about a young boy's preparation to America and the changes surrounding his new found freedom.
Procedures
:
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1. Blue Monday will ask the children to tell experiences about moving to a new place. Suppose you have to move to a new place, how do you think you would feel? How would you prepare for the move? What would be different when you arrive? Suppose you were moving to another country, how would you feel? Why? What would be different for you and your family?
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2. Blue Monday will tell the children that Nathan experienced many of the frustrations they described. He will assist in telling the story,
A First
Passover
.
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3. Vocabulary words concerning the Passover will be described and discussed in the context of the story. For example, when Nathan explains that they will be going to Uncle Daniel's house for the Seder. We will stop and review facts surrounding the ceremonial meal held on the first and sometimes second night of Passover. In the story, Nathan explained that in America Jews do not have to close the curtains during the Passover meal. The children will discuss how this is connected to the family's freedom in America.
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4. A guest speaker will come to our class and talk about their family's journey to America.