I am so completely stuck for class prep for tomorrow

[xiphias]

I have no idea what I want to teach tomorrow. I have no idea what I should do, what project I should plan, or anything like that. I have absolutely no idea.

So, what would you teach if you had eight six-year-olds for two and a half hours to teach about Judaism?

Comments

i know i'm obsessed with food...

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

but what about teaching about how jews in different parts of the world celebrate the same holidays, what's the same and what's different. so, like, maybe every body makes horset (sp?!) for passover, but in NorAm we make it with apples, and in India they make it with green mango.

provided you know that sort of stuff of course. but even the similarities and differences with ashkenazi and sephardic cuisine. and then everyone can describe their favorite dessert... in detail :)

"n"

Re: i know i'm obsessed with food...

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I did a presentation on charoset and maror several weeks ago, before Pesach. It was a dramatic success.

[vonbeck.livejournal.com]

Sock puppets, you need sock puppets.

Sorry, I have had a headache all day and am still a bit woozy,
so this might not have been the most help full comment.

[gingicat]

Well, it's Israel Independence Day this week... got any kids' books you can read aloud and discuss?

[nellorat.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough about Jewish religious instruction to *really* be of help; my main thoughts are not *what* I'd teach, but *how*. Six is pretty young, so for 2 1/2 you have to have a number of smaller units with breaks betweem (snack breaks, individual running around type breaks, or altogether-let's-stretch breaks).

Songs are good: sing, explain, teach them how to sing the chorus, sing again and again. Bring physical symbols to show them as you explain; then have handouts of line-drawings of the symbols (with labels) for them to color in. (Bring lots of crayons.)

In discussions, relate Bible stories to their feelings and to their lives in a very simple ways, asking them questions. (Example, Noah: Have you ever ridden on a boat? What do you think it was like to *live* in a boat with all those *animals* for so long? If you had to build an ark and get animals together, how would you do it? What animal would you start with? How do you think Noah felt when no one but his family believed him about the flood? )

Have more material than you think you can cover in 2 1/2 hours. In reality, if you get the kids going, you'll cover even less, but it pays to be prepared. Move on or stay with a subject based on their enthusiasm.

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

In some India "orthodox-ish" Jewish communities, they have a girl baby naming ceremony that they got from the surrounding Indian customs. This custom has been going on for hundreds of years. :)

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

... which is not to say that 6-year-olds would be all that interested, but I thought you might be. I figure you've already come up with something, at this time of night.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Naw; I'm thinking of going to sleep now, waking up early, and doing my prep in the morning. . .