JLC Curriculum

GAN (KINDERGARTEN)

My Jewish Me

Who am I as a Jewish child?
Introduction to spoken Hebrew
Sensory holiday celebrations
Beginning Bible Stories – Creation and Noah’s Ark
Year culminates with the Torah Ceremony

Hebrew

Introduction to spoken Hebrew
Hebrew Through Movement 

KITAH ALEPH (1ST GRADE)

Basic Bible

What are the basic plot elements of the stories in Genesis and Exodus?
Who are the main Jewish characters in the Torah?
What are the moral lessons that these stories teach us?
Year culminates with the Hebrew Naming Ceremony

Hebrew

Introduction to the Aleph-Bet
Hebrew Through Movement 

KITAH BET (2ND GRADE)

Hagim U’Z’manim L’Sasson (Holidays and Festivals of Joy)

What are the main holidays in the Jewish cycle?
What are the rituals and traditions for each holiday?
What parts of our history do the holidays “retell”?
What moral lessons do the holidays teach us?

Hebrew

Introduction to basic Hebrew reading
Hebrew Through Movement

KITAH GIMEL (3RD GRADE)

Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel)

Geography
Culture
Israel as a Jewish Homeland
How are holidays celebrated in Israel (compare and contrast with how they are celebrated here)?
Year culminates with the Israel/Siddur Ceremony

Hebrew

Dive into Hebrew reading
Hebrew pod

KITAH DALED (4TH GRADE)

Middot and Mitzvot (Jewish Values and Commandments)

What are Jewish values (and what makes them Jewish?)
How can I live out these values in my life?
Who are role models who exemplify these values?
What values are emphasized in each Jewish holiday?
Year culminates with the Jewish Heroes Hall of Fame

Hebrew

Tefillah (Prayer) based Hebrew
Hebrew pod 

KITAH HEI (5TH GRADE)

Intro to Chumash (Torah and Haftarah)

How to navigate a Torah, Chumash and Tanakh (Bible)
Learning to “put yourself” into the text
What are the source texts for each Jewish holiday?
Year culminates with Parashah Quest

Hebrew

Tefillah (Prayer) based Hebrew
Hebrew pod 

KITAH VAV (6TH GRADE)

Pray, Tell – Connecting with the Siddur (Prayerbook)

Becoming a Pray-er
What do the prayers mean?
What do the prayers mean to me?
How do I understand God (i.e. what is my personal theology)?
Year culminates with a new ceremony

Hebrew

Focus on B’nai Mitzvah service
Hebrew pod 

HOLIDAYS

Celebration and study of holidays is at the core of our learning program. Joyful school-wide celebrations take place for many holidays including Sukkot, Hanukkah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Passover, and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Additionally, holidays are studied at each grade level in an age appropriate way that is tied into the fabric of the grade’s specific curriculum.

How Do We Teach Holidays (without being repetitive) – A Case Study of Purim

Kitah Gimel (3rd Grade)
Curriculum: Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel)
PURIM: How is Purim celebrated in Israel (compare and contrast with how it is celebrated here)?

Kitah Daled (4th Grade)
Curriculum: Middot and Mitzvot (Jewish Values and Commandments)
PURIM: What values do the different characters in the Purim story exemplify?

Kitah Hei (5th Grade)
Curriculum: Intro to Chumash (Torah and Haftarah)
PURIM: Looking closely at the Book of Esther

Kitah Vav (6th Grade)
Curriculum: Pray, Tell – Connecting with the Siddur (Prayerbook)
PURIM: A close reading of the Al HaNissim prayer that we say on Hanukkah and Purim.