4th Grade ~ Temple Isaiah
Over the year, 4th grade students will be exploring key texts of Bereshit from Abraham through Joseph. After the introduction and some scaffolding, students will be using a WebQuest to create Abraham’s Family Tree (from Terach through Jacob’s and Esau’s children). The Family Tree will require students to identify some middot/Jewish virtues from a partial list and explain how each middah connects to an individual and what source text student is using to support.
The whole exploration will be facilitated through a wiki (not yet created) and involve extensive use of project-based learning. The following is just the intro unit.
September 29 Genealogy – What is it?
Computer etiquette:
treating them with care; logging on; gmail a/c’s; saving & shutting down
Computer search and google doc definitions:
create your team definition of genealogy and begin building a Team Glossary – explore and add the following definitions:
ancestor, descendant, sibling, cousins, begot, family tree
Format and save file in the cloud:
identifying docs with file name & team member names
October 2 Finding Torah
How to navigate the Hebrew Bible:
3 sections: T, N, K: focus on T [Torah] ~ create list of a.k.a’s: chumash, 5 Books of Moses, 5 Books of Torah, Pentateuch, The Law,
List books in order in English: Gen, Ex, Lev, Num. Deut: English meanings (beginning; we’re out of here! laws; census, second law)
List books in order in Hebrew: Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, BeMidbar, D’varim ~ Hebrew meanings
Add all to their google doc Glossary
October 6 Invitation to Grade 4 Wiki
Review logging on, etc.
Explain the WebQuest idea: will complete project with team members – team to decide how to divide up work, discovering and using individual gifts, understand what project is, how project will be evaluated, resolving differences appropriately, collaboration, communication, where responsibility for learning lies; tools available for research, group work and presentations
Begin WebQuest!
October 9 Continue on WebQuest! The Family Tree of Abraham and His Future Family
October 13 - No School
October 16 Constructive criticism:
its purpose, how to offer it
Review other teams work
Class discussion on work
October 20 Consider classmates comments and decide whether or not to incorporate into project
Reminder that next Sunday will be a program with parents and students will share their family trees of Abraham and Future Family
October 23
Finish up loose ends
Last minute ideas on how to share work with all parents and rest of class
October 27 4th Gr. Family Program
Short story about where you come from; integrate Torah blessing into story (what kids have been doing in class)
Introducing the genealogy
Jewish Genealogy Expert & Clergy ~ brief introduction to what we can learn from genealogist and Clergy to specifically interact with students about what they learned from exploring Abraham’s Family Tree and how to take it further
Set up we are all responsible for one another and l’dor v’dor; bring cutting/peeling tools and veggie, cutting board and 1 recipe typed – collect and “publish” later
Stone Soup activity with soup being delivered to Bristol Lodge after program
Wow! This is very thorough and looks like you are setting your students up for success with lots of good up-front preparation. They will probably really take off with this project! And it's great that you're bringing the parents in to share the project; who knows, you may give them ideas on creating their own projects!
ReplyDeleteThe WebQuest is now finished and published through QuestGarden. The link above should gateway you to the final version. All comments, questions and thoughts are welcome! This version reflects changes to layout offered by a reader.
ReplyDelete