CURRICULUM : GRADES 4-6
These three grades span the important years from nine to eleven years old when student educational activity acquires more formal aspects. It is a time of rapid growth and change, where eagerness to learn and a willingness to undertake projects occur. Careful planning and effective teaching are essential to make these years a meaningful and constructive school experience.
GRADE 4
The focus in fourth grade is on Israel. Students will learn about the history of Israel as a country, and its modern significance to Jews. Students will also learn about the parts that make up the Tanakh, spending some time learning some of the stories of the prophets as well as some of the beautiful poetry found in writings. In Hebrew, students will begin the year with review, but quickly move on to learning more advanced prayers as their skills improve.
GRADE 5
Fifth graders will spend the first half of the year returning to Torah in a whole new way! Using some of the stories and characters they have learned about in previous years, students will begin to learn the process of writing a D’var Torah and about the concept of midrash as a way to further explore the stories of our past. An introduction of this process will help them to think about their B’nai Mitzvah portion as they inch closer to the beginning of the B’nai Mitzvah process.
During the second half of the year, these students will learn about important Jewish Life Cycle events from Brit Milah to B’nai Mitzvah to the Jewish mourning process.
In Hebrew, students will continue prayer practice by adding new prayers to their repertoire as they become more comfortable with reading Hebrew.
GRADE 6
In the final year before B’nai Mitzvah, students will begin by learning about middot, or Jewish values. They will be asked to explore what makes these values Jewish, and how they can be applied to everyday situations.
During the next part of the year, students will learn about mitzvot and why it is the responsibility of Jews to perform them. They will then take their knowledge of middot and mitzvot, and apply it practically to create a mitzvah project for their B’nai Mitzvah that is both meaningful and relevant to them.
In Hebrew, students will continue to add to their knowledge and understanding of prayer, with a special focus on Shabbat Morning as they begin training for B’nai Mitzvah. Finally, students will have a special month long course in how to decode and chant Torah trope.