Education – 5th Grade (Woolridge)

10/12: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We continued our Sukkot unit, we read about Sukkot in our text books, we discussed different ways Sukkot can be meaningful in our lives
  2. We played Sukkot Charades
  3. 4th – 6th grade headed off to Shira, where Morah Alexa taught us a song for Sukkot, the chag that ends today.
  4. We worked on performed Sukkot Charades
  5. Finally, 4th – 6th grade met for Tefilla led by Rabbi Prass, Luke K, and Morah Alexa. As part of it, Rabbi Prass helped us unpack everything about the hostage release and the end of the conflict in Gaza. 

Homework to be completed by next class:

N/A

10/5: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Today was Yom Sukkot in Religious School
  2. For this session, we met at the synagogue.  We began in the sanctuary for an all school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass, Morah Alexa, and Luke K.  We lit a yahrtzeit candle for the 2nd anniversary of October 7th.  Then we joined together in making Havdalah. 
  3. After that we split into 4 Sukkot based rotations:
    • Making yellow paperchain to decorate the sukkah. We wrote the names of the remaining 48 hostages on each slip of paper.
    • We played charades with Sukkot and Simchat Torah themes/ideas.
    • We visited the sukkah with Rabbi Bellows, learned about the sukkah, lulav, and etrog.  We had the opportunity to shake the lulav & etrog.  We talked about what middot (values) we would invite into the sukkah this 5786 as our ushpizin (sukkot guests)
    • We did a sukkah ‘scavenger hunt’ to help us think about what we have/do at home that brings the sukkot lessons home.
  4. We came back together in the sanctuary for an all school shira led by Morah Alexa and 5th grader Luke K. 
  5. Then we celebrated the Auf Ruf of Morah Rachel (5th grade) and Moreh Aaron (6th grade) who are getting married next Sunday. 
  6. We ended with Sukkot trivia led by Rabbi Bellows.

Homework to be completed by next class:

N/A

9/28: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We discussed what the significance of Yom Kippur is
  2. We also discussed the difference between just saying sorry and truly being sorry
  3. Read the story of Jonah
  4. We briefly discussed the importance of Sukkot
  5. At Shira, Morah Alexa taught 4th – 6th grade a song “Tap Your Heart” to get us ready for Yom Kippur.
  6. Finally, at Tefilla, Rabbi Prass, Morah Alexa, and 5th Grader Luke Kanter led 4th – 6th graders in t’fillah. Rabbi Prass taught us about the importance of second chances as we get ready for Yom Kippur.

Homework to be completed by next week:

N/A

9/21: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. We continued to talk about what Rosh Hashana is. We discussed things that we want to bring into the new year and what we want to leave behind.
  2. We also discussed the different objects mean for the holiday.
  3. To wrap up our class we made Rosh Hashana cards for our family and friends.
  4. At Shira, Morah Alexa led 4th – 6th grade, and taught us a new Israeli song “Bashana Haba” to get us ready for Rosh Hashana. 5th grader, Luke Kanter helped song lead. 
  5. Finally, at Tefilla, Morah Alexa & Rabbi Prass led 4th – 6th grade. Rabbi Prass asked us all to think of what good things we had all experienced in the now outgoing year. 5th grader Luke Kanter song led with Moreh Alexa. Emmy Shorr, Luke Kanter, and Landon Gehrke were the students who had mastered blowing the Shofar and helped us fulfill the mitzvah of hearing the shofar during this month of Elul.

Homework to be completed by next week:

N/A

9/14: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. Making cards which will be sent to the temple’s college students for Rosh Hashanah.
  2. We completed a scavenger hunt around JCYS to get to know our space that we will be in every Sunday.
  3. We also began discussing Rosh Hashana. Today we focused on why is important to start new each year.
  4. At Shira, Morah Alexa led 4th – 6th grade in songs for the upcoming chag of Rosh Hashanah. 
  5. Finally, at Tefilla, led by Rabbi Prass and Morah Alexa, 4th – 6th grade heard the Shofar as we started the last week of the outgoing year of 5785. 

Homework to be completed by next week:

N/A

9/7: Today in class, we worked on:

  1. The whole school gathered to start off the year with a fun assembly which included prayer, hearing the shofar for Elul, minute to win it Jewish style, and confetti ‘canons’!  It was lovely to have so many parents join us!
  2. Then, 5th grade parents joined me to learn what their students will be doing this year while the students stayed with Morah Alexa and the madrichim.
  3. Getting to know you activities. We also completed filled in the “What I Know” Section and “What I want to learn” sections on the various topics that we are going to cover throughout the year.
  4. We ended the day with shira with the rest of the school and Morah Alexa
  5. Students received lollipops on their way out to celebrate the tradition that Jewish learning should be sweet.

Homework to be completed by next week:

N/A