education – 5th grade

5/21: Today in class we worked on:
1) We started with our all school Boker Tov/“Meet and Greet”. Brady H, one of our 3rd graders led the entire school in the warm up exercise of 20 pushups and 25 jumping jacks in honor of the 45th day of the Omer. We blessed and counted the 45th day of the Omer with Rabbi Prass. Morah Ari led us in a Good Morning song.
2) We reflected on the 22-23 school year: Talked about what we learned and What was the highlight of fifth grade
3) We read about Shavout: Why we study the holiday; What we received on the holiday; Why it is so important to the Jewish people
4) Rabbi Prass came into our class and led us thru a self-evaluation where we wrote down:
a. 4 things we learned on Sundays this year
b. 2 reasons the things we learned on Sundays are important
c. 1 bit of advice for next year’s 5th grade students
5) We wrote letters to the 5th grade’s year long tzedakah project, Food Pantry @ CBA.
6) We had shira with Morah Ari.
7) Finally, 4th – 6th grade ended the school year with Tefilla, led by Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari. They emphasized the prayers which highlight the Torah, as we prepare for the next holiday of Shavuot. During T’fillah, we listened to the 6th grade presentations on their Comparative Religion studies.
8) After class, everyone enjoyed refreshments from the ice cream truck, which has become an end of year tradition at Beth Am. It was wonderful to see so many parents present.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Don’t forget to register for the 2023-2024 school year.
  2. There are lots of Beth Am events happening over the summer. You can find them all here.
  3. Have a great summer! Try to attend Shabbat services before the next school year. It’s a great way to review your Hebrew.

5/14: Today in class we worked on:

  1. e of a 38 second plank hold in honor of the 38th day of the Omer.  We blessed and counted the 38th day of the Omer with Rabbi Prass.  Morah Ari led us in a Good Morning song. 
  2. We continued to talk about lag ba omer: We talked a little more in depth about why we celebrate this holiday as well as the importance
  3. All 1st – 6th grade students created a  Mother’s Day project making a modern “eishet chayil/woman of valor”. I hope you like it! 
  4. 4th & 5th grade had shira with Morah Ari.
  5. Then we joined the rest of the school and parents for our special Parents’ Day T’ffillah (Service) service, honoring those in our lives who care for us and love us. It was wonderful to have so many parents in attendance.

Homework to be completed by next class:

NA

5/7 Today in class we worked on:

  • We read our chapter on Yom Ha’atzma’aut: During this time we continued our conversation about why Israel is so important to us and different ways to honor Israel
  • We also talked about Lag Ba’omer: We talked about how we celebrate the holiday, different teachers throughout Jewish history, and what the holiday is. Lag B’omer is a holiday which celebrates our teachers. The students wrote notes to their teachers as part of the celebration.
  • All of 4th – 5th grade had Shira with Morah Ari.
  • Finally, we ended our Sunday with Tefilla led by Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari. We were joined by the 6th grade students from the Hadi School in Schaumburg.  They shared with us insights from their Islamic religious tradition and participated in the weekly Torah portion play.

Homework to be completed by next class:

NA

4/30: Today in class we worked on:

  1. We went to Chicago Jewish Funeral Homes, for our 5th Grade Boker B’yachad (Family Ed Program) It was great to be with so many parents.
  2. While there the class discussed the following
    1. Why it is important to discuss funerals and the rituals that we as Jews follow
    1. Different Jewish traditions that surround death, such as the washing of the body
    1. What happens during a funeral
    1. As well as why we have a shiva, and why some may be more festive then others

Homework to be completed by next class:

See you back at JCYS next week.

4/23: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Yom Yisrael.  We had one of our special all school days in celebration of Yom Ha’atzamut, Israel’s 75th Independence Day which is this coming week.
  2. We began in our individual classrooms sharing
    1. Which one of us has been to Israel?
    1. Who in our family has been to Israel?
    1. What is one you would want to do in Israel?
  3. e of 17 jumping jacks in honor of the 17th day of the Omer.  We counted the Omer with Rabbi Prass and discovered we were now on the 17th day of the Omer which just 33 more days to go!  Morah Ari led us in a Good Morning song.
  • Then we rotated thru 4 stations, by grade, to celebrate Israel:
    • 75th Yom Ha’atzmaut Global Poster Contest organized by The National Library of Israel.  There is a $750 prize which can be used towards a trip to Israel
    • Rekudei Am (Israeli Folk Dancing)
    • Creating Flag of Israel filled with Birthday wishes and Singing Yom Hooledet to Israel
  • All of 1st – 6th grade gathered together in the Atrium for a wrap up which included hearing from the madrichim and morim who have been to Israel.  They shared one thing they loved about their time in Israel. 
  • As we left, we were each given some chocolate from Israel

          Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. See you Next week

4/16: Today in class we worked on: 

  1. First in Boker Tov/“Meet and Greet”, One of our 4th graders, Ben Greenberg led the entire school in a warmup exercise of 10 mountain climbers in honor of the 10th day of the Omer.  We counted the Sefira with Rabbi Prass and discovered we were now on the 10th day of the Omer, with just 40 more days to count!  Morah Ari led us in a Good Morning song. 
  1. We continued our death and dying unit 
  1. We talked about Shiva’s 
  1. Yom Hashoah: We talked about what this day means and why it is so important to the Jewish People 
  1. At Shira, Morah Ari led us in songs that were “Israel centered” in the runup to Yom Hatzmaut,  Israel’s Independence Day which comes up in about ten days.   
  1. Finally, we ended our Sunday with Tefilla.  Rabbi Prass led us through prayers in our Siddur that were especially relevant to the experience of the State of Israel, and he also discussed this week’s observance of Yom HaShoah and its sorry relevance to our present world! 

Homework to be completed by next class:  

NA 

4/9: Today in class we worked on: 

  1. First at the Boker Tov assembly with all the classes together, we counted the Sefira with Rabbi Prass and discovered we were now on the third day of the Omer, with just 46 more days to count!  Morah Ari led us in a song and one of our 5th graders helped lead the movement…three pushups for the 3rd day of the Omer. 
  1. Wrapped up our Passover unit. 
  • Talked about the students sedars and what they experienced  
  1. At Shira, Morah Ari led us in songs for the current Chag of Pesah including the late Debbie Friedman’s rendition of the Shira, Miriam sang at the Yam Suf on the seventh day of the chag! 
  1. Began our death and dying unit  
  • Talked about what happens during a Jewish funeral and a shiva 
  1. Finally, we closed our Sunday with Tefilla.  Rabbi Prass led us through prayers in our Siddur that were especially relevant to the Chag of Pesah, and we enjoyed a play by the 6th graders about the story of the Jewish people leaving Egyptian slavery from the Tanakh, that is retold in the Haggadah. 
  1. I’d like to wish everyone a Moadim Lesimcha for the remaining days of Pesah! 

Homework to be completed by next class:  

  1. As part of their Jewish life cycle studies, 5th graders and their parents with gather on Sunday, April 30th for an important opportunity to study with our clergy and faculty.  We look forward to welcoming the parents to this program.  The focus of this session will be the Death and Dying Unit. Because loss is a part of life, it is very important that our children have both the opportunity to discuss this, and learn the Jewish perspective on this subject.  The best time to learn about death and Jewish mourning customs is in a non-threatening, not immediate context.  We strongly encourage all our 5th grade parents to participate fully in this session.  Your support and participation in the following special program is crucial to our success in this powerful course of study.  

If you are interested in what the class has covered for this unit, you can go to the class website, by clicking here.  

On April 30th, from 9:30 – 11:15, Parents and students will have a chance to study with Morah Rachel Woolridge and Rabbi Bellows. Parents and students meet at Chicago Jewish Funerals (195 North Buffalo Grove Road).  Morah Woolridge and Rabbi Bellows will be with you for the entire morning. 

Due to the sensitive nature of the material covered, a parent (or another adult family member) should attend with their 5th grader.  Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions or concerns. 

3/19 Today in class we worked on: 

  1. We had a lovely Sunday this week in our class!  First at “Meet and Greet”/Boker Tov, 6th grade Madricha Sarah led us in special exercises, and Morah Ari led us in a Boker Tov song. 
  1. At Shira, Morah Ari led 4th – 5th grade in songs for the upcoming Chag of Pesah. 
  1. Continued to talk about Passover  
  • We worked on the four questions and talked about why we say them and the importance of each question  
  • Looked at the order of the actual sedar  
  • Looked at what is on an actual sedar plate and the significance of each item.  
  1. Finally, 4th – 6th grade closed our Sunday with Tefilla.  Rabbi Prass challenged all of us to think about the things we enjoy at home, beyond electronics and the 6th graders put on a short play on this week’s Torah portion of Vayikra which deals with the korbanot ancient Jews brought to both the Mishkan and later the Bait Ha-Mikdash. 
  1. I’d like to wish everyone a safe Spring break and a joyous Passover holiday!  Chag Sameach! 

Homework to be completed by next class:  

NA 

3/12: Today in class we worked on:

  1. First at Boker Tov!/“Meet and Greet”, we started our morning with jumping jacks, counting in Hebrew, led by one of our 6th graders.  And then a song led by a substitute songleader, one of CBA’s high school seniors, Matthew S.
  2. Began talking about Passover
  3. At Shira, Matt S, standing in for Morah Ari, helped get us in the spirit of the upcoming chag of Pesach by leading the 4th & 5th graders in a chorus of Dayenu from the Seder.
  4. Finally, we closed our Sunday with Tefilla led by Rabbi Prass and Matthew S. We enjoyed a play on this week’s double Torah portion Vayakhel-Pekeudei!

3/5: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Purim Sunday!!! It was great to see so many wonderful costumes!!!!
  2. We began in our classrooms where we shared our secular school, who is a woman we admire and respect (like Queen Vashti & Queen Esther), who is a hard working and wise leader (like Mordechai), and we came up with a team/class name playing off of a Purim theme.
  3. Then we joined in an all school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari.  We did our prayers in very Purim ways i.e. marching in place as we sang Mi Chamocha, standing on our head for barchu.  Then we all helped with the story as each class taught the 4 Purim Mitzvot from Esther 9:20 – 22 in special voices like Robot, British accent, Southern accent, Opera, and Rap.
  4. Then we rotated thru 4 rotations, by grade, to do the Purim Mitzvot: (a) Reading the megillah: Megillah Madlibs (b) Eating a festive Purim Meal: writing down the traditional Jewish Holiday Baked Goods for 6 Jewish holidays and then coming up with a Purim playful spin on them. (c) Creating a day of Joy and Merrymaking: we wrote our own Purim jokes (d) Matanot Levyonim: gifts to those in need.  We created pictures for An organization called Lemons of Love.  These pictures will be given to people who are fighting cancer to help them smile.
  5. We gathered together as the entire school for Purim Shira, Rabbi Bellows showing us the megillah and reading from it, the 6th graders reading an English 5 minute Megillah so we could boo Haman a lot. 
  6. We ended the day with Ring Pops as part of our Purim festive meal and to celebrate Queen Esther.

          Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. There are lots of other events happening at CBA.  You can learn about them by going to: (a) The CBA Facebook group (b) The CBA Shul Cloud Calendar (c) The CBA School Newsletter

2/26: Today in class we worked on:

  1. First at our Boker Tov/“Meet and Greet”, in addition to Morah Ari leading us in song, Harrison Bond led the entire Beth Am Religious School in 20 jumping jacks counted off in Hebrew!
  2. In class, we continued to talk about Purim. We did Purim skits
  3. At Shira, Morah Ari led us in specials songs for Chag Purim which is only a week away
  4. Finally, we closed our Sunday with Tefilla and paid special attention to Rabbi Prass’ engaging words on what we all can do to help dispel ill will and bigotry in our world today!

2/19: Today in class we worked on:

  1. We had a very special Sunday today.  First, after our Meet and Greet/Boker Tov session with Rabbi Prass and Morah, where we all joined in jumping jacks to start our morning and build Jewish community.  One of our 6th graders helped lead it.
  2. In class, we began talking about Purim.  We made our own Purim masks.
  3. At Shira, Morah Ari led us in a discussion of our favorite hamantaschen and then we all joined in singing some songs for the upcoming holiday of Purim.
  4. Finally, we closed our Sunday with Tefilla led by Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari.  We enjoyed the presentations by the 6th graders on the work of the Nevi’im (Prophets) such as Yeshaya (Isaiah) and Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah).

2/12: Today in class we worked on:

  1. First, during our Meet and Greet/Boker Tov! session with Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari, our own Parker led us in Burpees, Morah Ari led us in a wake up song, and we heard a special message from Rabbi Bellows who is currently leading a tour of CBA Jews to Medinat Yisrael. We also had a chance to see all the different sports swag we all were wearing. 
  2. Talked about Tu Bishvat
  3. Played a review game
  4. At Shira, Morah Ari diverted from our usual school repertoire and led us in a medley of folk and pop music. In celebration of today being Yom Sport and Super Bowl Sunday, we sang the following Americana/folk songs: Country roads, American Pie, Hallelujah, The Hope, and the Star Spangled Banner.
  5. Finally we closed our Sunday with Tefilla and a Dvar Torah from Rabbi Prass that tied in the Super Bowl festivities with last week’s Torah portion, Parashat Yitro.

Today in class we worked on: 

2/5-

  1. We had our 5th Grade Boker B’yachad today and the 5th Grade Faux Wedding.  It was great to see all the parents there.  
  1. The parents had time to study with Rabbi Bellows. 
  1. Owing to the 5th Grade Model Wedding we had an unusual morning schedule.  We had an all school Tefilla, which featured the 5th graders acting out a Shabbat Chatan V’Kallah.  We had the chance to shower them with soft candy.  
  1. Had our 5th grade FAUX wedding which was a way to show our families and each other all that we had studied.  
  1. We had a ‘sweet’ reception afterwards where we all were able to enjoy each other’s company.  

Homework to be completed by next class:  

NA 

Today in class we worked on: 

1/29-

  1. Boker Tov assembly! With all the classes together. 
  1. Continued to prepare for the Jewish Wedding next weekend. Our 5th grade Faux wedding is on 2/5/23.  Parents are invited. 
  1. At Shira we had a great time with Morah Ari, singing the “Tree Song” and Austin Rappaport’s suggestion “The Hope.” 
  1. At Tefilla, Rabbi Prass talked about the prayer in which we express our thanks for having adequate clothing.  We also enjoyed the 6th graders rendition of the events in this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Beshalach.  All in all, it was great day in our class at Beth Am. 

Homework to be completed by next class:  

Our 5th grade Faux wedding is on 2/5/23.  Parents are invited. 

Today in class we worked on: 

1/22-

  1. Boker Tov assembly! With all the classes together. 
  1. Began our Jewish Wedding Unit. Our 5th grade Faux wedding is on 2/5/23.  Parents are invited.  
  1. 4th & 5th grade had Shira led by Morah Ari.   
  1. 4th – 6th grade had T’fillah led by Morah Ari and Rabbi Prass.  

Homework to be completed by next class:  

NA 

Today in class we worked on: 

1/15-

  1. Began talking about Tu Bishvat, which is the birthday of the trees 
  1. At Shira we had a great time with Morah Ari getting into the spirit of Tu B’Shvat!   
  1. At the t’fillah with 4th – 6th grade, our class got to participate in a play about this week’s Torah portion 

Homework to be completed by next class:  

NA 

Today in class we worked on: 

12/18- 

  1. We had an all school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari.  One student from each class helped with the physical holy objects.  We focused on the symbols of light we Jews use: the 2 Shabbat candles, then moved into making Havdalah (the wine cup, spice box, and twisted Havdalah candle), and then we lit the chanukiah in preparation for the first night of Chanukah.  At the end of t’fillah we had the opportunity to ask Rabbi Prass questions about Chanukah or the lights.  
  1. Then we went broke into 10 groups for the CBA Chanukah Candle Challenge (think Amazing Race for Chanukah).  The 9 challenges were: 
  1. Make a group magen (shield) just like the Maccabees 
  1. “figure out” the Chanukah story thru a rebus and then video it 
  1. Calculate how many candles you need for all 8 days including the shamas 
  1. Prepare a Chanukah song and record it (those will be posted on the CBA Facebook page) 
  1. Match Chanukah customs from around the world 
  1. Different spellings of Chanukah (the most correct one is the Hebrew one 😊) 
  1. Dreidel learning thru dreidel play 
  1. What are the important Chanukah gifts I can give (the answers will be posted on the CBA Facebook page) 
  1. What are my brachot (their work will be posted on the CBA Facebook page) 
  1. We regathered as an entire school to for a Chanukah shira led by Morah Ari.  We also heard the Chanukah story in the form of a play led by the 4th grade class.  

Homework to be completed by next class: 

  1. Please remember tzedakah. 
  1. Happy Chanukah!!! 
  1. There is Hebrew School this Week (12/20 & 12/21) 
  1. The CBA Winter Break schedule is: 
  1. Sunday, December 25 - Sunday, January 8 NO Religious & Hebrew School – Winter Break 
  1. Tuesday, January 10 - Tuesday Hebrew School Resumes 
  1. Wednesday, January 11 - Wednesday Hebrew School Resumes 
  1. Sunday, January 15 - Religious School Resumes 
  1. You can always access the school calendars by clicking here. 
  1. You can always access the entire CBA calendar by clicking here. 

Today in class we worked on: 

12/11-

  1. Boker Tov! With all the classes together. 
  1. We continued our B’nei Mitzvah unit  
  1. Watched keeping up with the steins and discussed how sometimes as a society we forget the importance of what a bar and bat mitzvah is 
  1. 4th – 6th grade had Shira led by Morah Ari. We had a great time with Morah Ari getting into the spirit of Chanukah, with some of the classic songs of the upcoming festival.  
  1. 4th – 6th grade had t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass & Morah Ari. Rabbi Prass went over the meaning of some of the prayers in our school siddur. We acted out, with the help of several members of our class, this week’s Torah portion which tells the story of Joseph and his brothers.   

Homework to be completed by next class:  

NA 

Today in class we worked on: 

12/4-

  1. We enjoyed the new morning schedule, which features a “Boker tov” assembly as Religious School starts. 
  1. At Shira, Morah Ari led us in songs for the upcoming holiday of Channukah.   
  1. Began our B’nei Mitzvah unit 
  • Watched Keeping up with the Steins and discussed how sometimes as a society we forget the importance of what a Bar and Bat Mitzvah is 
  1. At Tefilla, Rabbi Prass led us in a play describing the events in this week’s Torah portion of Vayishlach.  All in all it was a great morning of Jewish learning! 

Homework to be completed by next class:  

NA 

Today in class we worked on: 

11/20-

  1. Morah Ari led 4th – 6th grade Shira 
  1. Continued our Shabbat Unit 
  1. We used play dough to make Shabbat symbols such as challah  
  1. Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari led 4th – 6th grade T’fillah  

Homework to be completed by next class:  

N/A 

Today in class we worked on: 

11/13-

  1. Began talking about Shabbat 
  1. Review previously taught holidays 
  1. At Shira we enjoyed having Morah Ari back.   
  1. Finally, we finished our morning at Tefilla, led by Rabbi Bellows.  We enjoyed listening to a Dvar Torah on this week’s upcoming parasha of Chaya Sarah!   

Homework to be completed by next class:  

NA 

Today in class we worked on:

11/6-

  1. Our high school student Matthew Swolsky led 4th – 6th grade in Shira.
  2. We had our annual 5th grade Baby Naming.  It was the culmination of our unit on the Jewish rituals surrounding birth.
  3. Rabbi Prass and one of our high school students, Matthew Swolsky, led t’fillah with 4th – 6th graders

Homework to be completed by next class:

NA

Today in class we worked on:

10/23-

  1. At Shira, Morah Ari introduced 4th – 6th graders to songs that were relevant to the upcoming Torah portion of Parashat Noach.
  2. In class, we talked about Jewish baby namings
    1. Why we have Hebrew names
    2. The meaning behind our names
  3. At Tefilla, Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari built on the themes of the Torah portion and discussed some of the tzedakah projects Beth Am is working on. We also enjoyed having our madrichim lead us in the story/sermon.

Homework to be completed by next class:

NA

Today in class we worked on:

10/16-

  1. We had shira led by Morah Ari with 4th – 6th grade.
  2. Talked about Simchat Torah
  3. Begin talking about baby namings
  4. We had T’Filah led by Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari with all of 4th – 6th grade.

Homework to be completed by next class:

N/A

Today in class we worked on:

10/9:

  1. We began the day with an all school t’fillah in our CBA sanctuary.  As part of the t’fillah, we talked about what makes our sanctuary space unique.
  2. Then we broke into 6 round robin rotations by grade:
    1. An ice breaker to get to know our classmates better
    2. Sukkah visit: with Rabbi Bellows where we shook the lulav & etrog
    3. Movement: Practicing reading/saying the words lulav and etrog by playing duck, duck, goose with the words lulav, etrog
    4. Craft: Talking about ushpizin (sukkot guests) and which ushpizin we want to spend time with this week of Sukkot.  Their ideas were turned into sukkah decorations.
    5. Building: we studied one of the original rabbinic texts (Mishnah Sukkah 1:1) about the Sukkah construction and then built a sukkah with either Legos, Lincoln logs, or designed them with colored pencils.
    6. Sukkot Brachot: We studied the traditional 3 Sukkot brachot, and then wrote our own creative ones based on the traditional themes.
  3. We all came back together for an all school shira in the sanctuary
  4. After shira we met with the mother and sister of Zac, who started Zac’s Zoo.  Our learners had lots of great questions for them and were clearly inspired by this project.
    1. The project continues thru Sukkot & Simchat Torah which is Tuesday, October 18th.  Our learners set the goal of bringing in 100 new stuffed animals.  Thank you to our 7th grader, Hayden Kidd who brought this project to Beth Am.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Next week, Religious School returns to JCYS
  2. Please remember tzedakah.

Today in class we worked on:
10/2-

  1. First at Shira, Morah Ari went over songs to help us prepare for the important holiday of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.
  2. Read about Yom Kippur
  3. Talked about ways to say sorry and how to be better in the coming year
  4. At Tefilla, Rabbi Prass talked about how we can build community through the common experience of prayer.  We held our school service outside, despite the rather blustery weather.

Homework to be completed by next class:

N/A

Today in class we worked on:
9/18-

  1. All School T’fillah outside led by Rabbi Prass and Morah Ari. We heard the sound of the shofar in celebration of Elul.
  2. Preformed our Rosh Hasana skits
  3. Made Rosh Hasana cards for our CBA college students
  4. Finished reading the Rosh Hasana chapter in our textbook
  5. 4th – 6th grade had Shira with Morah Ari

Today in class we worked on:
9/11-
• We enjoyed a very active Sunday, starting with the Opening School Ceremony led by Rabbi Prass, who was dressed as a Candy Bar as a sign of our hopes for a sweet school year of Jewish Learning here at Beth Am. It was great to have so many parents with us.
• Getting to know you activities
• Began to talk about Rosh Hashana
• Worked on our Rosh Hashana skits
• Shira with Morah Ari and all of 4th – 6th grade