Big Idea #3: Living Our Values

Young Learners:

     Essential Question

• Why does my behavior make a difference in the world?

     Evidence of Learning

• Learners share three mitzvot and how these mitzvot help them make decisions about how to act. 

     Supporting Materials

• Let's Discover Mitzvot (gr k-2): Eight 4-page folders for the early childhood classroom focus on mitzvot such as visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and welcoming guests. Each folder opens with a kid-friendly poem, ideal for beginnning readers. Developmentally appropriate illustrations hold the interest of nonreaders too. 

Elementary Learners:

     Essential Question

• How can I be my best self? 

     Evidence of Learning

• Learners identify three Jewish values or mitzvot and explain how following these values or mitzvot can help them to be their best. 

     Supporting Materials

• Living Jewish Values: Series (gr 4-6): This 4-volume series introduces learners to sixteen of the most important—and sustaining—values of our tradition using a workbook/journal format that invites student reflection. Each 48-page book is devoted to a different topic: Be Your Best Self, Family Connections, Be a Good Friend, and Our Shared World

Middle School Learners: 

• Why is it important that I, in particular, try to make the world better?

     Evidence of Learning

• Learners reflect on an experience they had enacting Jewish values/mitzvot, articulating how they think others were affected by what they did and how they were affected. 

     Supporting Materials

• Making a Difference (gr 7-9): Why and how to practically and creatively put mitzvot into action. Learners examine through a Jewish lens who they are, the kind of adults they want to become, and how the mitzvot can help them achieve their goals. 
   

'Do I Make Any Difference in the World' is a small portion of the new Big Ideas for Jewish Learning Curriculum by Leslie Litman and Ellen Rank. This mini curriculum was created to identify three BIG IDEAS that encompass the key values and purpose of part-time Jewish education programs. Within these big ideas, there is room for flexibility and community-specific choice of subjects, personal exploration, and desired outcomes. 

You can get the whole curriculum when you sign up for the Behrmanhouse Newsletter.