Wrestle through Environmental Dilemmas, Reflect on the Values in our Holidays using New Student Journals

We've introduced two new courses that use journals to help guide student exploration and reflection.

One features a different way to look at Jewish holidays—by focusing on the values we can draw from them. The other, a course on Judaism and the environment, lets students consider real dilemmas created when modern life clashes with the natural world, and how Judaism can help us think through everyday choices.

Jewish Holidays, Jewish Values Journal, by Rachel Gelfman Schultz and Aliza Zeff, offers students in 4^th-6^th grade the opportunity and the tools to make their own meaning of the holidays by exploring a fundamental question: Why do we celebrate? Text study, reflective journaling, and a variety of experiential opportunities help students create connections between their Jewish traditions and their day-to-day lives. In doing so, they discover how Jewish values are rooted in the holidays.  

If you are a Golem Express member, you've already received a review copy of Jewish Holidays, Jewish Values. Not a Golem Express member? Join now and we'll send all the books you've missed so far. (See below for details.) Or order a review copy* here at a 30% discount by writing "newsletter review copy discount" in the comments section of your order. We will adjust your invoice.

Our Place in the Universe Journal, by Marc Rosenstein, Tova Sacher, and Sigalit Ur of the Galilee Foundation for Value Education, helps 6^th-8^th grade students consider their own perspectives on contemporary environmental issues such as conservation, energy policy, and more. They will balance real world environmental dilemmas as they write their own advertisements for environmentally friendly products; compose a modern prayer about water; use a carbon footprint calculator to learn about their personal impact on the world; and even design a genetically engineered species. All along the way they will work through their own responses to some basic questions: Were we created to rule over the world, and use it for our needs? Do we have a special responsibility for taking care of it? In looking at environmental issues through a Jewish lens students will be able to explore connections between what they believe and how they live, and develop a deeper, sophisticated understanding of their own place in the universe. .

If you are a Golem Express member, you've already received a review copy of Our Place in the Universe. Not a Golem Express member? Join now and we'll send all the books you've missed so far. (See below for details.) Or order a review copy* here at a 30% discount by writing "newsletter review copy discount" in the comments section of your order. We will adjust your invoice.

Each of these student editions is supported by a robust set of teacher support materials, including a book of lesson plans and enrichment resources, a free set of games that can be played online or downloaded to play on paper, and a link to additional free online teacher resources and suggestions to enrich student learning.

Don't miss out! Get new teacher and class resource materials to review as soon as they are published. Contact us now to join Golem Express. One low annual fee gets all our new materials delivered directly to you door, no additional invoices, no returns, and no shipping charges.

*Limit, one review copy per school.