Resources for Educators

Whether you are returning to the classroom, continuing remote learning, or implementing a blended home/school environment, we’ve got resources to provide a meaningful learning experience for your students.

We've created free, ready-to-go lessons and downloadable resources plus tools to manage the new digital work environment and even help teachers and students manage stress. Just scroll to see all that is available. Find a type of lesson or a resource that works especially well for your learners? We also provide links to the original materials from which we have drawn many resources.

In addition, here are some Guides for Remote Learning for Hebrew and for Judaics with smart tips that can be applied to any of the free resources on this page.

And we’ve put together a Curriculum Guide to show how three Big Ideas can help you structure a year-long curriculum using these and forthcoming free resources.

Do you want ...

HEBREW

Activities to Refresh Hebrew Skills

Ways to Make Hebrew Reading Come Alive

Prayer Practice and Meaning

JUDAICS

Ideas for Grades K-2

Ideas for Grades 3-6

Ideas for Grades 7 and up

 

PERSONAL GROWTH

Personal Growth and Self-Care

 

 

HEBREW

Access the turn-page versions of many Hebrew books for remote and blended learning environments.

Refresh Hebrew Skills

Practice reading with "Click and Read"

Practice decoding as you hear each syllable and word read aloud.

Two versions are available: a new version for all devices; and the Flash version, usable only on computers (not mobile devices).

Play games to strengthen skills

Learn a Shabbat song, cheer, and clap along while doing a Tsadee Ayin tongue twister, and reading three lines without taking a breath in this reading workout.

Want more activities like these? Check out Ten-Minute Hebrew Reader

 

 

Assess and practice decoding skills

Assess students’ decoding skills or have them practice decoding, each at their own level.

Listen to the author read each page aloud.

Want more activities like these? Check out Hebrew Reading Assessment.

 

Prepare to start a prayer program

Prepare to start a prayer program: match key words and pictures, practice syllables, and read prayer phrases. Play Hebrew word games and identify seven Hebrew roots.

Prayer word practice.

Want more activities like these? Check out Kol Yisrael Funbook

 

 

Build a blessing as you learn to decode

Learn and practice the letters and vowels in the first word of the blessing “formula”: בָּרוּךְ (blessed, praised); learn Hebrew directionality; find Bet in prayer excerpts. Let's build a blessing.

Want more activities like this? Check out the Alef Bet of Blessing.

Families can listen to the free audio companion in which pages are available in a read-aloud format that reinforces proper pronunciation.

Go on a decoding adventure

Take a guided digital adventure through Israel in search of a missing golden Kiddush cup while learning letters and vowels from key cultural and everyday Hebrew words.

Explore now.

 

Make Hebrew Come Alive

Give emerging Hebrew readers actual stories to read

Practice decoding skills with a short seder dialogue, games about the Passover seder, blessings, a seder poem, and root practice.

Want more activities like these? Check out Shalom, Reader.

Talk, move, and play with Hebrew

Introduce conversational Hebrew for 10 minues each session.

Getting to know you! Students act out the multiple meanings of the word shalom (hello, good-bye, peace).

 Let’s eat! Students will act out ordering food in a restaurant and play Simon Says to practice food vocabulary. Download 285 word cards.

Want more activities like these? Check out Hebrew Alive and Ulpan Alef and Ulpan Bet.

Learn beginner Hebrew with this fun app

Learn to decode Hebrew with this digital primer. For laptops and mobile devices.

Download the first five lessons FREE from the Apple Store, Amazon App store, or Google Play. Search "Shalom Hebrew."

Full app, with 24 lessons, only available from our online store. Order it here.

 

Practice heritage words

Enlarge the Heritage Word List and challenge students to read each word correctly. Hide the English and ask them which words they recognize. Students can even draw their answers and label them with the Hebrew words.

For more, check out Shalom Uvrachah.

 

 

Prayer Practice and Meaning

Teach prayer through music

Students learn that the ֹשְמַע is central to Jewish religious practice and belief; our tradition teaches that God shows us love through the mitzvot in the Torah; and all people are connected. The ֹשְמַע is recited in the evening and morning services, and as a personal prayer before bed.

Review the complete Sh’ma module in the Curriculum Core: 3 lesson plans, journal answer keys, song lyrics, and flash cards. A selection of the Sh'ma student booklet is here

Try out the Sh’ma module in the Hebrew in Harmony app.

For a complete prayer curriculum, check out Hebrew in Harmony, especially the Curriculum Core.  

A turn-page version of all Hebrew in Harmony modules combined are available for remote learning. 

 

Learn prayer skills and related Jewish values

Students explore Mi Chamochah’s source in the Torah (Exodus 15:11). They consider what it means to see themselves as having personally come out of Egypt and they creatively interpret the value of pidyon shvuyim (redeeming captives) after finding examples of captivity and freedom.

Throughout the lesson they practice key reading and grammar rules (Shin’s double-duty dot; root letters kln and ycw).

Mi Chamochah student lesson

Mi Chamochah teacher material

 

For a complete prayer curriculum, check out Hineni.

Find personal meaning in prayer

Learn the movements associated with the Bar’chu, the themes of the prayer, and how to apply those themes to our everyday lives.

Bar'chu student lesson

Bar'chu teacher material

For more lessons like this, check out Making T'filah Meaningful.

Practice reading with online Prayer Practice

Practice reading prayers as you hear each word read aloud.

Two versions are available: A new version for all devices; and the Flash version, usable only on computers (not mobile devices)

 

JUDAICS

Access the turn-page versions of Judaic books for remote and blended learning environments.

Grades K-2

Discover the meaning and rituals of Passover 

Students will learn about the story of Exodus, discuss the theme of freedom, and explore some key seder rituals through crafts and other fun activities.

Passover student material

Passover teacher material

 

Passover begins the evening of March 27, 2021.

Want more activities like this? Check out Let’s Discover the Spring Holidays.

Celebrate Israel’s Independence Day

Students will explore this holiday through discussion and creative activities. They’ll learn why Israel’s Independence Day is a joyful, important occasion.

Yom Ha’atzma’ut student material

Yom Ha’atzma’ut teacher material

 

Yom Ha’atzma’ut begins the evening of April 14, 2021.

 

Want more activities like this? Check out Jewish and Me: Spring Holidays.

Discover personal meaning in doing mitzvot

Introduce learners to key words like tzedakah, mitzvah, and mensch. Show learners how they can give tzedakah in different ways.

Tzedakah student lesson

Tzedakah teacher material

For more lessons like this one, check out Let's Discover Mitzvot.

Learn about protecting life from Bible stories

Introduce learners to the story of Miriam and others who protected baby Moses. Explore with learners how they can help others through tzedakah and making good choices. 

Miriam and Moses student lesson

Miriam and Moses teacher material

 

For more lessons like this one, check out Teach Me Torah.

 

Grades 3-6

Explore the Passover theme of freedom through art

Students will use art as a lens through which to ask questions to drive learning and reflect on themes of slavery and freedom.

Passover student material

Passover teacher material

 

 

Passover begins the evening of March 27, 2021.

Want more activities like this one? Check out Make, Create, Celebrate: Jewish Holidays through Art

Learn how two heroes embody Jewish values

Compare and contrast the kind acts of two Jewish heroes, Dona Gracia Nasi and Aaron Feuerstein. Show learners how to bring more kindness into their own lives!

Kindness student lesson 

Kindness teacher material  

For more lessons like this one, check out The Hero in Me.

Discover themes of justice in the story of Moses confronting Pharaoh

Learners will analyze the story of Moses and Aaron confronting Pharaoh, and discuss why justice is important and how to identify injustice.

Justice student lesson

Justice teacher material

 

Want more lessons like this one? Check out Jewish Values in Exodus.

Celebrate Israel’s Independence Day

Students will learn about Israel’s Independence Day: how it started, how we celebrate it, and why it’s important to the Jewish people.

Yom Ha’atzma’ut student material

Yom Ha’atzma’ut teacher material

 

 

 

Yom Ha’atzma’ut begins the evening of April 14, 2021.

Want more lessons like this one? Check out Jewish Holidays, Jewish Values.

Grades 7 and Up

Explore the meaning of Passover

For Passover, students will delve into Passover traditions (such as clearing the house of hametz) and themes (such as compassion and freedom).

 

Passover student material

Passover teacher material

Passover begins the evening of March 27, 2021.

Want more lessons like this one? Check out Rediscovering the Jewish Holidays.

Find meaning in the Jewish holidays

Students will learn how and why we celebrate Israel’s Independence Day, forging personal connections to the holiday.

Yom Ha’atzma’ut student material

Yom Ha’atzma’ut teacher material

 

 

Yom Ha’atzma’ut begins the evening of April 14, 2021.

Want more lessons like this one? Check out Rediscovering the Jewish Holidays.

Learn about different kinds of courage from bible stories 

Learners will explore the stories of Nachshon who had the courage to walk into the sea and the daughters of Zelophehad who had the courage to stand up for themselves.

Courage lessons

 

Want more activities like this? Check out Values and Ethics.

Use prayer to find personal meaning in nature

Students will reflect on their relationships to nature, especially in terms of prayer. They’ll even compose their own blessings to honor special moments they’ve had in nature.

Prayer activity student material

Prayer activity teacher material

 

 

 

Want more lessons like this one? Check out Our Place in the Universe.

Personal and Professional Growth 

We invite you to use these tools to help you during these challenging times. This is a growing list, so check back as we add more resources to this section.

 

Celebrating Passover Together from Afar?

Click here for some tips on how to engage remote seder participants.  

_____

 

Mindfulness Series, by Nancy Siegel 

Siegel is an educational consultant specializing in mindfulness education for both adults and children. For more information, visit: nancysiegelconsulting.com

Breathing Ball

See how to use the Hoberman Sphere, aka the Breathing Ball, and learn about the connection between mindfulness, neuroscience, and the Breathing Ball.

Heart Breathing

For children to stop and feel their beating heart is an offering of gratitude. Teaching them this from a young age is a powerful gift that they will carry with them the rest of their lives.

 

Balloon Breathing

This simple anatomy lesson teaches children about their lungs and how deep breaths get oxygen flowing through their bodies.

 

Lion's Breath

This breathing exercise is a great way for kids to manage their big feelings in a very safe and fun way. 

 

Layers of Sound

This listening game piques kids' curiosity. It also helps them become more aware of the sounds they hear around them, encouraging them to be more present, calm, and relaxed.

 

 

Tingshas

Tingshas, or chimes, have a soothing meditative sound that is easy and pleasant to follow. This is a beautiful listening game that promotes concentration, focus, and attention.

 

 

_____

 

Simple and Short Mindfulness Activities, by Katie Rein

Perfect for use with preschoolers through middle grade. 

Rein is an educator and director at Brooklyn Heights Synagogue School and has worked intensively with children from preschool through teens around the world. Fluent in Arabic and French, she has also written curriculum in Spanish and Hebrew.  

_____

Tips for More Effective Video Conferencing, with Mallory Penney and Reggie Harris from Better Together Labs

Better Together Labs offers experiential workshops in agility, collaboration and play to help teams across various industries work, create, and communicate better together.

Harris has held key positions at prominent Silicon Valley companies including Google, Dropbox, and Zynga and has provided his skills for a number of nonprofits. He has a degree in Computer Science with honors from Harvard University and his work is heavily influenced by the philosophies and techniques of improvisation.

Penney is a team-building strategist and a firm believer that “fun” is the operative word when it comes to peeling away inhibitions in the workplace to allow collaboration and effective communication to emerge. She is a member of the Applied Improvisation Network and holds a B.A. in Theater and Performance Studies from the University of California at Berkeley.

For more information about Better Together Labs, click here.

 

Story Spine: A Technique for Engaging a Group, with Mallory Penney and Reggie Harris from Better Together Labs

 

Creative and Playful Ways to Engage Learners on Zoom, with Mallory Penney and Reggie Harris from Better Together Labs

_____

Color yourself calm, Jewishly.

Relax and be inspired by the Jewish imagery in these intricate black and white line drawings that focus on shalom.

Coloring pages here.

Want more coloring pages? Check out Shalom Coloring.