Grade 7 – Mr. Washerstein – Page 10

Welcome Back OJCS Middle School!

mwasherstein / September 5, 2019 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

I hope everyone had a fantastic summer! I am looking forward to teaching, challenging, and encouraging our middle school students this year in Jewish Studies. Yesterday we reviewed the Seven Habits, North Stars, behavior expectations, homework policy, and uniform policy. Our goal is for each student and parent to clearly understand these policies. There are a lot of exciting upcoming events in the middle school!

If you have not turned in the retreat and JCC permission slips, please do so ASAP!

Please bring in your shofar if you have one! The shofar patrol will be visiting various classes throughout the school.

Please feel free to check out and review the presentation that we shared with the students yesterday. Additionally, you will find a link to my own classroom policies for the year.

Mr. Washerstein’s Classroom Policies

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Grade 7: Jewnius Hour Project (Due: Monday 6/3)

mwasherstein / May 22, 2019 / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

This week students started working on their Jewnius Hour Project! The concept revolves around the fantastic idea of Genius Hour.

What is Jewnius Hour?

Jewnius Hour is an opportunity for students to explore their own passions and share their learning with the class. This project should involve research, creativity, and passion. The topic selection is completely up to you! The goal of this assignment is for you to choose an area of interest (that connects in some way to Judaism, Israel, Jewish values, etc.) and explore that topic. You will then create a presentation and an activity to share your findings with your peers. Please do not choose a subject that you are already an expert in! This project is designed to foster and support your own learning and growth regarding a topic of interest.

Requirements:

Due to the creative nature of this project, there are very few requirements that are set in stone.

You must create a presentation (of some sort) and an interactive activity for your peers. The presentation should demonstrate what you learned throughout this process. Your peers should also leave your presentation learning something new!
Time- Your presentation and activity (together) should last a minimum of 15 minutes. (The maximum time frame for one presentation/activity should be 45 minutes. Please see me if you are going to use an entire period)
Review the rubric!

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Grade 7: Jewish Studies Update

mwasherstein / May 13, 2019May 13, 2019 / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

This week will we dive into a unit on Jewish History. Students worked in groups the past two classes analyzing and discussing various sets of Jewish values. Tomorrow students will share their findings with their peers in a class discussion. We are continuing to create connections between Jewish values and our everyday lives!

Task:

1. Rank the five most important values (most come to a group consensus…need to convince the other group members if there is a disagreement → compromise)

2. Create a group document where you:

Explain why you choose each value
Discuss the importance
Describe the way it can apply to your life

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Grandparents’ Day –> Cities on Moon!

mwasherstein / May 13, 2019 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

Today we celebrated Grandparents’ Day at the OJCS! Mr. Ray and myself planned an activity that focused on Israeli innovations. After watching Israeli Innovation (Start-Up Nation), we discussed some of the impressive inventions that have come out of the Holy Land. Students and grandparents were then given a mission to design the first city on the moon using the CoSpace program. Groups were asked to channel their Israeli innovative skills and explore their creative abilities.

Grade 7: Take A Look Through Our Lens

mwasherstein / April 2, 2019 / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

For the last few weeks our class, the Grade 7 students have been preparing for the TIPES Lego Challenge. This challenge occurred last Thursday which was a blast! We played with the students in our different lego challenges that we prepared. These challenges included: creating the tallest structures, strongest, most creative etc. It was really important for us to bond with the students at TIPES being that we all live in the same building! We were very proud as we facilitated an act of gemilut hasadim. We learned about the importance of treating others with respect and doing our part to create acts of loving kindness. The day turned out amazing and exciting. We are so excited for our next activity with them, which is next Thursday! We can’t wait for more interactions with TIPES in the future!

Written by Jessica Ages and Kiera Vered

Take a look at our amazing creations!

Grade 7: Perkei Avot “Your Vision” Project Due: 3/29 (Friday)

mwasherstein / March 18, 2019 / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

Today we began to work on our Perkei Avot video projects. Students are being asked to analyze a lesson of their choosing from the second chapter of Perkei Avot. Working in pairs, each group will present their interpretations and analysis in a video presentation.

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Grade 7: Perkei Avot Chapter 2 (Assignment One)

mwasherstein / March 13, 2019 / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

This week we began our study and analysis of Perkei Avot Ch. 2. Attached you will find excerpts and our first assignment. These materials will be used for discussion and analysis.

If you were absent this week, please be sure to complete the three questions attached below.

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Tomorrow’s art during T’fila

rlebovich / February 27, 2019February 27, 2019 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

A reminder for the students who are creating the Mishkan during T’filah – please remember to bring a shoe box.

Grades 6-8: Jewish Studies 2/12 Shabbat Table Discussion

mwasherstein / February 11, 2019 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

Today in Jewish Studies, we will look at various sources/ideas regarding peer pressure. This content connects to each course in its own way. I have highlighted the five questions that each group should complete on the attached document.

In an effort to save time and promote discussion, I prefer that this activity be complete in groups of 3-4 students. You will only need to submit one answer sheet per group.

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Grade 7: Task for Monday (Let’s Get Ready for Legomania)

mwasherstein / January 19, 2019 / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

The past week students have been preparing various Lego related challenges for our next Mitzvah Project activity with TIPES. Today students are being tasked with creating invitations for the TIPES students.

Task: Each student is responsible for creating a minimum of one invitation for a TIPES student. The invitations should be colorful, creative, and exciting. Our goal is to get the students excited for our next activity together.

Example of a way to start: Dear Lego Master,
- Message should be encouraging (mention how much fun we had during our last activity)
- Give brief explanation of Lego challenges
- Draw pictures

Students may use materials from the closet (markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc.) to design their invitation.