Category: Grade 7 – Mr. Washerstein

Grades 6-8: Yad B’Yad Mitzvah Initiative Update

mwasherstein / / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

Over the course of the last two weeks, our students engaged in meaningful service learning opportunities within our Jewish community. Last week we had the opportunity to work with Jodi Green and learn a bit more about the incredible services that TAMIR has to offer. The students helped pack care packages in preparation for the Rise Up Ottawa event. Students also created sets of Shabbat candles for the residents of TAMIR. They also worked on a video to wish the participants a Shabbat Shalom! We look forward to working together in the future.

This week the students in Grades 6 & 7 visited the Jewish Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The students met with representatives from the cemetery to learn about the important work that they do within our community. They also read narratives of local Ottawa Jewish veterans who served our country in a variety of ways. Students were then broken into groups and were provided with 15-20 gravesites to mark with Canadian flags. The students had the opportunity to pay their respects to these veterans who risked their lives for our freedoms. This was one of the many Remembrance Day activities our students engaged in throughout the week.

 

Check out this article that was posted about our Mitzvah Trips in the Ottawa Jewish E-Bulletin!

Grades 6-8: Yad B’Yad Mitzvah Initiative Update

mwasherstein / / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

Last week our OJCS Middle School Students participated in the Cleaning the Capital Program. Students were walked to two local parks in our community and helped pick up both garbage and recycling. Our clean up was one of the 234 projects registered around the city of Ottawa. Students enjoyed making a difference in their community and getting some fresh air!Cleaning the Capital Program

  

This week our students will be volunteering in a few different places. A group of students will return to KBI with Morah Corinne to work on painting a mural and further beautifying OTT at KBI Supplementary School. While others will be working with younger students in our OJCS community. Students will be helping their younger peers with lessons in English, French, and Hebrew. This initiative provides students with the ability to engage in leadership and showcase their literacy skills.

Grade 7: Jewish Values Project (Due: November 7th)

mwasherstein / / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

As we learn about various mitzvot in Jewish Studies this year, students are being asked to review, analyze, and rank a variety of Jewish values. The purpose of this task is to explore different Judaic concepts and determine which five are the most important. The goal of this project is to convince your peers that the five values you have selected are the most important.

Due Dates:

Wednesday 10/19: Project assigned 

Monday 10/24: Check-in #1 (Five values must be picked)

Monday 10/31: Check-in #2 (Review Google Slideshow progress)

Monday 11/7: Presentations begin

 

Resources:

 

 

 

Grades 6-8: Yad B’Yad Mitzvah Initiative Update

mwasherstein / / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

Our Mitzvah Trips are off and running! The Yad B’Yad (hand in hand) Mitzvah Initiative provides students with incredible opportunities to give back to our community and put their Jewish values into action. The theme of our Mitzvah Trips for this month is Kehillah Kedoshah. The phrase translates to a sacred or holy community. Students are learning about the importance of community. We are focusing on donating our time and giving back to others in our community. Our goal is to interact with and support various communities in Ottawa. Our first three Mitzvah Trips have focused on engaging with valued members of our Ottawa Jewish Community.

Together, they helped OTT at KBI Supplementary School step into the new year on the right foot by working to beautify the space. Students painted the walls, set up classrooms, and organized learning spaces.

 

The second week of our Yad B’Yad mitzvah initiative allowed our middle school students to make mini apple pies and challah buns to donate to the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank. Thank you to A Dashing Pinch – Village Café for overseeing our efforts and baking these delicious treats!

Our third week provided students with the opportunity to get creative! Students spent time creating decorations for our sukkah. In addition, a group of students went to the JCC to help make decorations for their sukkah. Check back soon to see what other amazing Mitzvah Trips that students are participating in.

Grades 7-8: D’var Torah Weekly Assignment (with Haftarah)

mwasherstein / / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

Each week, a student from each class will compose a D’var Torah and present it to their peers. This year, students in grade 7 and grade 8 will also be reading and analyzing the corresponding Haftarah selections.

What is a D’var Torah?

A D’var Torah (a word of Torah) is a discussion or explanation based on the weekly parsha. The D’var Torah provides a brief summary and analysis of a lesson or interesting interpretation regarding the weekly Torah portion. 

What is the Haftarah?

The Haftarah portion is a selection from the book of Prophets (Nevi’im). The Haftarah portion is read on Shabbat after the conclusion of the Torah reading. Although the Torah reading cycle is read in chronological order (following the Five Books of Moses), the Haftarah portions are selected in a different manner. Each week the Haftarah portion selected shares a common theme or genre with the Torah portion for that given week. 

 

Assignment: Each student will create a D’var Torah for an assigned portion that will be shared with their peers during the correlating Thursday tefillah service. Students will practice their public speaking skills and actively engage in Torah study. This assignment will count towards your grade for both Language Arts and Jewish Studies rubrics. 

 

Click here to access the assignment:

D’var Torah Assignment (Including Haftarah Extension)

 

Click here to access the final copy checklist: 

D’var Torah Checklist

 

Click here to access the example: 

Washerstein D’var Torah Example

 

Click here to access the D’var Torah schedule:

Grade 7 D’var Torah Schedule

Grade 8 D’var Torah Schedule

 

 

Grade 7: Pirkei Avot Playlist (Due: Friday, May 20)

mwasherstein / / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

We have spent the last few weeks analyzing the second chapter of Pirkei Avot. As we study these texts, it is important to think about personal connections that you can create. Additionally, I encourage you to take notes, look up unfamiliar terms, and experiment with decoding the Hebrew prior to jumping into the English.

Think about the following:

  • What lesson does this Mishnah teach me?
  • What personal connection can I relate to this text?
  • How can I use this information to make me a better person?

Pirkei Avot Playlist Assignment

This assignment asks students to read and analyze the verses in the second chapter of Pirkei Avot. After you have read and analyzed the text, students are asked to create a playlist of five songs. I have provided additional sources along with a link to the Illustrated Pirkei Avot (Cartoon) text in the links below.

Important Dates:

  • Read and select five verses by April 29, 2022 (let Mr. Wash know which verses you have selected)
  • Check-in #1 with Mr. Wash on Friday, May 6, 2022
  • Check-in #2 with Mr. Wash on Monday, May 16, 2022
  • Assignment due (posted on the blog) by Friday, May 20, 2022

 

Please click the links below to access the Google Docs for this assignment:

Pirkei Avot Playlist Instructions

Pirkei Avot Playlist Graphic Organizer

Pirkei Avot Playlist Rubric

Illustrated Pirkei Avot Ch. 2 (Cartoon Interpretation)

  • Create a playlist of 5 songs that are each related to a specific Pirkei Avot Chapter 2 verse
    1. You must choose 5 different verses; one for each song on your playlist. (There are 16 verses in Ch. 2)
    2. Decide how you will connect each verse to your song 
      1. Here are a few different ways you could create a connection:
          • The lesson/meaning
          • The way the song makes you feel 
          • The lyrics themselves
      2. You do not have to create your connection to the entire verse…your song may only connect to one part of that verse (which is okay!)
    3. Write 5-10 sentences explaining the connection between your song and the verse you choose
      1. Use these questions to guide your writing:
        1. What does the verse mean? What is the verse about?
        2. What is the song about?
        3. How does this song connect to the verse?
          • Remember that the connection does not mean the words are the same 

Schedule: 

Day 1
  1. Read the instructions. If you have any questions, write them down and email Mr. Wash
  2. Spend 30 minutes reading and interpreting Verses 1-5
    1. Jot down any ideas, lessons, meanings that you could connect to in your Pirkei Avot Playlist Planner Doc next to each verse 
  3. Take a 10-minute break and listen to some of your favourite songs for inspiration
Day 2
  1. Spend 30 minutes reading and interpreting Verses 6-10
    1. Jot down any ideas, lessons, meanings that you could connect to in your Pirkei Avot Playlist Planner Doc next to each verse 
  2. Take a 10-minute break and listen to some of your favourite songs for inspiration
  3. Begin writing your explanations as you match a song to a particular verse
Day 3
  1. Spend 30 minutes reading and interpreting Verses 11-16
    1. Jot down any ideas, lessons, meanings that you could connect to in your Pirkei Avot Playlist Planner Doc next to each verse 
  2. Take a 10-minute break and listen to some of your favourite songs for inspiration
  3. Continue writing your explanations as you match a song to a particular verse
Day 4
  1. Spend 20 minutes reviewing your notes
  2. Focus your time and energy on creating your connections and developing your playlist

 

Grades 6-8: Mitzvah Trip #2 JFS Food Packaging

mwasherstein / / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

On Monday, April 4th, 2022 we will be creating Passover care packages for senior citizens. We will be partnering with Jewish Family Services (JFS) to help them create care packages for elderly members of our community. Many of these members of our community are isolated and are unable to celebrate the holiday with their family members. These care packages will allow them to celebrate the holiday.

Today students learned about the Jewish value:

Kibud Zekaynim

כבוד זקנים

Judaism teaches us that we must “honour our elders”. Paying respect to senior citizens is essential. It is important to learn from those who have come before us. We value the wisdom of past generations. We will be spending time analyzing and discussing this essential Jewish value. 

Mitzah Trip #2 Slideshow

 

Grade 7: Pirkei Avot Ch. 1 Personal Analysis

mwasherstein / / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

We have begun discussing and analyzing Ch.1 of Pirkei Avot. We will continue to break down this text as our cohort works on developing coherent interpretations and supporting their ideas. Students are being asked to review the 18 verses and select the two verses that they feel are most important. This activity requires students to synthesize information and create personal connections with historic Jewish texts.

Task Breakdown:

Step 1: Each student will read Pirkei Avot Chapter 1 individually

Step 2: Decide which two verses (lessons) you believe are most important

Step 3: Write two paragraphs (one per verse) explaining their importance and the lesson that you learned from contemplating these texts

  • What does the text say?
  • Why is this text important?
  • What lesson can we learn from this text?

Step 4: Share your Google Doc with Mr. Wash

Grade 7: Introduction to Pirkei Avot

mwasherstein / / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

This week the students will be diving into the first chapter of Pirkei Avot. We reviewed the benefits of annotating the text as we read. Additionally, students were encouraged to read and analyze both the Hebrew and English text. As we came across unfamiliar terms, students looked up words in an attempt to uncover their meaning and better understand each lesson. We discussed the value of developing our own interpretations of each text. Students are being asked to create connections between these texts and their own lives. Each student has received a source packet that contains the verses in both Hebrew and English. We have also been using The Illustrated Pirkei Avot as an additional resource. Our sessions thus far have led to fantastic questions and interpretations.

Assignment 1: Ch.1 Illustrated Pirkei Avot Analysis

Click here to access our classroom notes:

Pirkei Avot Google Slides

Pirkei Avot Ch. 1 (Hebrew and English)

The Illustrated Pirkei Avot Cartoons

Sefaria Pirkei Avot Explanations

Grade 7: Interpersonal Mitzvot Video Project

mwasherstein / / Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein

Students are being tasked with diving deeper into one of the mitzvot we have studied in class. This is a fantastic opportunity to head down to the Makerspace and use the green room for video recording.

Interpersonal Mitzvot Project (instructions, organizer, rubric)

Peer and Self Evaluation Form

 Each group will create a video presentation that explains:

  1. Where is the mitzvah and the connection to Judaism explained? (Torah? Mishnah?)
  2. The meaning/significance of the mitzvah 
    • What does the mitzvah mean?
    • Why is it important to Jewish life?
    • Can this mitzvah be interpreted/performed in more than one way?
  1. What have Jewish commentators said about your mitzvah? 
    • Utilize Sefaria to find various commentaries on your mitzvah
  1.   How does this mitzvah connect to your life and modern everyday situations? 
  2.   Why do you believe this mitzvah is important?

 

Requirements:

  • Research your mitzvah to uncover various interpretations and applications
  • Answer all of the questions above
  • Each person in your group must speak at least once in the video
  • This video will also include a skit/visual representation of the lesson learned
  • Minimum of three minutes long (maximum of eight minutes)

 

Due Dates:

Monday (2/7)-Group check-in #1

Wednesday (2/9)-Group graphic organizer complete

Monday (2/14)- Script complete

Wednesday (2/16)-Group check-in #2

Friday (3/4)- Final project submitted to Mr. Washerstein