Grade 6 – Mr. Washerstein – Page 4

Grade 6: Jewish Wedding Webquest (Due: May 6th)

mwasherstein / April 11, 2022April 11, 2022 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein

As we dive back into the Jewish life cycle students will be working on a Jewish Wedding Webquest! Over the course of the last two weeks, we have begun to analyze the various traditions and practices associated with the Jewish wedding.

Jewish Wedding Webquest Assignment

This assignment provides students with 11 response questions. Students will need to click and read the link above the question in order to find the answer. Please do not simply search for these answers on random internet sites. I will be looking for specific information from the articles/videos associated with each question. Your responses should be written in complete sentences. Be sure to read over the instructions prior to starting the assignment.

Due: Friday 5/6

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

mwasherstein / April 1, 2022April 6, 2022 / 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 6: Shalom Bayit

mwasherstein / March 14, 2022 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein

This week in Jewish Studies our class is beginning to discuss dating, marriage, and the concept of Shalom Bayit. We have watched videos and discussed the importance of recognizing, understanding, and appreciating the values of peers and potential life partners. Over the next few days, we will be focusing on the importance of “peace within the home”. Students will read and analyze the following text in an attempt to draw their own conclusions and connections.

Shalom Bayit Guided Reading

Grade 6: Responsibilities of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Review

mwasherstein / February 28, 2022 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein

Our next Jewish Studies assessment will take place on Thursday, March 10th, 2022. The review sheet below provides students with key terms to define along with short-answer practice questions. Students should review their notes in order to prepare for the quiz.

Grade 6 Jewish Studies Notes

Slides 24-26: Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Slides 27, 29, 30: Tefillin

Slides 34-39: Tallit/Tzitzit

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Quiz Review Sheet

Grades 6-8: International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Thursday, January 27th)

mwasherstein / January 25, 2022 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

This week the middle school students will be focusing on the Holocaust. Although we typically commemorate the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah, we will also be participating in a variety of Holocaust-related discussions and learning opportunities this week. International Holocaust Remembrance Day was is commemorated on January 27th, as this the date that Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Forces.

On Thursday, students will be taking a virtual tour of the Los Angeles Holocaust Museum. We will learn about the Holocaust and have the opportunity to view some of the exhibits via Zoom.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Additionally, students will be participating in the #WeRemember campaign in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

I have put together a small slideshow with a variety of resources and videos that correspond with International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This is a live document that will be continually updated with resources, videos, and activities.

What Do We Remember on Holocaust Remembrance Day?

Grades 6-8: Hanukkah Guided Reading Assignment (Due: Friday 12/3)

mwasherstein / November 25, 2021November 29, 2021 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

The time to light the Hanukiah approaches! Over the course of the next few days, middle school students will dive deeper into some of the various traditions associated with Hanukkah. Students will read and analyze a few different texts and complete the corresponding comprehension questions.

Philadelphia Eagles Menorah

Please remember to answer the questions in complete sentences.

Click the link below to access the assignment:

Hanukkah Guided Reading Assignment

Grades 6-8: The Festival of Lights is Near!

mwasherstein / November 24, 2021 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 7 - Mr. Washerstein, Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

Next week launches the fun of (C)Han(n)uk(k)a(h)….no matter how you spell it!

We have a full week of celebrations, and can’t wait to participate in some with our whole community! Please take a look at the posters below to see how you can add to our festivities.

Thompson, Melissa. “You Say Chanukah, I Say Hanukkah.” OJCS Language Arts, Edublogs, 23 Nov. 2021, https://ojcsenglish.edublogs.org/2021/11/23/grades-6-8-you-say-chanukah-i-say-hanukkah/.

Grade 6: D’var Torah Weekly Assignment

mwasherstein / October 25, 2021November 4, 2021 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein

Each week, a student from each class will compose a D’var Torah and present it to their peers.

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.

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:

Washerstein D’var Torah Assignment

Click here to access the D’var Torah example:

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 6 D’var Torah Schedule

Grade 6: Brit Milah Source Study

mwasherstein / October 18, 2021 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein

Today we will be looking diving deeper into the covenant between G-d and Abraham as we discuss the brit milah. Students will be asked to read, highlight, annotate, and analyze verses from the Torah in order to comprehend the significance of the covenant.

We will read the text (Genesis 17: 1-27) together as a class and practice the following skills:

Previewing questions prior to reading
Highlighting keywords/phrases
Looking up unfamiliar vocabulary terms
Taking notes/jotting down ideas while reading (annotation)
Answering questions in complete sentences (referencing the text)

Click the link below to access the reading/questions:

Brit Milah Textual Analysis

Grade 6: Mishpacha Project (Presentations begin October 25th)

mwasherstein / October 5, 2021October 5, 2021 / Grade 6 - Mr. Washerstein

Your family history is important! Every family is filled with stories that you should learn about and record. In our Jewish Studies course, we are beginning the Jewish life cycle. We are currently discussing the process and traditions associated with naming a Jewish child. You are being tasked with conducting an interview with your parents/family members. The purpose of this activity is for you to explore your family history. As we begin our journey through the Jewish life cycle, students are being asked to engage their families in a discussion.

Mishpacha Project Assignment/Rubric

Mishpacha Graphic Organizer

Due Dates

Assigned: Wednesday, October 6th

Part 1-Interview due October 18th (Check-in)

Part 2- Hebrew Name Research due October 22nd (Check-in)

Part 3- Presentation due October 25th (Presentations Begin)

Final presentations begin Tuesday, October 25th, 2021

Final copies of videos, posters, presentations need to be shared with Mr. Washerstein by this date.

Check out Mr. Washerstein’s example below: