Category: Grade 8 – Mr. Washerstein

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 8: Current Event (Due: Thursday 3/24)

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein, Uncategorised

This year students will be responsible for researching, analyzing, and presenting a current event in our Jewish Studies course.

Directions: Find an article either in the newspaper or online from a newspaper source. Examples include: CBC News, USA Today,  CTV News, Associated Press, The New York Times, Ynetnews Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, Times of Israel,  etc., or any other reputable national or local source. Read the article and fill out the statements or answer the questions below.

Please find and read about important issues that relate/connect to antisemitism.

Because this is a current events assignment, you are to choose an article that is no more than two weeks old from when the assignment is given.

Be prepared to discuss your article in class on the due date!

 

Please click the link below to access the current event template: 

Current Events Write Up Assignment Instructions

Grade 8: “None is Too Many” Policy (Due: Wednesday 3/16)

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

This week we will be discussing the horrific narrative of the MS St. Louis. We watched an incredible documentary that provided our class with testimonies from historians and survivors who experienced this infamous event firsthand. Students will read and analyze a document that discusses specific policies in Canada that were enacted to keep the Jewish people out.

Click the link below to access the assignment:

Canada’s Role in the M.S. St. Louis

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

mwasherstein / / 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?

Grade 8: WWI/Treaty of Versailles Graphic Organizer + Various Perspective Assignment (Due: Monday 1/31)

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

Our class has been studying and analyzing the effects of WWI and The Treaty of Versailles in order to build a stronger historical knowledge base. The purpose of this activity is to synthesize their comprehension and analyze various perspectives regarding the Treaty of Versailles. Throughout these discussions and activities, the students will begin to understand the desperation that was felt in Germany following WWI. Next week, students will begin to learn about the rise of dictators and how Adolf Hitler came to power.

 

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This link will help you describe the feelings of the various countries in greater detail:

Grade 8: Virtual Discussion with Tibor Egervari

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

On Monday the Grade 8 class had the opportunity to engage in a discussion with a Holocaust survivor on Zoom. Our guest speaker, Tibor Egervari, shared his story and explained how he ended up in Canada. Tibor answered a variety of questions and provided the students with his unique insight. Tibor shared his own life lessons and encouraged our students to take a stand when they witness injustice occurring in our world. We are incredibly grateful that Tibor was able to share his perspective with us.

Grade 8: Treaty of Versailles Guided Notes

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

How could the Holocaust happen?

As we continue to study and analyze the various components of the Grade 8 Jewish Studies curriculum, this week we are beginning to set up the Holocaust. Rather than diving directly into the start of the Holocaust, the Grade 8 class is learning about WWI. This foundation will play a very important role in understanding the historical context in which the Holocaust begins.

Attached you will find the WWI/Treaty of Versailles Presentation and Guided Notes Packet. This will be useful for any students that missed any of the notes during class. Students should be reviewing their notes throughout the week.

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

mwasherstein / / 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 / / 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 8: Antisemitism Reflection (Due: Tuesday 11/23)

mwasherstein / / Grade 8 - Mr. Washerstein

For the past few weeks in Jewish Studies, we have been analyzing and discussing various accounts of antisemitism throughout history. Although we have only begun our journey, you are being tasked with writing a reflection piece to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the concepts we have discussed in class.

Click the link below to access the assignment instructions:

Antisemitism Reflection Assignment Instructions

Click the link below to access the corresponding graphic organizer:

 Antisemitism Reflection Graphic Organizer 

Click the link below to access the reflective writing slideshow:

Reflective Writing Google Slides

Your reflection should answer the following questions:

  1. What is antisemitism? 
  2. How has antisemitism impacted Jews in the past (prior to the Holocaust)? 
  3. How does antisemitism continue to impact Jews around the world?
  4. What are the consequences when a “single story” or rumour is used to exclude a group of people from society? 
  5. What lessons can be learned from examining accounts of antisemitism?

 

Due Dates:

Assigned- Tuesday (11/9)

Check-In #1 Graphic Organizer Monday (11/15)

Check-In #2 Rough Draft Friday (11/18)

Final Copy Due- Tuesday (11/23)