How to teach about Judaism for KS1 & KS2 pupils.

Why teach about Judaism?

Teaching about Judaism holds great importance for several reasons, as elucidated below:

Perplexing Diversity: Learning about Judaism can aid in comprehending and appreciating the intricacies of cultures and religions worldwide. This knowledge fosters respect and tolerance towards varied belief systems and ways of life.

Historical Magnitude: Judaism boasts a history spanning more than three millennia. Being one of the oldest religions globally, it has played a pivotal role in world history, including the evolution of Western civilization.

Cultural Splendor: The Judaic faith entails an unparalleled culture, complete with its own language, literature, music, and art. Familiarizing oneself with Judaism can enable individuals to appreciate and fathom this rich cultural heritage.

Contemporary Significance: In today's world, Judaism remains a crucial religion, impacting significant issues such as politics, social justice, and human rights.

Personal Advancement: Acquiring knowledge about Judaism can stimulate personal growth and development. It prompts individuals to reflect on their beliefs and values, gain a deeper understanding of their position in the world, and emerge as compassionate and informed global citizens.

Teaching about Judaism can facilitate perplexing diversity, historical magnitude, cultural splendor, contemporary significance, and personal advancement. It is a critical topic that can enable students to become well-informed, empathetic, and aware global citizens.

How to teach about Judaism in Primary Schools?

Teaching Judaism to primary school children can be a fun and engaging experience for both teachers and students. It is important to create lesson plans that are not only educational but also interactive and interesting for the students. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive lesson plan for teaching Judaism to KS1 & KS2 students using educational artefacts from Starbeck Education.

Lesson Plan:

Title: Introduction to Judaism

Objective: To introduce students to the basic concepts of Judaism and its importance in the world.

Duration: 60 minutes

Materials:

• Seder Plate
• Brass Hannukiah
• Yad
• Dreidels
• Spice Box
• Tallith Bag
• Matzoh Cloth
• Torah Scroll
• Kidush Cup
• Velvet Kippah & Tallith

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Introduce the lesson by asking the students if they have heard of Judaism before and what they know about it.
• Explain that Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world and is practiced by millions of people around the globe.
• Show the students a Torah Scroll and explain that it is a sacred text for Jewish people.

Main Activity (40 minutes)

• Divide the class into groups of four and give each group a set of educational artefacts from Starbeck Education.
• Instruct the students to examine the artefacts and try to identify their names and uses.
• Once they have identified the artefacts, ask the students to describe the significance of each item in the Jewish faith.
• Encourage the students to ask questions and discuss their findings with each other.

Conclusion (10 minutes)

• Bring the class back together and ask each group to present their findings to the rest of the class.
• Summarize the importance of the artefacts in Jewish faith and culture.
• Encourage the students to continue learning about Judaism and other religions.

Using Starbeck Education Artefacts:

Starbeck Education offers a wide range of educational artefacts that are perfect for teaching Judaism to primary school children. Some of the most popular artefacts include:

• Seder Plate: A beautifully decorated plate used during Passover to symbolize the story of Exodus.
• Brass Hannukiah: A nine-branched candelabrum used during Hanukkah to symbolize the miracle of the oil.
• Yad: A pointer used to read the Torah Scroll during religious services.
• Dreidels: A spinning top used during Hanukkah to play games and win chocolate coins.
• Spice Box: A box used during Havdalah to smell spices and signify the end of Shabbat.
• Tallith Bag: A bag used to store the tallith, a prayer shawl worn by Jewish men during religious services.
• Matzoh Cloth: A cloth used to cover the matzoh during Passover to prevent it from touching any leavened bread.
• Torah Scroll: A handwritten scroll containing the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
• Kidush Cup: A cup used during religious services to symbolize the sanctification of the Sabbath.
• Velvet Kippah & Tallith: A velvet kippah is a skullcap worn by Jewish men, and the tallith is a prayer shawl worn during religious services.