Welcome to Fifth Grade Jewish Studies at Or Chadash Religious School! We have adopted the CHAI curriculum for our Fifth Grade Jewish Studies class. The CHAI Curriculum is a flexible educational system specifically designed to facilitate lifelong Jewish learning within Reform congregations. The CHAI curriculum concentrates classroom learning on Torah (study) and g'milut chasadim (acts of loving -kindness), focusing on the big ideas of the core of Jewish education. Teaching these foundational concepts ensures that student learning will go beyond the specific classroom activities and will lead students to a deeper, enduring understanding, establishing a basis for lifelong Jewish learning and living.
The core curriculum theme for fifth grade is Reform Judaism and the power of community.
The Essential Question for the Torah strand is:
How can I as a Reform Jew understand how God wants me to live through the writings of the prophets?
The Essential Question for the G'milut Chasadim strand is:
What does it mean to be a member of the Jewish community?
Each week, Tzedakah money will be collected in class. The students will understand that tzedakah means doing acts of justice and righteousness, and at various times during the year they will help decide how and where the class tzedakah funds will be used.
