Reflecting over the past year as a BJEP teacher, I think about all the creativity that filled my classroom. From making “courage hearts” that we filled with notes of self-appreciation to crafting ants to symbolize the importance of community, I am grateful for my fifth grade class’s dedication to our projects. In my opinion, one of the most important aspects of Jewish education is making topics accessible, relatable, and fun. If you are interested in bringing Jewish education into your home or classroom but don’t know where to start, here is a brief list of successful activities that don’t feel like schoolwork:
- Write a gratitude card for someone you love
- Be kind to the Earth
- Draw scenes from the Torah
- Build the Jerusalem temple out of Legos
- Take a virtual tour of Israel
- Draw a human body or a silly creature, then label the body parts in Hebrew
- Draw out your family tree; the more detail, the better!
- Play Pictionary with Jewish holiday-related clues
- Make a tzedakah box
- Play a round of “Jewpardy,” charades, or Taboo related to Jewish history
- Listen to music from different Jewish diasporas
- Make a “kindness chain” by connecting pieces of paper with memories of when someone showed you kindness and something kind you can do for others
- Read a book about Jewish values
- Craft your own seder plate or challah cover
- Try to untie a human knot to emphasize the importance of community.
Nikki Kreiger (she/her) graduated from Brandeis University with a major in Environmental Studies with minors in Legal Studies and Near Eastern Judaic Studies. In her free time, she loves to rock climb, make jewelry, and cook. She has been a camp counselor for two summers and brought her excitement as an educator to the BJEP community and her fifth grade classroom.
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