Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE
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Unit Purpose:
Using Biblical texts as their basis, students will explore a Jewish perspective on the relationship between humans and their environment. They will begin by studying and modeling Adam’s role of caretaker in the Garden of Eden. They will then focus more specifically on man’s relationships with animals and various natural resources. This unit demonstrates to students that environmental concern is inherent to the Jewish value system. It encourages students to play an active role in protecting their environment from harm.
Focus Questions:
What is the relationship between man and all other living things?
What is a person’s responsibility toward the environment?
How can a person take an active role in protecting and improving the environment?
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- interpret Biblical texts from Genesis and Deuteronomy.
- adapt Adam’s responsibility toward the Garden of Eden to define the learner’s own responsibility to protect nature.
- interpret a Biblical passage from Genesis.
- gather information on an endangered species.
- create informative documents about endangered species to be shared with others at home and in the school community.
- explain the Biblical prohibition against destroying fruit trees in an expansive way that prohibits all wasteful behavior.
- list numerous reasons why humans need trees, based on The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein.
- create a storybook to explain why other elements of nature are important to man.
- work to limit waste at home.
Service Experience:
Lesson One: Students will plant and maintain their own garden and donate the produce harvested to charity.
Lesson Two: includes a campaign throughout the schools on behalf of endangered species.
Lesson Three: As a School/Home Connection for, students strive to limit waste in their homes.
Unit Assessment:
Assessment of students will include:
- Subjective evaluation of students’ performance on worksheets and assignments
- Subjective evaluation of student work, teacher observation, self-evaluation of presentations in Lesson Two.
School/Home Connection:
“Copy-and-Paste” Class/School Newsletter Information Insert:
Using Biblical texts as their base, students will explore a Jewish perspective on the relationship between humans and their environment. They will begin by studying and modeling Adam’s role as caretaker in the Garden of Eden. They will then focus more specifically on man’s relationships with animals and natural resources.Interactive Parent / Student Homework:
School/Home Connections are outlined in Lessons Two and Three.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed and Piloted By:
Shira Hammerman
Areyvut
http://www.areyvut.org
147 South Washington Avenue
Bergenfield, NJ 07621
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.