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Sharing What is Ours (Private-Religious)
  1. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 01. Self, citizenship, and society
      1. Benchmark E.3 Describe a benefit of group cooperation.
    2. Standard PCS 02. Diverse Cultures
      1. Benchmark E.4 Demonstrate listening skills.
    3. Standard PCS 05. Philanthropy and Government
      1. Benchmark E.8 Describe classroom behaviors that help the students learn.

This lesson teaches the importance of sharing what we have with others. Using blessings as a context, students will learn that everything comes out much better when share our time, talents, and treasures with others.

Duration: 
PrintTwo thirty minute periods
Objectives: 

The learner will:

  • understand that blessings are a way for us to thank God for sharing food with us
  • learn/recite blessings over food
  • model God’s generous behavior by sharing with one another
  • create a group project
  • practice using "please" and "thank-you" when asking to borrow things from others
Materials: 
  • Text of various blessings. Beginners should start by learning one or two blessings. Students will use "Borei Minei Ha’etz" when eating fruit salad in Lesson Two and "Hamotzi Lechem Min Ha’aretz" when eating bread in Lesson Three. This may be a good opportunity to preview those blessings, or others can be taught instead. Students with experience using blessings should practice a number of Bracha and sample different foods. Most Siddurim (Prayer Books) contain lists of blessings and the foods they are said over. (See Bibliographical References)
  • Samples of food to eat after reciting blessings
  • Blessings copied onto large poster board, in Hebrew and/or English
  • Assortment of art supplies. Make sure to have enough different kinds or colors so that each student can have a different type of supply. For example, many different colored markers or paints, different colored glitter, sequins, pom-poms, glue, etc.
  • Music and words to "Please and Thank-you," by Barney and Friends (See Attachment One and Bibliographical References)
Home Connection: 

Send home tapes of the please and thank you song so students can practice with their parents. Send in notes each time they share or ask nicely to borrow. Help plan what to share for "Show and Share."

Bibliography: 

Music to Barney and Friends’ "Please and Thank You" song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3CgwV3o7AM

Scherman, Nosson and Binyomin Yudin. Siddur: Transliterated Linear, Weekday. Mesorah Publications, Ltd. July 2001.ISBN: 1578191513

 

Instructions: 
Print

  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Display various foods for students. Ask them if they know where the food comes from. Follow the whole process back through the grocery store to the farm and ground. Explain that it is God’s decision how much food comes from the ground each year, and that we must thank him for being generous enough to share with us.

  2. Tell students that they will get to eat the treat, just not until they have thanked God for sharing with them.

  3. Ask them why they think God wants to share food with us.

  4. If necessary, explain that SHARING means to let other people use items that belong to you, and that it is a very good solution when you need or want something you do not have. It is nice to offer to share when you see someone doesn’t have something that they may want or need, and God offers to share with us because He knows that we need food.

  5. Explain that they will thank God using a Bracha (blessing). Display the poster(s) that have the Bracha you have chosen to teach.

  6. Show them the poster(s) with the blessing(s).

  7. Read the blessing(s) and have them repeat after you a few times until they are saying the words correctly.

  8. Allow them to enjoy their snack(s).

  9. While they are eating, allow them to share stories of when they shared with one another and how it felt to share or be shared with.

  10. Explain you would like to hang up the blessing posters, but that you would like the class to decorate them first.

  11. Give one art supply per student.

  12. Explain that they each have a different art supply and you have even more. Tell them they can either use the one supply they have or share with each other, following God’s model, so that it will be more fun and everyone will have what they need or want.

  13. Remind them to be appreciative of those who share with them, and must be thankful and polite when asking to share.

  14. Ask the students if they know the word to let people know that you want to share, and explain that it is "PLEASE."

  15. Have them practice using "PLEASE" by turning to a neighbor and asking, "Will you please share your art supplies with me?"

  16. Ask them if they know what to answer when someone shares with them. Show them the poster which says "Thank You." Instruct them to turn to the classmate that shared with them and reply, "Thank you for sharing with me."

  17. Explain that they should all share art supplies with each other to decorate their poster(s) and anytime they want to borrow something, they must say please and thank-you.

  18. Divide the class into the same number of groups as there are posters. Explain to the students that they will cooperate with each other in decorating their poster. They will need to share not only the art supplies, but also the space around the poster and the area on the poster. Encourage them to ask the groups opinion about where they intend to decorate and what they intend to do. Remind them that the poster belongs to the whole group.

  19. Allow time for the groups to decorate the posters.

  20. Share posters and hang them up.

  21. Discuss why it was important to share and how good it felt to share.

  22. Teach them Barney’s "Please and Thank You Song" and remind them that these words are very important when it comes to sharing (See Bibliographical References).

Assessment: 

Students can be assessed based on their abilities to read and recite the blessings, their willingness to share supplies with others, and their use of "please" and "thank-you" when sharing.