REVIEW TIME

When a unit of work is completed one always reviews. Likewise when a project is carried out over a period of time it is valuable to review what was achieved. The cycle of holidays draws to a close at the end of May or the beginning of June. At least one lesson should be spent reviewing what was achieved in this ongoing project. Additional project-related review activities can also provide a purpose for those end of year lessons where you are faced with half a class or an extra class.

Time spent on checking that pupil portfolios are complete and ready to be handed in is worth doing at this point. A checklist of what should be included can be drawn up and handed out to the pupils. The checklist below can be adapted to suit your class and what you required.

PORTFOLIOS

Put a check (√) next to each item that is already in your portfolio. Add those items you have forgotten to include in your portfolio.

Title page – make sure your name and class is on this page.

Table of contents.

Activity related to Hagei Tishri.

Activity related to Hanukkah-the Festival of Lights.

Activity related to Tu B’shvat – the New Year of Trees.

Activity related to Purim – the Festival of Lots.

Activity related to Pesach – Passover.

Activity related to Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Memorial Day.

Activity related to Yom Ha’atzmaut – Independence Day.

Activity related to Lag B’Omer – the 33^rd day of the Omer.

Activity related to Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day.

Activity related to Shavuot – the Festival of Weeks.

Activity related to “Review time.”

Another summary activity is for the pupils to evaluate their work. This can either be oral or written. A form for the pupils to complete could look like this.

This year we have learnt about different holidays.

Some of the holidays we learnt about were ___________________

______________________________________________________

The holiday I especially liked learning about was ______________, because _______________________________________________ .

I liked / did not like learning about the holidays because __________

______________________________________________________

I liked / did not like collecting things in the portfolio because ______

______________________________________________________

It is important that you read the introduction in order to put the 2 activities above and those that follow in their correct framework.

REVIEW ACTIVITIES.

Title: Words, words, words.

Level: All grades.

Materials: Pen and paper.

Aims:

-to review lexical items taught over the year.

Description:

Start the class by playing Hangman with the title OUR FESTIVALS.

Brainstorm with the pupils for a list of the festivals learnt about over the year.

Then have the pupils write the title vertically in their notebooks. For each letter they have to think of at least three words. (The number of words can be decided by you). Designate whether you want the words to be connected to the holidays listed on the blackboard, to subject areas studied over the year, or to parts of speech.

For their portfolio they can choose one word for each letter and write a sentence using the word. If you have some time to use at the end of the lesson, you can have them make words from the letters in the title.

Title: Numbers and more numbers.

Level: Grade 3/4.

Materials: Worksheet (Numbers in the Jewish Year), flashcards of the months of the year and the names of the holidays.

Aims:

-to review the numbers.

-to review global reading of the Jewish months and the names of the holidays.

-to practise listening skills.

Description:

Start the class by counting in unison or by singing a number song that you taught earlier (e.g. Ten Little Indians, Ten Green Bottles.)

Ask them how many months are in the Jewish Year and brainstorm to list the months. Write (or stick flashcards) the months on the blackboard. Brainstorm to list the holidays in each month. Also write (put) these on the blackboard.

Your blackboard should look like this:

Tishri – Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, Succot,

Heshvan

Kislev – Hanukkah

Tevet

Shvat – Tu B’Shvat

Adar – Purim

Nissan – Passover

Iyar – Independence day, Lag B’Omer, Jerusalem Day

Sivan – Shavuot

Tammuz

Av

Elul

Then read them the following: “ In the Jewish Calendar the days of the month are numbered according to the Hebrew alphabet. Each letter has a numerical value. For example אּ = 1 and כּ = 20. ”

Ask the pupils which festivals have a numerical value? (Expect answer – Tu B’Shvat and Lag B’Omer. Some may add Tisha B’Av, Tenth of Tevet, and/or Seventeenth of Tammuz.) Hand out worksheet and work together with pupils. As you read out a fact they have to write the number used next to the holiday. For example if you say “On Shabbat we light two candles.” The pupils would write 2 next to “Shabbat.”

Facts to read out (the numbers that the pupils need to write down are underlined.) Where necessary translate a word into Hebrew.

Rosh Hashannah is two days long both in Israel and in the Diaspora.

On the last night of Hanukkah we light eight candles.

The number fifteen is in the name Tu B’Shvat.

We eat matzoh for seven days during Passover.

The number thirty-three is in the name Lag B’Omer.

On Yom Kippur we fast for twenty-five hours.

Shavuot has four different names.

On Holocaust Day we remember the six million Jews who died.

Check the answers. Then challenge the pupils to come up with a number fact for the holidays that have no number next to them.

Activity Numbers in the Jewish Year.

Listen carefully to your teacher. Write the number said next to the festival being talked about. Not every festival will have a number.

Hanukkah Holocaust Day

Independence Day Jerusalem Day.

Lag B’Omer Passover.

Purim Rosh Hashannah

Shavuot Succot

Tu B’Shvat Yom Kippur

Title: People.

Level: Grade 4/5.

Materials: Worksheet on next page (People and the holidays), flashcards of the names of the holidays.

Aims:

-to review the names of the holidays.

-to review facts and names connected to the festivals.

-to practise listening skills.

-to practise letter formation.

Description:

Start the class by playing Hangman with the title OUR FESTIVALS.

Brainstorm with the pupils for a list of the festivals learnt about over the year. Put the flashcards on the blackboard. Have your pupils arrange them alphabetically by writing them in their notebooks. (This is good practice to check that the pupils are forming their letters correctly.) Return to the flashcards on the blackboard and elicit names of people connected to each holiday.

Have pupils do matching exercise and place it in their portfolios.

Title: Customs mix up.

Level: Grade 4/5.

Materials: Worksheet : What goes where?

Aims:

-to review information about the festivals which was taught over the year.

Description: Start the class by playing Hangman with the title OUR FESTIVALS.

Brainstorm with the pupils for a list of the festivals learnt about over the year. Put this list on the blackboard (can be written or flashcards used.) Go around the class eliciting answers to the question “What do we do on this festival?”

Hand out the worksheet (What goes where?)

Correct and place in portfolio.

Activity PEOPLE AND THE HOLIDAYS

Match the following people to the holiday they are known for. A person can be connected to more than one holiday. Write them next to the holidays below.

People:

Aaron Abraham Antiochus Bar Kochba

Boaz David David Ben Gurion Esther

Haman Hitler Issac Jacob

Jonah Joseph Judah Maccabee King Mordechai Moses Naomi Pharaoh

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai Rabbi Akiva Ruth

Theodore Herzl Ahasuerus Vashti

Write the people next to the correct holiday.

Hanukkah

Holocaust Day

Independence Day

Lag B’Omer

Passover

Purim

Shavuot

Succot

Yom Kippur

Answers: Hanukkah – Antiochus, Judah Maccabee,

Holocaust Day – Hitler

Independence Day-Theodore Herzl, David Ben Gurion

Lag B’Omer – Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Bar Kochba,

Passover – Pharaoh, Moses

Purim - Haman, Esther, Mordechai, King Ahasuerus, Vashti

Shavuot – Ruth, Naomi, Boaz

Succot – Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, David (7 ushpezin)

Yom Kippur – Jonah

Activity WHAT GOES WHERE?

Here is a list of things we do on the holidays. Write each one next to the correct holiday in the table below.

Build a succah. Eat dairy products. Eat doughnuts. Eat Matzot.

Fast. Get drunk. Light candles every evening. Make bonfires.

Put on costumes. Read the Haggadah. Sound the shofar. Watch parades in the street. Wish people a happy new year.

Hanukkah

Rosh Hashannah

Independence Day

Lag B’Omer

Passover

Purim

Shavuot

Succot

Yom Kippur

Answers to "What goes where?"

Hanukkah - Eat doughnuts. Light candles every evening.

Rosh Hashannah - Sound the shofar. Wish people a happy new year.

Independence Day - Watch parades in the street.

Lag B’Omer - Make bonfires.

Passover - Eat Matzot. Read the Haggadah.

Purim - Put on costumes. Get drunk.

Shavuot - Eat dairy products.

Succot - Build a succah.

Yom Kippur - Fast

Title: Concentration.

Level: Grade 4/5/6.

Materials: Concentration cards, flashcards of festival names.

Aims:

-to review information about the festivals which was taught over the year.

-to practise global reading skills.

Description:

Start the class by playing Hangman with the title OUR FESTIVALS.

Brainstorm with the pupils for a list of the festivals learnt about over the year. Put this list on the blackboard (can be written or flashcards used.) Go around the class eliciting factual information about each festival. Play the game concentration. This can be done frontally with the whole class or each pair of pupils can make and play their own game. The following 20 cards are mixed up and placed face down. A pupil chooses 2 cards which are turned over. The aim is to find a match. If a match is made the pupil has another turn. If a match is not made the cards are turned back over and another pupil plays a turn.

Activity Concentration

Cards for Concenetration game.

Rosh Hashannah	We go to the synagogue and hear the shofar.	Yom Kippur	We do not eat or drink for 25 hours.
Tu B’Shvat	We plant trees	Purim	Haman tried to kill all the Jews.
Pesach	We eat matza.	Independence Day	We wave Israeli flags.
Shavuot	We eat dairy foods.	Jerusalem Day	In 1967 Jerusalem became a united city.
Hanukkah	We light the menorah.	Succot	You build a sucah

Title: Customs mix up.

Level: Grade 5/6.

Materials: Worksheet (Customs Mix Up)

Aims:

-to review information about the festivals which was taught over the year.

-to practise reading comprehension.

Description:

Start the class by playing Hangman with the title OUR FESTIVALS.

Brainstorm with the pupils for a list of the festivals learnt about over the year. Put this list on the blackboard (can be written or flashcards used.) Go around the class eliciting factual information about each festival. Hand out the worksheet. Correct and place in portfolio.

Answers: Customs Mix Up

1. On Passover we eat matzot.

2. On Independence Day we sing and dance.

3. On Yom Kippur we pray and fast all day.

4. On Purim we read the story of Esther.

5. On Holocaust Day we remember the Jews killed by the Nazis.

6. On Hanukkah we eat doughnuts.

7. On Lag B’Omer we light bonfires.

8. On Rosh Hashannah we go to synagogue and hear the shofar.

9. On Tu B’Shvat we plant trees.

10. On Shavuot we eat dairy foods.

Activity CUSTOMS MIX UP

There is a mistake in each of the following sentences.

Correct the mistakes and rewrite each sentence.

1. On Hanukkah we eat matzot.

2. On Holocaust Day we sing and dance.

3. On Independence Day we pray and fast all day.

4. On Lag B’Omer we read the story of Esther.

5. On Passover we remember the Jews killed by the Nazis.

6. On Purim we eat doughnuts.

8. On Rosh Hashannah we light bonfires.

8. On Tu B’Shvat we go to synagogue and hear the shofar.

9. On Shavuot we plant trees.

10. On Yom Kippur we eat dairy foods.

Title: Trivia.

Level: Grade 5/6.

Materials: Questions, flashcards of holiday names.

Aims:

-to review information about the festivals which was taught over the year.

-to practise oral and/or writing skills.

Description:

Start the class by playing Hangman with the title OUR FESTIVALS.

Brainstorm with the pupils for a list of the festivals learnt about over the year. Put this list on the blackboard (can be written or flashcards used.)

Divide the class into groups and ask trivia questions related to the holiday.

Organization : This can be done in several ways.

1. Let the pupils choose a holiday and ask a related question. Group receives a point for correct answer.

2. Choose a question at random and ask it to the class. First group to answer correctly receives a point.

3. Let each group choose a secretary. Choose a question at random and ask it. The secretary of the group must write the answer down. At the end of the quiz session take in the papers. Go over the answers orally and announce the winning group next lesson (after you have checked answers at home!)

For individual rather than group work choose one of the following options:

1. Call questions randomly and have all pupils write answers. Correct work.

2. Type up 10 – 15 of the questions and have pupils answer in writing.

2. Paste questions on workcards. Let pupils take a card and answer in writing. When completed allow them to take another card. Set a time limit for this activity.

Questions for use: Here are sets of questions which can be used. They are arranged according to the different festivals.

Rosh Hashannah Questions.

1. Is the following statement true or false?

Rosh Hashannah begins the observance of the 10 days of atonement.

2. Is the following statement true or false?

Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur are known as the High Holy Days.

3. How many days does Rosh Hashannah last?

4. What do you throw into the water after you say “tashlich” prayers?

5. Why do you dip apple in honey?

Yom Kippur Questions.

1. How long do you fast for on Yom Kippur?

2. What do you wish somebody on Yom Kippur?

3. When is Yom Kippur?

4. Which Bible story is read on Yom Kippur?

5. What is the name of the special prayer which starts the Yom Kippur services?

Succot Questions.

1. Is the following statement true or false?

On Shmini Atzeret we pray for rain during the coming year.

2. What is a “succah?”

3. Is the following statement true or false?

Succot is not a harvest festival.

4. Is the following statement true or false?

“Ushpezim” is the Aramaic word for guests.

5. What does Simhat Torah celebrate?

Hanukkah Questions.

1. What is the name of the Hanukkah toy that you spin?

2. When does Hanukkah start?

3. Is the following statement true or false?

Over 2000 years ago the Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV tried to force Greek culture upon the peoples in his territory.

4. How many candles does a menorah hold?

5. Name a special food associated with the Festival of Lights.

Tu B’Shvat Questions.

1. Is Tu B’Shvat mentioned in the Bible?

2. When is Tu B’Shvat?

3. What do you do on Tu B’Shvat?

4. Which is the first tree to blossom in Israel?

5. Complete the sentence – Tu B’Shvat is the new year of ________.

Purim Questions.

1. What book is read on Purim?

2. Purim is the plural form of the Hebrew word “pur”. What does it mean?

3. Name three of the Purim characters.

4. What do you eat on Purim?

5. In which Hebrew month do we celebrate Purim?

Passover Questions.

1. What is the name of the special meal eaten on Passover?

2. What is the name of the special book read on Passover?

3. Is a pharaoh a president, king, principal or slave?

4. Which sea was parted so the Jews could cross it?

5. Why is this festival called “Passover”?

Holocaust Day Questions.

1. What did Jews have to wear to show they were Jewish?

2. When did the Holocaust take place?

3. How many Jews were killed?

4. Where were many Jews sent?

5. When did the “Night of Broken Glass” (Kristallnacht) take place?

Independence Day Questions.

1. When did Israel become an independent modern state?

2. What is the name of the national anthem? Translate the name.

3. What is the day before Independence Day called?

4. Name 4 of the countries which invaded Israel in 1948.

5. Who wrote the Israeli national anthem?

Lag B’Omer Questions.

1. Is the following statement true or false?

Lag B’Omer is the 35^th day of the Omer period.

2. What was the name of Rabbi Akiva’s wife?

3. Is the following statement true or false?

On Lag B’omer the plague did not kill young Jewish scholars.

4. Name two people connected to the Lag B’Omer holiday.

5. Where is Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai buried?

Jerusalem Day Questions.

1. In what years was Jerusalem a divided city?

2. When did the British leave Palestine?

3. When did the Israeli forces break through Lions’ Gate and enter the Old City?

4. What animal appears on the Jerusalem emblem?

5. Who first made Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish people?

Shavuot Questions.

1.What book is read on Shavuot?

2. Give another 2 names for Shavuot.

3. What special food do we eat on Shavuot?

4. Where did the Jewish people receive the Ten Commandments?

5. Why is Shavuot called “Shavuot?”

General Questions.

1. Which festival is connected with the Book of Life?

2. Name two different new years in the Jewish Calendar.

3. Choose 3 festivals. For each one say which special food is associated with it.

4. According to the Torah all Jews are required to go to Jerusalem on the 3 major festivals. Name the 3 festivals.

5. How many days are there between Passover and Shavuot?

Rosh Hashannah Answers.

1. True

2. True

3. 2

4. bread crumbs

5. So you will have a sweet year.

Yom Kippur Answers.

1. 25 hours

2. “G’mar Hatimah Tovah” – May you end this day with a good signature.

3. 10^th Tishri.

4. Jonah (and the Whale).

5. Kol Nidre – All Vows

Succot Answers.

1. True

2. A temporary hut.

3. False.

4. True.

5. The yearly completion and restarting of the reading of the Torah.

Hanukkah Answers.

1. a dreidel (spinning top)

2. 25^th Kislev

3. true.

4. 9

5. doughnuts or potato pancakes (latkes)

Tu B’Shvat Answers.

1. No.

2. 15^th Shvat

3. plant trees

4. the almond tree.

5. trees.

Purim Answers.

1. The Book of Esther.

2. lot(s).

3. Haman, Esther, Mordechai, Ahasuerus

4. Haman’s Ears (Hamentaschen)

5. Adar

Passover Answers.

1. Seder.

2. Haggadah.

3. king.

4. the Red Sea.

5. The festival is called “Passover”, because G-d passed over the Jewish homes and did not kill their first born sons.

Holocaust day Answers.

1. a yellow star.

2. during World War II.

3. 6 million.

4. concentration camps / ghettos / slave labour camps

5. November 1938.

Independence Day Answers.

1. 1948

2. Hatikvah – the Hope

3. Yom Hazikaron – Remembrance Day

4. Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Saudia Arabia.

5. Naphtali Herz Imber

Lag B’Omer Answers.

1. false – it is the 33^rd.

2. Rachel

3. true

4. Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Bar Kochba

5. Mt. Meron

Jerusalem Day Answers.

1. 1948-1967

2. May 15^th 1948.

3. 28^th Iyar 5727 – 8^th June 1967

4. a lion.

5. King David.

Shavuot Answers.

1. The Book of Ruth.

2. Hag Ha-asif (The festival of the Harvest) Hag Habikkurim (The Festival of the First Fruits) Hag Matan Torah (The Festival of Receiving the Torah)

3. dairy foods.

4. Mt. Sinai

5. Because it falls seven weeks after Passover.

General Answers.

1. The New Year.

2. Rosh Hashannah / Tu B’Shvat

3. Rosh Hashannah – apple and honey, carrots, fish head

Hanukkah – doughnuts, latkes

Tu B’Shvat – dried fruits

Purim – Haman’s ears

Passover - matza

Shavuot – dairy foods

4. Succot, Passover and Shavuot.

5. 50

Title: Double word search and code.

Level: Grade 6.

Materials: Double word search and code worksheet.

Aims:

-to practice recognition of the holiday names without a wordbank.

-to read and follow instructions.

-to use a group of letters to build a sentence.

Description:

Hand out the worksheet and go over the instructions.

As pupils complete the worksheet have them choose one of the holidays and either write a poem/song about it or prepare a fact sheet about it.

Answers:

12 holidays – Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, Succot, Simhat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B’Shvat, Purim, Passover, Holocaust Day, Lag B’Omer, Jerusalem Day, Shavuot

4 hidden words: country, flag, fireworks, state

Missing holiday: Independence Day

Sentence: There are twelve months in the Hebrew calendar.

Activity Double word search and code.

In the word search below you have words going in all directions:

Start by finding the title HOLIDAYS.

Now look for 12 holidays celebrated by Jews all over the world. List them here:-

1. _______________ 2. _______________ 3. ________________

4. _______________ 5. _______________ 6. ________________

7. _______________ 8. _______________ 9. ________________

10. _______________ 11. _______________ 12. ________________

An important holiday is missing. However, there are four hidden words which all connect to this holiday. Write the words here:

1. ______________ 2. _______________

3. _______________ 4. ________________

Now try and guess the holiday. Write your guess here: __________________

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There are 38 letters not used. Write them on a sheet of paper. They make up a sentence about the number of months in the year. Can you work the sentence out and write it here?

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