using an example, students are able to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact. They describe and graph data to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth. Students develop an understanding of the idea that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water. Using models, students can describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment and that energy in animals’ food was once energy from the sun. Students are expected to develop an understanding of patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky. JEWISH STUDIES In Fifth Grade the students are [re]introduced to the Chumash beginning with an overview of the content and context of the Book of Books. This class is based on the Standards and Benchmarks of the Avi Chai Foundation, namely that students will become independent and astute readers of the biblical text in Hebrew. Students will view Tanakh as the formative narrative of the Jewish People – past, present, and future. They learn the skills necessary to understand the text in its original language. They become both independent and collaborative learners of the Torah through individual and chevruta (partnership) work, translating Biblical Hebrew text into English. In Fifth Grade, we follow up on what they learned in Fourth Grade (the Exodus from Egypt) and focus on the events surrounding the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, including the establishment of a system of justice and delegation, the context of the Revelation, the Ten Commandments themselves, the building and destruction of the Golden Calf, and the roles of each of the personalities in all of these events. The overarching theme is leadership, and the students learn how they can derive inspiration from our holy texts to be better leaders and people. Fifth Graders at Levine Academy are challenged in Synagogue Skills to learn about the services and how to lead the services. Specifically, the curriculum focuses on the prayers of Shabbat and holidays. Additionally, the students learn about major themes and practices of the holidays. Students who would like to learn how to read Torah and Trop (liturgical cantillation) are given the option to learn this important skill, while other students get to focus on other parts of the synagogue service. Additionally, in Mishna class, they are introduced to the study of Torah She’beal Peh (Oral Torah). They are introduced to the study of the Oral Torah through the “Bonayich” curriculum. This curriculum utilizes both traditional and modern pedagogical methods. The Mishnayot are introduced through shinun (chanting), which is the traditional method by which Mishna has been taught and learned. The two main books of Mishna that the students concentrate on are Massechet Brachot, which focuses on blessings and prayer and Massechet Avot, which focuses on Jewish ethics. In these Massechtot students learn the dialectical nature of the Oral Torah and they engage in the dialectic and debate of Jewish law and ethics.
MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 5 - 8 | CURRICULUM GUIDE
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