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נוֹשֵׂא בְעֹל עִם חֲבֵרוֹ
Torah is acquired through… "lifting of a burden with one's friend” (Avot 6:6)
This year, students will be focusing on what it means to help carry the burden of their friend. “Carrying the burden” can mean understanding their friend’s perspective, appreciating differences, and standing up for what is right. There are two aspects to this: (1) being sensitive and (2) recognizing a burden that another person carries and then acting on it and helping them carry it.
Overarching Essential Questions:
Who is a true friend?
How can I be a good friend?
September:
Theme: Greet every person with a pleasant face
Essential Questions: How do I make people feel when I receive them pleasantly? How can we enter a new school year, greeting everyone with a smile? What can make this hard sometimes?
Book of the Month: Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
Jewish Studies Lesson: וֶהֱוֵי מְקַבֵּל אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת
Project: Practice greeting everyone with a smile each morning.
October:
Theme: Including everyone
Essential Questions: How does it feel to be left out? Why are some people left out of a group? What can we do to include people?
Book of the Month: Red by Jan De Kinder
Jewish Studies Lesson: eizeh hu chacham, halomaid mikol adam
November:
Theme: Appreciating Differences
Essential Questions: What are some special qualities about your friends? What makes you unique and different?
Book of the month: Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismnondy; Weird by Erin Frankel
Jewish Studies Lesson: B’nei Yisrael divided into 12 shevatim, each with its own unique job and qualities, and we need all shevatim in order to have a complete klal.
Project: Personal class puzzles for classroom doors
December/January:
Theme: Be an upstander!
Essential Questions: How does it feel when no one stands up for you? What does it take to stand up for someone else? Why is it important to stand up for people being treated badly?
Book of the month: Super Manny Stands Up by Kelly Dipucchio; Dare! by Erin Frankel
Jewish Studies Lesson: Maccabees were strong and stood up for their beliefs.
Project: Create school guidelines to prevent bullying
February:
Theme: Empathy
Essential Questions: What does empathy mean? How does it help me be a caring person?
Book of the month: Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick by Roz Rosenbluth
Jewish Studies Lesson: We are commanded to follow in Hashem’s ways - “VeHalachta B’drachav.” Just as Hashem is kind, patient, etc. to us (13 Middot of Rachamim), so too we need to be kind to others.
Project: Empathy training with psychology team in classes
March/April:
Theme: Havei Dan et Kol Adam L’kaf Zechut
Essential Questions: What might it feel like to walk in another person’s shoes? What has happened to you that made you wish someone else understood you better? How can we remind ourselves to judge others favorably in the moment?
Book of the month: Marlene, Marlene, Queen of Mean by Lara Embry and A.E. Mikesell
Jewish Studies Lesson: וֶהֱוֵי דָן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת
Project: Scenarios - practicing different situations of giving people the benefit of the doubt.
May:
Theme: Speech
Essential Questions: How does our speech make people feel? How can I use my words to make people feel good? What does it feel like to be teased?
Book of the month: Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal; Better Than You by Trudy Ludwig
Jewish Studies Lesson: during Sefirat Haomer we work on ourselves
Project: Lashon Tov campaign
June:
Theme: Believe in yourself
Essential Questions: How will I take my strengths into the new places I will be this summer? How can I have the courage to be empathetic and upstanding wherever I am? What kinds of people should I be friends with in my new environment (camp, next year)?
Book of the month: Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall; Tough by Erin Frankel
Project: Write a letter to yourself about what is important in a friend and how to be a good friend.
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