EMEK HEBREW ACADEMY TEICHMAN FAMILY TORAH CENTER 15365 MAGNOLIA BLVD SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91403
FIFTH GRADE CURRICULUM OUTLINE 2012/2013 TORAH STUDIES – RABBI MOSHE ZUCKER
Tefillah: Building on what the students have learned in the previous five years of school we will continue to prepare them to master all of Shachris and Mincha. The final grade will be based on three parts which I like to call the ABC’s of davening: Attendance: Being here on time and ready to daven. = 33% Behavior: Behaving appropriately for davening. = 33% Cooperation: Following along and davening. = 33% Kriah - Reading: We will be following the Kriah curriculum, which is a complete map of all reading skills – from basic letter & vowel recognition to special rules such as sheva nach/nach and sight words. In addition there will be three days a week that we will be practicing our reading through the use of Tehillim. Kriah will be assessed at different intervals throughout the school year. Chumash / Rashi: We will be learning the first three Parshios of Sefer Shemos, (Shemos, V’Eira, Bo) which discuss the story of the Egyptian exile and the eventual Exodus. In addition to knowing the content of these three Parshios we will be spending a lot of the time working on improving our chumash and rashi skills. We identify Shorashim, prefixes and suffixes and build up the fluency to be able to read those pesukim Page 1 of 5
confidently from inside the Chumash. By the end of the year, the boys will be able to read Rashi’s and translate them directly from the Chumash. Written assignments will reinforce the lessons learned from the pesukim. We will do a lot of activities (acting out parts, projects etc.) and learn many interesting midrashim along with the content of these Parshios. We will also work on integrating technology into our Chumash lesson by having the boys work in the computer lab on a project having to do with the Chumash topic that we are studying. I am very strong believer in the power of independent/group learning. The method in teaching chumash is to have the boys prepare the pesukim with a partner and then present it in front of the class. After we have gone through the preparation stage we move on to learning the pesukim with the preselected Rashis as a class. Homework: Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday/Shabbos will be review homework. The boys will be responsible to have a parent sign their planner. In addition to the review there will be worksheet that follows each unit of Pesukim
which will include
with a few translation words and questions that are both skilled based and content based for the boys to complete. At the end of each worksheet there is a line for you, the parent, to sign confirming that in addition to doing the worksheet your son also reviewed and knows the material inside the Chumash/Rashi. Test: In order to promote retention of the Chumash tests are given after every Perek (Chapter). The questions on the test are usually taken from the homework sheets. Final grade: is calculated based on two parts: A) Tests/ Quizzes = 50% (20% Oral and 30% Written) B) Homework / Class work and participation = 50% Halacha: We will be learning the Halachos that pertain to the Yomim Tovim (Jewish Holidays) as each holiday approaches. Each student will receive a “fill in the blank packet” to be completed as per my instructions. We will also be studying Halachos that pertain to other areas of Jewish life. After Sukkos we will be incorporating an exciting Shmiras Halashon Program under the auspices of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation.
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Test: After each section there will be a review sheet from which the students may review for the test. Final grade: is calculated based on two parts: A) Homework / Class work and participation = 55% B) Tests = 45% Navi: This year we are studying Sefer Shoftim (The book of Judges). I use handouts in which the students fill out the blanks with the missing pieces to the story. We will BE”H finish the entire Sefer by the year’s end! Test: Test will be given after every one or two Perakim (Chapters). Before each test is given, there will be a review sheet from which the students will study. Final grade: is calculated based on two parts: A) Tests = 55% B) Homework / Class work and participation = 45% Mishna: This year we will be studying Masechta (tractate) Sukkos which discusses the holiday of Sukkos and all the laws that pertain to it. Over the past few years the method I have found most successful in the teaching of Mishnayos has been to give the students translation sheets so that they can have from what to review the material. In addition to being required to know the Mishnayos inside, the boys have been given an extra challenge to help promote the learning of Mishnayos. I have named this challenge MISHNAYOS BAAL PEH. For each Mishnah that the student does by heart he will receive an award card noting his achievement. Homework: Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday/Shabbos will be internal review of the Mishnah/Mishnayos for homework. The boys will be responsible to have a parent sign their planner. Test: In order to promote retention of the Mishnah tests are given after every three or four Mishnayos. The questions on the test are usually taken from the homework sheets. Final grade: is calculated based on two parts: Page 3 of 5
A) Tests = 50% (20% Oral and 30% Written) B) Homework / Class work and participation = 50% Gemara: This is the year when we start to learn Gemara. We begin after Pesach with the fourth Perek in Masechta Brachos, Perek Tefilas HaShachar. The goal is to expose the children to the beauty of Gemara and to hone their analytical thinking skills. Parshat Hashavua: The study of the weekly Parsha (Torah Portion) is of great importance for the growth of the children in knowledge of the Torah. Therefore we study the Parsha weekly, with Q & A sheets, usually followed by a short quiz on the information on Monday of the following week. Final grade: Entirely based on the weekly quizzes. It is calculated by dividing the number of total amount points a student could have received on the weekly quizzes by how many he actually accumulated. Yediot Klaliot: This is a school-wide program that gives the students the general knowledge of Jewish terms, history and customs. At the end of the year the students are tested to promote retention of this very important information. There will be practice quizzes/tests throughout the year. The subjects that we cover this year are: JEWISH MONTHS OF THE YEAR, 6 BLESSINGS BEFORE EATING, 3 FATHERS & 4 MOTHERS, THE 5 BOOKS OF TORAH, NUMERICAL VALUE OF THE ALEF BEIS, DAYS OF THE WEEK IN HEBREW (בּורא נפשות& על המחיה & אשר יצר )בע"פ, THE THREE MAIN HOLIDAYS, 12 TRIBES NAMES OF THE PRAYERS, 6 DAYS OF CREATION, 7 SPECIES, 10 PLAGUES 4 MAIN FAST, WHY THEY WERE ESTABLISHED, 3 BLESSINGS FOR LIGHTNING, THUNDER, RAINBOW, 4 PARSHIOS, 6 ORDERS OF THE MISHNAH, HOLIDAYS AND TIMES OF THE YEAR Page 4 of 5
10 COMMANDMENTS, 5 MEGILLOS, 8 BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS 7 FEMALE PROPHETS ACRONYM OF WORDS #1 (basic level), JEWISH IDENTITY #1 (Prayer) Final grade: is calculated based on two parts: A) Tests = 70% B) Class work and participation = 30%
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