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Friday School Curriculum
The curriculum of The Friday School focuses on two themes:
- How do we live Jewish lives? How do we celebrate holidays and Shabbat? How do we mark the events in the Jewish lifecycle? What does Judaism teach us about how we should behave (mitzvot/tikkun alom)?
- What is the story of the Jewish people? Students will explore our beginnings in the ancient world, our experience in the Diaspora including the Holocaust (age appropriate only), and the creation of the modern state of Israel.
Our approach is pluralistic, recognizing the diverse understandings of Judaism of our members. We encourage children to acquire the tools that enable them to lead the Jewish lives that they and their families desire.
Two Year Cycles
Our curriculum is designed around two-year modules for our multi-grade classrooms and allows students to begin either year. Topics are revisited, with age-appropriate materials, as children mature, reflecting their expanded understanding.
Classroom curriculum is enhanced by weekly Shabbat celebrations and community learning time, family holiday celebrations and special intersession (January) projects.
Hebrew is begun with reading readiness as part of the K/1 curriculum. Thereafter, families may elect to have their students continue with an hour of Hebrew instruction each week. Students may enter the elective Hebrew program at any time after 1st grade, though it is recommended that they begin in 2nd or 3rd grade. The Hebrew curriculum begins with phonics. After mastering Hebrew-reading skills, students are introduced to Hebrew both as the language of prayer for the Jewish people and also as a modern language.
Grades |
Year “A” Topics * |
Year “B” Topics * |
K/1 |
Holidays, Torah Stories and Hebrew Reading Readiness |
Introduction to Mitzvot, Shabbat and Hebrew Reading Readiness |
2/3 |
The beginnings of the Jewish people |
The Land and People of Israel, Mitzvot |
4/5 |
History of the Diaspora, Sukkot, Purim |
Being a Mensch (how should a Jew behave), American Jewish History |
6/7 |
Jewish Holidays and Lifecycle |
Modern Jewish history, Doing Mitzvot |
* Does not include the Hebrew elective hour (see “Hebrew” above for description)