Lesson Plan on What Does G-d Ask of You: Part One

When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices. This is one of many lessons we will be sharing on teaching Judaic content, lesson planning, models of teaching, differentiated and individualized instruction and learning activities designed to transform the classroom into a Jewish community of cooperative learners. The title of this lesson is “What Does G-d Ask of You?”. Since there are 13 elements in each lesson plan we will divide this lesson plan into two parts. Here is the first part of this lesson on the question: “What does G-d Ask of You?”

Title of Lesson: What Does G-d Ask of You?

Enduring Jewish Knowledge Rationale for the Lesson: Enduring Jewish knowledge such as the Torah and the Talmud contain a body of wisdom that guides a person regarding how to lead a righteous and meaningful life.

Essential Question/s: What is enduring Jewish knowledge? How do I find enduring Jewish knowledge? What makes Jewish knowledge enduring?

Assessment/s: (Initial, ongoing, and final activities designed to measure what the student has learned)

Students individually, in pairs, via classroom discussion and as a homework assignment discuss the answers to these essential questions. (1) What is enduring Jewish knowledge? (2) How do I find enduring Jewish knowledge? (3) What makes Jewish knowledge enduring?

Objective/Learning Outcome: (What the student is supposed to learn from this lesson) In his or her own words, the student will be able to define, explain, and give an example of enduring Jewish knowledge.

Name of the Active Learning Procedure: Random Learning Pairs

Anticipatory Set: (Motivation activity that prepares students for the objective/ learning outcome)

Suggested Motivational Statement:

Tell your students that within parsha Ekev it says: V'atah, Yisrael, mah Adonai sho'eil mei'imach? The translation is: "And now, Israel, what does G-d ask of you?" Later in Ekev the question is answered with this statement: "That you have awe of the L-rd your G-d, and walk in all of G-d's ways and love G-d, and serve the L-rd your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul."

Introductory Activity: (Initial exercise to focus on the objective/learning outcome)

Then pose these two questions to your class: (1) What does this statement in parasha Ekev (see above under suggested motivational statement) mean to you? (2) What does G-d expect of us?

On the next post we will share the second part of the lesson entitled, “What Does G-d Ask of You?”