The Kohelet Prize Database

Database Entries Tagged with: integration

Maimonides Integrated Connections

Three interconnected gears with the letters M.I.C. representing Maimonides Integrated Connections. This encourages students and teachers to find cross-curricular connections, bridging various subjects and disciplines, and integrating classroom learning with real life experiences.

By: Rabbi Mendel Rubin from Maimonides Hebrew Day School

Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Elementary school, Middle school, High school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Computer Science, Engineering, English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Foreign Language, Gemara, Halacha, History, Ivrit, Literature, Math, Mishnah, Music, Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Physical Education/Health, Science, Social and Emotional Learning, Social Studies, Tanach, Technology, Tefila

Pedagogy: Constructivist, Hevruta Learning, IBL - inquiry based learning, Language Immersion, Montessorri, PBL - project based learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Soulful Education, Wholebrain Teaching, UBD - understanding by design, 21st Century Skills

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The Shefa Revolution: Strategizing Judaic Studies

To access Torah’s rich narratives, students require solidified language skills and strategies. At Shefa, reading comprehension and writing strategies explicitly taught in ELA classes provide a springboard to dive into Torah. This Judaic Studies curriculum created for Shefa is a replicable model for cross-curricular integration and differentiation.

By: Shulamit Roth from Shefa School

Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Elementary school, Middle school, High school

Subject(s) of entry: English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Literature, Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Tanach

Pedagogy: Language Immersion, 21st Century Skills

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Why do we research and look for alternatives?

Why should Kitah Dalet learn about alternative energy? What do our Jewish Texts teach us about G-d’s creation, Earth? How can children begin to research, build, and educate other students about alternative sources? The Alternative Energy Project is an interactive and engaging curriculum that focus on both responsibility and abstract thinking.

By: Renee Fine, Vanina Sandel from Yavneh Day School

Grade(s): 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Elementary school, Middle school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Engineering, English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Science, Social Studies, Tanach, Technology, literature

Pedagogy: Blended Learning, Design-Thinking Model, Hevruta Learning, IBL - inquiry based learning, PBL - project based learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Socratic Method, Soulful Education, 21st Century Skills

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Am I My Brother’s Keeper? From The Torah to S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders

You Be The Judge: What does Jewish Law say should happen to Ponyboy Curtis? An exploration and analysis of S.E. Hinton’s American Classic, The Outsiders

By: Jenessa Scwhartz, Jamie Zimmer from Yavneh Day School

Grade(s): 6, 7, 8, 9, Middle school, High school

Subject(s) of entry: English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Halacha, Mishnah, Social and Emotional Learning, Social Studies, Tanach, literature

Pedagogy: Constructivist, Hevruta Learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Wholebrain Teaching, 21st Century Skills

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An Interdisciplinary Study of the Lenape People

SW’s aim is for students to cultivate their identity as global citizens who recognize and respect cultural similarities and differences among kol yoshvei tevel (all who dwell on Earth). Our third-grade study of the Lenape tribe showcases that effort through an integrated curriculum incorporating hands-on, project-based learning and exploration.

By: Elise Goldman, Alyssa Gioio, Sara Herbrand, Denise McGinnity, Glenn Simonelli from Schechter Westchester

Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Elementary school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Computer Science, Engineering, English/ Writing/ Language Arts, History, Math, Science, Social Studies, Technology, literature

Pedagogy: Blended Learning, Experiential Education, IBL - inquiry based learning, PBL - project based learning, Wholebrain Teaching, 21st Century Skills

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Finding Meaning: Prayer Through Reflection and Integration

We launched an initiative in our Lower School where the General Studies teachers collaborated with their Judaic Studies counterparts to help students make meaningful connections between themes that were being studied across both disciplines in the second and fourth grades and themes that emerge throughout their daily Tefilla.

By: Tali Seinfeld, Tami Teller from Ramaz School

Grade(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, Elementary school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Computer Science, English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Ivrit, Music, Social and Emotional Learning, Social Studies, Tanach, Technology, Tefila, literature

Pedagogy: Language Immersion, Social and Emotional Learning

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STEM Education and Crosscutting Concepts

The Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School has developed a model of STEM integration with general and Judaic studies using the Next Generation Science Standard's Crosscutting Concepts (CCC). This model of integration is the only one in the nation and is the subject of research and collaboration with The George Washington University.

By: Alexis Soffler, Jennifer Rittberg, Eve Margol, Michal Friedman, MollyBeth Rushfield, Nanci Henoch, Hillary Gruber, Andrea Washington, Sharon Barad, Erin Magee, Jessie Nathans from The Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School

Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Elementary school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Computer Science, Engineering, English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Halacha, History, Ivrit, Math, Mishnah, Music, Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Science, Social and Emotional Learning, Social Studies, Tanach, Technology, Tefila, literature

Pedagogy: Constructivist, Experiential Education, IBL - inquiry based learning, PBL - project based learning, 21st Century Skills

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Integrated English 11/Media Arts: A Failed Attempt to Institute a Progressive Educational Program into a College Preparatory High School

There is hubris in imagining that just because we developed a program that would lead to enhanced student learning that it should happen. But we did do our best to identify a problem, recruit faculty and students, present funding opportunities, and further the school mission in the areas of Judaic integration, integrity, and personalized learning.

By: Roger Blonder, Tony Soltis from de Toledo High School

Grade(s): 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Middle school, High school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Social and Emotional Learning, Social Studies, Technology

Pedagogy: Constructivist, Design-Thinking Model, Experiential Education, IBL - inquiry based learning, PBL - project based learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Soulful Education, 21st Century Skills

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Shimshon Mistook His Wife For a Hat: Integrated Psychology-Tanach Project

Students study topics in psychology and integrate new concepts with an analysis of the characters and plot from a Biblical text to write a modern, psychological Midrash. Students use social media to contact experts in the field, then work in teams to deploy new understanding to construct and refine “interventions” for the Biblical character.

By: Evan Wolkenstein from JCHS of the Bay

Grade(s): 10, 11, 12, High school

Subject(s) of entry: English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Tanach, literature

Pedagogy: Design-Thinking Model, Flipped Learning, PBL - project based learning, 21st Century Skills

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DASH Weeks

DASH is a comprehensive school wide study of a topic that is carried out in every classroom, Judaic and secular, as well as in the arts. It is cross grade, cross curricular and integrated. The school has now done two DASH units, one last spring and one in November 2017. This fall's topic, "Water: Source of Life" was engaging and exciting.

By: Gerri Chizeck, Debbie Kanter, Sarah Greenberg, Sam Spinrad, Kim Berry from Levey Day School

Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Elementary school, Middle school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Foreign Language, History, Ivrit, Math, Music, Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Science, Social Studies, literature

Pedagogy: Constructivist, Experiential Education, IBL - inquiry based learning, 21st Century Skills

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Full-Year Integrated Chumash and Navi Curriculum

To make the study of the Book of Deuteronomy more exciting and relatable to students, this entry integrates the book of Deuteronomy to the book of Kings over the span of the year thereby merging the students’ Chumash and Navi (Prophets) curricula. Through “Mental Velcro” students see how the theoretical messages of Deuteronomy come to life.

By: Elana Trombka from Bi-Cultural Day School

Grade(s): 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Middle school, High school

Subject(s) of entry: Gemara, Ivrit, Tanach, Tefila

Pedagogy: Soulful Education, UBD - understanding by design

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Now You Siyyum…An Exploration into Thematic Jewish Learning

Hillel Day School eighth grade students experience an integrated Judaic Studies learning opportunity as part of their final year at Hillel. Instead of separate Rabbinics and TaNaKh classes, students are guided through classic and modern texts of many genres to explore, thematically, our Hillel Day School core Jewish values. The students are encouraged to explore deeply, and to begin asking the many great questions that arise as they synthesize their developing Jewish identities with our modern world.

By: Mr. Saul Rube, Rabbi Jonathan Berger, Mrs. Amira Soleimani from Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit

Grade(s): 7, 8, Middle school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Gemara, Literature, Mishnah, Science, Tanach

Pedagogy: Blended Learning, IBL - inquiry based learning, PBL - project based learning, UBD - understanding by design, 21st Century Skills

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Makerspace Failure= Learning

In my K-5 Makerspace classes, students are able to explore, design, engineer, create, collaborate and educate. They are exposed to hundreds of different materials, tools, and supplies ranging from straws, to robotic LittleBits, to broken VCR players. Students are taught, encouraged, and accepting to challenges as learning opportunities and understand that in the Makerspace, there is not failure, only learning.

By: Ms. Jamie Moskowitz from Perelman Jewish Day School

Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, Elementary school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Computer Science, Math, Science

Pedagogy: Blended Learning, IBL - inquiry based learning, PBL - project based learning, 21st Century Skills

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Integrated Girls High School Program

Ashira is an integrated girls' high school program providing small classes with individualized learning to girls whose primary deficiency is in the academic domain. Ashira is housed in a mainstream high school, enabling maximum socialization which is so crucial during the high school years.

By: Mrs. Bracha Cohen, Ms. Sarah Levy from Ateres Bais Yaakov

Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12, High school

Subject(s) of entry: Halacha, History, Literature, Math, Science, Tanach

Pedagogy:

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The Jewish Academy’s Reflection Integration

Our team integrated the theme of reflection across all grades as well as across all subjects. Reflection is an overall strategy and theme for the school. Laying the groundwork in our first unit is key to a successful year of reflection and revision.

By: Miss Colleen O'Brien, Mrs. Sarah Kugelman, Mrs. Yudit Kasowitz, Mr. Dani Hak, Mrs. Chaya Teldon from The Jewish Academy of Suffolk County

Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Elementary school, Middle school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Computer Science, Gemara, Halacha, History, Ivrit, Literature, Math, Mishnah, Science, Tanach

Pedagogy: PBL - project based learning, UBD - understanding by design, 21st Century Skills

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Philosophical Ethics and the Meeting of Minds

We are delighted to share our entry in the Interdisciplinary Integration category: the “Philosophical Ethics” unit of our junior year Integrated American Literature, Jewish and Western Philosophy course, affectionately referred to as “Tikvah. The unit culminates with the Meeting of Minds project.

By: Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky, Dr. Eileen Watts from Kohelet Yeshiva High School

Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12, High school

Subject(s) of entry: Gemara, Halacha, History, Literature, Tanach

Pedagogy: Constructivist, IBL - inquiry based learning, 21st Century Skills

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EVERlab

The 9th grade EVERlab unit focuses on the integration of the concepts, themes and structures from two different courses: Tanach I and Ancient World Civilizations. The unit begins with students brainstorming the overlapping content from eachcourse and moves through scaffolded design, collaboration, and critical thinking exercises in order for students to refine and deepen integrated topics they have chosen themselves. Students ultimately develop projects that demonstrate this integrated thinking.

By: Ms. Robin Gluck, Evan Wolkenstein from Jewish Community High School of the Bay

Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12, High school

Subject(s) of entry: Art, History, Literature, Science, Tanach, Design Thinking

Pedagogy: Constructivist, IBL - inquiry based learning, PBL - project based learning, 21st Century Skills

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