The Kohelet Prize Database

Database Entries Tagged with: 21st Century Skills

Creating a High School STEM Center

Considering current learning standards, we planned for a true STEM Center in which we truly highlight 21st century student skills and motivate their accomplishments beyond a traditional academic track. In our submission, we describe how the STEM Center was created including conception, construction, ongoing instruction, training and maintenance.

By: Racheli Daniel, Vince Bonina from Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School

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

Subject(s) of entry: Engineering, Math, Science, Technology

Pedagogy: Design-Thinking Model, 21st Century Skills

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Virtual Jerusalem Mayoral Elections

The Virtual Jerusalem Mayoral Elections allowed 12th-grade students to explore the diverse, real-world needs facing Jerusalem residents and the multicultural nature of the city, through researching different candidates and issues, creating campaigns and taking a leadership role in their own learning, running mock elections for a different grade.

By: Sarah Gordon from Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls

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

Subject(s) of entry: History, Ivrit, Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Social Studies

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

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Statistical Analysis of a Federal Data Set: Project Based Learning in the Introductory Statistics Classroom

Introductory Statistics is best absorbed with active engagement. In this Project Based Learning class, students choose their own "real life" data sets from federal sources, apply newly learned statistical techniques to their data, and use quantitative reasoning to explore their passions. Seminar-style interactions with classmates enhance learning.

By: Rachel Braun from Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy

Grade(s): 12, High school

Subject(s) of entry: Economics/ Business, Math, Social Studies

Pedagogy: Constructivist

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True Tefila

In the aftermath of hurricane Irma, our school building sustained significant damage, forcing the relocation of the entire middle school. The students responded to the chaos of the new learning environment with an unrelenting determination of meaningful prayer. This response, was an outgrowth of the foundation for Tefila established in our class.

By: Miriam Blackstein LaTova from Brauser Maimonides Academy, Westchester 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: Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Social and Emotional Learning, Technology, Tefila

Pedagogy: Experiential Education, PBL - project based learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Soulful Education, 21st Century Skills

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Israeli Master Chef Carmel Style: Making Hebrew Learning Real and Personal

Students brought their Hebrew learning to life by fusing it with their interests in context of daily lives. They recorded a video guiding the audience in making their favorite dish by applying their Hebrew skills, higher critical thinking and tech skills, research, and writing skills. Students’ videos were assessed and voted on by their peers.

By: Anat Ankava from Carmel Academy

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

Subject(s) of entry: Ivrit

Pedagogy: Constructivist, Experiential Education, Language Immersion, PBL - project based learning, UBD - understanding by design, 21st Century Skills

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4th Grade Business Plan

We introduce students to Tikkun Olam through development of nonprofit business plans. Students work collaboratively to create plans and make presentations. Once presentations are completed, students present plans to judges who help students think critically about plans. Then classes run businesses and help charitable organizations.

By: Rachel Korman, Stephanie Hosansky from Perelman Jewish Day School - Stern Center

Grade(s): 4, 5, Elementary school, Middle school, High school

Subject(s) of entry: Economics/ Business, Math, Social and Emotional Learning, Social Studies, Technology

Pedagogy: PBL - project based learning, Social and Emotional Learning, 21st Century Skills

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Mishkeh Mechanic/Success Strategist

Eighth grade students completed a project in STEM class, documenting throughout using the SeeSaw app's video and picture abilities, and crafted a non-fiction “narrative" in Language Arts class, where they followed the Teshuva process to "realize," and thus capitalize upon, their mistakes.

By: Srividhya Sundaram, Ariella Landy from Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy

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: Engineering, English/ Writing/ Language Arts, Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Science, Social and Emotional Learning, Technology

Pedagogy: Blended Learning, Constructivist, Design-Thinking Model, Experiential Education, Hevruta Learning, IBL - inquiry based learning, PBL - project based learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Wholebrain Teaching, UBD - understanding by design, 21st Century Skills

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Understanding Media Bias

Students will learn how to navigate the news to discern the credibility of a source by investigating what media bias is with their peers, “acting as the journalist” within the classroom, and reflecting on their experiences. Their conclusions will then be applied to their understanding of how to interpret the news in the real-world.

By: Holly Seidenfeld from Katz Yeshiva High School of South Florida

Grade(s): High school

Subject(s) of entry: History, Social Studies

Pedagogy: Constructivist, Experiential Education, UBD - understanding by design, 21st Century Skills

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Shake Your Lulav!

This is a Google Slide presentation about the mitzva of Ushpizin, welcoming honorary guests into the sukkah, which integrates content and skill building, as well as Hebrew language acquisition. It was originally designed for use as a flipped classroom.

By: Ms. Lisa Richman, Ms. Yochi Paltin from Perelman Jewish Day School - Stern Center

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

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Computer Science, Halacha, Ivrit, Mishnah, Music, Tanach

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

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Personalized Talmud Learning

The model of Talmud instruction in Jewish Day schools has remained mostly intact for decades. The trends suggest that a higher percentage of middle school students are graduating with weak Talmud skills, and a lack of understanding of the purpose of Talmud and appreciation for its role in Jewish life. This has led many schools to even consider abandoning Talmud in middle school curriculum. Our innovative approach to Talmud uses a data-driven model to create personalized learning pathways that students progress through based on proficiency and mastery in eight specific domains that provide a comprehensive understanding of Talmud - including content, vocabulary, functional structures, and real-life application.

By: Rabbi Yoni Fein from The Moriah School

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

Subject(s) of entry: Gemara, Halacha, Ivrit, Mishnah, Tanach

Pedagogy: Blended Learning, UBD - understanding by design, 21st Century Skills, Personalized Learning

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License to Read Hebrew

This is a reading program designed to foster an enjoyment of reading Hebrew while cultivating the skills necessary for navigating Jewish life.

By: Ms. Lisa Richman from Perelman Jewish Day School - Stern Center

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

Subject(s) of entry: Computer Science, Ivrit, Tanach, Siddur Liturgy, Hebrew Literature

Pedagogy: Blended Learning, Constructivist, 21st Century Skills

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Alternative Energy Exploration Unit

This integrated writing and science unit focuses on energy, and asks the driving question “How and why should we use energy wisely?” Students investigate what energy is, where it comes from, and how we use it. They conduct research on sustainable fuels, write persuasive essays advocating for the use of a particular source of energy, design billboard advertisements for their chosen energy source, and participate in a debate judged by industry experts on different forms of sustainable energy. Finally, students design and create their own tikkun olam service-learning projects to make a positive difference in our community’s use of energy.

By: Ms. Rebecca Sheinbaum from Denver Jewish 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: Literature, Mishnah, Science

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

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A Little Google with a Jewish Twist

Our school has been transformed to replace traditional classrooms with opportunities for project-based learning that emphasizes 21st-century skills in creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication. The physical design facilitates these educational goals, and impacts student-centered learning in increased motivation and achievement. It has put Hillel at the forefront of the paradigm shift in education, wherein student-driven inquiry develops tomorrow's problem-solvers, and gives children the skills they need to inherit their world, and not the factory-model, outmoded 20th-century model of education that no longer aligns with the skills students need in an ever-changing global world, and does so, most importantly, through the context of a Jewish education, which gives them the moral and ethical, values-based foundation they need to navigate a complex world.

By: Mrs. Joan Freedman from Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit

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, History, Literature, Math, Mishnah, Science, Tanach

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

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Practicing Real World Skills Through a Revolutionary Service Learning Program

At CCJDS, we teach our children that their words and actions have the power to make change in this world. We believe that as they grow and learn academically, so too should our children explore what it means to make a difference in the world and in the lives of others. Through our school-wide, cross-curriculum SHIR HaLev program, students embark on a yearlong service project in the spirit of the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world).

By: Ms. Hadas Rave from Contra Costa Jewish 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, Ivrit, Literature, Science, Tanach, Jewish Studies, Jewish Values, Tikkun Olam, Social/Emotional Development

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

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Passion Learning for Elementary Schools

Kindergarten through 5th grade students exercise already existing passions or new interests in multi-age/grade elective classes. Electives span such disciplines as sports, computer programming, engineering, robotics, culinary arts, fine arts, the environment, etc...

By: Ms. Allison Oakes from Sandra E. Lerner Jewish Community Day School

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

Subject(s) of entry: Art, Computer Science, Literature, Math, Music, Science, Also, physical education, Jewish life, environment, strategic thinking

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

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