The Kohelet Prize Database

Poetry Unbound: Finding Poetry Across the Curriculum

Inspired by the “Poetry in Motion” campaign on New York City subway cars, three teachers looked for ways to help students discover poetry outside of English literature textbooks: art, Hebrew, Judaics, and our school’s mission trip to Israel.

By: Mrs. Sarah Antine, Ms. Victoria Plaza, Dr. Hannah Saltmarsh from The Deborah Lerner Gross Jewish Cultural Arts Center, Berman Hebrew Academy, Berman Hebrew Academy

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

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

Pedagogy: Constructivist, Experiential Education

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Two Poems–Two Teachers–Two Classrooms: Creating a Collaborative “Howl” for today’s teens.

We used two poems as an opportunity to challenge a very significant norm at many schools--the lack of interaction among students in different levels/grades. Students in two classes--one an AP senior class, the other a grade-level junior class--analyzed both poems, asking questions of each other and answering as many as they could.

By: Dr. Hannah Saltmarsh and Ms. Victoria Plaza from Berman Hebrew Academy

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

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

Pedagogy: Blended Learning, Constructivist, Flipped Learning, PBL - project based learning

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Poems of the journey’s end

Analyzing Leah Goldberg's poem שירי סוף הדרך, that deals with the reflection on life at an old age and the decisions one makes in order to make their life meaningful.

The poem deals with the phases of life, the ever-changing point of view about life as we grow older, and the motivation and decision to make each and every day meaningful not matter what circumstances are ahead.

This poem is taught in the 11th grade, where students are asked to understand the figurative language, to discuss points of view as they're portrayed by the main character in each stage of life, and reflect upon them.

At an end-of-unit assessment, the students are asked to bring their personal reflection in the form of a video clip, picture, movie trailer, poem, book ,or other, and explain the connection to the Goldberg's poem. The students are asked to follow a rubric in order to understand how to present their reflection. The rubric calls for an oral presentation in Hebrew while using new vocabulary learned in class and the ability to connect to the content discussed in class.

An example of a clip that conveys the message of the poem is attached (a story of a remarkable teacher). I have presented this clip to the students and we discussed its relevance while connecting the main message to our poem.

By: Mrs. Merav Tal-Timen from Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School

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

Subject(s) of entry: Ivrit, Literature

Pedagogy:

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