The Kohelet Prize Database

Database Entries Tagged with: Social Justice

Wornick 7th Grade Tzedakah Project

Wornick’s 7th Grade Tzedakah Project is a challenging year-long learning, student-led experience, facilitated by the team of Middle School teachers. Students learn real-world skills, identifying a world problem, researching an organization and volunteering there, fundraising, presenting to their class, allocating funds, and presenting an award.

By: Nicole Haire, Chelsea Mandell, Purnima Mani, Dr. Jessica Rosenberg, Cynthia Pellegrini from Wornick Jewish Day School

Grade(s): 6, Middle school

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

Pedagogy: Experiential Education

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Connecting the Unconnected

“Connecting the Unconnected” is a collaborative learning experience that brings together sixth through eighth grade students at six Jewish day schools in small Jewish communities to connect Jewish history and values with social justice, civil rights, and American and Israeli heritage through classroom learning and real-world experiences.

By: Denise Bennett, Rabbi Amanda Brodie, Liora Chessin, Carolyn Hawks, David Prevositi, Matthew Russ from Friedel Jewish Academy, Ezra Academy, N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, B'nai Shalom Day School, Hillel Community Day School, The Lippman School

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

Subject(s) of entry: English/ Writing/ Language Arts, History, Literature, Philosophy/ Values/ Ethics/ Hashkafa, Social Studies, Technology

Pedagogy: Blended Learning, Design-Thinking Model, Experiential Education, Flipped Learning, IBL - inquiry based learning, PBL - project based learning, 21st Century Skills

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From one jungle to another: Putting into practice Judaic studies lessons in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

How do we put Jewish values into practice in a meaningful way? while pondering this I fostered a relationship with the international human rights organization Me to We. We conceived an experience tailored to Jewish students, with Jewish experiences and values looking for a powerful practical experience to make them better Jews and better people.

By: Zev Steinfeld from TanenbaumCHAT

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

Subject(s) of entry: Halacha

Pedagogy: Experiential Education

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The Tzedek Program

The year-long Tzedek Program gives 7th graders a deep understanding about their obligation to give tzedakah. Armed with this knowledge, 7th graders will be will be able to make their own educated philanthropic decisions in their own community of San Francisco based on their understanding of the needs and priorities through a Jewish lens.

By: Jody Bloom from The Brandeis School of San Francisco

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

Subject(s) of entry: Halacha

Pedagogy: Constructivist

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Learning for a Cause

Learning for a Cause is an ongoing project and the brainchild of educator Michael Ernest Sweet. The project seeks to engage students in learning and writing about real-world issues beyond the classroom walls, and then publish that writing in real books alongside celebrity guest writers. Students make REAL books about REAL issues.

By: Michael Sweet from Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan

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

Subject(s) of entry: English/ Writing/ Language Arts, History, Social Studies, literature

Pedagogy: Constructivist, IBL - inquiry based learning, Socratic Method

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The N.E. Miles Jewish Day School Social Justice and Leadership Initiative

The N.E. Miles Jewish Day School social justice and leadership initiative is guided by the core beliefs and values on which our school is based. To that end, we provide real-life experiences for the students to participate actively in three of the guiding Jewish values- Menschlichkeit, Tikkun Olam, and Torah Study.

By: Ms. Liora Chessin, Mrs. Lynn Raviv from N.E. Miles Jewish Day School

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

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

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

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HBHA Upper School Social Justice Project

Imagine an educational experience in which Jewish teenagers have the opportunity to take their classroom learning and direct that knowledge into a course of action that enhances their education and the Greater Kansas City community. This experiential learning is happening at Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, in the form of the Upper School Social Justice Project. I developed and implemented this project - in partnership with peers from an urban charter school, as well as local leaders - which facilitates personal growth and community activism in our students as they address issues such as health care access, voter engagement, and universal early childhood education.

By: Mr. Todd Clauer from Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy

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

Subject(s) of entry: Gemara, Halacha, History, Literature, Mishnah, Tanach, Civics/Government

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

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