TEACHING GUIDE

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Teaching Guide
Pilgrim Quest
produced by 
Annette Troxell - N.E. Miles Jewish Day School

Web Institute for Teachers, Summer, 2003

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Introduction  This is a Webquest designed to integrate the study of Sukkot and Thanksgiving. In completing this activity, the students can  interweave their Jewish and American values, better understanding both. By the end of the activity, they will have created a kosher, Thanksgiving recipe book complete with blessings that they can share with their families.

Aim - There are three aims:     1. to reinforce the study of Sukkot

          2. to integrate Judaic studies with that of American history

          3. to teach computer skills in a meaningful context.

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Rationale -In a Jewish Day School, we seem to be constantly confronted with the problem of time, i.e. there's never enough. This becomes particularly problematic when we want to teach in depth, using those higher order thinking skills that we value most. Frequently, it seems that the students learn about the holidays at the time, but once the holiday is over, they remember very little about its details. This activity can be part of a spiral curriculum that will help our students to more thoroughly internalize the Jewish holidays and what they mean. It is also a way for the students to examine how they can be part of American culture, while still maintaining their Jewish identity. And finally, it is a way for our students to use their computer skills in a meaningful context.

Goals and Objectives - The goal of this Webquest is to integrate the study of  Thanksgiving with that of Sukkot, with the goal being that of a more thorough understanding of both holidays.  Technologically, the students will learn to use the Internet by following the instructions of a webquest; use desktop publishing; and to "multitask".


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Audience This activity is aimed at 3rd graders, but could be used for older students, by requiring more text study or research; asking slightly different questions, etc. Some suggestions for extensions follow.

1. Expand the recipes to include favorite family recipes. Do a little research about the history of the recipe - is it "typical" of another culture? How does that culture celebrate Sukkot?

2. Plan a Thanksgiving "Seder" - including appropriate brachot and activities.

3. Do all the brachot in Hebrew.

4. Make the comparison chart more complex/detailed - include Native American cultures. Did the Wampanoag have a way to celebrate "Thanksgiving"?

5. Include more than one Jewish holiday on the comparison chart - Sukkot, Passover, Shavuot and Thanksgiving alike?

6. Include "Extensions questions" for those students who finish rapidly with their worksheet. They could answer questions about Walter Raleigh, Thanksgiving or Sukkot, using the links on the Webquest pages.

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Prerequisites - This project is intended for students with some knowledge of Sukkot and Thanksgiving,  so it would probably be best to plan to do this activity between those two holidays. The students should also have had some experience with word processing and using Internet sites.

Subject Matter - The subject matter includes (but is not limited to)-

  • Jews' involvement in the early settlement of North America, specifically the colonies.
  • It can be integrated with the History curriculum
  • The similarities (and differences ) in Thanksgiving and Sukkot
  • How to make Thanksgiving Kosher.
  • Research and writing skills
  • Using the Internet as a source
  • Using basic word processing and desktop publishing (in creating the menu).
  • Cooperating with a partner.

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Instructional Plan

       1. Before the webquest

  • Create a template (In desktop publishing or word processing program) that the students can use for their recipe book - save it to the desktop of each computer.  The students will use this as a format for pasting their recipes, then they can personalize the pages once they have the text copied.
  • Print out the worksheet and the grading rubric.
  • Give the students the Webquest worksheet and grading rubric that are available from this web site. Discuss the goals and expectations for the activity.
  • It is at this point that they should "guess" the Jewish holiday that is most like Thanksgiving and write it on their worksheet. Stress that correctness is not important at this time, but to think about the holidays and decide which might be like Thanksgiving.  (The Webquest will give them the answer.) Discuss their choices.

        4. Go  to the Webquest and complete the "Pilgrim Quest"  worksheet - answers are contained in the page entitled "Pilgrim Quest". This is intended to be an introduction to the ideas that will be developed in the Webquest.

         5. As a class, discuss the results of the worksheets.

          6. The students can proceed to part two of the Webquest - "Miriam's' Task". The partners will work together to create a poster with a more detailed comparison of Sukkot and Thanksgiving. The students will also be asked print out a Note - taking form on which to take notes comparing certain characteristics of Sukkot and Thansksgiving. Each partner will research three topics, then they will collaborate to create a poster about all six topics.

           7. The final task is the creation of a recipe book that will also contain recipes, clip art,  the brachot for each dish and a blessing for Thanksgiving. If they have time, the students can add "extras" to the meal.

           8. The students will make their individual cover for their recipe book - personalizing it for their family. They may use the publishing software for this, or they may use  art supplies for the cover.

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Materials - 1. Computers with web browsing capabilities and  word processing or desktop   publishing

                     2. Printer

                     3. pencils, worksheets and the grading rubric (also provided through the Webquest)

                     4. art supplies ( paper, pencil, crayons, markers, glue, construction paper)


Assessment and Evaluation A grading rubric is provided. There is also a section on this rubric for student feedback. Teachers can assign point values according to their needs.

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Contact me at annettet@nemjds.org


 



 

 
 

 

 

 

Developed by Janet Gray-McKennis based on previous versions created by Craig Cunningham, Mecca Murphy, Nenette Luarca, Nicole Zumpano, and Linda Dernbach.
Last updated on May 10, 2003.