PRESCHOOL: With an emphasis on holidays and Shabbat, our preschoolers learn with their hands and hearts what being Jewish is all about. Through art, music, stories, structured and free-play they celebrate themselves and their Jewish identities. They also learn who's who at Temple Beth Miriam and become familiar with its parts and personalities.

KINDERGARTEN: The Kindergarten year is one of discovery and activity. Students continue to learn about the Temple -- its ritual objects and its celebrations. Opportunities to explore concepts about God are provided, while at the same time, basic prayers and blessings used to communicate with God are introduced. Enjoyment of the Jewish holidays is captured through a variety of hands-on projects, stories, music and games.

Grade One:

In Grade 1, students continue to learn about the Temple—its ritual objects and its celebrations. Highlighted also this year, is the Torah, beginning with creation and ending with Moses’ death.The emphasis is on the Torah's heroes, their experiences and the lessons that are to be learned from each of the stories discussed.The alef- bet is reintroduced through a pre-reading program.Berachot (blessings) and basic tefillot (prayers) are also recited. Holiday rituals are studied and activities pertinent to the holidays are included.Stories, crafts, discussions, music and games play an important part of the Grade 1 experience.

Grade Two

Torah (study), Avodah (worship) and Gemilut Chasadim (deeds of loving-kindness) provide a framework of study for our Grade 2 students. These pursuits serveas the “core” of the UAHC CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life Curriculum, which our Grade 2 students will be participating in this year.Students will also begin to identify with Israel as they take part in the “Great Israel Scavenger Hunt.”Hebrew reading readiness is taught through the review of the Alef Bet and simple Hebrew vocabulary.Berachot (blessings) and tefillot (prayers) taught in Grades K – 1 are reviewed and additional blessings and prayers are introduced.Holiday study emphasizes what we do at each holiday and why. Activities include reading, discussion, writing, art, music, stories and games.

Grade Three

In Grade Three, students explore the texts of Genesis and Exodus via reading, discussion, writing, drama, music and crafts. They examine important Jewish questions and the values represented by Bible characters from the Creation story concluding with the Exodus experience.Holiday studies delve into the rituals and activities that are part of Shabbat and the Jewish festivals.Torah (study), Avodah (worship) and Gemilut Chasadim (deeds of loving-kindness) provide a framework of study for our Grade 3 students. These pursuits serve as the “core” of the UAHC CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life Curriculum.

Grade Four

The basics of Hebrew decoding are taught through a primer text, activities and games.The aim is mastery in recognizing and pronouncing consonants and vowels in words of one or more syllables, as well as sight recognition and understanding of key vocabulary words.Over the course of the year, students are able to decode, years with some fluency, some of the berachot (blessings) and tefillot (prayers) they have learned aurally in prior Grade Four: With the help of stories from our tradition, Grade Four students explore ideas of God and holiness and discover what it means to live as a Jew in partnership with God.The feasts, fasts, and festivals that mark the Jewish year are also expanded on.Modern customs and celebrations are presented alongside each Jewish holiday's history and traditions.

Bible stories and midrashim (explanations, stories) illuminate the meaning of the holidays. Ethical behavior is also emphasized through the introduction of "The Be a Mensch Campaign."Strategies include discussion, reading, writing, games, projects and music. Torah (study), Avodah (worship) and Gemilut Chasadim (deeds of loving-kindness) provide a framework of study for our Grade 4 students. These pursuits serve as the “core” of the UAHC CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life Curriculum.This year we are launching the UAHC Mitkadem program, which is a student centered set of activities in which students may work at their own pace, individually, in pairs or in small groups to study specific elements of the prayerbook.Emphasis is also placed on prayer study with the focus on fluent prayer reading, chanting and an understanding of the key tefillot (prayers) and berachot (blessings) taught.

Grade Five:Jewish life cycle events as they are observed in the synagogue and in the home, as well as the how and why of ritual observance of the Sabbath and festivals, are part of the Grade 5 curriculum.Students are introduced to the concept that "we are not alone in time". Special activities include a "Baby Naming" and "Wedding Ceremony".Towards the end of the year, if time permits, a unit on Jewish values is introduced.Subjects discussed have to do with Jewish identity, God and prayer, community and personal values.Torah (study), Avodah (worship) and Gemilut Chasadim (deeds of loving-kindness) provide a framework of study for our Grade 5 students. These pursuits serve as the “core” of the UAHC CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life Curriculum.This year we are launching the UAHC Mitkadem program, which is a student centered set of activities in which students may work at their own pace, individually, in pairs or in small groups to study specific elements of the prayerbook. Hebrew decoding skills become solidified.Brief weekly home assignments are given to reinforce Hebrew skills. Students begin to learn the structure of the worship service and become proficient in reading and chanting a core body of tefillot (prayers) and berachot (blessings).An understanding of the key prayers and blessings is also stressed.This is also the year in which Bar/Bat mitzvah dates are assigned.

Grade Six:The Holocaust is the subject of a unit of in-depth sensitive exploration.By examining the historical and biographical events before, during, and after World War II, students consider what happened, why, and what meaning these events hold.Using memoirs, videos, and a sampling of Holocaust literature, students are encouraged to develop a sense of how the Holocaust affects their Jewish identities and what effect it has on the lifelong Jewish values by which they will live.

The Sixth Grade takes a leading role in the Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) service for Grades 3 - 7 students.Israel is also an important part of this year's curriculum.Students explore Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) through the eyes of Israeli children. A variety of activities including readings, discussion, videos and art projects make this unit memorable.Hebrew reading proficiency is honed through practice and review.Students build on their knowledge of a core body of t'filot (prayers) and brachot (blessings).They acquire fluency in the major parts of the Friday evening and Shabbat morning services for which Bar/Bat Mitzvah students are responsible.The tefillot and berachot for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Chanukah, Purim and Passover are also studied.Students take a leading role in an all school worship service, several times a month.

Grade Seven: The Jewish American experience is a key component of this year’s studies. Students are transported in time from pre-colonial America to the present.Major historical events, leading to the various waves of immigration to the United States, are also considered. A current events segment requires students to bring to class articles for discussion.An “Oral Interview Project” is an important assignment. A course on the history, beliefs, and goals of Reform Judaism is presented and an end of the year unit is devoted to Jewish ethics and values. Throughout the year, 7th graders are active in the community through mitzvah projects and kind deeds.Required tefillot (prayers) for the Bar Mitzvah service, along with prayers recited on the High Holidays, are reviewed early in the year.Select portions of the Torah, including our students’ Bar/Bat Mitzvah Torah portions, are read and discussed. A mini-course on the Prophets is also taught, as well as, one on Jewish literacy. This course will explore “the most important things to know about the Jewish religion, its people, and its history.”