Bringing Passover to Life in the Classroom
Why is Passover such a popular Jewish holiday? It appeals to the senses. We listen to a fantastic story as we touch, dip, smell, taste, and look at objects that trigger emotions. Where do we begin with our youngest children?
What is important at each age?
Passover, like most Jewish holidays, has three parts: the story of the holiday, its ritual observance and music, and its special foods. And of course, PJ Library books! Ask yourself what you think is important for children to learn and what you find compelling. Consider focusing on one concept or Jewish value as you touch on each part of your holiday exploration. Let’s look at four age groups and four Jewish values to make the holiday come alive.
Babies and toddlers – joy [of Passover] / simcha
Introduce babies and toddlers to happily explore Passover aromas, textures, and the symbols on the seder plate. Read Dayenu! or Passover is Coming!
- Use egg shakers when you sing “Dayenu.”
- Tape PJ Library’s Passover River Ride on the floor to explore, surrounded by sensory squares of sand paper, sheepskin scraps, wheat stalks, etc.
- Create a peek-a-boo seder plate, similar to this sensory board, using textured images or fabric.
Twos – welcoming guests / hachnassat orchim
Help twos prepare for guests in their home and being good guests elsewhere. Teach table manners as part of your holiday preparation. Read Company’s Coming and Lotsa Matzah. Make your own playdough matzah squares, using a fork to make holes. Dry it out in the oven, or use a simple glue and water glaze for permanent matzah toys. Use them for stacking or hiding.
- Invite families to set a holiday table in the school foyer and have a conversation about welcoming guests.
- Make matzah snacks recommended in the Lotsa Matzah book or on the PJ Library Educators’ Passover Pinterest board, and practice table manners.
For more on welcoming guests, read the resource guide for And Then Another Sheep Turned Up.
Threes – courage / ometz lev
Passover is a story of courage and overcoming obstacles. Talk about how the Hebrew families chose to go and live somewhere else. On the way they would bravely learn new skills, solve problems, make new friends, and try new foods. Read Pippa’s Passover Plate with resource guide and Only Nine Chairs with resource guide.
- Passover is a story of courage and overcoming obstacles. Talk about how the Hebrew families chose to go and live somewhere else. On the way they would bravely learn new skills, solve problems, make new friends, and try new foods. Read Pippa’s Passover Plate with resource guide and Only Nine Chairs with resource guide.
- One of the Four Questions says, “On other nights we may not dip our food even once. Tonight, we dip two times.” Try dipping all kinds of foods at snack time, such as pretzels in honey-mustard or carrots in humus. What other foods do your students like to dip? Switch to dipping green veggies into salt water and point out the differences between everyday dipping and Passover dipping.
- Invite families to cook with your class or contribute recipes for a new dip to courageously try, such as cucumber-yogurt dip.
- Make a feely box to explore seder plate items. It is a safe and fun way to face the unknown.
Fours – cooperation / shituf peulah
The Passover holiday takes a lot of work. The Hebrews didn’t get to choose their work, but we do. The Seven Dwarfs understood it’s easier to work as a team – particularly if music is in the background. Check out PJLibraryRadio.com for pre-Passover music. Read Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean with resource guide and The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah.
- Bake matzah. Can you get it into the oven in 18 minutes?
- Play games where the class works as a team. For example – challenge your students to pass a hardboiled egg across the room without the egg touching their hands or the floor. Each child must have a turn carrying the object. What will they use to carry the egg? How will they pass it?
- Ask children to plan a Passover experience for their families. Allow children to design every aspect of the event from invitations to décor and food.
For more Passover fun go to pjlibrary.org/passover or pinterest.com/pjgts/passover-books-and-activities/
Lisa Litman
Director, PJ Goes to School
