Behrman House Resource Libraries Curriculum Guide: VALUES

Get a head start planning next year’s Values curriculum with the new Values Curriculum Guide to the Behrman House Resource Libraries. The suggestions below can be used to add a lesson or two to your current program, to supplement your Hebrew program, or to form the core of a completely new approach to your students’ engagement with Jewish values.

New to the Resource Libraries? Click here to learn all about it.

Choose your Values resources by grade level or focus on specific goals:

  • Explanation: The Hebrew names and explanations of key Jewish values
  • Text: The source of Jewish values in text and stories
  • Living: Jewish values can inform and enrich students’ lives
  • Role Models: Examples of Jewish values in action
  • Change World: How to use Jewish values to change the world

Simply click the title of the resource to view additional information and to download the materials. Don't forget to rate the resource when you're done—it will help your fellow educators find the same great resources!

Goal

Resource Title

Description

Grades 3-4
Living Dress Codes: Pro or Con? Opinions about dress codes and appropriate attire for different venues
Feature article and 50-minute lesson plan
Explanation
Text
Living
Target: Teshuvah Using spy metaphors, gives students the mission of beginning the teshuvah process
Feature article and 50-minute lesson plan
Explanation
Living
Plastic Perfection Cosmetic surgery and the subjectivity of beauty
Feature article and 50-minute lesson plan
Living The Humblebrag Humblebragging celebrities and humility
Feature article and 50-minute lesson plan
Explanation
Text
Living
Hakarat Hatov and Thanksgiving Lesson Birkat Hamazon and how it resonates especially on Thanksgiving
50-minute lesson plan
Living
Role models
Lisa Fuld and Dawn Henning: We Are Family Foster children taken in by a Jewish family
Feature article and 50-minute lesson plan
Grades 4-5
Explanation
Text
All Values PowerPoints Overview of each of 50 Jewish values, with texts, images, discussion questions, multimedia, and activities
11-slide PowerPoints
Living Two Sides of the Story Short story about considering all perspectives before drawing conclusions
Short story and 50-minute lesson plan
Explanation
Text
Vocal Cords The biology of and the power of speech
Science article and 50-minute lesson plan
Role models Profiles in Courage Four role models of courage
Profile article
Living
Role models
Rosalind Wiseman: Surviving Cliques and Bullies Author Rosalind Wiseman, a role model of respect for human dignity
Interview article and 50-minute lesson plan
Living The Wealthy Kids of Kibbutz Bet Yisrael Urban kibbutz
Feature article and 50-minute lesson plan
Living Keep the Peace at School Peer mediation
Feature article and 50-minute lesson plan
Grades 5-6
Living
Role models
A Close Encounter with Stephen Spielberg Filmmaker Spielberg, a role model of connection to Jewish community
Interview article and 50-minute lesson plan
Living
Role models
Debbie Friedman: Passionate Prayer Debbie Friedman, of blessed memory, a role model of prayer
Interview article and 50-minute lesson plan
Role models Abraham Foxman: Redeeming the World from Hate National director of the Anti-Defamation League, a role model of the power of one person
Interview article and 50-minute lesson plan
Text
Living
Role models
Dan Shechtman: From ‘Nonsense’ to Nobel Prize Nobel Prize-winner Shechtman, a role model of perseverance
Interview article and 50-minute lesson plan
Text
Living
Role models
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Humble Pursuits Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg, a role model of humility
Interview article and 50-minute lesson plan
Explanation
Text
Role models
Suzyn Waldman: Telling It Like It Is Sportscaster Waldman, a role model of truth
Interview article and 50-minute lesson plan
Grades 6-7
Explanation
Living
Change world
Survivor: Tikkun Olam Style Israeli reality show and social action
Feature article and 50-minute lesson plan
Role models
Change world
Zach Solomon: Sweet Success A boy who is a role model of tikkun olam
Profile article and 50-minute lesson plan
Living
Change world
FixIt Kids: On a Mission to Repair the World The tools needed for tikkun olam
Graphic article
Living Mending Broken Hearts The Save a Child’s Heart organization
Feature article and 50-minute lesson plan
Change world Pass It On Short story about community service projects
Fictional short story and 50-minute lesson plan
Role models
Change world
Rabbi Avi Weiss: The Spirit of Activism Rabbi Weiss, a role model of peaceful protest
Interview article and 50-minute lesson plan
Text
Role models
Change world
Ruth Messinger: Extreme Global Makeover Ruth Messinger of AJWS, a role model of social action
Interview article and 50-minute lesson plan