Beyond the Family Tree:
Jewish History and Diversity Through Family Languages and Names
In this project-based curriculum unit, students explore the diversity of Jews around the world, past and present, including their own family stories about names and languages. Through hands-on activities, primary sources, visual and performing arts engagement, family interviews, and online research, students will connect their family histories with the larger story of Jewish ancestral diversity, enabling them to see themselves as part of that mosaic. The unit culminates in a creative project and showcase.
Beyond the Family Tree:
Jewish History and Diversity Through Family Languages and Names
In this project-based curriculum unit, students explore the diversity of Jews around the world, past and present, including their own family stories about names and languages. Through hands-on activities, primary sources, visual and performing arts engagement, family interviews, and online research, students will connect their family histories with the larger story of Jewish ancestral diversity, enabling them to see themselves as part of that mosaic. The unit culminates in a creative project and showcase.
Lessons:
- Introduction:
Teacher Guide
Summary:
- This unit overview provides an introduction to the rationale for the curriculum, learning goals and objectives, a table of contents, and suggestions for how to use it in the classroom.
- Introduction:
Teacher Guide
Summary:
- This unit overview provides an introduction to the rationale for the curriculum, learning goals and objectives, a table of contents, and suggestions for how to use it in the classroom.
- Lesson 1:
Introduction and Classroom Community
Summary:
- In this lesson, students will identify what they want to know about diversity in their local Jewish community, participate in a game exploring classroom diversity, and create identity maps.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Diversity in our community and beyond
- Lesson 1:
Introduction and Classroom Community
Summary:
- In this lesson, students will identify what they want to know about diversity in their local Jewish community, participate in a game exploring classroom diversity, and create identity maps.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Diversity in our community and beyond
- Lesson 2:
Jewish Migration: Who, Where, When, Why, and How?
Summary:
- In this lesson, students use historical materials to identify Jewish migration patterns, dive into some of the reasons for Jewish migration throughout history, and do an optional creative writing exercise.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Patterns of Jewish migration and the migrant experience
- Lesson 2:
Jewish Migration: Who, Where, When, Why, and How?
Summary:
- In this lesson, students use historical materials to identify Jewish migration patterns, dive into some of the reasons for Jewish migration throughout history, and do an optional creative writing exercise.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Patterns of Jewish migration and the migrant experience
- Lesson 3:
Synagogues and Languages: A Part Of and Apart From
Summary:
- In this lesson, students will investigate visual images and word samples to learn more about how Jews have lived as a part of and apart from their host communities.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Acculturation and preservation of Jewish traditions in new communities
- Lesson 3:
Synagogues and Languages: A Part Of and Apart From
Summary:
- In this lesson, students will investigate visual images and word samples to learn more about how Jews have lived as a part of and apart from their host communities.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Acculturation and preservation of Jewish traditions in new communities
- Lesson 4:
Language Spotlight: Jewish Iranian Languages
Summary:
- This lesson takes a closer look at Jewish languages from Iran and how they became endangered.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Diverse places Jews have lived, Languages Jews have spoken, Language endangerment
- Lesson 4:
Language Spotlight: Jewish Iranian Languages
Summary:
- This lesson takes a closer look at Jewish languages from Iran and how they became endangered.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Diverse places Jews have lived, Languages Jews have spoken, Language endangerment
- Lesson 5:
Language Spotlight: Ladino
Summary:
- This lesson uses video and written examples to take a closer look at Ladino.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Diverse places Jews have lived, Languages Jews have spoken, How Jewish languages are similar to and distinct from their base languages
- Lesson 5:
Language Spotlight: Ladino
Summary:
- This lesson uses video and written examples to take a closer look at Ladino.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Diverse places Jews have lived, Languages Jews have spoken, How Jewish languages are similar to and distinct from their base languages
- Lesson 6:
Hebrew Words in Jewish Languages
Summary:
- Through a variety of games, students will activate their own knowledge of Hebrew, then connect it to examples of use of Hebrew by Jews worldwide and throughout history. Finally, students will come up with new ways to add Hebrew into their lives.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Hebrew words are integrated into various Jewish languages and used by Jews across the globe
- Lesson 6:
Hebrew Words in Jewish Languages
Summary:
- Through a variety of games, students will activate their own knowledge of Hebrew, then connect it to examples of use of Hebrew by Jews worldwide and throughout history. Finally, students will come up with new ways to add Hebrew into their lives.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Hebrew words are integrated into various Jewish languages and used by Jews across the globe
- Lesson 7:
What’s in a Name?
Summary:
- In this lesson, students examine their own first, middle, last, and Hebrew (or Jewish ritual) names (as applicable), learn about Jewish name origins and naming traditions, and prepare to conduct research to learn more about names in their family.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Jewish naming traditions and how they relate to family histories
- Lesson 7:
What’s in a Name?
Summary:
- In this lesson, students examine their own first, middle, last, and Hebrew (or Jewish ritual) names (as applicable), learn about Jewish name origins and naming traditions, and prepare to conduct research to learn more about names in their family.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Jewish naming traditions and how they relate to family histories
- Lesson 8:
Research and Interview Prep
Summary:
- Through artmaking and improv-inspired activities, this lesson prepares students to interview a second family member and begins to plant the seeds for a creative project.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Creative representation of information, interview skills, and generating interview questions
- Lesson 8:
Research and Interview Prep
Summary:
- Through artmaking and improv-inspired activities, this lesson prepares students to interview a second family member and begins to plant the seeds for a creative project.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Creative representation of information, interview skills, and generating interview questions
- Lesson 9:
Interview: Preparing Creative Projects and Community Showcase
Summary:
- This lesson provides time for the students to share the results of their interviews and supports them in the development of a creative representation of the interview.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Translating information into creative formats
- Lesson 9:
Interview: Preparing Creative Projects and Community Showcase
Summary:
- This lesson provides time for the students to share the results of their interviews and supports them in the development of a creative representation of the interview.
THEME/TOPIC/BIG IDEAS
- Translating information into creative formats
JIMENA and HUC-JIR Jewish Language Project (JLP) Partnership
Beyond the Family Tree curriculum is a project of the HUC-JIR Jewish Language Project. JLP highlights Jewish ancestral diversity through language and works to research, document, preserve, and educate about Jewish linguistic diversity. Special thanks to JIMENA for hosting this curriculum. Visit jewishlanguages.org and follow @jewishlanguageproject on social media for Jewish language resources, videos, merchandise, and more.
