Before: Have students sitting in a circle with the teacher to create a sense of community and family in the class
Involve students in understanding the meaning of the following blessings which show our gratitude for the fruit of the trees and the food that grows from the earth. (Note: The last word in each prayer is different.)
Students will be able to recite the blessings below, learn their meanings, and know when each is appropriate to recite:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam, Borei P’ri Ha-eitz—
Blessed are You, Adonai Our G-d, who has created the fruit of the trees.
--Traditional blessing before consuming fruit or other food that comes from trees
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam, Borei P’ri Ha-adamah—
Blessed are You, Adonai Our G-d, who has created the fruit of the Earth.
--Traditional blessing said before consuming food that comes from the Earth (carrots, potatoes, etc.).
3. Students will identify why people need to take responsibility and preserve trees and nature.
During: (The following activities can be covered over the course of two weeks.)
Tu’BShevat: Celebrating Nature
1. To introduce this activity, invite students and teacher to sit in a circle together. Activate background knowledge by encouraging students to share what they know about
Tu B’Shevat.
2. Students watch a short video “
It’s Your World” while the teacher reads the subtitles.
3. After showing the video, the teacher creates two columns on chart paper (see below) to write student responses to the following:
- What examples of nature do you see in the video? Why is it important to take care of trees and preserve the environment?
- What examples of nature do you see in the video?
- Why is it important to take care of trees?
4. The teacher reads
Happy Birthday Tree! A Tu B’Shevat Story to the class and involves them in a conversation about why we celebrate
Tu B’Shevat. (
Tu B’Shevat is a day that celebrates trees and taking care of our environment. Every day it is important that we be mindful of taking care of our planet.) Have them add additional ideas to the chart described above.
5. To conclude the activity, the teacher and/or students can reread the responses listed on the chart. Give students the opportunity to explain why we are celebrating the birthday of trees.
| What examples of nature do you see in the video? |
Why is it important to take care of trees? |
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After
Be a Nature Detective:
1. To begin the activity, students and teacher sit in a circle with the class and predict examples of nature that they may see when they go for a walk outside.
2. Display the
nature walk checklist. The teacher will explain to the class that they will go on a nature walk on the playground to find items on the check list. Practice reading the items on the list with the students before going outside. It is important to pair student with students who can help each other read the words if needed.
Provide each student with a clipboard, pencil and a copy of the “I am a Nature Detective” checklist. Allow students to walk around the playground for 10-15 minutes.
Return to the class and have the students draw 3 things he/she saw on the nature walk and complete the sentence starter “The best thing I found on my Nature Walk was”...
3. Conclude the activity: Students and teacher sits in a circle with the class. Encourage students to share their favorite/most unusual/most interesting find from the nature walk.
Mitzvah Project: “Recycling Caps for AVEDA”
1. Students and teacher sit together in a circle to discuss a mitzvah project for the school year, based on the value of
Tikkun Olam (repair the world.).
Have a conversation about the importance of taking care of the environment and how they can help.
Revisit the essential questions listed on page two, “Why is it important to recycle bottle caps?”
2. Discuss different ways in which students can take care of the environment. List these.
Introduce students to the “Recycle Caps for AVEDA” project. Discuss the ways in which they and their families can become involved with this initiative and help inspire a school- wide , community-wide mitzvah project. “For
more information or call 1-877-Aveda09.
(Note: Students may come up with other initiatives to help protect the environment. Encourage these-whether in the classroom or as ways they can make a difference working with their families and community.)
3. Students will watch “
It’s Our World” once again and discuss how
Tu B’Shevat reminds us to protect and celebrate trees.
- The students will share with the class why we should protect the environment and trees. The teacher writes down on chart paper why we should recycle caps for Aveda.
- Students will work in small groups to create a poster that will state why it is important to collect caps for Aveda.
- Students will decorate boxes to be placed around the school for cap collection.
- Students will plant a tree in the school garden to commemorate the importance of trees.