Parsha Shemot

Posted on December 15, 2013March 3, 2015 by Julie Allen

Parsha Shemot שְׁמוֹת “Names”

Torah portion: Shemot/Exodus 1:1-6:1
Haphtarah (concluding portion): Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23 Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
Brit Chadasha (New Testament): 1 Corinthians 14:13-25

Did you know: Shemot is the 1st parsha [portion] of sefer [scroll of/book of] Shemot?

Drama: This parsha is packed full of great themes to inspire any homeschool teacher on a journey to teach the statutes of YHVH to their children. There is so much drama in this parsha! Be sure to get out your puppets (or make your own with paper bags, the sewing machine, or an old sock) and create a skit based on everything you read in this week’s parsha. Acting out the parsha story is a super way to boost memory and creativity.

Art: Is it just me or does the idea of weaving a basket come to mind every time I think about parsha Shemot? Imagine Moshe’s momma’s anguish as she reinforced the basket that would carry her son to an unknown destination. Basket weaving is not for the faint o heart but there are some simple things that you can do to create a woven project. The easiest way to start weaving with little ones is to make a paper weaving project. As skills improve, consider a nature weaving project. And finally, move on to an all-out basket weaving project with older kids.

Music: This week we will be focusing on the traditional song Mi Chamocha. Mi Chamocha is Hebrew for “who is like You?” Although the lyrics to this song don’t appear in our parsha this week, we will be studying this song in light of the events of this parsha. What wonders does YHVH perform this week? We will be singing this song as part of our homeschool music time for the first four parshiot (portions) of Shemot (Exodus). The lyrics to this song appear in parsha Beshalach which is the fourth portion of sefer Shemot. Here is a version of Mi Chamocha that we enjoy by Tokens of Love. We also like this one by Shani Ferguson. If you would like to read this song in Hebrew as you sing along, we have a free Hebrew easy reader of Mi Chamocha to download here.

Bible and Hebrew Language: Click through the links below to find lots of resources from Restoring the Way Ministries to enhance your homeschool lessons.

Restoring the Way Materials:
MessiShul Parsha Lapbook Curriculum: Shemot
Preschool Adventure Series homeschool curriculum
Messianic Weekly (Kids) Volume 1: Shemot
Messianic Weekly (Kids) Volume 2 [subscription $1.99/wk] Messianic Weekly (Teens) Volume 1: Shemot
Messianic Weekly (Teens) Volume 2 [subscription $1.99/wk] Parsha for Preschool Volume 1
Parsha for Preschool Volume 2 [subscription $1.99/wk] Hebrew Handwriting Primer
Hebrew Handwriting With the Parsha Names
Noah’s Noodles Parsha Cookbook for Kids

Don’t forget to visit our friends:
Petah Tikvah
Heart of Wisdom
Hebraic Roots Network
Holy Language Institute

Parsha Vayechi

Posted on December 9, 2013March 3, 2015 by Julie Allen

Parsha Vayechi וַיְחִי “He lived”

Torah portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26
Haphtarah: 1 Kings 2:1-12
Brit Chadasha: 1 Peter 1:1-9

Did you know: Vayechi is the 12^th and final parsha [portion] of sefer [scroll of/book of] B’reisheet [Genesis]?

Science: This week we will focus on bones since Jacob’s bones had to be carried out of Egypt. This will be a good review for the older kids and a new lesson for the younger ones. The older ones are taking a chemistry class this year so we will rubberize some chicken bones by removing the calcium. It’s simple and just uses vinegar. Looks like I will have to roast a couple of whole chickens for dinner one night this week! Yum. Everyone will like this video from Schoolhouse Rock on Youtube. The younger kids will do some activities and worksheets. I will choose from this website’s ideas and resources. I am thinking of doing the pasta skeleton.

History: We are going to watch a video about embalming in Egypt and mummification.

Bible: This week we will study the “spirit of adoption” mentioned in scripture in light of Jacob adopting Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. We will be using this week’s Messianic Teens’ Weekly Volume 2 from Restoring the Way as the basis for our study. Also, since we are learning about bones in science class, we can’t forget to mention Proverbs 16:24. I think we will taste-test some honeycomb while we talk about that verse, too.

Restoring the Way Materials: LET’S GET READY FOR SEFER SHEMOT!
MessiShul Parsha Lapbook Curriculum: Shemot
Preschool Adventure Series homeschool curriculum
Messianic Weekly (Kids) Volume 1: Shemot
Messianic Weekly (Kids) Volume 2 [subscription $1.99/wk] Messianic Weekly (Teens) Volume 1: Shemot
Messianic Weekly (Teens) Volume 2 [subscription $1.99/wk] Parsha for Preschool Volume 1
Parsha for Preschool Volume 2 [subscription $1.99/wk] Hebrew Handwriting Primer
Hebrew Handwriting With the Parsha Names
Noah’s Noodles Parsha Cookbook for Kids

Don’t forget to visit our friends & ministry partners:
Petah Tikvah
Heart of Wisdom
Hebraic Roots Network
Holy Language Institute

Parshiot Vayakhel/Pekudei

Posted on March 3, 2013March 3, 2015 by Julie Allen

Parshiot Vayakhel וַיַּקְהֵל (He Gathered) and Pekudei פְקוּדֵי (Countings)

Torah portion: Shemot/Exodus 35:1-40:38
Haphtarah (concluding portion): Ezekiel 45:16-46:18
Brit Chadasha (New Testament): Hebrews 8:1-12, Hebrews 9:1-11

Did you know: Vayakhel/Pekudei are the 10^th and 11^th parshiot [portions] of sefer [scroll of/book of] Shemot? They are the last of the readings for sefer Shemot. Sometimes they are grouped together and sometimes they are separate. They are read separately in leap years. When they are grouped together, the reading is called a “double portion.”

Science: This week we read about how YHVH filled the tabernacle with a cloud. It was so dense that Moses couldn’t enter it. I remember hearing this really neat teaching about using soap and microwaving it to make it expand. If you unwrap a bar of Ivory™ soap and microwave it, the soap will expand into foam that is more than six times the size of the original bar. It’s a fun trick that won’t hurt either your microwave or the soap. The soap trick can be used to demonstrate closed-cell foam formation, physical change, and Charles’ Law. You can read the physics lesson plan here.

Fun Craft: Puffy Paint Clouds (based on the cloud of YHVH filling the tabernacle). You will need: shaving cream, white glue (basic school glue). Directions: To make a batch of puffy paint, simply mix equal parts of shaving cream and white glue. Apply the glue to heavy paper using a sponge brush. Let the painting dry. It will be fluffy and white.

Culinary Fun: Fluffy Popcorn Snacks. (We seem to be keeping with the cloud theme here). You will need: 1 (7 1/2 ounce) jar marshmallow cream, 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, 8 cups unbuttered popped popcorn. Directions: Grease 9×9 in baking pan and set aside. Combine marshmallow fluff and butter in microwave safe dish and cook 2 min on high. Stir and cook 1 min more (can do this on the stove top too). Stir in popcorn. Using a spatula or waxed paper, press mixture into pan. Let cool and cut into bars.

Bible: This week we read in detail what the priests wore. We are commanded to wear something special too. We are commanded to wear tsit tsit (also written tzitzit, tzitziot, tzit tzit). This is pronounced “zeet zeet.” You can read all about them and how to make them by following this link.

Don’t forget to visit our friends & ministry partners:
Petah Tikvah
Heart of Wisdom
Hebraic Roots Network
Holy Language Institute

Parsha Mishpatim

Posted on February 4, 2013March 3, 2015 by Julie Allen

Parsha Mishpatim מִּשְׁפָּטִים “Judgments”

Torah portion: Shemot/Exodus 21:1-24:18
Haphtarah (concluding portion): 2 Kings 11:17-12:17
Brit Chadasha (New Testament): Matthew 17:1-11

Did you know: Mishpatim is the 6th parsha [portion] of sefer [scroll of/book of] Shemot?

Art: This week, we learn that Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders went up and saw YHVH. (Shemot 24:9-11). They saw under YHVH’s feet a pavement like sapphire stones. This week we will be making our own stepping stones. Find a tutorial here.

Geography: This week we learn where YHVH wanted Israel’s borders to be. Mark the borders on a map and then mark the current borders. What is different? Are any of the original borders still intact?

Minecraft: My kids love working with Minecraft. If you haven’t seen it, its like Legos but on the computer (or Xbox, Wii, PS, etc). There are Minecraft apps as well for Apple and Android devices. This week, I encouraged my middle school kids to build Mount Sinai in Minecraft. They will be building the sapphire walkway where YHVH was standing and also adding just His feet.

Poetry: The teens have been learning about different types of poetry this week. They have learned about free verse poetry (no rules) and rhyming poems of different types and meters. Their assignment is to read Shemot/Exodus 23:20-33 and interpret what they read into a poem.

Fun Craft: This week we learn that cloud and fire covered the mountain where Moses and YHVH were. (Shemot 24:15-18). Draw a mountain shape on a piece of paper. Use cotton balls and crinkled pieces of red tissue paper or crepe paper to make fire on top. Use glue to keep it together.

Bible: Study Shemot 23:23-33. Write a paragraph describing what you think it looked like to see an angel going before the Israelites in battle. Work on using a variety of descriptive terms (adjectives and adverbs).

Don’t forget to visit our friends & ministry partners:
Petah Tikvah
Heart of Wisdom
Hebraic Roots Network
Holy Language Institute