What is a Spiral Curriculum and how does it apply to Kehillah?
In a spiral curriculum, key concepts are presented repeatedly, but with increasing depth and complexity each time. Students are introduced to topics in early childhood and then build on them as they progress through elementary school and junior high. Each year, the students will continue to build on their prior knowledge.
We have created a two-year spiral curriculum for Kehillah in which all grades will learn about the same modules or topics at the same time, but at levels that are age-appropriate. The 2022-2023 school year is divided into three eight-week modules: Torah (Our Sacred Text), Avodah (Prayer + Ritual), and G’milut Chasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness).
Wise Temple’s new spiral curriculum features cutting edge resources tailored to our specific needs and goals by an expert in Jewish experiential education. The curriculum also includes elements of Project Based Learning, in which classes explore the topics at hand through student-chosen, student-directed group projects which build community through cooperative collaboration.
Questions? Contact Courtney Anthony, Director of Education at 513.538.0373 or canthony@wisetemple.org.
Overview of Year 1 Modules (2022-2023) and Preview of Year 2 Modules (to be implemented in 2023-2024):
| Year 1 Learning Modules | Torah Our Sacred Text |
Avodah Prayer + Ritual |
G’milut Chasadim Acts of loving Kindness |
| Pre K – K | Torah Stories + Jewish Symbols | Aleph Bet | Hebrew as a sacred language, Shema + Shabbat prayers | Building a Mitzvah Tree | Loving Qualities in Me |
| 1 & 2 | Torah Scroll + Genesis Stories | Sanctuary, Prayers + Blessings, Havdalah | Jewish Values + Mindfulness Moments |
| 3 & 4 | Introduction to Torah + Exodus Stories | God + Gratitude | Ways We Care for Others |
| 5 & 6 | Jews + Jewish History | Expressing Jewish Values through Prayer | Judaism + the Natural World |
| 7 & 8 | My Identity + Torah | Praying with our Feet | Social Justice | Jewish Ethics | Mussar |
| Year 2 Learning Modules | My Jewish Life and Community | Israel and World Jewry | Rhythms and Passages: Jewish Time |
