LA Teachers Create Curriculum About Tznius

By Sara Spielman

A new unique curriculum on Jewish beauty and modesty geared for every classroom is available for schools to purchase. The creative curriculum was created by Vicky Furer and Chanie Jacobson, educational consultants and early childhood directors who live in Los Angeles, California.

Furer has over 15 years of experience as a teacher and has cultivated and perfected curriculums and lesson plans for Jewish preschools. Her goal is to make learning fun and engaging for both students and teachers, encouraging children to learn through exploration.

Jacobson has been an early childhood educator for the past 14 years and is currently consulting in different schools and giving workshops to educators on her unique, interactive methods and approaches to help bring learning to a new level where it becomes more effective and alive in the classroom.

“It really zooms in on the lens of modesty in Judaism,” Jacobson said. “It’s a strong curriculum on Jewish identity for both boys and girls that we created because we wanted to reignite the flame of modesty in a fun, meaningful and positive way for kids. It truly brings back Jewish pride and what distinguishes it.”

The four week curriculum is condensed into two weeks with enough room to expand to four weeks if preferred. Integrated with Regio and Montessori methods, it was designed for preschoolers and early elementary with topics also ideal for camps at an affordable price. All themes, daily lesson plans and templates for activities and books are included in detail, with outlines building up each day. Each exciting lesson discusses a different mitzvah or inspiring characters from the Torah, ultimately leading up to a child’s own Jewish identity.

Preschools from Australia to Arizona have purchased the curriculum, which includes templates to books, mitzvos, activities and art. This curriculum is designed to give young children a feeling of being a proud and dignified Jew. Each day’s lesson plan is in a planbook outcome format, consisting of morning table provocations, meaningful learning circles, book of the day and link to buy the book if needed. Some days include group arts, baking or science activities, followed by academic lessons of the day, usually literature, writing in Hebrew or English, or math skills with pictures of activities or links to printables.

“I saw how effective and successful this curriculum was over the years that I’ve been teaching to my students from all different backgrounds,” Jacobson said.

It incorporates modesty in subtle, yet transformative ways. For example, they discuss Sara Imenu at great length: who she was, her essential beauty and modesty, with the curriculum focusing on that particular mitzvah.

“We crafted a masterpiece curriculum leading young Jewish girls on their journey through excitement of learning about Tznius and the special Mitzvot that Hashem designed for Jewish girls and women and our own unique role that we are given in this world,” Jacobson explained. “We talk about Torah, Mitzvos, lighting candles, Challah, dressing modestly, as well as the Mitzvah of boys wearing Tzitzis and kippas.”

Jacobson saw the need in today’s modern world of Judaism to create something that appealed to this generation.

“We wanted a whole new twist, taking only the positive approach and bringing it out through this curriculum, which children will have a blast learning, while gaining the real value and meaning of Jewish beauty and modesty,” she said. “Interactive centers and hands on activities will bring this theme to life in a very different way.”

Included are table invitations and provocations with detailed pictures and explanations, links to printables, books used, and supplies needed as well as some bonus printables emailed straight to you.

For more information on the curriculum, to see samples and first purchasing prices email Chanie Jacobson or Vicky Furer at [email protected] or [email protected]