Lesson Plan: Putting Meaning Behind Passover

Huddled around one of several tables, Debbie Matian and her classmates brainstormed over a list of 10 things they had learned from the Passover story. The room was abuzz with fourth-graders playing a game based on the 14 steps of the Seder, or ritual Passover meal.

A teacher blew a whistle and the noise level dropped. One group wanted to share a cheer they had written about afikomen, the broken piece of matzo that children search for after the meal is eaten.

“Afikomen! Afikomen! Afikomen! You rock!” they said in unison.

The game was one of several Passover activities students enjoyed Tuesday at Valley Beth Shalom Day School.

“It’s better than just sitting down and saying prayers,” said 9-year-old Debbie, who will celebrate Passover tonight at her grandmother’s home. “It’s fun and we’re learning.”

Dressed up as slaves, younger children were led through a traditional Seder to commemorate the liberation and exodus of the Jewish people from ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. They chanted prayers in Hebrew, ate traditional foods and took turns at the microphone, asking four special questions: why matzo is eaten on Passover, why bitter herbs are consumed, why foods are dipped twice in saltwater and why participants lean on a pillow during the meal.

“No Seder can exist without the questions,” said Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, senior rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom, a Conservative congregation. “The questions are a symbol of freedom, because slaves don’t ask questions.”

In yet another room, fifth-graders played Passover-themed “Jeopardy!” with such categories as history, Hebrew, Seder, symbols and potpourri. Meanwhile, sixth-graders drew pictures using Hebrew letters to depict a Passover scene.

The purpose of the activities, especially the games for the older children, is to make learning about Passover interesting and thought-provoking, said Tamar Raff, director of Judaic studies for the day school.

“[These activities] use all their senses, in addition to singing and writing,” Raff said. “Otherwise, they might get a little bored.”

To first-grade pupil Andrew Leon, the best part of Passover will come tonight when he hunts for the afikomen.

“We get presents if we find the matzo,” said the 7-year-old. “I find it every time at my house.”