[HANASHIR:16512] Re: music for preschoolers

[rahel <rahel...>]

At 12:22 PM 1/8/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Also, Rahel brings up an interesting question: what's un-Jewish about a
>dinosaur? Sure, they're not mentioned in the bible, but does that make them
>secular?


Hi - No, sorry. I did not intend to discuss anything about the existence of 
dinosaurs in the Torah. Please read my email again. What I said is that I 
see no reason to use dinosaurs - or Barney - or any other mainstream 
Disney-like characters when teaching our Jewish children, when our Torah is 
already so rich with all sorts of lively and interesting characters that 
can be used. In other words - go to the source. Be creative. Use your 
imagination based from our own Jewish sources. We have a lot of odd kinds 
of characters - and animals - some even with very specific personalities 
(the snake, for example! - or maybe locusts!). If you take the time WITH 
YOUR STUDENTS to explore within the sources themselves, then TOGETHER you 
can come up with all sorts of fun and exciting ideas to help teach Jewish 
values, morals and content. The laws of Kashrut are very specific, for 
example. My class found all sorts of interesting BIRDS that we are not 
allowed to eat. We had to look in the dictionary to find out what some of 
those birds were, because we'd never heard of them. My students (Bnei 
Mitzvah age) became more animated than I've seem them yet while engaging in 
this discussion and while going through the list. They even wanted to seek 
further and know more. There was a lively discussion about the types of 
birds and why they might be kosher or not. Heck, if these students were 
kindergarteners I have no doubt the discussion would have been fantastic. 
Once the information was gotten, we could have engaged in drawing or 
painting the different birds - kosher and not - creating and inventing all 
sorts of games - engaging in movement activities based on the different 
birds (how do they walk, fly, do they have talons or not etc.),  and 
writing songs together about these birds. We could have even gone on an 
field trip to actually see if these birds still exist and where they live 
etc. etc. And then see with our own eyes why we have laws not to eat some 
and why others are allowed. Imagine how much could be learned just from 
that one passage from the 613 mitzvot! We could have turned one of our 
favorite birds into our educational mascot too (instead of a dinosaur or 
pink whatever Barney is). Personally I prefer Big Bird to Barney anyway! : )

More ideas: As I suggested in my earlier posting, if you're looking for a 
cute warm fuzzy kinds of educational mascot, try the Noah story. First of 
all read the story. Then, make a list of all the animals that are mentioned 
(are any mentioned at all?). Then, from that list, hold a lively discussion 
about the animals - who they are, why they were chosen to go with Noah, why 
others were not (did they not exist then, were they "bad" animals etc.). 
Yes, even kindergarteners can engage in some really awesome discussions 
like these. I know because I have taught children of all ages (from birth 
and up) since 1976! Kids are amazing - and yes, they still "day the 
darndest things". They have so much to teach US. So if you need an 
educational mascot to help you through the rest of the school year, choose 
one from this list. Hold a competition, or something - in order to make the 
choice. Be like Noah - how did he choose?

The ideas are endless - especially when they come from the kids!

All I'm saying is that because we are teaching Judaism; Jewish values, 
morals and TEXT - then let's stay focused on what we're here for. Let's use 
the sources. I see no reason to use a dinosaur in Jewish education 
(especially if, as you say, they do not even exist in our sources) when we 
have so many other rich and exciting figures from within our own writings 
to choose from.

The reason why our children are sent to Jewish schools is to get a Jewish 
education. We are hired to teach them Judaism - not mainstream non-Jewish 
education. Why, then, do we keep reaching for sources from the non-Jewish 
mainstream (such as using the song "Imagine" or throwing a dinosaur into 
the picture)? Is it because we, ourselves, our somewhat ignorant? Have we, 
ourselves, not even taken the time to learn and know? I know for a fact 
that time is precious - I, personally have so little of it. I will admit 
that it's a lot easier to reach out and grab from the sources that are "out 
there" and already so abundant and easily accessible. I'm guilty of it too. 
But this is just plain wrong. As Jewish educators we need to MAKE the time 
to delve into and seek out what we have in Judaism. It's not necessarily 
"out there" and easy to find - but it IS accessible.

Rahel