B’reisheet | בראשית | “In the beginning”

October 8, 2011 by Suzanne McDaniel 6 Comments

Ahh… The first torah portion! I’m starting at the beginning and I will slowly add to this post. 🙂 If you have any links you would like to share add them as a comment and I’ll put them into the post.

If by any chance you would like to help out with this effort email me at suzyandkids@gmail.com and I’ll add you as an author.

Read

Here is a link where you can listen to the torah portion read.. http://www.torahportions.org/this-portion.html?portion=B%27reisheet

Kids version of the torah portion http://www.akhlah.com/parsha/bereshit/bereshit/bereshit.php

A fun little summary of the torah portion for the kids (I like them too LOL)

Torah Class posts One- Two- Three- Four- Five–

Read aloud stories: Sibling Rivalry

Hebrew

A wonderful collection of worksheets in three difficulty levels is available here.  Pick the one corresponding with the current torah portion.

Art

Some cute coloring pages http://www.coloring.ws/creation.htm

More coloring pages

Crafts

Some very good ideas for Adam and Eve here http://www.lapbooklessons.com/AdamEveLapbook.html

More Chapter 2 crafts http://dltk-bible.com/genesis/chapter2-crafts.htm

Creation mobile (I’d probably replace the pig with something else if it where me LOL http://www.dltk-bible.com/genesis/creation_mobile.htm

Paper Mache globe.. You could make the globe on day 1, then add land when that was made, paint on flowers, then tape on animals, etc.. as each thing was made http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/globe/

creation wheel craft found here http://www.maryricehopkins.com/educators/crafts.htm

Food

http://www.dltk-bible.com/recipes/oreo.htm

This is a neat idea but not very kosher.. it could easily be adapted though http://www.childrensministry.com/article.asp?ID=2119

Focus on fruits and veggies this week, perhaps some you have never tried before.

Themed recipes for the days of creation

Math

For younger children, Cover numbers 1-7.

For older children this is a good place to start studying the importance of numbers in YHWH’s world.  Esp. the number 7. 🙂

Science

Starting on Day 1 of the week, live out the days of creation.  On each day focus on the things that were created that day.  Read books, create notebooking pages, color pictures, etc.  This is a good opportunity to look for sparks of interest in a certain subject that can be expanded later.  To get you started, here are some ideas for each day:

Day 1- speed of light, shadows, hebrew day begins at sundown

Day 2- makeup of atmosphere, layers such as troposphere, surface tension, floating, sinking, states of matter, ie solid, liquid, gas, uniqueness of planet earth in supporting life due to water and oxygen

Day 3- Study soil, sand, clay, landforms such as hills, plateaus, mountains, seeds, parts of a plant, process from a seed to a fruit, herbs and their uses, nutrition found in various fruits and vegetables, poisonous plants to avoid

Day 4- Study planets and solar system, constellations, visit a planetarium, learn about the biblical feast days and the Hebrew calendar

Day 5- learn about an amazing fish like the salmon, and some lesser known species like the eel and sea cucumber, discuss kinds (a parrot lays eggs that produce parrots), learn the word oviparous, study the principles of bird flight, what happens inside a bird egg?

Day 6- learn about domesticated animals, learn about animals that can’t be domesticated like zebras and deer, learn about creeping things: insects, spiders, millipedes, centipedes

Day 7- Why, rest of course!

History

For older children, study the creation/evolution debate.  www.answersingenesis.org has some good resources to get you started.

Eve is the mother of all living.  Take a look at your personal family tree.  Help your child to go back a generation or two with photos and create their own family tree on a notebooking page.

For older children, you could discuss why the belief that YHWH made other men/ and women to bear children doesn’t work.. After all it says Eve was the mother of all living.  Find the verses that apply.

What was Eve’s REAL name?   Why is that more meaningful than Eve?

Character Studies

Satan didn’t waste much time did he?   Study some of his techniques.. and the fact that he’s been using the same tricks since day 1.

Unit Studies

This unit study has a ton of great resources.. very much worth looking over! http://www.dianawaring.com/ancientciv/ACBAUnit1.pdf

Music

“On Day One”
by Melody Waring (to the tune of “This Old Man”)
On day one,
Yahweh made light,
He made day and He made night.
With a knick-knack paddy-whack only Yah alone
Could make me such a perfect home.
On day two,
Yahweh made Heaven,
Made it as a place for livin’.
With a knick-knack paddy-whack only Yah alone
Could make me such a perfect home.
On day three,
Yahweh made earth
With some trees and plants and herbs.
With a knick-knack paddy-whack only Yah alone
Could make me such a perfect home.
On day four,
He made the sun,
Stars and moon for sparkly fun.
With a knick-knack paddy-whack only Yah alone
Could make me such a perfect home.
On day five,
Yahweh made fish,
Birds and whales with tails that swish.
With a knick-knack paddy-whack only Yah alone
Could make me such a perfect home.
On day six,
Yahweh made critters,
You and me and things that jitters,
With a knick-knack paddy-whack only Yah alone
Could make me such a perfect home.
On day seven,
Yahweh said, “Rest
‘Cause I love you, and it’s best!”
With a knick-knack paddy-whack only Yah alone
Could make me such a perfect home.
Some people
Seem to think
Yahweh did not make everything, but
With a knick-knack paddy-whack only Yah alone
Could make me such a perfect home.

——————————————————

Day 1 Day 1 Yahweh made light when there was none (repeat)
Day 2 Day 2 Yahweh made heaven and sky of blue (repeat)
Day 3 Day 3 Yahweh made flowers & grass & trees. (repeat)
Day 4 Day 4 Yahweh made sun,moon and stars galore. (repeat)
Day 5 Day 5 Yahweh made birds and fish alive (repeat)
6th Day 6th Day Yahweh made animals & man that day. (repeat)
Day 7 Day 7 Yahweh is resting in his heaven (repeat)

——————————————–

Seven Days of Creation Song

Tune of “Are You Sleeping Brother John”

God created: God created
Night and Day: Night and Day
That was on the first day: That was on the first day,
It was good: It was good.

God created: God created,
Sky and Clouds: Sky and Clouds
That was on the second day: That was on the second day
It was good: It was good.

God created: God created,
Land and Plants: Land and Plants
That was on the third day: That was on the third day,
It was good: It was good.

God created: God created,
Sun, Moon, and Stars: Sun, Moon, and Stars
That was on the fourth day: That was on the fourth day
It was good: It was good.

God created: God created,
Birds and Fish: Birds and Fish
That was on the fifth day: That was on the fifth day
It was good: It was good.

God created: God created,
Creatures on Land: Creatures on Land
People too! People too!
That was on the sixth day: That was on the sixth day
It was good: It was good.

Then God rested: Then God rested
From His work: From His work.
That was on the seventh day: That was on the seventh day
All was good: All was good.

Let’s sing praises: Let’s sing praises
To our God: To our God
He is everywhere, giving love and care
God is good: God is good
God is Good.

Website with great resources.. http://www.torahtots.com/parsha/breishis/breish2.htm

Check out this blog post by one of our Torah School authors to see Torah School in action for the week of B’reisheet.