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Torah Umesorah Educational Resource Center – Brooklyn, NY

Dayeinu Lesson and Bulletin Board By Torah Umesorah Educational Resource Center – Brooklyn, NY

Grade Level: Lower Elementary (1-3)-Middle Elementary (4-5)

Description: Teach the inner meaning of Dayeinu from the Seder with a beautiful, visually-appealing bulletin board. Each of the chassadim that Hashem did for us that are enumerated in Dayeinu are portrayed in a striking picture which is used both to decorate the bulletin board and also a springboard for a lesson on hakaras hatov to Hashem for all that He does for us. The lesson can culminate with a writing activity. Goals/Objectives: Students will understand the depth of the events listed in Dayeinu and articulate the חסדים that Hashem is doing for them in their daily lives. They will then understand and express how this recognition will affect their relationship with Hashem and their performance of Mitzvos. Materials Needed:

• Wood or light brown bulletin board paper

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Torah Umesorah Educational Resource Center – Brooklyn, NY

• Inkwell picture printout • 4 large gold corners • 15 framed pictures • 15 empty frames (optional) • Foam pieces (optional) • 15 captions • One lined frame for each student • Brown or black lettering for אחת כמה וכמה טובה כפולה ומכפלת למקום עלינו""על

Material Preparation:

1. Cover the bulletin board with wood or light brown paper. 2. Paste one large gold corner in each corner of the bulletin board. 3. Paste the 15 framed pictures and captions around the border of the bulletin board in

order of דיינו. a. Optional: Make the frames 3D by pasting foam squares on the frame and then

pasting the empty frame on top of it. 4. In the center of the bulletin board, paste the lettering and inkwell.

Detailed Instructions – Classroom Use:

1. Open the lesson with the story of Chani: a. Chani was a very poor girl. She was in her house alone when she got a phone

call from wealthy Mrs. Green. She said, “Hi, I’m thinking of you and want you to come visit me. I’m sending a car in 5 minutes to pick you up.” Chani felt so good after the phone call, and thought, “How can I thank Mrs. Green for calling me?” She went downstairs and there was a limo waiting for her; she had a wonderful ride to Mrs. Green’s house. She thought, “Just for this ride alone, I am so thankful to Mrs. Green”. She came to the house, and the garden was so beautiful that the whole trip was worth it just to see it. She was so appreciative just for the garden! She came into the kitchen, and Mrs. Green gave her a delicious meal. Mrs. Green packed up food for her to take home. She took her into the toy room; just to be able to play with the dolls would have been enough, but Mrs. Green let her take one home. She went to a room with gorgeous dresses; it would have been enough just to try them on, but she was able to take one home.

b. Continue the story in this vein, going through each room in the house, and emphasize just how much Mrs. Green was doing for Chani. The visit to each

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Torah Umesorah Educational Resource Center – Brooklyn, NY

room was in itself worthy of deep gratitude, but all the rooms and gifts together were overwhelmingly kind.

c. As Chani was leaving the house, she felt, “If she would have just called me, it would have been enough. If she would have just given me a limousine ride, it would have been enough. Etc.”

d. Ask your class, “Now that Mrs. Green did this and this and this and this… how can Chani possibly show her appreciation to Mrs. Green?”

2. Have students look in דיינו or go through the timeline of סיפור יציאת מצרים and make a list of all the ניסים that Hashem did for us. Did He do just one? Just two? No, Hashem did and did and did. Throughout the generations, Hashem continued to do Chesed for Klal Yisroel. Point out specific examples.

a. The teacher can hold up the picture from the bulletin board as she teachers each event. Or, each student or group can draw a picture for one event.

3. Then, ask students what חסדים and ניסים Hashem does for them today, every day, and all the time. Have them be as detailed as possible: Hashem makes it rain, makes the seeds grow, has a farmer harvest… until we have bread to eat.

4. Discuss על אחת כמה וכמה… how much more so do we need to thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu for doing and doing and doing.

5. Ask them how we can thank Hashem. The way to thank Hashem is through building a relationship with Him and doing His will. What kind of details can we add into our עבודת .הכרה to show this ה'

6. Once the students are feeling an overwhelming love for Hashem, give them the lined frames to write what ניסים Hashem did for us in the past, the ניסים Hashem does for us today, and how that affects my relationship with Him.

Variation(s):

• This lesson can be taught without the creation of the bulletin board. Simply use the pictures to awaken an awe of Hakadosh Baruch Hu in the students.