Parasha Vayishlach: Torah Notebook

For this week we began our learning about Parasha Vayishlach through working on different activities.
As part of our schooling, we start the day off with Torah Class. In order to keep all the paper work neatly organized, each child keeps/ puts together a Torah Notebook. The note book is actually a three ring binder with six divisions in it. The divisions for the binder are as follows:

1. B’resheet/Genesis
2. Shemot/Exodus
3. Vayikra/Leviticus
4. Bamidvar/Numbers
5. Devarim/Deuteronomy
6. Moadim/G’d’s Appointed Times


Monday- We start the week with a Reading of the Parasha. We may or may not take some time for comments on the Parasha, depending on time available and length of the reading.
Tuesday-This particular week, we worked on various activities related to the Parasha, to be included in our Torah Notebook. The children picked the type of activity they want to work on from a list I prepared beforehand. For the most part, we use what is available to the family, including school supplies we already have, the Internet, and books from our home library.
Wednesday- The kids work on writing a summary of the Parasha, to be included in their Torah Notebook. Depending on the ages I may ask for a detailed to a simple summary. Also, dictation is acceptable for the younger ones.
Thursday- Scheduled copy work with the purpose of both remembering the Parasha better and working on penmanship. The younger ones may only work on a few sentences depending on their age.
Friday- To review the Parasha, we read it once again. This time we also take time to read on the Parasha from another source such as different books on the Torah Readings.

*To keep preschoolers occupied and participating in the older kid’s class, several options are available. We use the Children’s Torah Club printouts from FFOZ. They may also draw and color pictures related to the Parasha. Other handcraft activities can also be helpful, from cutting paper, gluing, and coloring. Also the use of puzzles and other age appropriate games works out fine.

◘The following is an example of our week for Torah Class. All activities were put in order from easy to (more) difficult.
Monday is not included in the chart due to limited space, but is taken for reading the parasha

Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Miniature matchbook of gifts sent to Esau by Yacob Used multicolored paper for each drove Included description and number of animals. •construction paper, scissors, pencil, glue, & Bible for reference	Summary writing for “Parasha Vayishlach”	Copy work- Work on penmanship while coping Parasha for 30-40 min.	Reading of Parasha and commentary/ lessons from Parasha using: Gateways to Torah, From Moses to Messiah Or other teaching material.
Tree diagram of Yacob’s family; Wives, children, maidservants, and their children. •drawing paper, pencil, crayons, & Bible	Summary writing for “Parasha Vayishlach”	Copy work- Work on penmanship while coping Parasha for 30-40 min.	Reading of Parasha and commentary/ lessons from Parasha using: Gateway to Torah, From Moses to Messiah Or other teaching material.
Study on goats: including facts such as shepherding, food products, and other things deriving from goats. Included a still live sketch/drawing. •drawing & lined paper, Pencil, crayons, animal encyclopedia.	Summary writing for “Parasha Vayishlach”	Copy work- Work on penmanship while coping Parasha for 30-40 min.	Reading of Parasha and commentary/ lessons from Parasha using: Gateway to Torah, From Moses to Messiah Or other teaching material.
Diagram comparing the likeness and differences between Laban & Yacob. Included a drawing of Laban & Yacob. •pencil and drawing paper	Summary writing for “Parasha Vayishlach”	Copy work- Work on penmanship while coping Parasha for 30-40 min.	Reading of Parasha and commentary/ lessons from Parasha using: Gateway to Torah, From Moses to Messiah Or other teaching material.
Study on the sinew. Bible references on the sinew. Facts about its use in making different products. Drawing of sinew. •drawing paper, pencil, crayons, Internet used for research.	Summary writing for “Parasha Vayishlach”	Copy work- Work on penmanship while coping Parasha for 30-40 min.	Reading of Parasha and commentary/ lessons from Parasha using: Gateway to Torah, From Moses to Messiah Or other teaching material.
Paper on the events surrounding Dinah and her brothers. Learning about the biblical view on intermarriage and making covenants .	Summary writing for “ “Parasha Vayishlach”	Copy work- Work on penmanship while coping Parasha for 30-40 min.	Reading of Parasha and commentary/ lessons from Parasha using: Gateway to Torah, From Moses to Messiah Or other teaching material.
Paper on the importance of the character trait of a peacemaker, viewed from Yacob’s life.	Summary writing for “Parasha Vayishlach”	Copy work- Work on penmanship while coping Parasha for 30-40 min.	Reading of Parasha and commentary/ lessons from   Parasha using:  Gateway to Torah, From Moses to Messiah Or other teaching material.

some books we used for our studies

looking up verses

getting a closer look at a goat

drawing the goat

tree diagram

Yacob's family

gifts sent to Esau (miniture matchbook)

research on sinew

drawing

lavan drawing

preschool work