Sunday morning is a great time to be at Beth Torah! Our young learners and their families pray and learn together in a myriad of ways each and every week.

Here is what a typical morning at WRS looks like:

• 9:30 Shavua Tov T’filah (Worship)– the whole community (our learners and their grown-ups!) gathers in the sanctuary for a morning service led by Beth Torah Music Direcctor and Worship leader LezlieZucker. We explore our prayers through a mixture of Hebrew, English, and song, as well as how our tradition teaches us to be our personal best.

• 10:10 Grown-ups return to the ulam and spend the morning time utilizing our Wi-Fi to catch up on work, socialize with other families, head off to a committee meeting, or attend an adult learning class.

• 10:10 Grown-ups gather in the Memorial Room to say kaddish (memorial prayer) for loved ones.

• 10:10 Young learners are off to class! Our grade-level classes are fun and engaging for all! We learn about Jewish history, religion, culture, traditions, and how to live a Jewish life. Throughout the morning, classes travel to some of our wonderful specials: art, music, library, and games. There’s so much to fit into just one day!

• 12:00 Our learners are released back to their families!

WRS 2025/26 Lesson Plan for PreK/K/1 Grades

Shalom Explorers: Celebrating Jewish Life Through Play and Prayer
PreK/K/1 Grade Teacher: Savannah Krichau

Course Description PreK/K/1: In this vibrant and experiential Jewish learning program for PreK through 1st Grade, students explore Hebrew letters, prayers, Torah stories, and Jewish values through song, storytelling, art, and movement. Weekly lessons feature hands-on activities such as clay mezuzah making, edible menorahs, Hebrew letter magnets, mitzvah projects, and interactive games. Prayer and worship are integrated with Lezlie, where students practice age-appropriate tefillot like the Shema, Modeh Ani, and Shehecheyanu, and participate in joyful celebrations like Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, and Tu B’Shvat. Each month, students reflect on mitzvot and Jewish identity through the “Mitzvah Wall,” holiday crafts, and thoughtful community engagement projects like packing bags for the unhoused and honoring service workers. The year culminates in a family showcase celebrating learning, growth, and the power of community, with ice cream, laughter, and pride.

WRS 2025/26 Lesson Plan for 2-3 Grades

Building Jewish Journeys: Values, Voices, and Holidays
2/3 Grade Teacher: Alex Mead

Course Description 2/3 Grade: In this dynamic and interactive course for 2nd and 3rd graders, students will explore Jewish identity, values, holidays, and traditions through hands-on learning, storytelling, prayer, music, and creative expression. Each week, children will participate in Shabbat tefillah, engage in Hebrew learning with Z’man Likro, and contribute to class mitzvah projects that build empathy and community responsibility. Students will deepen their understanding of Torah stories, celebrate Jewish holidays with family events like apple picking, Tu B'Shvat, and Purim, and reflect on their role in the Jewish world. Special guests, optional youth group field trips, games, and arts-based projects—including edible sukkahs, braided challah, and personal Yad-making—bring learning to life. By the end of the year, students will lead parts of the Shema and V'ahavta prayer, decode Hebrew letters, and showcase their growth during a joyful L’dor Vador family celebration.

WRS 2025/26 Lesson Plan for 4-5 Grades

Seasons of the Soul: Exploring Jewish Time and Values
4/5 Grade Teacher: Jill Maidhof

Course Description 4/5 Grade: In the 4th and 5th grade cohort, students will begin to grasp abstract ideas and connect them to their lives in meaningful ways. This year, students will explore the Jewish calendar—from daily rituals to annual celebrations—through holidays, prayers, and the stories of Biblical figures tied to seasonal values. We’ll also engage with Jewish values, including a thoughtful introduction to the Holocaust, guiding students toward empathy, remembrance, and action. Each week includes Hebrew reading practice, and parents are invited to join the learning in the second session of each month to experience this journey alongside their children.

Family School: This year in the combined 4th and 5th grade class, we’ll take a deep dive into the Jewish calendar- daily, weekly, monthly, and annual cycles, the meaning of Hebrew months, Biblical personalities who are associated with seasonal values, and events that punctuate the Jewish year. We’ll spend time each week learning and practicing Hebrew. The hope is that parents will join their students for the second session of every month and actively participate in the lessons. Exact dates TBD.