Lesson Objective:
Understand the importance of the Seder
Learn about the symbols of the Seder
Lesson Outcome:
By the end of the lesson, the children will have understood the meaning and importance of the Seder and its symbols
Resources:
Seder Symbols
The Seder Plate description
A Seder Plate
Picture of a Seder Plate
Template for a Seder Plate with Pictures
Template for Seder Plate
‘Pharaoh Pharaoh’ Song
Pesach Activities
Introduction
- Brainstorm about Pesach – Recap prior knowledge about Pesach. Encourage children to name any customs or traditions we have and do on Pesach. Prompt with questions such as: What is Pesach? What do we celebrate on Pesach? What are the main traditions on Pesach? What is the story about? What do we eat at Pesach? What don’t we eat at Pesach?
Main Teaching
- The Seder – Describe the seder, focusing on the idea that a seder is a family time and a time of remembrance, freedom and joy. Tell children that a seder is one of the most traditional things in Judaism, and seder, meaning order, has a set order that never changes.
- The Seder Plate – Talk through the seder plate and all the symbols on it, these include Marror, Charoset, Egg, Shank bone, Karpas (parsley), 3 Matzot, salt water, orange, Elijah’s cup, Candles, 4 glasses of wine, and Miriam’s cup. Show a real Seder Plate and if possible real symbols so that children can touch and look.
Activity
- Option 1: Decorate a Seder Plate – Using the template children to design their own Seder plates. Children should take their time and try to write the Hebrew / English of the symbol next to the picture.
- Option 2: Paint a Seder Plate – Give each child a china/clay plate and ask them to paint it in the style of a seder plate. You will need to use appropriate paint. IKEA plates are good for this activity, as they are big and not too expensive.
- Option 3: Make a Matzah Cloth – Children to make their own matzah cloth for the Seder Table. This can be a simple design on paper or with real material. This can be decorated with paints, colours, felt-tips or any resources you wish.
- Option 4: Create a Seder Poster – Using all of the symbols learnt in the lesson, children to create a poster/fact file explaining what each symbol is and what it means.
Plenary
- Pesach Activities – Select one or two of the Pesach activities for the children to complete in pairs or individually
- Pesach Song – Teach children the “Pharaoh Pharaoh Song”. Listen on YouTube and perform a few times as a class.