2019 Lower School Israel Fair

Take a stroll down the Lower School hallways and you’ll be transported to the land of Israel. While there, you will meet its historic figures, climb its majestic hills, travel to its famous cities… all thanks to the collaborative creative work of our Lower School faculty and students! Together, they researched and created interactive exhibits about several Israeli cities or landmarks: the Kotel (Western Wall), the shuk (outdoor shopping area), kibbutzim, Beit Guvrin, Tzipori, Tiberais, Modiin, the Dead Sea, Haifa, Tel Aviv and Yaffo.

This immersive journey is a product of Academic Choice, a research-based Responsive Classroom strategy. Using this technique, teachers set learning goals and then give students a list of options for what to learn and/or how to go about their learning. This research-based strategy infuses our students learning with energy and a sense of purpose, and its benefits are many: it supports children’s intrinsic motivation to learn, encourages children to learn from each other and draws on different strengths, abilities, and interests.

Lower School classes also consulted with subject matter experts on the city or landmark they studied, including:

• Dead Sea Scrolls expert Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, a prolific author, professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University, and director of the Global Institute for Advanced Research in Jewish Studies, who held a Q&A Skype session with third graders
• Dr. Eby G. Friedman, a Fulbright Scholar and professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Rochester and visiting professor at Technion Institute, discussed the school and living in Haifa with fourth grade students
• Mr. Daniel Ehrlich, Vice President & Educational Director of Keshet Educational Journeys, discussed the Kotel (the Western Wall) with fourth grade students
• Mrs. Tamar Weissman, licensed Israel tour guide, explored Tiberias with the third grade

The Academic Choice Process: Planning, Working, Reflecting
The Academic Choice learning process includes three distinct steps: planning, working and reflecting. In the planning phase, students and teacher brainstorm possible learning activities, which are executed in the working phase. Reflection allows the students to process both the work and learning they did, helping them make sense of their concrete experiences.