Enduring Understanding: The Ten Commandments guide us as a collective and as individuals.
Essential Question: How might the Ten Commandments guide me in my life?
What do you know? (do this in solo mode, 5 minutes, then review in whole group mode.)
⇒ List the Ten Commandments by heart.
⇒ Who was there when the ten commandments were given?
⇒ What Jewish holiday celebrates the giving of the ten commandments?
Divide the group into partners or groups of 4:
Print the slides into separate sheets or handouts and cut out each commandment so that students can do the following:
⇒ Sort the commandments by thought, speech, and deed.
⇒ Then sort again based on the order that the commandments were given.
Direct instruction
The first commandment:
“I am the L-rd your G-d who took you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”
This commandment teaches that every human being is created in the Divine Image, and is unique. It doesn’t matter if someone is rich or poor, male or female, black or white. G-d cares about how we act, not only in relation to Him but equally important, in relation to each other human being.
If you find yourself in a state of slavery of any sort, don’t be afraid, I will take you out of that enslavement.
Activity
Enslavement to Freedom:
⇒ Create a pantomime
⇒ Tell a story
⇒ Share a song
Exit ticket questions:
⇒ Why is the first and last commandment about thought?
⇒ Why does the first commandment talk about G-d taking us out of Egypt?
⇒ What is the relationship between thought, speech, and deed?
References
Meir, Levi, Ancient Secrets: Using the Stories of the Bible to Improve Our Everyday Lives, Jewish Lights Publishing, Vermont, 1996
“Exodus 21 | Sefaria.” : A Living Library of Jewish Texts Online. Sefaria, Web. 16 Feb. 2017. http://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.21?lang=bi