Chidush Lessons Plans

2008/5768 Chidush Awards for Innovation in Jewish Education
Recognizing local educators who creatively design and execute innovative Jewish educational experiences and share them with the community.

Our mission is to reward the efforts of Boulder's Jewish educators to innovate and share outstanding teaching ideas, while building the virtual lesson plan library and teacher resource section at HaSifria. Past, present and future Jewish educators and/or creative thinkers are encouraged to submit ideas that inspire student's commitment to Jewish values and love of Jewish learning. Educators may submit up to 3 ideas for consideration by the Chidush Review Committee.

We will be accepting lessons in several different categories this year, including Jewish History & Culture, Hebrew, Holidays, Prayer, Talmud/Torah, Israel, Values and Art. In addition, we have a special interest in lesson plans addressing Jewish Identity and Community Building. Those whose ideas are selected will be asked to follow specifications for turning your idea into a replicable lesson plan format. Educators may choose to submit:

A multi-lesson unit: This would be a subject area that would be taught during a series of class sessions. If your multi-lesson idea is selected for inclusion in the lesson plan library, when it is submitted in final form you will receive a stipend of $360 in recognition of your innovative idea and in appreciation of your commitment to submit their lesson plan for the benefit of other teachers and students in the community . Educators who have more than one submission selected will receive $100 each for additional lessons.
A lesson designed for one class period only: If your lesson is selected for inclusion in the lesson plan library, when it is submitted in final form you will receive a stipend of $180 in recognition of your innovative idea and in appreciation of your commitment to submit your lesson plan for the benefit of other teachers and students in the community. Educators who have more than one submission selected will receive $100 each for additional lessons.
A tool or Game that can be used in a variety of ways to teach or reinforce concepts or to help manage classroom behavior: If your lesson is selected for inclusion in the lesson plan library, when it is submitted in final form you will receive a stipend of $180 in recognition of your innovative idea and in appreciation of your commitment to submit your lesson plan for the benefit of other teachers and students in the community. Educators who have more than one submission selected will receive $100 each for additional lessons.

In addition, in honor of the 2008 Chidush award winners, the Weaver Family Foundation will make a donation of $1800 to HaSifria to purchase curriculum materials. Each winner will also have the opportunity to designate $100 donated in their name to a Boulder Jewish non-profit organization of their choosing and all winners will be recognized at the Chidush Awards Reception on April 17, 2008.

The process for submitting a creative teaching idea:

The selection committee would like to receive applications for the Chidush awards by e-mail. Please include the following information with your submission:

Submitted by:
Address, Phone #, e-mail address
Project Title:
Subject Area:
Specify : multi-lesson unit, single class lesson or teaching tool or game
Target Age Group(s):
Lesson Objective(s):

Please tell us briefly, in summary form, about your innovative teaching idea that could be replicated by others. If your idea is selected for inclusion, you will be asked to further develop your idea into a replicable lesson plan format.

Please type in font size 10 or larger, submitting no more than 2 pages.

Submit the application information to: chidush@gmail.com by January 11, 2008.

Timelines:

January 11, 2008 -- submission deadline for lesson plan summaries
Early in February -- Chidush Review Committee meets to evaluate submissions
Mid-February -- Notification to applicants of lessons plans selected for full submission
March 28, 2008 -- Deadline for submission of completed lesson plans
April 17, 2008 -- Chidush Awards Event

Evaluation:

All submissions will be evaluated by the Chidush Review Committee. The lesson summaries will be presented to the review committee without any information about the submitter. Each applicant may submit up to 3 ideas. It is understood that any work that is accepted for final submission will be included in the teacher resource section of HaSifria and posted on the Chidush lesson plan web site.

Questions:

Questions about submitting lesson plans, developing ideas, or any part of the Chidush awards process should be directed to Shari Edelstein at 303-330-5464, or chidush@gmail.com.