The Goodman Initiative - candy and snacks

Challenge Course Israel

Aliza Goodman — Tue, 12 May 2015 22:08:56 +0000

In this session we will explore how to use group challenges, low ropes, and no ropes courses to look at challenging issues in Modern Israeli History.

Curriculum Themes:

Materials Required:

Program Duration:

1 hour

Number of Campers:

A Bunk/Cabin/Chug (10-20 campers)

Age of Campers:

Core Learnings:

Ropes courses provide an active way to engage with the core of a challenging story in history

Transforming a story into a physical feat that needs to be accomplished is a powerful way to learn Israeli history and understand the values being reflected in the story

You can use minimal amount of supplies and just the Goodman resource cards to teach about Modern Israel History

The Jewish people have faced many challenges throughout history and have needed to find ways to overcome those challenges

Explanation:

Cave in Ein Gedi:

This is a reworking of the classic Spiderweb Challenge. Depending on the size of the group split the group into two or three teams. While many people might have done this activity or Cow Fence, this is slightly different.
The goal is to get someone in through the spider web without touching the web, once there that person needs to grab a piece of the cloth (a bandana), and then get back again.
For additional complexity they can be challenged to do this silently. If anyone touches the web, you get sent back. The group that does it faster wins.
After explaining the rules the facilitator explains that they are David and his posse who are confronting King Saul in the cave in Ein Gedi (1 Samuel 24).
At first the facilitator asks the participants about the challenge: Saul came to kill David, what it meant to do this activity in silence, confront your oppressor, and show restraint in not killing him in response.
After the challenge the entire group will reflect on the story of David and Saul. Then they will reflect on how it felt to confront a bully. Then we will look at the role of confronting the bully in Israeli history. When are we David and when are we Saul?

History of Aliyah (Lighthouse Activity):

Phase 1 – Blindfold one person and put him/her at one end of a room or outdoor area that has various obstacles in it (i.e. rocks, cones, chairs, trees, etc.). Select another group member to be the “lighthouse” and place them at some point in the obstacle course. Give the blindfolded person an object representing the Jewish people.
The job of the lighthouse is to guide the ship (blindfolded person) verbally through the rough waters (obstacle course) avoiding any of the obstacles safely to Israel. The catch is that the lighthouse is only allowed to give directions when the ship is facing the lighthouse. We start with Event Card #2 Pre-State Aliyah (1881-1939). The game grows in complexity as it moves through the History of Aliyah to Israel.
Phase 2 – Same game play but now there are two lighthouses. One that is trying to help the Jewish people to get to Israel and the other is the British trying to steer them away. Use Event #1 Balfour Declaration, Event #3 Aliyah Bet (1939-1948), and Place #10 Atlit Detention Camp.

Variations:

Variations could include a variety of obstacles and challenges and content might include:

Event #6 Aliyah From Arab Countries (1949-1952) -- Explore complication of having multiple ships on the water at the same time.
People #11 Natan Sharansky – How might the Masses Rally for One to Escape?
Event #14 Ethiopian Aliyah – Getting to a Place in Israeli Society
Event #16 Russian/Soviet Aliyah – The Jewish Questions
People #14 Hannah Senesh – Invert the narrative to having her leave Israel to go to Europe to Save Jews
Event #11 Operation Entebbe (July 4,1976)
People #2 Theodor Herzl – Use for Reflection on Exercise to explore the the idea of a Jewish Homeland
Society #4 Law of Return

Background Cards:

Soldiers Eat S’mores Too!

Carl Schrag — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:02:32 +0000

This activity provides opportunities for high-school-aged campers to delve into the reality of the military challenges facing Israel. Starting with a late-night sneak-out, progressing to a campfire and a military mission, the program culminates with the Goodman Educator and shlichim sharing stories from Israel's wars.

Curriculum Themes:

A People’s Hope

Materials Required:

Program Duration:

90 minutes

Physical Space:

Number of Campers:

A Division/Age Group (30 – 50 campers)

Age of Campers:

Core Learnings:

Key milestones in Israel's fight for survival: the War of Independence, the Six Day War, and the Yom Kippur War

Grapple with the reality of war as experienced by Israeli staff (and, where applicable, campers)

Explanation:

Step 1: The Surprise

As campers are getting ready for bed, staff rushes into the cabins and announces that they have 15 minutes to prepare for a very special late-night activity. Instruct them to wear sturdy shoes, bring flashlights, and be in the appointed place in exactly 15 minutes.

Step 2: Gadna Training

The facilitator greets everyone and announces that the campers will undergo a brief military training exercise, a mini-Gadna activity. The shlichim lead them through an obstacle course and a late-night run around camp. During this activity, shlichim bark orders at campers and exert enough pressure so that the participants feel they are being challenged, but not so much as to intimidate or overwhelm them. (The GE should plan this with shlichim in advance, and keep careful tabs on how it is being implemented in real time). This entire exercise should last about 15 minutes. When everyone returns to the assembly point, campers gather around a campfire for another comfortable setting that is conducive to storytelling, refreshments are served.

Step 3: War Stories

After everyone has enjoyed their snacks, the facilitator (ideally one of the shlichim) tells the group:
- "Tonight you are going to learn about the wars Israel has fought since its creation. But first, we wanted to make sure you understand a bit about what it means to be a soldier. Being a soldier means you follow orders from your commanders. It means you are prepared to work hard all the time. It means your life is on the line for a cause that means everything to you. That's what we tried to show you as we were running around camp just now, and that's what we are going to show you by sharing our stories with you now."
At this point, another shaliach (or two) step up and address the group to share very brief reflections on what it means to serve in the IDF. They stress the idea of defending their homes and their families, and they also speak about the camaraderie among soldiers in a unit.
Now, a series of presenters (ideally shlichim, but American staff can also participate) shares with the group a personal story about each of 4 Israeli wars (War of Independence, Six Day War, Yom Kippur War, and Operation Cast Lead). The GE should have worked with each of these presenters in advance to craft a story that can be told in first person about the war. (If the presenter has a personal connection to the war, such as a grandparent, parent, or family friend who fought in the war, then this should be the basis for the story. Otherwise, it can be a fictionalized account, but should be told in first person nonetheless). Each story should take 2-4 minutes to tell, and the presenter can engage campers in Q&A before handing the floor to the next presenter.

Step 4: Wrap-up

After all 4 presenters have shared their "personal" war stories and campers have had ample opportunities to ask questions, the facilitator tells the group:
- All of you have spent the past hour hearing stories about the people who have fought in Israel's wars. Here in America, we tend to think of war as something for history class, the movies, or video games. But in Israel, war is a very real part of every person’s reality. Not because there’s a war going on every day in every part of the country, but because the possibility of war is always very real, and it touches the lives of every Israeli. You've heard how it’s touched the lives of some of our friends, our shlichim, and you've heard stories from the past 70+ years that sum up highlights of some of the most important wars that Israel has fought.
Time permitting, the facilitator can invite shlichim to share more of their own personal reflections and ecnourage campers to ask more personal questions.
To wrap up the activity, the facilitator stresses that the IDF is a people's army supported by near-universal conscription and asks the campers to think about a couple of questions that few Israelis ever think twice about:
- What is worth fighting for?
- What, if anything, is worth dying for?
At the conclusion, staff bring campers back to their cabins and to bed. Campers sleep in late tomorrow.

Variations:

There is a lot of material in this activity, and it my be too much to do in the middle of the night.

Options include:

Break the activity into two separate parts that can be started at night and completed the following day.
Do the entire activity as an evening program.
Forgo the campfire discussions focused on past wars, and instead ask the shlichim to discuss their personal experiences in the army.

Background Cards:

Supporting Materials:

War Stories Background.docx

Curricular Subjects:

Decision Time: The Homeland Carnival

Natalie Blitt — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:59:16 +0000

This activity is the re-enactment of the quest for votes that effectively created the State of Israel. Campers will have to do Israel-related activities and challenges in order to collect the necessary "votes" such that the United Nations votes in favor of the Partition Plan.

Curriculum Themes:

Materials Required:

Program Duration:

90 minutes

Physical Space:

Outdoor Space

Number of Campers:

A Division/Age Group (30 – 50 campers)

Age of Campers:

Core Learnings:

The state of Israel was created after World War II ended when thousands of Jewish refugees lived in Europe

Jewish representatives had to secure votes from the UN to get the resolution for the establishment of the Jewish state passed

The Partition Plan, as proposed at the UN, divided the land into two states, one for the Jews and one for the Arabs

The real celebration of the founding of the state took place on Nov. 29, 1947 -- the moment when the international community accepted the idea of a Jewish state in Palestine

Explanation:

Divide the group into teams of about 5 campers. Each group receives a unique bingo card with 9 squares. Each square should have a picture or symbol that refers to the modern state of Israel. The nine symbols will match the symbols that identify the different stations.
Explain to the campers that they will probably not be able to fill all of the squares on their own card, but it's important that several of them are filled (don't tell them how many) on a certain number of different teams' cards (don't tell them how many). Therefore, it's important that teams help other teams find the different stations (which can be "hidden" or off the beaten track) and help them with the activities.
Counselors should run each of the 9 different stations and get into character according to the station theme and task. At each station, they should have a large picture that is on the bingo card. When a group arrives at the station, they need to perform a task in order to get their sticker on their card. Remember, the more "carnival-like" each station is, the more fun the campers will have!

Stations:

Quiz show: Counselor will say: If you want your own state, you should know something about it.
- Group must answer 5 questions about Israel correctly. Can't get stamp until they answer at least 5.
Army: Counselor will say: If you are going to have a state, you will have to defend yourself.
- Group must do 15 sit ups or push ups.
Culture: Counselor will say: If you are going to have a state, what will make it artistic?
- Group must sing a song in Hebrew.
Hebrew: Counselor will say: You have a language you want to use for this country. Do you know it?
- Group must recite the Alef Bet or name 3 words they know in Modern Hebrew (not prayers)
State: Counselor will say: Countries need symbols. What will yours be?
- Group will need to draw a flag.
National Anthem: Counselor will say: What will be the song that symbolizes your country?
- Campers must at least be able to name Hatikva and either sing it or at least hum it.
Land: Counselor will say: What will this country eventually look like?
- Campers must lay out their bodies in the shape of the map of Israel.
Dance: Counselor will say: I've seen Israeli dancing, can you do it?
- Campers must get into a hora and dance around.
Passion: Counselor will say: Why does this matter to you?
- Campers will have to explain why it's personally important to them for the state of Israel to exist.

Allow enough time for groups to go from station to station but not fill out their card entirely. Groups should be encouraged to help one another through the activities -- by telling them where the stations are if they are hidden, or passing on information. When time is up, there should be a question in everyone's mind of whether enough squares were filled out.
Once everyone gathers back together, groups should pass their cards to a staff table where the cards are tabulated. This should be going on where campers can see it -- have the staff make a production out of examining the cards and counting them up on a score sheet.
As this this happening, the educators should talk to the campers about the activity. Tell them that in some ways, this activity was like what the representatives of Jewish Palestine and the Jews who helped them had to do in order to get the votes necessary to get the UN resolution passed.
Screen the Toldot video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrIjzUK0FKg

Background Cards:

Supporting Materials:

Israel Quiz Questions.pdf

Curricular Subjects:

The Edible Map of Israel: A Land of Milk, Honey, and…CHOCOLATE?

Natalie Blitt — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:13:13 +0000

Help your campers discover the land of Israel -- at least the edible version! After a brief orientation about the geography and topography of the country, campers will create their own maps of Israel out of ice cream and candy (or veggies or cake or you name it!). The maps will be photographed with their creators, and then everyone will eat their creations.

Curriculum Themes:

A Land & Its People

Materials Required:

Program Duration:

90 minutes

Physical Space:

Number of Campers:

Age of Campers:

Core Learnings:

Campers will learn how to say 'north,' 'south,' 'east,' 'west' and 'center' in Hebrew

Campers will know the shape and some of the geographic regions of the State of Israel: Galilee, Golan, Center, and Negev (desert)

Campers will be able to locate the following cities on the map of Israel: Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva, and Eilat

Explanation:

Stage 1: Build the Map

Divide the pieces of the puzzle map between the campers, giving each of them as many pieces as possible.
Explain to the campers that you are going to build the map together but you must do it in silence -- with the exception of being able to speak 5 words: tzafon, darom, mizrakh, ma'arav, and merkaz. Have them repeat the words a few times, and then do a few quick exercises with them. You can identify one part of the field as each of the directions and then either play "simon says" with moving in different directions, or have them just run toward each area. Once you feel that they can remember the directions (with the aid of the giant compass), have them build the map, reminding them that they can only give each other help by using the five Hebrew words (i.e. if someone is holding a piece with Eilat, another camper could tell them "darom" if they didn't know where it went).
If directions are too hard for younger campers, have them construct the map in silence.

Stage 2: Discover the Map

Once the map is complete, seat the campers and any staff around it. Ask them what they noticed as they put it together?
Remind the campers that while this is a huge map, the State of Israel is actually very small:
- It can fit into the state of Wisconsin 8 times
- It is only 263 miles from north to south (i.e. about 4 hours on the highway -- is that further than the distance some people drove to camp?)
- At its narrowest point, it is only 9 miles across
Have campers point out places they've been (if any) or what they know about places on the map. Israelis or North American staff members who have been to Israel should join in with stories or information about the various places. In the absence of people who have personal experiences in the various locations, you can use the information and pictures provided. You will not be able to paint a picture of all the places on the map, but campers should learn about:
- The desert, forest areas, mountains, and the Dead Sea
- The uniqueness of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, and Eilat.

Stage 3: Building Your Own Maps

Bring the campers into the dining hall or outside (provided that it isn't too hot!). Campers should sit around tables and each small group of 3-4 campers receives a foil tray. Pointing to small maps of Israel, the counselors challenge each group to build a map of Israel using ice cream, candies, and sprinkles. You may want to include:
- chocolate, vanilla, and mint ice cream
- chocolate syrup
- chocolate sprinkles
- M&M’s
- Hershey’s kisses
- jelly beans
- green jelly candies
- candy fish
- graham crackers
Alternatively, you could use sheet cakes with icing, or trays with veggies.
Counselors distribute scoops of ice cream and campers select colored candies and food coloring as needed to depict the State of Israel. Campers should be reminded that their maps will be judged, so they should make deliberate choices about candy and decorations.
When all campers’ work is complete, a staff member should photograph each map twice: once by itself and once with its creators.
The campers then eat their work!

Variations:

Variations in format

If this activity is done in a large group, you can stagger the groups who look around the big map and then who make their creations.
For younger campers, the explanation about the map of Israel should be curtailed and counselors should help with the creation of the candy maps.
This program can be done as part of a cooking activity.
You can also create a giant map of Israel with lots of little cupcakes. Campers could work on one area of this edible map by decorating their cupcake.
While not as delicious, this activity can also be done with art supplies.

Background Cards:

Supporting Materials: