Things to consider when doing a unit study
Books to use:
Welcome to Israel - Lilly Rivlin
Israel - Debbie Smith
History and Timelines
Learn more about Israel by compiling historical facts and events from its long and eventful history and adding them to your timeline. If you do not have a timeline on the go, you can construct one by following these directions - How to Make a Timeline Easily. Here is a link to a wonderful resource for timeline entries about Israel - http://contenderministries.org/middleeast/timeline.php. Here is another one that you may enjoy perusing or using for dates & events - http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts+About+Israel/History/Facts+about+Israel-+History.htm.
Maps:
A unit study would not be complete without taking a good look at the lay of the land. Click here for both a labeled and unlabeled map of Israel. Have your students mark some of the major cities, the neighboring countries, and the sea to the west, at the least. For older students, have them use your teacher's map and fill in the rest!
Recipes of the land such as
Fava Bean Spread
Ingredients
- One can of fava beans, drained
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper (more if you like pepper)
- Pita bread, torn or cut into triangles
Procedure
- Drain the can of beans, and empty the beans into a saucepan.
- Heat over low heat, mashing the beans against the side of the saucepan with a wooden spoon as they heat.
- Continue mashing until the beans have become thick, pasty, and warm.
- Add lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with triangles of pita bread.
Felafel
Note: This recipe involves hot oil. Adult supervision is required. Many grocery stores now sell prepared felafel in the deli section.
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned chickpeas, well-drained
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- ⅔ cup fine breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 2 Tablespoons oil
- Oil for deep frying, enough to fill the pot about 3 inches
- Pita bread
Procedure
- Mash the chickpeas in a large bowl.
- Cut the garlic into tiny pieces. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and bread crumbs to the chickpeas. Mix the ingredients together.
- Add the eggs and oil to the mixture and mix thoroughly.
- Heat oil in the pot until little bubbles rise to the surface.
- Shape the mixture into 16 balls, each about 1-inch across.
- With the mixing spoon, gently place a few of the balls in the oil—do not drop them in because the hot oil may splash.
- Fry a few at a time until they are golden brown—about 5 minutes.
- Remove the felafel with the slotted spoon. Drain them on a plate covered with paper towels.
- To serve, cut pita bread in half to make pockets.
- Put two or three felafel balls into each pocket and drizzle with tahini sauce (see recipe).
Serves 6 to 8.
Tahini Sauce
Some grocery stores stock tahini sauce, already prepared, or packaged tahini mix.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup tahini (sesame seed paste; can be purchased in stores that sell Middle Eastern foods)
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup water
Procedure
- Mix tahini, lemon juice, and garlic powder in bowl until you have a smooth sauce.
- Add the water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until sauce is thin enough to pour.
- Pour tahini sauce over pita sandwiches; can also be used as a dip for raw vegetables.
Hamentaschen
2/3 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup pulp-free orange juice
1 cup white flour
1 cup wheat flour – no substitutes
2 tsp baking powder
Jam
Beat butter and sugar thoroughly. Add egg and mix until well combined. Add the orange juice and mix again, until well combined. Add flour, ½ c at a time, alternating white and wheat, blending thoroughly between each addition. Add baking powder with last addition of flour. Refrigerate until chilled thoroughly – a few hours or overnight.
Roll dough as thin as possible without tearing (you may want to roll it between two sheets of flour-dusted wax paper). Cut out 3-4 in [7.6 – 10 cm]circles. Put a dollop of jam in the middle of each circle and fold up sides to make a triangle, overlapping as much as possible so only a small amount of jam shows in the center. Pinch corners to seal. Bake at 350 F [176 C] for 15 – 20 minutes until golden brown.
Sesame Candy
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 24 ounces honey
- 24 ounces sesame seeds
- Juice squeezed from one orange (or ½ cup orange juice)
- Grated rind of orange
- Peanut oil
Procedure
- Measure honey and sugar into a saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat until the mixture boils vigorously.
- Lower the heat just enough to keep the mixture bubbling. Add the sesame seeds, orange juice, and rind.
- Cook, stirring constantly, for about 10 minutes.
- Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking sheet with peanut oil.
- Pour candy mixture onto it and press down on the surface with a wooden spoon to flatten it.
- Set baking sheet on a cooling rack and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Cut into rectangles or diamond shapes.
- Allow to cool completely. Wrap pieces in wax paper to store.
Hebrew Calligraphy - Learn to write like a Sofer using these handy tutorials! Before long, you'll be drawing like a pro. Here's the link - http://www.babaganewz.com/activities/index.cfm?cat=22&sub=calligraphy
Make your own dreidle - Chanukah Dreidels (spinning tops) are a tradition going back to the beginning of Judaism. Here's the link - http://www.chadiscrafts.com/fun/claydreidels.html
