Kamatz Unit

By Elana Rubin
Grade level: Kindergarten 1st Description: This unit combines the whole language and phonetic approach to teaching Hebrew as a language. The kamatz unit includes: 1. Shafan Story Poster and Big Book, Vocabulary Word Poster 2. Activity sheets and games 3. Ksivah booklet 4. Rhyming game 5. Plural/singular booklet 6. Memory game Instructions for each section precede the materials.

Shafan Story Poster and Big Book, Vocabulary Word Poster

As part of the Kamatz unit, this story provides a context for the kamatz vocabulary words as well as a pre-reading/reading activity. Children read phonetically and with the whole language approach as they enjoy an interesting and illustrated Hebrew story. Vocabulary word poster helps children understand story without having to use translation. Word sentence strips and props help enrich the activities. As part of a Hebrew whole language approach these materials allows teacher to make classroom Big Book as well as individually illustrated books for each child. These materials contribute to a print rich environment. Goals and Objectives: Children will practice Hebrew reading as a group, in a fun exciting way, develop Hebrew pre-reading and reading skills and enjoy learning, with this interesting illustrated story. To make learning the vocabulary words for this unit more meaningful and relevant. Introduction to Big Book & Activities: Children are exposed to Hebrew as a Language, and not just as isolated letters and vocabulary words for memorization. Fun story/Big Book and vocabulary word poster allows children the opportunity to learn at their own level, at their own pace, and in their own way. With these tools children are exposed simultaneously to letters and nekudos, as well as to sentence structure and words. Materials needed: Print outs of enclosed materials, doubles of Big Book pages (one is for Big Book and the other for individual childrens books for children ages 5-7.) Markers or watercolors Large sheets of colored paper optional

Tongue depressors

Directions: 1. Make 2 large poster size copies of the full page story. (11x17 or larger) Make one of the Vocabulary word Poster. 2. Watercolor and laminate when dry. 3. Make sentence strips out of one of posters and put them in a pocket chart, in order. The other intact copy can be on wall or flip chart. 4. Make a copy of the Kamatz Stick Puppet, onto card stock for yourself and one for each child. 5. Color, laminate, cut out and staple onto tongue depressor to be used as pointer Children decorate their own. 6. Enlarge the Big Book pages onto card stock (11x17 or larger) to be illustrated later by the children. 7. Make a copy of the book pages into a booklet for each student. Instructions for Use in classroom: 1. Introduce the Kamatz, name and sound. Use Kamatz Stick Puppet to place kamatz under each letter and read with class. 2. Show (and discuss) Vocabulary Word Poster for the unit 3. First time, slowly read Kamatz Story from enlarged poster. 4. Read again and have a child point out, with the Kamatz Pointer, the vocabulary words on the vocab. poster as you get to the word in story. 5. Read again for the next 2 days at circle time and let students be pointer. 6. Have whole class illustrate Big Book. Assign 2 students for each page 7. Bind book, and for the next few days read story from illustrated Big Book at circle time. 8. 5-7year olds: Distribute individual books (the same text as big book) and have children illustrate their own book. Children read all together at circle time, each pointing to the words as you read together as a class. Children can use kamatz stick puppet as pointer. 9. Use sentence strips in pocket chart as a circle time activity first so children know what to do, and then as a center time activity. The children mix up the sentence strips and try to put the story back in order into the pocket chart. 10. By the end of the unit you can send home the booklet and children are able to read the book to parents even if they cant read words phonetically yet. Variations Use when learning the letter shin. Ages 5 and up For games, make flashcards from the Vocabulary Words Poster Have children make a shafan stick puppet from paper and cotton balls. Their stick puppets come alive as the story is read and they dramatize the story with the puppet.

Kamatz Pointer