Activity Overview
Researching real people who practice Judaism or key figures from Jewish texts and mythology help students to gain greater insight into this fascinating religion. It helps students go beyond simply memorizing facts to acquire a more substantial view of Judaism and its followers. In this activity, students will create a biography poster for one person relating to Judaism. Teachers can assign students a specific person or they may give students a choice.
These posters can be printed out, laminated, and hung around the room as a visual reminder of notable people who practice Judaism. Students can also present their posters to their classmates, sharing their knowledge about their person, thus combining research, writing and public speaking skills into one powerful assignment.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Suggested Jewish Figures in History
- Abraham
- Sarah
- Moses
- Miriam
- King David
- King Solomon
- Judah Maccabee
- Queen Esther
- Osnat (alternately Asnat or Asenath) Barazani
- Amedeo Clemente Modigliani
- Moishe Shagal (Marc Chagall)
- Jonas Salk
- Sigmund Freud
- Albert Einstein
- Clara Lemlich
- Anne Frank
- Elie Wiesel
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Felix Mendolsohn
- Itzhak Perlman
- Elena Kagan
- Bob Dylan
- Barbra Streisand
- Steven Spielberg
- Alysa Stanton
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a person past or present related to Judaism. Create a poster that includes important details and engaging imagery.
Student Instructions:
- Using school resources, conduct research on a person of significance past or present that is related to Islam. Take notes using a graphic organizer.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth, death (if applicable) and major accomplishments in sequence.
- Add appropriate scenes, characters and items to illustrate each cell.
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, major accomplishments and images to enhance the poster.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
How To Perform Research on Key Religious Figures
Choose a Significant Figure
Start by stating which particular religious leader or individual the student will study. Make sure that it adheres to the curriculum's objectives and learning goals. Teachers can introduce different religions and their main leaders to students and students can choose one figure according to their interests.
Introduce Research Methodology
Orient students toward reliable information sources. Promote reading of books, scholarly papers, reliable websites, and source documents related to the religious person. Introduce students to scholarly publications and articles about the religious figure that may be found in internet databases and library resources. Students can also use interviews to conduct the research.
Discuss Background
Students will have a better understanding of the religious figure's historical, social, and cultural background. For evaluating their messages and effects, it is essential to have this contextual awareness. Encourage the students to begin with researching facts such as the place of birth, the influence of surroundings, and the significance of the time period.
Compare and Contrast
Students can compare and contrast two key religious figures from the same religion or even different religions. This will help them understand different beliefs and analyze different perspectives. Introduce the concept of Venn Diagrams or other graphic organizers that students can utilize for this comparison.
Organize and Present
Ask the students to organize their research in a presentable format. Students can use an outline to structure the research and use that outline to organize the information and data they have collected so far for the research. Once organized, they can present their findings and analysis in front of the class.
Frequently Asked Questions About Key Figures in Judaism
Why is Abraham important to Judaism?
Jewish people regard Abraham to be their ancestor. His covenant with God, which promised him offspring as many as the stars and a country for his people, is what made him famous. Abraham is one of the key religious figures of Judaism and is highly regarded with respect.
Who is Esther and what is her role in Jewish history?
The biblical Book of Esther centers on Queen Esther. She was essential in protecting the Jewish people from a conspiracy to destroy them, which is remembered during the Purim holiday.
What part did Moses play in the history of the Jews?
Judaism's most important figure is Moses. In addition to receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai and leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses also had a significant impact on the journey to the promised land.
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