As part of my lesson on tikkun olam, my students created a special poster all about how THEY get to save the world. It’s an easy and fun craft that’s a perfect way to review the concepts of tikkun olam.
A main objective of my lesson was for each student to believe they have the ability, and the motivation, to help repair the world. As with most of my crafts, it is simple and easy to set up, allows the children their creative take on it, and includes a meaningful message that connects the craft to the theme of the lesson. I of course brought home the supplies so my own kiddos could make the craft and they loved it too!
What You’ll Need
- Large Construction Paper, 12″X18″ or cardstock
- Tikkun Olam poster template, available here
- Scissors
- Glue
- Crayons
- Green tissue paper and blue tissue paper (optional)
Putting It Together
1.Have each child choose the color of their construction paper or cardstock.
2. Give each child the tikkun olam poster template materials. They can either cut out these items themselves, or you can have them pre-cut and ready to use for the craft.
3. Have each child write their name in the space provided, “_______ Saves the World!”
4. Each child can color the world with crayons or glue blue tissue paper bits to the ocean and green tissue paper bits to the land parts. Some of my students chose to just use crayons, while others happily used the tissue paper.
My daughter loved using the tissue paper since it was a different material and sensory feel from crayons. My son, however, became really frustrated with how the tissue paper obscured the lines of the continents and so chose to color with crayons. Ah, the differences in children!
5. Once finished coloring the world, glue the world and the child saving the world phrase to the construction paper.
6. Each student can choose the different tikkun olam act squares (called drawing cards in the template since the children will draw the images themselves) that they personally want to try. I suggested for my students to choose about 4, but some wanted to do more.
To initiate discussion of the topic, I held up each tikkun olam act drawing card and read what the card said and asked the class for examples of what that looked like. I loved seeing the different choices the students made and that some students definitely knew which acts they wanted to try.
7. Once each child has their tikkun olam act drawing cards, they can draw a picture on each square to represent that act and what it means to them.
8. Once the students are finished drawing, they glue the squares to the poster and the poster is finished!
Finished and Loving It!
This craft was easy and quick (especially if an adult does all the cutting prep ahead of time!). It allows a meaningful discussion of:
- what tikkun olam is (repairing the world)
- emphasized that children can help save the world (yes, each of these students has the ability to do this!)
- examples of tikkun olam acts that have significance to each student. By allowing the children to choose which acts they wanted to pledge to try, they have additional buy-in for actually trying to do these acts.
We had a wonderful time creating this poster both in the classroom and at home. I hope it invites meaningful discussion in your home or class as well!
Check out the entire Tikkun Olam lesson plan, Yes, Kids Can Save the World, here.
Do you talk about tikkun olam at home or at religious school? What crafts do you create to engage in a fun, but meaningful visual discussion of tikkun olam?
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I just found your site and I am head over heels!! I teach kindergarten and we are doing a lesson on Tikkun Olam.
Thank you,
Susan
Susan, that makes me so happy! I just did my tikkun olam lesson for my class yesterday and modified this lesson plan a bit. We used recycled paper (from magazines and mailers) instead of tissue paper and read a new book, “10 Things I Can Do to Save the World.” It went really well. I hope your class has fun with it too and please let me know if you ever want to chat about class ideas, I love it!!