I love this You Can Do a Mitzvah! Lesson Plan because it’s a simple way to not only explain the concept of mitzvah to young children, but also empowers them to realize all the mitzvot they can do to make the world a better place! I need this hope for our future so much right now.
Lesson Objectives
The objective for this lesson was simple and straightforward: Students will learn about the Jewish value of mitzvah. I wanted the children to connect to the idea of mitzvah not only as a commandment, but as a good deed and kind action. I also wanted them to feel empowered that they, even if they are children, can do mitzvot and make the world a better place.
As always, I wanted to supplement this learning with a hands-on activity that allows them to put this value into practice.
Introducing the Lesson’s Concepts
I introduced the lesson’s concept of mitzvah with the short book Moti the Mitzvah Mouse. This book is geared to the very young, but its simple delivery is so helpful for young children to not only learn, but to connect with this learning. In each page Moti does a kind action, a mitzvah. My students eagerly called out which mitzvot Moti did throughout the book.
I love how this book shows a variety of mitzvot so that the children can understand there are so many kind actions they can do to help this world.
Since I teach a combination class (kindergarten and first grade), I work off a two-year curriculum and rotate the book and activity I use every other year. The other book I love using for the mitzvah lesson is One Good Deed. This is actually one of own children’s, and mine, favorite all-time books. It is so incredibly sweet and shows how one kind action can spread that kindness from person to person. So lovely!
Discussion Questions
After we finished Moti the Mouse, I asked the following discussion questions. These questions allowed the children think back over what the book described, and also what they also already knew, about kind actions.
- This book describes Moti doing lots of nice things. What are some of the nice things he’s doing?
- tza’ar ba’alei hayim, caring for animals
- hashavat aveidah, returning lost objects to their owners
- gives tzedakah (charity)
- rests on Shabbat
- Do these nice things seem to be hard for Moti?
- some of the good things you do – sometimes without even thinking — are mitzvot
- What good deeds do you do every day?
- Have you ever done a secret good deed?
What is a mitzvah?
After we discussed the book, we of course spent some time discussing what a mitzvah is. I shared that the Hebrew word mitzvah actually means “commandment.” But in our community people often use the word mitzvah to mean “good deed.” And for us, thinking of acts of kindness might be an easier way of understanding this concept.
We also discussed that a mitzvah can’t just be the thought or intention. There has to be an actual action. I loved using the example of feeding the dog (the kids were very into Moti feeding his fish in the book). If you just thought about feeding your dog but didn’t feed him, would that be very kind? No, your dog would be hungry! You must actually do the kind action for it to be a mitzvah and for you to help the world be better.
You Can Do A Mitzvah! Chart
The activity I paired with this lesson was a mitzvah chart. Each child received the blank chart. Importantly they added their name to the top–this lesson is really about how THEY can all do mitzvot. They next got to choose from the pre-written options or write or draw their own mitzvah in each of the large rectangles.
Bonus: they got to practice their cutting skills! Yay for simple and quick fine motor practices!
They also made their own colored star magnets to keep track of the mitzvot they performed each day, week, or whenever. Again, the emphasis was on choosing mitzvot that felt meaningful for them, ones they want to perform in their lives. The magnets and chart helps remind them and shows them some accountability for doing these kind actions.
I made these Star of Davids with my cricut, but you could easily just cut them out of cardstock. They make the sweetest magnets, for this craft and just in general!
Print your You Can Do a Mitzvah! Chart here.
Fun, Meaningful and Successful Lesson
This year was not my first time doing this lesson and once again I appreciated its simplicity and focus on empowering the children to do their own mitzvot to help this world. Can you imagine a future where all children choose to do kind actions, knowing how powerful and meaningful those actions are? May it be so!
For the complete lesson plan in pdf format, click here.
Looking for more information on mitzvah? Check out these articles:
PJ Library: What is a mitzvah?
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