This year, the RYNJ third grade team wrote an entirely new social studies curricular unit on the 13 colonies. Utilizing best practices in the field, study skills (such as Cornell note-taking) and hands-on learning projects, the students felt history come alive.

RYNJ students spent an intensive week learning about Colonial jobs, including candle making. An interdisciplinary project followed. It combined both a Judaic Studies element, the making of Havdalah candles with Rabbi Grossbaum from The Friendship Circle, and their newfound knowledge about Colonial American professions. After learning about the significance of Havdalah, the boys dipped their wicks in melted wax, twisted a bit and each had produced a candle.