This lesson plan will get your students thinking critically about the five major waves of Jewish immigration from Europe to Palestine during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. By stepping into the roles of early immigrants, students gain a deeper, more personal understanding of this pivotal chapter in Israeli history.
 
The resource includes everything you need to build toward the skit—vocabulary cards to introduce key terms, a graphic organizer to help students analyze the specific nuances of each Aliyah, and a skit planning sheet with thoughtful prompts to guide their reenactments.
 
Contents
Timeline Handout
The lesson begins with a timeline handout that provides a clear visual overview of each Aliyah. The timeline highlights where the immigrants originated, why they left, the conditions they encountered upon arriving in Palestine, and the significant contributions they made.
 
Vocabulary Cards
To further support their learning, you'll receive 23 vocabulary cards featuring key terms such as Antisemitism, Pogrom, Theodore Herzl, and Zionism. These cards are designed to help students grasp essential concepts related to Israeli history. *View the complete list of terms at the bottom.
 
Mini-Skit Planner & Scene Worksheets
Students will use the mini-skit planner and scene worksheets to create and perform skits based on the historical events of each Aliyah. This activity helps students connect more deeply with the material by reenacting the challenges and achievements of the immigrants.
 
Vocabulary Cards
Antisemitism
Pogrom
Theodore Herzl
Zionism
Labor Zionism
Kibbutz
Immigrant
Yishuv
Aliyah
Diaspora
Yiddish
Eliezer Ben Yehuda
Histadrut
Ottoman Empire
British Mandate
Balfour Declaration
United Nations
Partition Plan
War of Independence
Nakba
David Ben-Gurion
Law of Return
 
Before you Buy
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