MY FAMILY
THE BETA ISRAEL CURRICULUM
SECTION I – THE HISTORY OF THE BETA ISRAEL
UNIT 2: LIFE IN ETHIOPIA
| Learning Goals | - To understand the religious persecution and forced conversions that Beta Israel faced as Jews in Ethiopia
- To understand societal restrictions facing Beta Israel, such as prohibition against land ownership
- To understand why the Beta Israel became experts in ironwork, weaving, and other artistic skills, trades, and crafts
- To reflect on the relationship between the Beta Israel and the majority Christian populations in Ethiopia
- To consider the ways Beta Israel absorbed Christian influence into its culture, as a minority group trying to adapt into society
- To understand the strong communal spirit of the Beta Israel
- To understand the Beta Israel’s history and experience as a lesson in physical and spiritual resilience
|
| Intended Grades/Ages | Grades 9-10 (ages 13-16) |
| Lessons per Unit | Approximately 3-4 lessons x 60 minutes |
Below is a step-by-step procedure for teachers, recommending content and methods of instruction. We suggest dividing the content into three to four lessons. Our recommendation is for each lesson to take about 60 minutes, but this timeframe will vary per classroom. As general guidelines for pacing lessons:
Lesson 1 should include the Starter and most of History I: 1270-1632
Lesson 2 should continue with rest of History I: 1270-1632 and cover all of History II: 1632-1892
Lesson 3 should explore Isolation & Integration and The Community
Relevant resources and references are included as footnotes.
