When we hear the word transformation some of us might think of caterpillars turning into butterflies or tadpoles into frogs, but some of the most profound transformations that come to mind for me are from Torah. Our current unit at Makom on transformations has the Shorashim (1st-2nd graders) looking at the story of Yosef who goes from favorite son, to slave, to imprisoned, to the second most powerful person in Mitzrayim (Egypt). Kiddos see that sometimes these transformations can be uncomfortable and even painful at times. But the questions our Shorashim kiddos have asked are: How can someone be ready for something to change when they are at their lowest point? How can we prepare ourselves for a transformation in our lives?
The answer? Here at Makom we understand transformation and how to use what we know to help kiddos form strategies and ideas about how to be successful in hard times. For the past few weeks kiddos brainstormed ways to make good choices, drawing out times when they have been successful at Makom by themselves or with a group. They considered what made those times successful, and “interviewed” the characters in the Yosef story by asking their own questions. Below are just a few of the ideas that the Shorashim kiddos thought of as ways to make good choices.
- Accept People
- Hug it out
- Be Responsible
- Be Honest
Since Makom is a place where everyone can express themselves at all times and in all situations, our learners have had the opportunity to interact with Yosef’s journey and ask questions in real-time. This experience helped them solidify strategies for making good choices and relate those strategies to our Makom Community Brit (two-way promise). It felt transformative simply to invite kids to reflect on the ways they can make good choices aided by the context of Yosef’s story. In this way, the Shorashim learners were able to exercise empathy for Yosef’s transformation and consider how his experience could inform their own lives.
