5 Engaging Passover Read Alouds for Upper Elementary Students

On Passover, Jewish people all over the world celebrate their freedom from slavery and their beginnings as a great nation. With Passover fast approaching, it's the perfect time to start thinking about read aloud books to share with your students.  Not only can these books teach about the traditions and history of Passover, but they can also promote empathy and understanding of different cultures and religions.

Hers are some great Passover read aloud book for 3rd-5th graders, along with some teaching ideas to enhance your lesson plans.

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The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel

This heartwarming story follows a family during the Spring of 1933 in Washington D.C. The Great Depression is hitting Muriel's family hard.  Like many other men in the country, her father has lost his job, and the family barely has enough food most days - let alone for a Passover Seder.

Since she doesn't think she has a feast to rush home to, Muriel wanders by the Lincoln Memorial where she encounters a mysterious magician.  After she makes a kind gesture, he encourages her to run home for Seder.  When she arrives home, she encounters a holiday miracle: a bountiful feast of brisket, soup, and matzah, enough for their whole community to share.

How did this happen?

Teaching Ideas

After Reading

Discuss the importance of hospitality and kindness, and how it relates to the holiday of Passover.

Social Studies

Use the book as a starting point for discussing the historical context of the Great Depression and how it impacted families in the United States.

Math

Have students practice measure ingredients for a Passover recipe such as charoset or matzah ball soup.

The Yankee at the Seder by Elka Weber

This book tells the true story about a Jewish Yankee soldier who joins a Southern family's Passover meal during the Civil War. Gathered around the seder table, the group discusses what it means to be free - a subject that is just as relevant today as it was during the Civil War and during the Exodus that Passover commemorates.

Teaching Ideas

Social Studies

Use the book as a starting point for discussing the historical context of the Civil War and how it impacted different regions of the country.

Reading

Explore two of the book's themes - acceptance and forgiveness, and how they relate to the holiday of Passover.

Math

Have students calculate the distance between different cities during the Civil War.

The Story of Passover by David A. Adler

This informative and engaging book tells the history of the Passover holiday, from its origins in ancient Egypt to modern-day celebrations. Passover commemorates Moses leading his people out of slavery in Egypt.  This book recounts the major events of the story, in kid friendly language, from Jacob settling in Egypt to the miraculous parting of the Red Sea.

The text and images have been vetted by a rabbinical authority, and includes notes about the modern Passover celebration, the Seder, and how the different parts of the meal symbolize elements of the story.

Teaching Ideas

Social Studies

Use the book to introduce or reinforce the historical context of Passover and how it relates to Jewish culture and history.

Have students research and present on a different holiday that has historical significance.

The Passover Mouse by Joy Nelkin Wieder

In the Jewish tradition, families clean their homes of leavened bread right before Passover.  In this story, a little mouse disrupts the town's preparations for the holiday when it steals a piece of leavened bread - or chometz, and tears through the town, spoiling everyone's hard work. Just when it seems as if the townsfolk will never be ready for their Seder, the little mouse's actions bring everyone together to work as a group to save the holiday.

Teaching Ideas

Reading

Story Elements: Have students identify the story elements such as characters, setting, problem, and solution.

Making Predictions: Stop at various points throughout the story and have students make predictions about what might happen next.

Compare and Contrast: Compare and contrast The Passover Mouse to other books about Passover or books with similar themes.

Vocabulary: Introduce new vocabulary from the story such as "matzah", "seder", "afikomen", and "Haggadah". Have students write definition and use them in a sentence.

Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Passover: With Matzah, Maror, and Memories by Deborah Heiligman

This colorful book explores the many forms that the weeklong celebrations of Passover takes worldwide. Alongside beautiful photographs, the author details the long lavish meals called seders, at which the Exodus is recalled in ritual, prayer, song, and story. The historical significance of the food at the Passover feasts is explained alongside recipes that encourage readers to try them on their own.

Teaching Ideas

Math

Have students create a bar graph or pie chart showing the different foods eaten during a Passover Seder.

Writing

Have students write a letter to a friend or family member, explaining the significance of Passover and the traditions observed during the holiday.

Passover is a meaningful holiday for Jewish people all over the world. By incorporating these read alouds into your classroom, you can help students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for  the importance of Passover in Jewish culture and history.

What are your favorite Passover Read Alouds?

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More Passover Activities

If you are looking for more Passover activities to use in your classroom, check out this blog post.

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