On Tuesday, Grade 3, in conjunction with their Human Body Unit, hosted a CJDS Health Fair! This unit began with each student "applying" to the Chicago Jewish Day School of Medicine. Once accepted and throughout the inquiry-based study, students identified a body system (ie digestive, cardio, respiratory, etc) and topics related to the human body that they wanted to learn more about, which drove their research and learning.

As part of this research, experts in a variety of health occupations joined Grade 3 to share their expertise and often provided hands-on experiences to provoke learning and interest in health-related fields. Hebrew and Judaic Studies were integrated with this study of science as the students learned the prayer for healing and the prayer we say after using the restroom. Additionally, they learned Hebrew vocabulary centered around our nutrition and healthy food and performed the musical, Dr. Guf Li, in full Hebrew immersion! Guests of the CJDS Health Fair were then invited to the various health exhibits where students shared their projects and knowledge about systems within the human body with their friends and families. 

Later in the week, each student graduated from the Chicago Jewish Day School of Medicine and received a diploma signifying their completion of this important study! Many thanks to several experts who visited the classroom either virtually or in-person to share their medical knowledge and areas of expertise: Leon Remis, Morah Moriah Bradley, Alex Treyger, Hagai Yavin, Leah Neiman, Ari Rosenberg, Susan Litoff, Adam Gafni-Kane, Joey Wertheimer, Ilyssa Minkus, and Tamar Gefen. Don't miss the photos from our most recent guest, Parent and Neuropsychologist Tamar Gefen, who brought along a human brain and several animal brains. Students were very excited to learn so many interesting facts about brains!

Additionally, as part of their unit, Grade 3 wanted to give back to the community and organized a tzedakah project to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. The Ronald McDonald House provides a comforting and supportive environment for families with sick children receiving medical treatment. Students will be making blankets for Ronald McDonald families. They welcome monetary donations, and all donations will be used to buy the supplies needed to make the blankets. Donations can be paid through Venmo (@Tamar-Shapira specified with "Grade 3 Health Fair") and through the CJDS website - please specify that your donation is for the "Grade 3 Health Fair." Any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated.