The Birth of a Nation - Educational Kit

The Birth of a Nation - Educational Kit

In Brief

This activity reviews the events that led to the Declaration of Israel's independence. It approaches these events in an abbreviated and concise manner, and tries to understand the main sequence of events and circumstances, challenges, motivations and dilemmas that the founders of the State had to face. Participants will get personally acquainted with the founders of the state, focusing not only on the most famous ones, but also with some who remained "in the shadow" despite the significant role they have played.
 
Goal of the Kit:
 
 Familiarity with the course of events, the people and the leaders that led to the Declaration of the State of Israel.

Educational kit - declaration of independence - David Ben Gurion

General info

The Target Audience:
Middle school and up.

Duration of the Activities:
45-180 minutes.

Location of the Activities:
Indoors or outside.
 
Required equipment:
 Timeline + 6 event cards, 6 "My Declaration" booklets, backdrop and tablecloth for a reenactment of the declaration, "Our Declaration" posters, photo kit, pens and paper, projector and speakers (not mandatory), Yom Ha'atsmaut presentation (not mandatory)

Click here to download the full Birth of a Nation Activity Kit

List of the activities in the kit:

Stage 1: "Previously on 'the birth of a Nation'"

6 participants who said they know Jewish history will receive an index card and as a group they will be asked to lay their cards down in chronological order on the timeline. The activity is intended to illustrate the historical events that led to Israel's declaration of independence. Through it, the participants will deeply learn of the details behind each such event and understand historical processes.

 

Downloadable aids:

  1. 6 event cards
  2. Timeline


Stage 2: Formulating a State

Participants will be divided into six work teams. On the board, write a list of issues that need to be integrated into the official declaration of a state. Encourage participants to add more issues. Participants will then come up with an individual list of the three most important issues that need to be included in the Declaration of the State of Israel. Then, as a team, they will be asked to come up with an agreed upon list.
 
Then, the participants will discuss the difficulties surrounding the need to agree upon 3 key issues: the need to make such a decision under time pressures and the need to make concessions and compromises. This experience will demonstrate the actual process that led to the Declaration
 

Equipment to Bring:

  1. Whiteboard
  2. Papers
  3. Pens

Stage 3: The People Behind the Declaration

Again, participants will be divided into into the 6 work teams. Each team will receive a "My Declaration" booklet, paper and pens. Each team will learn about the historic figure it received, look at the pictures of their historic figure and get to know him/her, and choose one sentence that represents the narrative of the declaration as told through the the figure's perspective, representing this historic figure’s particular point of view. If they will not find a suitable sentence, have the members of the team draft such a statement themselves. This activity familiarizes the participants with the contribution of key figures to the declaration.
 

Downloadable aids:

Equipment to Bring:

  1. Pens
  2. Papers

Stage 4: Our Declaration

Participants will discuss how the vision of the Declaration of Independence can remain relevant in the reality of Israel today. Following the discussion, participants will be divided into teams of 4-6 participants. Each team will receive paper and pens. Their objective is to write a one-sentence vision for Israel's future that will include specific and implementable goals for Israel today, emphasizing the lasting connection between Israel's Declaration of Independence and the life in it.
 

Downloadable aids: