JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

Introduction:

Ancient legends and medieval Jewish texts mention a wondrous shield possessed by King David which protected him from his enemies. The shield supposedly carried inscriptions of God’s name and angelic names, and was eventually passed down to Judah Maccabee. In this activity, students can create their own shields to reflect the things that make each of them special.

Materials:

Posterboard, cardboard, papiermache, etc. to create the shape of a shield
Crayons, markers, paint, oil pastels, colored pencils, etc.
Photographs, magazines, etc.
Collage materials

Directions:

Create a shield using poster board, papiermache, corrugated cardboard, pizza box lids, etc.
Have each student decorate his/her shield with pictures and drawings of objects, animals, people, etc. that are special to him/her.
Hang the shields in the classroom to reflect the unique and special qualities of each student, which can serve as a source of strength to the class throughout the year.

A Little Something Extra:

Did you know?

In the story of Hanukkah, we learn about the Maccabbees--a small army in comparison to the well-equipped Syrians. Stories are told about the cleverness of the Maccabees and their unusual strength.

In Jewish prayers, God is sometimes referred to as the "Shield of David". It is through God’s strength that the Maccabees attained their miraculous victory over the Syrians and rededicated the Temple.