Balak . Middah/ Jewish Value Activity Early Years & Foundation Stage 0 - 5 In the parashah the Angel says to Bilaam 'Why have you hit your donkey three times?' the Torah tells us to be kind to animals and not hurt them - Kindness to animals The importance of caring for animals. Do any of the children have a pet? How do they care for it? How does an animal show that it needs something? How do farmers care for their animals? Sing 'Old Macdonald', but stop after each verse and talk about how each of the animals is cared for. Key Stage 1 5 - 8 Bilaam is impressed by the fact that the children of Israel have set up their tents so that no entrance is overlooked by any other. He utters the sentence 'Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov mishkenotecha Yisrael'- Respecting privacy See Bibliography - General Tell the story of the parashah from The Jewish Children's Bible - Numbers, pages 30 - 33. Activity The tefillah Mah Tovu comes from this week's parashah - Bemidbar Chapter 24 verse 5. You can find it on page 3, line 1 of the Chief Rabbi's Children's Siddur. It is said each day on entering the synagogue. This is often sung as a round. Teach any of the versions to the group. Key Stage 2 8 - 11 Bilaam is impressed by the fact that the children of Israel have set up their tents so that no entrance is overlooked by any other. He utters the sentence 'Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov mishkenotecha Yisrael' - Respecting privacy Activity one Discussion: 'How can each of us respect the privacy of other people?' Activity two Sing 'Mah Tovu' as a round. (See Key Stage 1 above)