4+-+Sing


 * __ S __ING**


 * ACTIVITY IDEAS:**

1) Teach the וְאָהַבְתָּ to students over the course of multiple sessions, taking time each session to learn well a phrase or two of the prayer. When learning the recitation, start with the new material, and then read or chant starting at the beginning of the prayer and going through what was covered most recently.

Make sure students know that the way we chant the וְאָהַבְתָּ is dictated by the “trope marks” above and below the words. These are the same cantillation (or musical chanting) marks that are found in a printed text of the Torah because what has become the prayer וְאָהַבְתָּ is actually a text from the Torah. Tell the students that knowing how to chant the וְאָהַבְתָּ will help them later when they are learning how to chant Torah for their bar or bat mitzvah, because they will see some of the same patterns in their Torah portion and they will already know what it should sound like.

2) Sing a few words and have the students sing them back to you while they keep their eyes on the words either: projected on the board via a digital or overhead projector; viewed on a poster hung on the wall; or by looking at the blessing sheet provided (see APPENDIX in this document). Listen for mistakes and teach the correct form after students are done; do not interrupt the singing. Have students practice the singing by varying who is involved, for example:
 * Everyone
 * Just the boys
 * Just the girls
 * Just those who are wearing red
 * Those who have birthdays in the summer
 * Those sitting in the front of the room
 * Etc.

3) Give students both a chanted and a recited version of וְאָהַבְתָּ . It could be recited/chanted by your cantor or soloist and provided on a CD. Alternatively, there are a few online links that students can go to in order to hear the recitation or chanting. Encourage students to sing along with it at school or at home.

Below is an online list of the //V’ahavta//, though not a comprehensive one: [] [] (click on //V’ahavta//) [] [] []