Tu B’Shvat Scavenger Hunt Teaches Students about Plants and Trees at Brandeis

Brandeis holiday coordinator Sandra Menachem wanted to re-envision the way Tu B’Shvat is celebrated at Brandeis. So, she worked with Director of Jewish Learning Debby Arzt-Mor and the middle school Jewish life committee to create a school-wide scavenger hunt where students in all grades went around the school locating the many different types of plants and trees we have here on campus. “Tu B’Shvat is really about pausing and enjoying nature, and here at Brandeis it also means appreciating what past generations have planted for us here,” says Ms. Menachem. Students were given a set of clues (for example, “This tree can live up to a thousand years and still have fruit. What tree is it?” Answer: Olive tree) and in groups they set off around the school to locate the many species, including olive trees, jasmine flowers, ivy plants, black bamboo, and Japanese maple, among many others. The answers to the scavenger hunt clues will be used in a middle-school-student-led game of jeopardy that will take place tomorrow during the lower school assembly. 

 

Adds Ms. Menachem, “Our hope is that this activity brings our community together to get to know our home. We have a Jewish responsibility to repair the world, tikkun olam, and learning about the trees and plants in our home is a good step towards taking care of nature.” If you haven’t had a chance yet, stop by the bulletin board display in the main hallway to participate in the scavenger hunt. MORE PHOTOS