Before the lesson
- Open the atlas at torahatlas.beorpanecha.org on the classroom computer. It runs in any modern browser; nothing to install.
- Go to your chapter. Use Index or Search, or send students a link: every chapter has its own address (for example …/#sinai).
- Turn on Classroom display in Layers (or press D). Text and labels get big enough to read from the back of the room, and the screen clears to the essentials.
- Turn on Classroom mode in Layers so each chapter’s questions open by themselves when its scene ends.
During the lesson
- Move with a clicker. The arrow keys, Page Up / Page Down and the space bar move to the next scene or chapter, so a presentation remote works.
- Pause on the pasuk. Every chapter opens with its pasuk in Hebrew and English. Read it together before the map moves.
- Ask “where?” before “what?”. Have students predict the route on the map before you play the scene, then compare.
- Use the layers. Turn on Tribal territories, Ancient civilisations or Hebrew names to change what the class is looking at.
- Point out what we don’t know. The atlas marks which places are certain and which are traditions or proposals. It is a good way to teach students to read carefully.
After the lesson
- Questions: every chapter has map questions, text questions with the pasuk, and one discussion question. Answers stay hidden until you reveal them.
- Worksheets: print one chapter or a whole era, with room to write and an answer key on the last page.
- Posters: print the journey as a wall map: in colour, or in black and white for any printer.
Lesson ideas, era by era
Primeval history
From Eden to Babel. Find the four rivers of Gan Eden; follow the Flood year day by day; ask why Bavel was built where it was.
Avraham
Ur to Canaan. Trace lech lecha on the map; mark each altar Avraham built; discuss the war of the kings and Avraham’s chase to Dan.
Yitzchak and Yaakov
The wells of Gerar, Yaakov’s flight to Charan and his return. Where did Yaakov sleep on the stones, and where did he wrestle the angel?
Yosef and Egypt
Dosan to Egypt. Follow the caravan’s road; find Goshen; ask why the family went down, and why they stayed.
Exodus and the wilderness
Rameses to the Sea of Reeds, Sinai and the forty years. Follow Nisan 2448 day by day; place the tribes around the Mishkan; count the journeys of Bamidbar 33.
To the Land
Edom, Moav and Mount Nebo. What did Moshe see from the mountain? Turn on the tribal territories and see the Land divided.
Good to know
- The atlas follows the traditional dating of Seder Olam and keeps the text, Jewish tradition and modern scholarship apart. See Method in the atlas.
- It works in English and Hebrew: switch in Layers or on the opening screen.
- You can put the atlas on your school’s website for free. Get the embed code.
- Questions or ideas? Write to info@beorpanecha.org. We’d love to hear how you use it.