Count the Stars

Grade/Class: Grade 2 Chumash

Context: Students study Parshat Lech-Lecha in Chumash.

Learning: Hashem conveys to Avraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky, which are seemingly countless. To help students grasp the enormity of this concept, students used sand as hands-on manipulatives. During the activity, students used sand to represent the vastness of the number of stars mentioned in the parsha. They learned that on a clear night, one can observe approximately 10,000 stars. However, they were astounded to discover that the universe actually contains an astonishing 200 billion trillion stars (a 2 followed by 23 zeroes)! There isn't enough sand on earth to reach that number!

This activity allowed students to ponder the profound meaning behind Hashem's promise to Avraham. Additionally, the activity fostered an appreciation for the magnitude of large numbers, helping students grasp the vastness of the universe and the limitless potential within it.