Passover Resources
The Gateways Haggadah »
The Gateways Haggadah was created especially for families with children with special needs. Purchase copies for your inclusive Passover celebration! »»»
How to Make Your Seder More Inclusive, from Haggadah author Rebecca Redner
During this year's Seder, which will most likely be spent with immediate relatives, parents can create an inclusive experience built around the needs of their children and their family. Learn more »
More Resources
Browse and download free Passover resources for kids, prepared by Gateways' experienced special education teachers: versions of the Passover story (including the Passover story in boardmaker symbols), visual supports for Passover, Passover blessings with visual supports, Passover songs with visual supports, and Passover file folder activities. We'd love to hear your feedback!
Versions of the Passover Story
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The Passover Story in Boardmaker Symbols
The Passover story presented in simple, kid-friendly language with clear visual supports.
Visual Supports for Passover
Order of the Seder
Use this visual representation of the order of the Seder to teach about the Passover Seder, and make it available to all the children at your Seder. That way, even if they can't read the Hagaddah, they enjoy the confidence boost of being able to follow along, alone or with your help. Knowing what's going on, what's next, how much longer and when their favorite parts of the Seder are coming up can help fidgety children attend to the Seder longer.
Passover Blessings with Visual Supports
Passover Songs with Visual Supports
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Passover File Folder Activities
File folder activities can help children review ideas and familiarize them with Jewish objects. Since they are inexpensive and relatively easy to make, you can accumulate a large stack of file folder activities in no time! The visual nature of file folder activities takes advantage of the visual strengths of children with autism and many other developmental disabilities. Click for the Gateways Guide to Making File Folder Activities.
The File Folder Guide for Teachers gives teachers specific tips for using file folder activities in the classroom. It also gives special instructions for helping students to make their own file folder activities, and tips for storing and organizing your classroom file folder activity library.
Each file folder activity listed below is presented with a photograph of the activity and a downloadable kit that includes visual instructions and the materials to make your own!
Symbol Match Ten Plagues
Students gain familiarity with the ten plagues as they match the symbols representing each plague. To view only the plague symbols, click here. Use this activity to prepare a child for Passover, or during your seder to allow a child to recite or follow along with the plagues.
Symbol Match Motzi Matzah
This activity helps to reinforce the blessing for the matzah. The blessing is broken into single words or small phrases (presented in picture symbols with Hebrew transliteration and English translation), and students match each piece of the blessing. To view the blessing alone, click here. You can create this type of file folder activity using any of the blessings presented above.
Photo Match Passover Seder Plates
This file folder activity involves matching photographs of Seder plates. The Seder plate you use at home is not the only example of a Seder plate. Students with disabilities may have difficulty understanding that Seder plates can be different sizes or made of different materials and still all be Seder plates. By using photographs of a wide variety of Seder plates, this activity will help students to generalize the idea of a Seder plate.
Sort Bread and Matzah
In this activity, students will sort images of bread and matzah into two categories. This will help to reinforce the idea that bread and matzah are different, and that we do not eat any type of bread during Passover, and instead we eat matzah. This activity could be used to help prepare a child for the removal of chametz (bread products not kosher for Passover) from his/her home.
File Folder Activities for the Order of the Seder
Photo Match Order of the Seder
This file folder activity involves matching photographs that represent each part of the Passover Seder. Prior to recognizing line drawings of objects, some children are better able to understand photographic representations. In addition to trying this file folder activity, we recommend taking photographs of the actual objects you use in your home, which would lend familiarity to this task for your child. For a child with fine motor challenges, consider mounting the photographs on chunky blocks of foam, or built up cardboard.
Symbol Match Order of the Seder
In this activity, students match symbol to symbol to sequence the order of the Seder. Simple picture symbols represent each step of the seder, with the name for each step presented in Hebrew transliteration and English translation. To view only the picture symbols, download our Order of the Seder visual support. Consider using this activity to help keep your child focused during your Seder by having him or her keep track of or announce the progress of your Seder.
Sequence Order of the Seder
In this activity, students match colored borders to sequence the order of the Seder. This activity is slightly more advanced than matching symbol to symbol, as the visual cues are less obvious. Simple picture symbols represent each step of the seder, with the name for each step presented in Hebrew transliteration and English translation. To view only the picture symbols, download our Order of the Seder visual support. Consider using this activity to help keep your child focused during your Seder by having him or her keep track of or announce the progress of your Seder.
