(DENVER) — JEWISHcolorado, the statewide nonprofit organization serving the Jewish community, has been leading the effort to develop fourth grade curriculum that will help elementary school students learn about the life of Major General Maurice Rose, a World War II hero and Jewish legend.

In May of this year, a statue of General Rose was unveiled in Denver’s Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park, the first State sanctioned monument to a Jewish individual in Colorado. Rose was the most decorated battle tank commander in American history.

The 18 symbols on the monument emphasize Jewish culture and values, and the corresponding interactive curriculum meets Colorado requirements. The curriculum can also be adjusted for students who are older or younger than fourth grade.

Two versions of the curriculum were developed to accommodate both secular and religious schools. The fourth grade public school curriculum can be taught in social studies classes for a historical context, or in an art program, focusing on the sculpture and the creative process. The Religious Schools and Day School curriculum approaches the monument and symbols through a Jewish lens and addresses the influence of Jewish values on students’ lives and Jewish identity building. The curriculum is free and available to all Colorado schools and teachers through JEWISHcolorado by contacting Michelle R, Director of Teen Emissaries and Education, at MRuby@jewishcolorado.org. Resources are also available on the following website about the project: https://www.rosemonument.org/

JEWISHcolorado’s Michelle Schwartz and Cindy Coons worked with curriculum writers to complete the project. “This is an innovative way to provide students with local and relevant stories and opportunities to learn history, culture, and art,” said Coons, Director of Jewish Explorers and Family Engagement at JEWISHcolorado.

“It is important that the Maurice Rose monument is more than just a statue. The idea behind this monument is to educate current and future generations as to the impact that one individual can have on humanity, and the sacrifice that one man and his family have made. This individual just happened to be a Jew from Denver, Colorado,” said Paul Shamon, one of the monument project coordinators. The curriculum was made possible through the generosity of Ben Shamon in honor of his father Paul Shamon and in memory of his grandfather, Marvin Shamon, who was a WWII veteran.

About JEWISHcolorado
JEWISHcolorado convenes, connects, protects, and invests in Jewish life in Colorado, Israel, and around the world. For more information, please visit jewishcolorado.org.

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Media Contact:

Rolando Kahn
Phone: 303.316.6458
Email: rkahn@jewishcolorado.org