Animated PowerPoint Presentation on the Ten Makkos

By Rabbi Avi Wasser

Grade Level: 4-8 Description: This animated slideshow with engaging pictures is based on the meforshim (Meam Loez and others) that describe the theme of the 10 makkos as following the strategies of a general waging war upon his enemies. A handout chart is included for students to fill in as they watch the presentation. Goals/Objectives: Students will compare the makkos to the strategies of a general during war. Instructions:

1. Click through the presentation as the students fill in the handout chart. Variations:

Teach others aspects of the makkos as well as the class is watching the presentation. (For example, how it was middah k'neged middah, etc.)

You can make other charts with more columns to include any others aspects that you wish to be taught.

The Ten PlaguesHashem’s War Against Egypt

Blood

• When laying siege to a city, the General first destroys their water supply

• Hashem turned all the water in Egypt to blood

Frogs• The General sounds

trumpets and horns to panic the defenders

• The frogs’ croaking filled the air with noise

Lice• Archers send stinging

arrows into the city• Hashem sent lice,

whose stings were felt throughout Egypt

Wild Beasts• An all out attack! The

General sends in his vicious regiments to attack.

• Hashem summoned wild beasts from the jungles and deserts to attack the Egyptians

Death of Animals• The General causes

illnesses in the city from lack of food, water and sanitary conditions

• Hashem sent a plague, wiping out the Egyptian livestock

Boils

• The General then bombards the city with flaming tar, burning the people

• Hashem’s artillery was the plague of boils

• This was the plague of hail, where huge hailstones destroyed the all the plants , animals and people who were in the fields.

• Heavy artillery is then called in to bombard the city

Hail

Locust

• The walls are breached and the attacking army takes control of the city.

• Hashem’s attacking army was a swarm of locust, which invaded every house and field

Darkness

• The defenders are taken captive and held in prison

• Hashem sent the darkness, which trapped the Egyptians in their houses

Death of the First Born

• After the city is taken, the enemy leaders are executed

• In the Death of the First Born, the Egyptian leadership died in the middle of the night

Name: ___________________ Date: ________________

Ten Makkos Worksheet

The Plague The Military Strategy Hashem’s Strategy

Blood

Frogs

Lice

Wild Beasts

Death of Animals

Boils

Hail

Locust

Darkness

Death of First Born