KEY LEARNINGS/

EXPECTATIONS

SAMPLE DEMONSTRATIONS/

ACTIVITIES

LANGUAGE FOR REPORTING

UNIT 1

The Church Proclaims the Good News

–      understand ‘rock’ as an appropriate symbol of who the community is as Church

–      identify the structure of a celebration of the Word

–      understand Peter’s discovery that the Church is for all people

–      discover that through the action of the Spirit the Church began in Jerusalem and began to spread

–   use the ‘rock’ symbol in writing, e.g., stories, biographies, poems

–   participate in preparing a celebration of the Word

–   enter into story of Peter and Cornelius through drama, role playing

–   rewrite story using Reader’s Theatre

–   share missionary stories emphasizing how the diversity of cultures enrich the faith of all

·     (name of student)   has become familiar with the story of the early Church

·                                      knows the stories of missionaries involved in the spread of the Church

·                                       has an increased understanding of the link between today’s ritual of Baptism and Confirmation with those of the early Church

·                                        can explain the connection between the celebration of the Eucharist and the celebration of the Last Supper with deeper understanding

·                                      knows the structure and can assist in preparations for the celebration of the Word

UNIT 2

The Church Believes in the Lord

Jesus

–      link today’s rituals of Baptism and Confirmation with those of the early Christian community

–      recognize that Church is a visible sign, sacrament of Jesus’ presence in the world

–      interview an RCIA participant and compare with a role-play of a young person becoming Christian in the early church

–      prepare a celebration using the signs and symbols from the Baptism, Confirmation Rites

UNIT 3

The Church Celebrates God’s Mighty Deeds

–      recognize the link between the celebration of the Eucharist and the last Supper

–      know the structure and flow of the Mass

–      recognize that the saints are signs of the reign of God

–      appreciate and reflect upon the image of the Good Shepherd as both God and Jesus as portrayed in Psalm 23 and the parable of the Good Shepherd

–      make connections between the Eucharist and the story of Jesus at the Last Supper

–      help prepare a celebration of the Eucharist

–      carry out activities that remind others of the kingdom

–      express greater understanding of God and God’s ways through mime, song, and personal stories

–      discuss the image of the Good Shepherd

–      retell, reflect upon Psalm 23 in oral, written, pictorial and musical form (“Valleys of Green”)

UNIT 4

The Church Expects the Coming of the Lord

-    learn how the time of Advent helps people to walk in hope

-    recognize Isaiah and John the Baptist as messengers of hope to God’s people

-    see in Mary an example of one who hopes in God’s promises

-    explore the roots of our ancestry of faith through researching Jesse Tree figures

-    celebrate the Advent promise of God-with-us

-    focus on needs of people in Canada and ways others respond to those needs at this special time of year

-    through scripture research explore the roles and messages of Isaiah and John the Baptist

-    reflect on the Magnificat, Mary’s prayer of praise and thanksgiving for what God had done

-    make Jesse Tree decorations based on selected scripture passages about people who hoped in God’s promise

-    help plan and prepare a celebration of hope, which captures the spirit of Advent

·       (name of student)  has learned about the spirit and practices of Advent

·      ______________  is aware of the importance of Mary as an Advent figure

·      _______________ has a greater sense, through the making of a Jesse Tree, of ways the people of the Old Testament hoped in God’s promise

·      _______________ is aware of how God invites people into covenant relationship

·      _______________ is familiar with stories of Old Testament figures that experienced God’s faithfulness through the ages

·      _______________  knows that through the work of the Holy Spirit the Church has spread throughout the world and throughout history

UNIT 5

The Church Welcomes All Nations

-    understand that Epiphany celebrates the coming of Jesus for all people

-    become aware of three Epiphany stories, which show how God invites all people into relationship: The story of the Magi, The story of Jesus’ baptism, The story of the Wedding at Cana

-    recognize in covenant stories how God chooses a people

-    experience through story God’s faithfulness to the promise to be with God’s people

-    discover that the story of God’s faithfulness has spread throughout the world

-    learn about the growth of the Church in Canada

-    reflect on how one of the key symbols of the Epiphany, the star, is for all people

-    discuss how Epiphany shows that God takes the initiative and seeks out all people

-    explore other stories of how God invites people into a covenant relationship again and again

-    articulate the meaning of covenant as it applies to God’s relationship with people

-    research the story of Moses and the chosen people

-    enter into the stories of Ruth and Naomi and the story of Jonah

-    join in a prayer of remembering God’s covenant love

-    engage in activities, which highlight the Church’s missionary activity throughout historical time and geographical space

-    observe ways in which the spread of the faith is enriched by the diversity of cultures

-    study the history of students’ parishes and diocese

-    work together with representatives of parish, home and school to remember and tell their local story of faith

UNIT 5

(cont’d)

-    appreciate how God’s story begins in Old Testament times, is celebrated in the Epiphany event, and is realized in the missionary activity of the Church

-    learn more about Jesus’ relationship with people

–   celebrate God’s faithfulness to all nations

-    find gospel stories that show Jesus’ care for people

·      _______________  recognizes the need for justice in the world and can link that need to people’s rights and responsibilities

·      _______________  can suggest concrete ways to act justly in day to day living

UNIT 6

The Church Acts Justly

-    recognize the need for justice in the world

-    develop an increasing awareness of how God calls people to act justly

-    connect justice to rights and responsibilities

-    become aware of the challenge to share love with the less fortunate

-    experience the call to act justly

-    deepen awareness of ecological issues

-    determine the role of people in taking care of the earth

-    celebrate God’s gift of creation

-    identify with the poor through a play

-    take part in a simulation game highlighting inequality in the world

-    investigate prophets who call out to people to act justly

-    hear the story of Bishop Proulx and other witnesses who acted justly

-    make a co-op list of what students consider to be their rights and balance them with accompanying responsibilities

-    read and reflect on the United Nations Rights of the Child

-    design a newspaper on the topic of justice

-    read and discuss stories of people whose hearts are open to others

-    research how to help people who are challenged in a variety of ways

-    examine how Canadians welcome refugees

-    write about simple, everyday actions in which students are called to act justly

-    pray together for justice in day-to-day living

-    research how creatures live together on this planet

-    examine the earth’s elements

-    research how to take care of an animal habitat

-    research in groups various topics relating to taking care of the earth

-    create a statement on caring for the environment

-    plan and participate in a ritual celebration

UNIT 7

The Church Recon-ciles

-    reflect on Lent as a preparation for Easter

-    recognize disharmony in creation

-    begin to see creation as God’s covenant

-    grow in appreciation of how the Judaeo-Christian faith tradition seeks to understand the mystery of God in the face of evil

-    recognize the effects of evil on society

-    deepen understanding of God’s covenant

-    acquire an increased understanding of God’s reconciliation

-    discover the connection between baptism and reconciliation

-    deepen awareness that Lent is a time to look inside and change one’s heart

-    understand that the Eucharist celebrates God’s reconciliation

-    become more familiar with and appreciative of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

-    celebrate God’s reconciling action in the Church through the Holy Spirit

-    discuss the meaning of Lent

-    share background on the Lenten season in a family activity (cf. Activity pages 21 and 22)

-    identify imbalances on the planet

-    explore native creation myths

-    enter into the creation story in Gen. 1

-    reflect on how the story of God’s creation is a story of trust, love, covenant and freedom

-    read and reflect upon the second creation story in Gen. 2

-    read Gen. 3:1-24 for an account of how evil comes into the world and God’s reaction

-    describe God’s faithfulness through story completion

-    explore evil, sin and temptation

-    interview others about why they think people sometimes knowingly choose to do wrong

-    enter into the story of Noah in Gen. 9.8-17 and God’s promise to remain with people even in the face of evil

-    enter into stories about reconciliation

-    through the story of the Woman at the Well –John 4.3-42 discover that the reconciling Jesus is the living water

-    recall that people are baptized in Jesus, the living water and that in baptism people become part of God’s plan of reconciling and gathering all nations into one

-    discuss how in Lent Christians examine their lives to see if they have lived up to their baptism

-    explore the meal stories of Jesus sharing food with others that were often known to be sinners and note how reconciliation was involved on those occasions

-    identify the parts of the Eucharist where reconciliation takes place

-    explore the need for reconciliation

-    brainstorm what is already known about the sacrament of Reconciliation

-    discuss the forms of the rite of Reconciliation and the procedure for celebrating the sacrament

-    plan and prepare a penitential service as an act of worship celebrating reconciliation

·      _____________  knows the significance of the Lenten season and some of its traditions

·       _______________  has a deepened awareness of evil, sin, and temptation and some of their effects

·       _______________  knows that Jesus showed God’s reconciling love in his relationship with others

·       _______________  has an increased knowledge of the many ways in which the Church reconciles