Grade 3- Units 1-3

In The Spirit We Belong

KEY LEARNINGS/

EXPECTATIONS

SAMPLE DEMONSTRATIONS/

ACTIVITIES

LANGUAGE FOR REPORTING

UNIT 1

We Welcome and Gather in the Spirit

–      understand the importance of gathering as a community

–      discover how God’s dream is to gather all people

–      know that the basic elements of a celebration are: (1) Stop and Remember; (2) Tell the Story; (3) Respond in Ritual Action

–      contribute to class dreams and expectations through art mural

–      identify scripture source describing God’s dream – Is. 25.6

–      reflect in written form on God’s dream

–      use format to contribute to the planning and carrying out of a celebration

–      illustrate personal prayer reflection of God’s dream for us, through pictures and words

·     (name of student) contributes to making our classroom a community of friends of Jesus by consistently welcoming others into group activities

·                              can make connections between family and community gatherings and being gathered in the Spirit

·                             ‘s reflections, discussions, and stories demonstrate an understanding of how we become members of the family of God through Baptism and Confirmation

·                            has experienced and can discuss ways in which we take our place in the parish Eucharistic community

·                             is deepening the awareness of how the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist make us active members of the Christian community

·                            contributes enthusiastically to the preparation of our classroom liturgical celebrations

·                             has reviewed the basic parts of the Mass through planning and participation in a Eucharistic celebration

·                             fully participates in the formal prayers of the Catholic community, e.g. Gospel Acclamations, Eucharistic Acclamations

·                             ‘s contribution to a group collage reflects that s/he is beginning to recognize liturgical symbols (e.g. altar, candles)

UNIT 2

The Holy Spirit Gathers and Feeds Us at the Eucharist

–      make a connection between family and community gatherings with being gathered in the Spirit

–      recognize that the Holy Spirit is at work in those who do good

–      experience how the rites in the Eucharistic Liturgy form a structure for celebration

–      recognize that the Holy Spirit is at work in the Eucharist upon the gifts of bread and wine and the gathered community

–      know the difference between ordinary bread and eucharistic bread

–      collect stories and pictures of family and wider community events

–      re-tell story of St. Vincent de Paul and his continued work

–      participate in preparing a class celebration of the Eucharist

–      show a deepened understanding of the Liturgy of the Eucharist by participating in the musical Eucharistic acclamations

–      use recipes for each type of bread and discuss the differences with reference to the consecration at Mass

UNIT 3

The Holy Spirit Calls and Unites Us In Baptism and Confir-

mation

–      understand our place in the Eucharistic Celebration

–      review the celebration of the Eucharist

–      deepen understanding of how Baptism and Confirmation make us part of the Christian community, the Church

–      understand that the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist call us to serve others as Jesus did

–      express understanding of our role in the Eucharistic Celebration, e.g. art activity, song “Taking Our Place”

–      depict four major rites of the Eucharist in art

–      articulate in oral and written forms that through Baptism and Confirmation we belong to the Lord Jesus

–      list ways we can offer service using parish bulletins, etc.

UNIT 4

The

Holy Spirit Comes Upon Advent People

-    recognize the season of Advent as a time of waiting, hoping, expectation and doing

-    identify Isaiah as one of the key figures of the Advent season

-    celebrate the Spirit in Advent

-    see Mary as an Advent figure of hope in the story of her people

-    recognize that we participate in God’s dream when we do things to help others

-    gain insight into Joseph as an Advent figure who contributed to the fulfillment of God’s dream

-    share the spirit of Advent as a season of hope that Christ will come again

-    share memories of what is already known about Advent

-    observe and reproduce some of the signs and symbols of Advent

-    illustrate impressions of Isaiah’s call and response

-    prepare and participate in Advent rituals celebrating God’s Spirit in the lives of Advent people

-    enter into the proclamation of the story of the Annunciation

-    use drawing and words to illustrate impressions of the Annunciation

-    participate in an Advent outreach project

-    enter into the scripture story of Joseph, Mary’s future husband

-    illustrate impressions of Joseph’s story

-    participate in the preparation and presentation of an Advent pageant

·      (name of student)   is aware of the spirit, signs, symbols and key biblical figures of the season of Advent / Christmas / Epiphany

·      ________________ recognizes the action of the Holy Spirit in the mission of Jesus

·      _______________  knows the two main parts of the Bible and is developing the skill of finding scripture passages in the gospels

·      _______________  is increasing awareness of how the disciples of Jesus shared the mission of Jesus

·      _______________  knows the Pentecost story and the effects of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ followers

·      _______________  can discuss people of the Spirit both in scripture and in the present day

UNIT 5

The

Holy spirit Dwells

in

Jesus

-    recognize how Jesus comes again at Christmas to light up our lives

-    distinguish the Christmas season from Advent

-    celebrate God’s Spirit during the time of Epiphany

-    become familiar with the story of Jesus’ baptism

-    witness how the Holy Spirit acts in Jesus in the temptation stories

-    show understanding of ways the Spirit acts in our lives through ordinary things to help bring about God’s dream

-    see more clearly the call of the Spirit in Jesus’ mission

-    learn that another name for God’s dream is the kingdom of God

-    see the action of the Spirit in the healing stories of Jesus

-    appreciate personal gifts of life received from God

·   know that the Bible is divided into two main parts

-    share Christmas memories as stories of light

-    identify the Christ candle in the Advent Wreath as a symbol of Christ, the light of the world

-    design decorations to reflect the change of liturgical seasons

-    enter into the Christmas story in scripture and art

-    reflect on the story of the Magi as an example of God’s dream to gather all people

-    contribute to the preparation of a ritual celebration of thanksgiving for God’s Spirit among us

-    reflect on details of the story of Jesus’ baptism in Scripture and art

-    reflect and articulate how Jesus resists temptation knowing that the Spirit does not use magic power or wealth to fulfill God’s plan

-    respond to temptation scenarios by completing the statement: “I help God’s dream happen when…”

-    enter into the story of Jesus’ announcement of his mission in the synagogue at Nazareth

-    recall stories of Jesus fulfilling his mission to make God’s dream come true

-    recall stories of Jesus about the kingdom of God

-    use puppets to act out or retell Jesus’ stories of healing

-    draw a picture of the gift of life the student appreciates the most

-    give thanks for personal gifts of life using shadow drama or mime

-    identify Old and New Testaments and name some key figures from each

UNIT 6

The

Holy Spirit Dwells

in

the Follow-ers of

Jesus

-    be introduced to the skill of finding passages in the Bible

-    discover different ways Jesus called his disciples

-    recognize that in following Jesus the disciples lived the kingdom of God and shared the mission of Jesus

-    learn how Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon the disciples to continue the work of the kingdom

-    become familiar with the details and meaning of the Pentecost story

-    recognize how the disciples of Jesus continued to grow in the Spirit after Pentecost

-    celebrate God’s Spirit as the one who gathers the Christian community together

-    discover in Peter’s Pentecost story how the coming of the Holy Spirit strengthened the disciples

-    become familiar with people of the Spirit both in Scripture and in the Christian community today

-    identify what each part of a scripture reference indicates

-    work as part of a group to find specified passages from the gospels

-    explore New Testament stories about the call of individual disciples

-    illustrate and share impressions of the disciples’ following of Jesus

-    enter into relevant scripture stories using song, drama, puppetry or role-play

-    read and illuminate the words “Peace be with you… Receive the Holy Spirit” spoken by Jesus appearing to the disciples after the resurrection

-    retell the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples to form a new people, the Church

-    contribute to a class Pentecost collage

-    name and record the fourfold actions of the early Christian community by which they lived in the Spirit

-    by examining pictures, identify ways Christians continue to live in the Spirit

-    plan and participate in a celebration of praise and thanks for the coming of the Spirit

-    retell the story of Peter’s Pentecost sermon and its results in words or pictures

-    encounter people of the Spirit through their stories

-    share stories of people of the Spirit in students’ lives

-    pray a litany of praise for people of the Spirit past and present

UNIT 7

The

Holy Spirit Fills

the Whole Earth

-    understand that Lent is the time for the friends of Jesus to prepare for Easter

-    appreciate Psalm 104 as a prayer of praise for God’s gift of creation

-    appreciate the ever-changing beauty of God’s creation

-    understand the importance of people in creation

-    grow in awareness of people’s responsibility to care for creation

-    recognize the necessity of all creation to have what is needed to live and grow

-    take practical responsibility to care for creation

-    praise and thank God for all creation)

-    transform the prayer center using signs and symbols of the Lenten season

-    join in prayer for help in “Keeping us on our Lenten journey”

-    draw pictures of favourite images from Psalm 104

-    contribute to a creation collage

-    help develop lyrics for a song celebrating the gifts of the earth

-    engage in creating seasonal centers and activities reflecting the uniqueness of each season

-    note ways in which people are caregivers to the rest of creation

-    discuss the use of nature by humans

-    engage in activities which show how the balance of nature can be disturbed by misuse

-    identify what students can do to help keep the balance of creation and make the world a better place to live

-    join in spontaneous intentions about the needs of our fragile earth

-    explore the importance of plants and animals in creation

-    research the “Habitat for Humanity” organization whose members build homes for people in need

-    make a birdfeeder or mini Japanese garden and provide for its proper care and use

    help prepare and take part in a celebration     

    of  creation

·      ______________  knows the meaning of Lent and some of its signs and symbols

·      ___________   _  shows appreciation for the gifts of creation and the responsibility of people in caring for it

UNIT 8

The Holy Spirit Reconciles People

-    discover how Jesus accepted sinners

-  grow in understanding of the meaning of sin

-    recognize that Jesus’ reaching out to sinners brought about a change in them

-    grow in awareness of the reality of sin in the world

-    recognize that it is not easy to forgive

-    appreciate the need to be forgiven

-    recognize that God always reaches out in love and forgiveness to people who have done wrong

-    deepen awareness of how God calls people in need of forgiveness to change their hearts

-    learn about the sacrament of Reconciliation

-    understand more fully how Jesus gave his life for all people

-    enter into Scripture stories which show the spirit of forgiveness Jesus brings

-    define sin as an action that hurts others on purpose

-    focus on the Zacchaeus story and express in a mural the changes that took place in Zacchaeus’ life when he met Jesus

-    explore experiences of unfairness in the world

-    explore the reality of sin in students’ lives

-    draw a picture depicting a conflict situation and another showing a forgiveness situation

-    through story explore selfish or unloving choices and the feelings of guilt that accompany them

-    discuss the kinds of choices students sometimes make and the consequences of their actions

-    reflect on the story of The Forgiving Father

-    explore ways to show forgiveness

-    draw images of forgiving and being forgiven

-    help prepare a penitential service to listen to God’s word and celebrate the presence of the Spirit inviting people to change their hearts

-    describe key parts in the unfolding of the rites of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

-    through discussion, prayer and mime, enter into the story of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus

·   (name of student) can tell scripture stories of love and forgiveness

·   ____________ understands the need to forgive and be forgiven

·   ____________ has grown in awareness of God’s love and forgiveness

·   ____________ can describe the steps involved in the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

·   ___________ has an increased awareness of the details of Jesus’ Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus

UNIT 9

The Holy Spirit Gives New Life

-    recognize the change in liturgical seasons from Lent to Easter

-    experience the joy of Easter

-    celebrate the Easter gift of reconciliation

-    appreciate the mystery of new life in the Spirit

-    recognize God’s Spirit alive in the changes of life

-    recognize and appreciate Easter people in our midst

-    become more aware of how new life in the Spirit shows in our actions

-    celebrate new life in the Spirit

-    identify the changes to the gathering space and the reason for them    

-    share Easter experiences

-    praise God through decorating  the word “Alleluia”

-    reflect on the Easter story (Matthew 28:1-10) in words and pictures

-    through scripture and discussion recognize that Jesus’ gift to us is peace and forgiveness in the Holy Spirit

-    list together ways we experience the gift of God’s forgiveness today