TEACHER EDITION 5

Welcome to a sample of Be My Disciples School Grade 5 — Teacher Edition.

Included in this sample:

Introduction of Be My Disciples Catholic School Programl Cover, Title Page, Acknowledgments, and Table of Contents l Welcome Lesson and Prayer Lesson Wrap l From Day One Teacher Workshop — Your starting point for confident,

capable, committed catechesis

Unit 1 including l Unit Opener Background Informationl Chapters 1–4 Lesson Plan with reduced student pages l Catholic Social Teaching Lesson Planl Unit Review Lesson Plan

Please note that pages 4–15 and 31–40 are not included in the sample.

We hope that this sample will help you experience the beauty and rich content of our Catholic faith through Be My Disciples.

GRADE FIVETEACHER EDITION

School

Peter M. EspositoPresident

Jo Rotunno, MAPublisher

Anne P. BattesAssociate Publisher

Program AdvisorsMichael P. Horan, PhDElizabeth Nagel, SSD

AcknowledgementsExcerpts are taken and adapted from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms, © 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts are taken and adapted from the English translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL); Rite of Confirmation (second edition), © 1975, (ICEL); Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum, © 1982, (ICEL); Rite of Penance, © 1974, (ICEL); General Instruction of the Roman Missal, The Roman Missal, © 2010, (ICEL); General Introduction to the Roman Missal, © 2010, (ICEL); United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, © 2006, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C.; National Directory for Catechesis, © 2005, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of these works may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts from Second Vatican Council: Dogmatic Constitution on the Church [Lumen Gentium]; Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation [Dei Verbum]; Dogmatic Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy [Sacrosanctum Concilium]; Rites of the Blessing of Oils and Consecrating the Chrism, © 1972, (ICEL); Pastoral Care of the Sick, © 1982, (ICEL); John Paul II, Catechesis in Our Time [Catechesi Tradendae], (16 October 1969); John Paul II, Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood, homily, (21 April 2002); Brother John M. Samaha, S.M., Holy Days of Obligation, Or Holy Days of Opportunity; excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America, second edition, © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.- Liberia Editrice Vaticana; excerpts from the General Directory for Catechesis, © 1997, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Washington, D.C.; Popular Devotional Practices: Basic Questions and Answers, 2003, (USCCB), Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of these works may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts and adaptations of prayers were taken from the book of Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers, © 2007, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of the book of Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

Copyright © 2014 RCL Publishing LLCAll rights reserved. Be My Disciples is a trademark of RCL Publishing LLC. This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form by photographic, electronic, mechanical, or any other method, for any use, including information storage and retrieval, without written permission from the publisher. Send all inquiries to RCL Benziger, 8805 Governor’s Hill Drive, Suite 400, Cincinnati, OH 45249.

Toll Free 877-275-4725Fax 800-688-8356

Visit us at www.RCLBenziger.comand www.BeMyDisciples.com

20775 ISBN 978-0-7829-1644-7 (Teacher Edition)20765 ISBN 978-0-7829-1638-6 (Student Edition)

1st printingManufactured for RCL Benziger in Cincinnati, OH, USA. March, 2013

Thank you for reviewing Be My Disciples program for Catholic schools from RCL Benziger. This pre-publication electronic sample may be utilized for the product review of the Be My Disciples program grades 1–6 and Junior High levels. The contents are not intended for student, parent and family, or classroom use at this time and may not be copied for any purpose. Copyright © 2014 RCL Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. The Imprimatur and Statement of Conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church are pending.

For further information about the program and its support materials for teachers, students, families, and program directors, please contact your local RCL Benziger sales representative. You may also call our Customer Service Department, 877.275.4725, for contact information about your local representative.

RCL Benziger is grateful for your ministry in Catholic education. We are also grateful that you have chosen to review our newest program, Be My Disciples, to support you in sharing the faith with future generations.

Contents

UNIT 1: We Believe, Part One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Chapter 1 Speak, Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Chapter 2 The Word of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Chapter 3 The Holy Trinity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Chapter 4 Great Is the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

UNIT 2: We Believe, Part Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Chapter 5 Jesus Christ, Son of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Chapter 6 The Paschal Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108Chapter 7 Many Gifts, One Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120Chapter 8 Thy Kingdom Come! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132

UNIT 3: We Worship, Part One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146Chapter 9 Celebrating the Liturgy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148Chapter 10 Joined to Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160Chapter 11 We Celebrate the Holy Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172Chapter 12 One Bread, One Cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184

UNIT 4: We Worship, Part Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198Chapter 13 Jesus Heals the Sinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200Chapter 14 Jesus Heals the Sick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212Chapter 15 The Sacrament of Holy Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224Chapter 16 The Sacrament of Matrimony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236

UNIT 5: We Live, Part One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250Chapter 17 Called to Holiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .252Chapter 18 Making Moral Decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .264Chapter 19 Living the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276Chapter 20 The Beatitudes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288

UNIT 6: We Live, Part Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .302Chapter 21 Love of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .304Chapter 22 Love of Neighbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .316Chapter 23 Living a Just and Truthful Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .328Chapter 24 Lord, Teach Us to Pray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .340

We Celebrate the Church Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354

Catholic Prayers and Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .388

We Celebrate the Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .396

Key Teachings of the Catholic Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .417

A Teacher’s Prayer for Discipleship

Lord, make me your disciple. Help me to bring the Good News to others as you did.

Give me the courage to answer your call, as Simon and Andrew and the other Apostles did, and to invite others to answer bravely too.

Give me the wisdom to see that following your Way brings blessings and true joy, and give me the words and actions to show this wisdom to others.

Give me your spirit of forgiveness, that I may never allow anger or judgment to enter into my relationship with my students. In this way, I will help them to be reconcilers too.

Give me the reverence to pray always, in my words and in my deeds. Help me to teach my students to pray, that they may grow ever closer to you.

Give me the gift of creativity, to bring your message of hope alive in the hearts of my learners, so that I can engage their hearts, heads, and hands in the work of the Gospel.

Give me a spirit of generosity and poverty, so that I will never become too attached to the world’s goods. Help me to inspire my students to see the emptiness of material things.

Give me the faith of Martha and Mary, to find the balance between prayerfulness and my good works for the Gospel. In this way, I will lead my students to greater works than my own.

Spirit of Love, help me to proclaim the Good News to all I meet, so that I can hasten the day when your Reign will come in its fullness. I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

16 Grade 5

Grade 5 17

Welcome to Be My Disciples!Thank you for answering Jesus’ call to discipleship! You have agreed to serve in the Church’s ministry of the Word as a Catholic school teacher. Your decision is a sign of your faith commitment to the young people and their families, to your fellow teachers, and to your school and parish.

RCL Benziger not only wants to support you, but also to empower you with the knowledge, skills, and spirituality needed to be a confident, capable, and committed teacher and catechist. From day one, as Be My Disciples was being developed, great consideration was given to the learner, the learning process, and to you—the teacher and catechist.

This built-in interactive workshop will help you get the year off to a great start From Day One. You’ll also find a correlation to related modules in the Echoes of Faith program for teacher formation that will increase your confidence still further.

From Day OneYour starting point for confident, capable, committed catechesis

For ReflectionFrom Day One, think about the ways you have answered the call to discipleship and who has nurtured you along the way. Now think of the ways you can help the students in your class to be engaged learners as they answer Jesus’ call to discipleship.

18 Grade 5

As a teacher of religion, you are a catechist. You are joining a long line of dedicated believers stretching back through the ages who have answered God’s call to share the Catholic faith with others. Like them, you have been touched by your experience of Jesus Christ and are unable to keep the Good News to yourself.

Dr. Thomas Groome speaks of the catechist as a “leading learner.” This image can help you remember that you do not need to have all the answers. You are still learning yourself, and that process will continue for the rest of your life, as a teacher and as a Christian. But you are indeed a leader for the students in your care. They look to you for information, but even more, they look to you as a role model. This is both an honor and a great responsibility.

As important as your role is, it is not the most important one in the faith formation of these young people. That role is reserved for their parents; your role is to support them. Ideally, the home is the “domestic Church” in which the Catholic faith is nurtured on a daily basis. In others, family pressures may get in the way and make your classroom the best experience the students have of the Church, at least for a time. The best attitude to have toward the families of your learners is to assume that, at heart, all parents want the best for their children and that they are grateful for your assistance.

Your role in the students’ faith formation is to make more explicit for them the Scripture and doctrine of the Catholic Tradition and to give them opportunities to integrate their new knowledge into their daily lives. It is to help students celebrate the great events in the life of Jesus Christ, his mother Mary, and the great Saints of the Church throughout the year. In this role you are helping the students establish their Catholic identity.

Be Confident . . . You Are a Catechist!

For ReflectionHow equipped are you to be a “leading learner” in your catechetical setting? What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses? Discuss your assessment with your principal or catechetical leader. He or she can help you establish a growth plan for continued learning throughout the year.

Grade 5 19

Just as some actors play multiple roles in a drama, so will you in your role as a catechist. At times, you are a storyteller, at others, a facilitator, a presenter, or a leader of prayer. At all times, you are a witness to your own faith in Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church defines six key tasks for you to fulfill in your role as a catechist.

The General Directory for Catechesis, published in 1997, guides the worldwide Church in its catechetical mission. It identifies six important tasks of catechesis (GDC 85–87). These tasks are reiterated in the National Directory for Catechesis, published in 2005 (NDC 20). Reflect on the list on this page and assess your abilities in each of these areas before you begin the year.

The Six Tasks of Catechesis 1. Promoting knowledge of the faith. Teachers

introduce their learners to all that has been revealed through Jesus Christ by initiating them gradually into the whole truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition.

2. Liturgical education. As a catechist, you will help students understand the Church’s sacramental life and give them an experience of the signs, symbols, gestures, prayers, and creeds of the Church.

3. Moral formation. Moral catechesis involves both the announcement of the Good News through your proclamation of the Gospel call to moral living and your presentation of what the Church’s Tradition teaches about this message. The Disciple Power feature in every chapter helps you introduce the young people to the gifts, virtues, and habits of Christian living.

4. Teaching to pray. Every chapter begins and ends with prayer. Be My Disciples will provide you with a wide variety of prayer experiences to introduce the students to the Church’s tradition of prayer. The last chapter in the student’s book teaches and extends the young people’s knowledge of the Our Father every year.

5. Education for community life. You are leading children into a way of life that you have already been privileged to experience. You invite them to join a loving community of faith, to live simply and humbly, to care for the poor and alienated, to forgive as they wish to be forgiven, and to join in common prayer. Your classroom will become a daily experience of Christian community for the students.

6. Missionary initiation. Catechesis prepares children to live the Gospel in daily life and to prepare the way for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Be My Disciples is filled with suggestions for outreach activities and service projects to help young people begin to participate in the Church’s mission. Be sure to note the Catholic Social Teaching feature at the end of each unit.

For ReflectionFor which task of catechesis do you feel most qualified? Which seems most daunting? Share with another teacher what strengths and concerns you bring to the catechetical vocation.

Be Confident . . . The Six Tasks of Catechesis[T]he definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in

communion [and] intimacy with Jesus Christ. On Catechesis in Our Time 5

FOR FURTHER STUDY

See the Echoes of Faith Plus “Roles of the Catechist” and the “Person of the Catechist” modules. Go to EchoesofFaith.com for more information.

Be Capable . . . The Be My Disciples Approach

20 Grade 5

You feel confident as a teacher when you know what your role is. You will feel more and more capable as you develop the skills to facilitate the catechetical process effectively. Be My Disciples uses a unique, balanced approach to children’s catechesis rooted in the mandate of the General Directory for Catechesis that all catechesis include formation as well as information, so that the life of the learner may be transformed (see GDC 29).

A BALANCED APPROACH that

• invites students to discipleship through a dynamic methodology that incorporates the latest findings in brain research, psycho-social development, and emotional intelligence.

• teaches, reinforces, and extends knowledge of Catholic doctrine and the Church’s seasons every year in every grade through RCL Benziger’s unique spiral structure.

• challenges students to a deeper integration of faith and life by leading them to higher levels of thinking and encouraging a weekly faith choice.

A BALANCED APPROACH An innovative religion curriculum that empowers children and their families to answer Jesus’ call to “Be My Disciples”

• Invites children to discipleship

• Teaches Scripture, Doctrine, and Celebration

• Challenges children to integrate faith and life

A Child-Centered Catechesis

Invitesthrough its

Catechumenal Methodology

Teachesthrough its Spiral

Structure of Scripture, Doctrine, and Celebration

Challengesthrough Integration

Activities and Faith Choices

LIFE

LEARNLI

VE

LINK

Grade 5 21

For ReflectionWhich do you think is more important in catechesis—the teaching of the truths of the faith, or facilitating the integration of faith and life?

For which of these tasks are you most qualified? What could you do to balance your strengths and challenges?

Be My Disciples helps students to know and live their faith through loving service to others. Here is what they will experience through the

balanced approach.

1 Begin with Life.

2 Grow in Knowledge.

3 Connect Faith with Their Experience.

4 Practice the Skills of

A Child-Centered Catechesis

Be Capable . . . The Eight Human Methodologies

22 Grade 5

The National Directory for Catechesis describes eight methodologies, or avenues, through which individuals come to faith. Be My Disciples incorporates these methodologies in a consistent way throughout the program.

1. Learning Through Human Experience

We respond to God’s invitation through our human experience. Every Be My Disciples chapter begins by engaging the students’ interest and imagination and helping them relate the lesson concept to their experience.

2. Learning by Discipleship

We learn the Way of Jesus Christ by choosing to follow him and do what he asks of us. Be My Disciples incorporates New Testament reflection and activities in every unit to assist in the young people’s growth in discipleship.

3. Learning Within the Christian Community

The witness of the Church shows these young people how to believe, worship, and to take up the Gospel call to service. Each week, Be My Disciples invites students to make concrete faith choices for the Kingdom of God.

4. Learning Within the Christian Family

The Christian family is often the first experience the child has of what it means to live in a Christian community. The family offers the first and best environment for growth in faith. Be My Disciples engages the family through the With My Family take-home pages, and through a variety of other projects and activities both within the text and online at BeMyDisciples.com.

Grade 5 23

5. Learning Through the Witness of the Catechist

You will be a powerful influence on your learners’ faith formation this year, both by the faith knowledge you will share with them and, most importantly, by your witness of the Catholic faith. Your words and actions model for the children what it means to live a Christian life. Your Be My Disciples Catechist Guide offers you front-to-back catechist formation to assist you every step of the way.

6. Learning by Heart

When we “learn by heart,” we make knowledge or a skill our own. Memorization of key definitions, doctrinal formulations, and prayers plays an important role in building religious literacy and identity. Be My Disciples highlights faith vocabulary and reinforces key concepts in every chapter through student book sidebar features and Teacher Guide strategies.

7. Making a Commitment to Live the Christian Life

Our acts of commitment to live the faith, made again and again throughout our lives, are how we learn what it means to have faith. Be My Disciples invites young people to make a faith choice at the end of every chapter so that they can live the faith more deeply in the coming week.

8. Learning by Apprenticeship

Learning by apprenticeship allows us to learn from an experienced Catholic, a mentor, who can give us insight into the Christian life. You are such a person for your learners this year. Be My Disciples also provides activities at every grade level inviting young people to begin modeling the actions of a disciple for younger children.

Look for a box in every chapter’s lesson plan that will assist you in incorporating the human methodologies into your lessons. The boxes provide you with helpful background information, activities, and lesson strategies.

For ReflectionWhich of the human methodologies has most helped you grow in faith? How will utilizing the different methodologies help you to be a more effective teacher and catechist?

FOR FURTHER STUDY

Review the Echoes of Faith Plus Methodology module for grades 3 and 4. Look for activities and teaching techniques that utilize the eight human methodologies. Go to EchoesofFaith.com for more resources.

24 Grade 5

Fifth graders abound with energy and budding imagination. They enjoy constant activity and recognize their peers as the source for their behavior standards, so more and more, life is centering around their peers. Even as their independence increases, they still want adult guidance. They are increasing in emotional self- awareness, control, and tolerance. Intellectually, fifth graders are very curious, mentally alert, and engage in more logical thinking with the promise of wisdom. Ten- and eleven- year olds enjoy life, learning, and their friends. Look forward to a fulfilling year with these young people!

On their journey of faith, fifth graders want to belong and relationships are important to them. These young persons are growing spiritually in their prayer life, their sense of right and wrong, and their ability for deep religious feelings. This is a formative time in their lives, especially in their

relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church. As these relationships are developed, so is their response to the call of discipleship.

Be Capable . . . Getting to Know Your Fifth Graders

Catechesis, therefore, is given by right on the basis of diverse and complementary age groups, on account of the needs and capacity

of its recipients. General Directory for Catechesis 171.

Grade 5 25

For ReflectionWhat do you remember about your experiences as a fifth grader? What are the similarities and differences between your experiences and today’s fifth graders? How does this help you understand your fifth graders as you plan for your religion classes this year?

Religious Growth

Increased ability to distinguish between right and wrong

Greater sense of justice

Enjoys service activities

Heightened awareness of the Church as a community of believers

Heightened understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance

Desires to participate in liturgy in a more meaningful way

Enjoys group prayer experiences

Interested in learning more about the human life of Jesus

Attracted to role models through the Saints and Bible stories

Physical Characteristics

Bodily changes beginning, especially for girls

High energy

Outdoor time needed, but coordination may be challenged

Fine-motor skills more developed, especially when using multi-digital products

Cognitive/Learning Skills

Predominately concrete thinkers but increased ability to think in the abstract

Creative problem solvers

Attracted to rules, logic and organization

Increased levels of concentration

Learning focus increases when multi-digital experiences are integrated

Learns from role models

Relationships

Close to family

Learns through cooperative learning activities with classmates

Seeks to belong

Depends on peers as well as adults for answers to tough questions

26 Grade 5

God has given each of us a variety of spiritual gifts to help us to grow individually and in the community. Each gift is unique, and each person and gift is needed. It is these diverse spiritual gifts that contribute to the one Body in Christ.

Learning SmartA well-known educator, Howard Gardner, believes that each of us is born with at least eight different ways of processing and responding to new information that he calls multiple intelligences. All of us possess each of these kinds of “smart” in one degree or another. The particular combination of these intelligences is what makes each of us unique; there is usually one or several of these intelligences dominant for each person. Refer to the “Eight Kinds of Smart” chart on the next page.

When you were in school, did you prefer just listening to a lecture, taking notes while you were listening, or did you keep your fingers or your feet tapping while you were listening? Do you prefer reading a novel or seeing a movie? Do you want just the facts or do you prefer open-ended questions with lots of possibilities? The answers to these questions tell a lot about the ways you prefer to learn and express yourself. You may prefer to learn by listening, by seeing, by imagining, or by doing. Children have these preferred ways of learning as well..

Digital DisciplesYoung people today are also digital learners. They access information quickly from multimedia sources, primarily utilizing the Internet, laptops, and cell phones. Learning takes place through multitasking while processing pictures, sound, color, and video before text. Digital learners are graphic thinkers! They respond to learning that is relevant, instant, active, useful, and fun.

Learning HeartHow do you recognize your own emotions and how do they affect your thoughts and behaviors? How do you manage your emotions and adapt to change? How do you understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people? How do you develop and maintain good relationships and communicate clearly?

The research of Daniel Goleman on emotional intelligence is an important part of understanding who you are and who you are in relationship with others. The ‘heart’ must be a part of learning if the person is to be transformational. This is why Be My Disciples uses its balanced approach. The goal is formation and transformation, as well as information.

As children grow in relationship with others and Jesus, they need to know how to express their own feelings and knowledge if they are to have common ground with their family, classmates, and people from other cultures and religions.

Be My Disciples provides a variety of strategies that respect the many gifts of children as they learn smart, learning ways to grasp knowledge and to grow spiritually.

To assist you in engaging all your learners, here are some activities related to the eight intelligences that support the different ways children can learn and express their relationship with God and one another.

Be Capable . . . Helping My Fifth Graders LearnFor as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not

have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Romans 12:4–5

For ReflectionKnowing your own gifts will assist you in helping your fifth graders discover their own gifts. How do you learn “smart” and what are your preferences for learning? How does this help you understand the young people in your class so that your catechesis will engage them more?

How will younurture and incorporate the emotional intelligence of the young people so that their faith response will be more authentic?

FOR FURTHER STUDY

The ‘Methods for Grades 5 and 6” module of Echoes of Faith Plus will help you to provide activities that will assist many kinds of learners. See Echoes of Faith for more resources.

Grade 5 27

Language and Music-Related Activities•Researchingwordmeanings•Wordgamesandpuzzles•ReadingandBible-searchactivities•Storytellingandjournalwriting•LearninghymnsandMassresponses•Writingprayersorsongs•Usingbackgroundmusicforactivities

Object-Related Activities•Learning“howmany?”ofdifferentcategories•Celebratingtheliturgicalseasons• “Youarethere”activitiessuchasplacingoneself

in the action of a Bible story•Usingmapsandmodels•Usingorcreatinggraphicorganizers•Postersandartactivities•Craftsandclassroomdramas•Usinggestureswithsongsandprayers•Expressingresponsethroughdance•Nurturingplantsandanimals•Creatinggardensornatureareas

Person-Related Activities•Cooperativelearningactivities•Peertutoringandsharing•Teachingotherstudents•Gamesandsimulations•Quietprayertimes•Writinganddrawinginjournals•Creatingautobiographies•Self-assessmentactivities

Teaching Trends•Buildinmorediscovery.•Putcontentincontext.•Poseproblemsfirstandteachsecond.•Givefewerconclusions.• Integratedigitallearning.•Usehigher-levelthinkingtechniques.

Kinds of Smart

LogicSmart

NatureSmart

ImageSmart

SoundSmart

WordSmart

PeopleSmart

BodySmartSelfSmart

8

28 Grade 5

The learning process can occur in any place, anywhere, at any time. Our Master Teacher, Jesus, taught while he was walking, sitting on a hillside, preaching in the synagogue, or conversing in a home. Jesus modeled a variety of ways to teach through telling stories, asking questions, offering compassion, and challenging others. He also knew that the physical needs of people must be met so they can focus on God’s message. A caring, child-centered environment helps invite young people to discipleship. Since passing on faith is a sacred task, it deserves the creation of sacred space.

Prayer SpaceEvery learning enviroment shold integrate a catechetical space that is focused around an age-appropriate prayer space. Here are some suggestions:

•Cover the table with an attractive cloth that matches the liturgical season.

•Place a crucifix at the highest point in the prayer space.

•Place a candle on the surface of the table as a sign of the light of faith. Light the candle only during the prayer service. Use an electric or flameless candle if school fire regulations require it.

•Enthrone an open Bible on the table. The opening lesson in your student book includes a prayer service for enthroning the Bible on the first day of class.

•Place a plant or other objects in the prayer space to symbolize the lesson theme or the liturgical season.

•You may want to consider placing a cell phone, laptop, or another type of technology in the prayer space. Make sure it is turned off ! This can indicate to your learners that digital media, when used properly, can be used to communicate the Christian message.

Be Capable . . . Designing the EnvironmentThe most important task of the catechesis of children is to provide,

through the witness of adults, an environment in which young people can grow in faith. National Directory for Catechesis 48E.2

Grade 5 29

Learning SpaceNow it’s time for careful consideration of the other aspects of your sacred learning space. How will you create a distinctive space for catechesis? Here are some questions to help you create a student-centered learning environment that will encourage faith reflection:

•Are chairs or desks arranged in such a way as to promote cooperative learning? Is the arrangement flexible to allow for individual, small, and large group learning experiences?

•Can you easily transition the young people to the prayer space for a more solemn reading of Bible stories and prayer services?

•Can you adjust lighting during reflective activities or prayer services?

•How can you display student activities? Is there a way to use liturgical colors in the learning area beyond the prayer space?

•Do you have some reflective music available for use in prayer services and reflective activities? As you know, music can help to set the mood appropriately to signal that the class is moving into a more sacred time. Consider using the Be My Disciples Music Program to enhance the learners’ knowledge of liturgical music and experience of prayer.

Learning MaterialsYou will need the usual essentials: pencils, pens, paper, and some art supplies. Here are a few other items you will want to have available to enhance your religion classes:

•Materials for the prayer space

•A class set of Bibles

•Maps of the Bible lands

•Photos and posters that match the lesson themes

•General literature titles connected to the lesson themes

•A DVD/CD player

How will you incorporate digital learning solutions to engage these young learners, and where can they be incorporated into the physical space? Discuss with your principal or catechetical leader what resources are available and learn how to use them. If you have a smartphone or laptop and have Internet access in the classroom, there are many resources at BeMyDisciples.com that could enhance your classroom lessons. The Church asks us to “proclaim the Gospel to the world of youth with courage and creativity” (General Directory for Catechesis 181). Jesus used all the means available to him in his own time to invite others to conversion, and so should you!

For ReflectionWhat can you do to plan an effective sacred learning space for your lessons?

How can you create an inviting climate for prayer that will deepen the experience for your learners?

FOR FURTHER STUDYTake a look at the Echoes of Faith Plus module “Getting Started” for ideas on creating a positive environment for catechesis. Go to EchoesofFaith.com for more resources.

30 Grade 5

To teach others to pray requires, first of all, that you are a person of prayer yourself. Your students look to you as an example of what a prayerful person looks like. Prayer is listening with openness to God’s Word, and responding in faith, hope, and love. Our response involves a willingness to spend time with God, to ponder the words of Scripture, to discern God’s message to us, and to respond with our whole selves—body, mind, and heart. Spending daily time alone with God in an attitude of openness and thanksgiving will transform you and prepare you to be the inspiration to the children that you hope to be and that they deserve.

Worship is simply the prayer of the Church. We gather together to lay our lives before God the Father, to praise him and give thanks for the gift of his love, and to join with his Son in offering our lives for his service. That is why the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to liturgy as “the participation of the People of God in the work of God” (CCC 1069). Liturgical celebrations weave together signs and symbols drawn from our human experience—words and actions, singing and music, and sacred images. An artful blending of these elements produces a worship experience that can evoke for us the mystery of God and lead us to a fruitful response.

As the students experience such gestures as signing, anointing, blessing, and kneeling within the intimacy of your classroom setting, you will be preparing them to participate more fully in the worship of the whole community. Just as you have certain ways of praying with which you are most comfortable, you will find that children have their preferences too. The many approaches that are included in the Be My Disciples program will provide a true school of prayer for your learners.

How Be My Disciples Will Help You•Beginning and closing prayer experiences in every

lesson

•A rich variety of prayer experiences using the signs, symbols, and gestures of the Church’s liturgy whenever appropriate

•An exposition of the rich variety of the Church’s tradition of prayer, liturgy, and Sacraments

•Tips for enhancing the classroom prayer experiences

•A closing chapter on the Our Father that summarizes the year’s Gospel message

For ReflectionHow do you create opportunities in your daily life to hear the voice of God speaking to you?

What forms of prayer will you most enjoy leading for your learners?

Be Committed . . . Being A Person of PrayerLiturgical formation . . . must explain what the Christian liturgy is, and what the

sacraments are. It must also however, offer an experience of the different kinds of celebration and it must make symbols, gestures, etc., known and loved.

General Directory for Catechesis 87

FOR FURTHER STUDYSee the Echoes of Faith Plus “Prayer and Spirituality” and “Liturgy and Sacraments” modules. Go to EchoesofFaith.com for more resources.

Jesus invites you to be his disciple. He wants you to know him better, to understand his message, and to follow his way of life. During this year, you will learn more about Jesus and what asks of you. You will learn about virtues, habits, and qualities that are the marks of a disciple. And you will learn that Catholics who follow Jesus don’t keep it to themselves. Jesus’ message is such Good News that you just have to share it!

Solve the PuzzleOn the next page you will be invited to search through your student book and get a preview of what you will be learning this year. The puzzle below is a little bit like a crossword puzzle. Begin by solving the six clues in the boxes on page 7. Then transfer the letters of your answers into the puzzle squares below that have the corresponding numbers. The solution is a sentence that tells the main theme of the Gospel.

Welcome to

9 14 20 8 5 16 1 19 3 8 1 12

13 25 19 20 5 18 25 10 5 19 21 19

16 1 19 19 5 4 6 18 15 13 12 9 6 5

20 8 18 15 21 7 8 4 5 1 20 8

9 14 20 15 1 14 5 23 1 14 4

7 12 15 18 9 15 21 19 12 9 6 5

6

I n t h e P a s c h a l

m y s t e r y J e s u s

p a s s e d f r o m l i f e

t h r o u g h d e a t h

i n t o a n e w a n d

g l o r i o u s l i f e

Solution: In the Paschal mystery Jesus passed from life through death into a new and glorious life .

WelcomeCreating an inviting environment is an important part of everything you do with the students. Before your first class, prepare nametags for them. Greet each student as he or she arrives. This will help them feel safe and ready to learn. The first day of classes provide the opportunity for you to get to know the students. As you set realistic expectations, introduce them to their new books, and create an atmosphere of prayer and hospitality, the students will know they are welcome.

InviteGive each student a nametag with their name on it. You can find additional introduction activities at BeMyDisciples.com.

Discover and Involve→ Introduce the book and allow the

students to look through it and find a favorite image.

→ Have them share their favorite image with the student beside them.

→ Invite a volunteer to read aloud the opening paragraph or paraphrase the opening paragraph in your own words with the students.

→ Introduce the Solve the Puzzle activity. Then have the students turn to page 7 to begin completing each unit activity.

→ After the students complete the activity on the next page, have them transfer their answers to the boxes in the puzzle on page 6.

Student Page 6 Grade 5 41

visit www.BeMyDisciples.com

→ Share with the children the many activities on the Faith First Web site.

→ Encourage the children to visit www.BeMyDisciples.com

→ Point out the title and theme of next week’s chapter to the children.

1. We Believe, Part OneThis year in Unit 1 you will learn how the God speaks to us 23 15 18 4through creation, people, and himself. God speaking to us is called v v . 4 9 9 14 5 18 5 5 12 1 20 9 15 14 (See pages 14–15.)

3. We Worship, Part OneIn Unit 3 you will learn more about the Church’s , 12 9 20 21 18 7 25the “work of the people” that we do when we worship God. The yearly cycle of the Church’s celebration of the liturgy is called the

year. (See page 124.) 12 9 20 21 18 7 9 3 1 12

5. We Live, Part OneIn Unit 5 you will learn that God always keeps his promise.

’ 7 15 4 19 6 1 9 20 8 6 21 12 14 5 19 19is everlasting. (See pages 254–255.)

2. We Believe, Part TwoThis year in Unit 2 you will learn about the section of the Gospel that tells about the Suffering and Death of . The 10 5 19 21 19section is called the narrative. (See pages 82–83.) 16 1 19 19 9 15 14

4. We Worship, Part TwoIn Unit 4 you will learn about how Sacraments celebrate God’s love for us. The Sacraments of 8 5 1 12 9 14 7forgive us our sins and reconcile us to God. (See pages 188–189.)

6. We Live, Part TwoIn Unit 6 you will learn about the 7 18 5 1 20

. We are to love God and 3 15 13 13 1 14 4 13 5 14 20we are to v b 12 15 5 15 21 18 14 5 9 7 8 15 18 19as we love ourselves. (See page 296.)

7

J e s u s

P a s s i o n

H e a l i n g

G o d s f a i t h f u l n e s s

l i t u r g y

l i t u r g i c a l

D i i n e

W o r d

R e e l a t i o n

G r e a t

l o e o u r

C o m m a n d m e n t

n e i g h o r s

42 Grade 5 Student Page 7

→ Invite the volunteers to read each of the sentences in the Unit boxes aloud. Say the word blank for any missing word. Ask the students to follow the clues and turn to the pages in their book where the answers can be found. You may want the students to work in pairs for this part of the activity.

→ When the students are finished with their work, ask volunteers to read the full sentences aloud.

→ Then have the students place the letter for each number in the correct space in the puzzle on page 6 of their book.

→ Ask a student to read the solution to the puzzle aloud.

Leader: Lord, we gather today to honor you and thank you for the gift of our Word. We want to follow the example of Mary, your Mother, and be your disciples in all we say and do.

All: We will do whatever you tell us to do.

Leader: A reading from the Gospel according the John.

All: Glory to you, O Lord.

Leader: Proclaim John 2: 1-10. The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Leader: Lord Jesus, your Mother, Mary, was your first and best disciple. We want to be your disciples too. Help us to follow you as we learn of your words and deeds in the Gospels. We will do whatever you tell us to do.

All: Amen! We will do whatever you tell us to do!

All exchange a sign of peace.

Do Whatever He Tells You!The leader leads a procession to the prayer space, holding the Bible high for all to see. He/she places the Bible in a place of honor on the prayer table. All follow and gather around the prayer table and make the Sign of the Cross together.

8

Pray→ Invite the students to prepare for

prayer. Reverently hold a Bible slightly above your head and lead them in procession to the prayer space.

→ After a moment of silence, lead the class in praying Do Whatever He Tells You! Use a hand gesture to invite the students to join in when you want them to pray their parts of the prayer.

→ After the prayer, place the Bible on the prayer table and reverence the Bible by standing before it and slightly bowing your head. Invite each student to come forward and do the same.

→ Thank the students for being good learners. Invite them to experience the feeling of this sacred prayer space throughout all their classes and the coming school year.

Student Page 8 Grade 5 43

Creating a Prayer Space. Having a prayer space that is decorated in a special way will help the students realize the importance of prayer. Display the Bible in your prayer space in such a way that shows its importance. Talk about respecting the Bible. Always hold the Bible reverently when you proclaim God’s Word. Before you pray together, allow a moment of quiet time and share with the class that God is with them.

TEACHING TIP

44

We BelievePart One

Objectives In this unit, the students will learn that:

→ Faith is a supernatural gift from God inviting us to know and believe in him and our free response to that invitation.

→ The Bible is the inspired written Word of God comprised of the Old Testament which tells the story of the Covenant and the New Testament which reveals that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the new and everlasting Covenant.

→ The Holy Trinity is the central belief of the faith of the Church.

→ God is the Creator of everyone and everything, visible and invisible; Adam and Eve turned away from God’s goodness and sinned, which caused the beginning of all other sin in the world.

Spiritual Insights“God makes himself known to us through Revelation in order both to give us something and to draw a response from us. Both this gift of God and our response to his Revelation are called faith. By faith, we are able to give our minds and hearts to God, to trust in his will, and to follow the direction he gives us.”

(United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, page 37).

“It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

Living the Six Tasks of CatechesisPromoting Knowledge of the Faith: Saint Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621)

Even as a young boy in Italy, Robert felt called to serve God as a priest. After years of study, he was ordained a Jesuit priest. His first assignment was teaching Greek at a boys’ school. Robert was successful only because he first taught himself the language by staying one lesson ahead of his students in the textbook.

Robert had a gift for preaching. People traveled great distances to hear him explain the Scriptures and to defend the faith during the challenges of the Reformation. He also wrote two catechisms to help people grow in their understanding of the Catholic doctrine. Although he became a bishop and then a cardinal, he never lost his thirst for learning and teaching.

Cardinal Bellarmine lived a very simple life, even when he lived in a lavish apartment in the Vatican while serving as the pope’s official theologian. It is said that he took down the hangings that decorated his walls and donated the fabric to clothe the poor. When he was quizzed about his empty walls, he showed his sense of humor by declaring, “The walls won’t catch cold.”

Saint Robert Bellarmine is an excellent model for catechists. His life encourages us to know our faith well so that we can share it with our learners. He reminds us to be proud of our calling to profess our faith in Jesus and the Church.

Sharing Your FaithFind a partner to work with: a spouse, a friend, a fellow catechist. Come together at the beginning or end of each unit for shared prayer and discussion. Use the questions below as a starting point. As an alternative, record your thoughts in a personal journal.

→ What three words describe your journey of faith?

→ How has God made himself known to you?

→ What prompted you to become a catechist?

UNIT 1

We BelievePart One

UNIT 1

Jesus went to see his cousin John who was baptizing people at the River Jordan. Jesus asked John to baptize him.

After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16–17

The Trinity

9

What is something you already know about these faith terms?

Divine Revelation

The Old Testament

The Holy Trinity

Faith Words

Put an X next to the faith terms you know. Put a ? next to faith terms you need to learn more about.

Faith

Holy Trinity

Gospel

Lord

Annunciation

Evangelists

Abba

Inspiration of the Bible

Questions I HaveThe BibleWhat do you know about how to find passages in the Bible?

The Church

What is one thing you could tell a friend about what the Church believes?

What questions would you like to ask about the mystery of God?

What I Know

10

Unit 1 OpenerOpening Page→ Invite the young people to tell you what

they see in the illustration. (The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.)

→ Ask: Why do you think The Trinity was chosen as the heading for this Bible passage? (All Three Persons of the Holy Trinity are mentioned in the passage.)

Getting Ready→ Invite the young people to write their

responses to the questions and directions under What I Know.

→ Invite a few volunteers to share their responses, but do not correct them at this time. Tell the students that they will return to this page to check their learning at the end of the unit.

→ For Questions I Have, you might write their questions on a piece of newsprint attached to the board so that you can refer to them if or when the topics come up in the unit.

→ Ask the class to look at the next page and begin Chapter 1.

Student pages 9, 10 45

For Reflection

CHAPTER 1

46 Grade 5

How aware have I been of the presence of God in my life?

What more can I do to help young people discover the presence of God in their lives?

BACKGROUND

Divine RevelationDivine Revelation is God unveiling (the word reveal means “to unveil”) the mystery of himself. This Revelation is so beyond the full comprehension of the human person that we can never fully, once-and-for-all plumb its depths! God is always “full of mystery.”

The Human Quest for GodThe human quest for God is woven into the fabric of our hearts. God has created us with the overwhelming invitation and desire to seek him, to know him, and to love him—to live in communion with him. In his Confessions, Saint Augustine of Hippo described this quest, “[Y]ou have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (Confessions 1).

God is always present with us, guiding us on this quest. As we pray and reflect on our own lives and the events that surround us, the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, awakens within us this desire and provides the graces for us to make the quest. The same Spirit heightens our awareness to the presence of God within us and within the experiences of our daily lives.

Divine Message in Human LanguageThe finite can never come to know the Infinite completely. However, through the gift of Divine Revelation God “speaks to us.” God has made it possible for us to gradually come to deeper knowledge and understanding of who he is, and of the mystery of his plan of creation and Salvation.

God’s way of revealing himself used human events and words to communicate himself and the divine plan to us. This Revelation—first made at creation, then to Noah, then to Abraham and Sarah, and the descendants of Abraham, the Israelites—points to and culminates in Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh.

God revealed himself fully in Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man . . . In Christ, God has said everything in one, perfect, transcendent Word. National Directory for Catechesis, 16A

God Is Ever-PresentGod is present through creation—through the beauty of foliage, the power of the tides, and the wonder of the moon and stars shining in the night. He is present within the events of our personal lives—in the people (family and stranger) we meet each day, in the events of our times that bring both sorrow and joy to our hearts.

Above all, God is present with us in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, and in his Body, the Church, the sacrament of Salvation in the world.

Through the Holy Spirit, the Risen Christ is alive in those who believe, helping them to understand their experiences in the light of faith. National Directory for Catechesis, Section 16A

Speak, Lord

47

Teacher PrayerCome Holy Spirit, help me discover and respond to your presence in my life and in the lives of these young people. Amen.

Teacher to TeacherA Deeper Faith, Hope, and LoveThe title of this first chapter, “Speak, Lord,” gives you a focus that will permeate all your classes with the young people. The Holy Spirit dwells within the Church and within each person, inviting us to a deeper faith, a deeper trust, and a deeper love for God. Listening and responding to the Holy Spirit is vital to our life in Christ. Your role as a teacher is to facilitate this communication and help your class grow “in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ” (On Catechesis in Our Time).

PrayerPrayer is an essential part of your time with the class and is an integral part of the catechetical process. Each lesson begins and ends with a prayer. A prayerful environment will make the transition time between discussion and activities more meaningful as well. This can easily be done by developing a prayerful teaching style. Here are a few suggestions: Be an attentive listener; treat these young persons with kindness, patience, fairness, and love; be generous in both praising their achievements and forgiving their wrongdoings; and reach out to those students who seem hesitant to participate.

The Church Teaches...“God’s Revelation is the self-disclosure of the loving communion of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in which he makes known the mystery of his divine plan. . . . God’s self-communication is realized gradually through his actions and his words. It is most fully achieved in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ” (National Directory for Catechesis, 28).

By approaching religious studies as a mystery to unravel, you can use each chapter to elicit excitement in the young people and help them build enduring relationships with God. In this chapter, the students will learn how our response to God’s invitation to know and believe in him is the gift of faith.

Further Reading and ReflectionFor more related teachings of the Catholic Church on the topic of this chapter, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 50–67, 142–175, 185–197; and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pages 11–19 and 35–47.

48 Grade 5

Lesson PlannerTo discover and explore ways God reveals himself to usGoal

Chapter 1 Speak, Lord

To explore ways we come to know God better

Pages 11–13

→ Proclaim and discuss John 3:16 (For God so loved the world).

→ Learn the story of Blessed John XXIII.

Disciple Power: Knowledge

Activity: Identify people who help you live as a follower of Christ.

Bible

Pencils

To discover how God reveals himself

Pages 14–15

→ Learn the meaning of Divine Revelation.

Faith Vocabulary: Divine Revelation

Catholics Believe: Created for Happiness

Activity: Complete the hidden message about God.

Pencils

Index cards

To discover ways we learn more about God

Pages 16–17

→ Learn how God reveals himself through creation.

Scripture: Praise the Lord (Psalm 148:3, 9-10, 13); the Lord has chosen you (Deuteronomy 7:6).

Faith-Filled People: Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Activity: Design a sticker praising God.

Bible

Pencils

Crayons or markers

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 61Designing a Wonders ofCreation Album of Songs

To discover how God reveals himself most fully in Jesus and to decide on a response to the lesson on God’s revelation

Pages 18–19

Faith Vocabulary: faith

Activity: Create a cinquain about Jesus.

Activity: Identify ways to know God better.

My Faith Choice: Decide how to grow in my knowledge of God.

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 61 Difference Bulletin Board Creating a Word Web

Additional Activities Booklet: Activities 1a and 1b or see BeMyDisciples.com

To reflect on and pray an act of faith

Pages 20–22

→ REVIEW Review concepts: Recall, Reflect, and Share.

→ PRAY Lord, Help Us Believe

Scripture: Be doers of the world (James 1:22–25)

→ Grade 5 Music CD

Bible, candle, cross for prayer space, and pencils

Assessment Tools Booklet: Assessments 1a and 1b

Preview the With My Family page and the theme of the next chapter.

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

LESSON PART PROCESS MATERIALS and RESOURCES

DAY 1 EXPLORE

DAY 2 DISCOVER

DAY 3 DISCOVER

DAY 4 DECIDE

DAY 5 CONCLUDE

BeMyDisciples.com

Assign online Chapter Review at

EXPLOREDAY 1

Speak, Lord

What are some of the ways you come to know people better?

We learn about others through many different ways. One of the ways we can learn about people is through those who know and love others. God the Father sent his Son, Jesus, so that we could know God and his love more deeply.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. . . . John 3:16

What is God saying to you in this passage? What are some other ways we might come to know God better?

CHAPTER

1EXPLORE how Blessed John XXIII helped us live as followers of Christ.

DISCOVER the different ways that God reveals himself to us.

DECIDE how you will come to know God better.

Looking AheadIn this chapter, the Holy Spirit invites you to →

11

Student page 11 49

Pray→ Invite the students to quiet

themselves for prayer.

→ Have them say a silent prayer of thanksgiving for the people they know well and love.

Reflect→ Ask the opening question.

Then ask a volunteer to read the Scripture passage from John 3:16.

→ Ask the young people to share what we can learn about God from Jesus. Brainstorm other ways we might come to know God better, such as that God loves us like a father, we can pray to him, go to Mass, read Scripture, and so on.

Focus→ Ask the group to read the Looking

Ahead feature to see the focus of this chapter.

→ Tell the students that they will learn about how one person helped others know and believe in God.

Education for Community Life. Your role as a catechist is to build community based on Jesus’ teachings. You can accomplish this by encouraging a spirit of friendship among the students. All the young people are not yet well acquainted with each other. Instruct the fifth graders to create nametag “tents.” Have them fold sheets of construction paper in half horizontally and use markers to print their names on both sides. Ask them to decorate their tents with drawings or symbols that represent their interests and hobbies. Then have them use their decorated tents to introduce themselves to one another.

THE TASKS OF CATECHESIS

EXPLOREDAY 1

Knowledge

Knowledge is a virtue and a Gift of the Holy Spirit that allows you to choose the right path to God. It encourages you to avoid obstacles that will keep you from him.

Disciple Power Blessed John XXIII

From her very beginning, the Catholic Church has had pastors who have guided the Church and other people in the search for God. These pastors have helped others grow in faith. Blessed Pope John XXIII was one of those leaders.

Angelo Giuseppe Roncali (the pope’s birth name), was born in Italy in 1881, the fourth of 14 children. His family took care of the land as sharecroppers. His great-uncle and godfather, Zaverio, was influential in Angelo’s religious education.

Angelo eventually left home to start studying to become a priest when he was just eleven years old. While in seminary, Angelo began the practice of keeping a spiritual journal. This helped him reflect on the knowledge that he was learning in school and throughout his life. Father Angelo was a caring teacher, a popular speaker, and a spiritual director throughout his life.

After Word War I, Fr. Angelo started a community called the “Student House,” which sought to meet the spiritual needs of young people. Soon after in 1921 Pope Benedict XV called him to Rome and eventually named him a bishop. Bishop Roncali’s motto was “Oboedientia et Pax” (obedience and peace), which guided him throughout the rest of his life.

On October 28, 1958, Angelo Giuseppe Roncili became Pope John XXIII. He was Pope between 1958 and 1963. The Pope knew the importance of family life. He stayed close to his family and saw them during vacations.

What do you think a Pope does to serve the People of God?

Blessed John XXIII was elected the 261st Pope.

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DISCIPLE POWER

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Knowledge. We, as a community of believers, live daily by our faith, our lived relationship with God. It is through our Baptism that we are born into, nourished by, and supported by a community of faith, the Church. We are called to deepen our relationship with God, seeking knowledge of God through his revelation of himself to us. Help the students understand that it took deep faith for Blessed John XXIII to convene Vatican Council II, not knowing the effect the Council would have on the worldwide Church.

Introduce→ Share with the students that

Blessed Pope John XXIII helped us understand the meaning of God’s revelation. Point out that he wanted the Church to be a clear and powerful sign of God’s love in the world.

→ Tell the students about Blessed Pope John XXIII in your own words.

→ Invite five volunteers to take turns reading one paragraph at a time.

→ Elicit from the young people why Pope John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council.

→ Invite a volunteer to read Disciple Power. Tell the class that they will learn more in this chapter.

EXPLOREDAY 1

Servant of ServantsPope John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council,

which began in 1962. He invited all the bishops from around the world to come to Rome for a meeting. He wanted them to talk with one another about faith and the Church. He called the Council to help the whole Church and the whole world better understand God and his plan for us. Pope John XXIII wanted the Church to be a clear and powerful sign of God’s love in the world.

Pope John XXIII strived to be “the servant of the servants of God.” For example, he visited prisoners in a Roman jail, saying, “Since you could not come to me, I came to you.” He died on June 3, 1963. Nearly forty years later, Pope John Paul II named him Blessed John XXIII. This is the final step before naming a person a Saint of the Church. Blessed John XXIII continues to inspire people to listen for God’s voice and place their faith, hope, and love in him.

What does it mean to be “the servant of the servants?”

Think of two persons who help you to live as a follower of Christ. Write the name of one person on the first line. Then describe how this person helps you. Do the same for the other person on the next lines.

Activity

PERSON

HELPS ME BY . . .

PERSON

HELPS ME BY . . .

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→ Read aloud the discussion question and invite the students to share their ideas about why we need leaders like priests to help us search for God. (Accept all appropriate responses, such as priests teach us about God, pray for us, celebrate Mass and the sacraments, and so on.)

→ Draw the students’ attention to the activity. Give them time to complete it and then encourage volunteers to share their responses.

ReinforceAsk the young people to recall why Blessed John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council. Emphasize that he did so to make the Church a clearer sign of God’s love for the world.

Connect→ Ask the group to share stories

about people who help them live as followers of Christ.

→ Ask volunteers to suggest ways friends can help one another live as followers of Christ.

PrayQuiet the children for prayer. Ask them to bow their heads as you lead them in prayer,

“Blessed John XXIII, you wanted the Church to be a strong sign of God’s love in the world. Help us to be a sign of God’s love too. Amen.”

Vatican II. Pope John XXIII called this council, at which 2,540 bishops and other Church leaders met in Rome in four sessions between 1962 and 1965. Considered one of the most important and influential Church Councils ever held, Pope John set as the Council’s goal the renewal of the Church so that the Church could reach out to the world and, among other things, encourage the unity of all Christians. The Council issued a number of documents that accomplished important goals, such as changing the Mass from Latin to the languages Catholics spoke, set forth the Church teaching on social issues, encouraged greater involvement of lay persons, described the roles of bishops and clergy, to name a few. John XXIII did not live to see the results of the Council. He died on June 3, 1963 before the Council was over.

BACKGROUND

DISCOVERDAY 2

Divine Revelation Each of us is born with a desire within us. This desire

makes us realize there is someone who is much greater than we are. That someone is God. This desire is part of who we are as human beings. Each of us is looking for God and he is looking for us.

Saint Augustine of Hippo was a bishop in North Africa from a.d. 396 to a.d. 430. Before he became a Christian, Augustine summarized our desire and our search for God. Finally, Augustine realized that he needed God in his life in order to be truly happy. Augustine wrote: “You, O God, have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (From Confessions).

God’s love for us is so great that he patiently waits for us to realize that we need him in our lives. He comes to us and invites us to know him, hope in him, and to love him. This is the reason God created us.

Why did God create us?

FAITH FOCUSHow does God help us to get to know him?

FAITH VOCABULARYDivine Revelation God making known over time the mystery of himself and his divine plan of creation and Salvation.

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Teaching and Reinforcing Vocabulary. Create a word wall on poster board for your classroom to reinforce the terms in Faith Vocabulary. At the beginning of each lesson write the faith vocabulary words presented in the chapter on the word wall. Have the students draw illustrations next to the words to help them remember the meaning of the terms.

Need: Students with reading deficits

SPECIAL NEEDS

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PrayGather the students for prayer. Make the Sign of the Cross and pray these words inspired by Saint Augustine:

“Lord, when I am united with you, my life will be complete. Amen.”

Teach→ Read aloud the Faith Focus

question. Tell the students that this question will be answered in the lesson.

→ Ask the students to silently read Divine Revelation.

→ Encourage the young people to share the most important idea they will remember about the quote from Saint Augustine.

→ Ask the discussion question. Write on the board the young peoples’ ideas about why God created them. Accept all reasonable responses. Suggest to them that God created us to know and love him.

Key ConceptGod reveals himself in many ways.

DISCOVER

DISCOVERDAY 2

Cross out all the words that have the letter “a” in them to find the hidden message. Write the message on the line below.

God reveals creates makes

plan invites faith us

hearts learning Heaven Earth

human to Salvation Messiah

love search happy servant

invitation Revelation him peace

Activity

God Reveals HimselfHow does God help us get to know him? The answer is:

God reveals himself to us.

We cannot see God. We cannot know what is in God’s mind. We cannot, on our own, come to know who God is and his plan of goodness for us and for the world. So God, out of love, revealed himself. Divine Revelation is God making himself and his plan of creation and Salvation known.

God has revealed that he has created us. He is always inviting us to share in his life and love. Making God part of our lives, learning about him, and knowing him, brings us happiness. God wants us to be completely happy with him, not only forever in Heaven but also now on Earth. That is why God created us.

How does God’s revelation show us that he loves us?

Catholics BelieveCreated for Happiness

God created us to share in his life and love and to be completely happy with him, not only forever in Heaven but also now on Earth.

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God invites us to love him.

HUMAN METHODOLOGIES

Learning by Discipleship. The National Directory for Catechesis teaches: “For disciples, saying ‘yes’ to Jesus Christ means that they abandon themselves to God and give loving ascent to all that he has revealed” (29B). Help the fifth graders to articulate their faith in Jesus and to discuss how they try to follow him. Remind them that following Jesus is a daily choice. The My Faith Choice that they make at the end of each chapter also helps them to practice their faith. Pray with them the Glory Be found in the Catholic Prayers and Practices section of their book on page 367.

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→ Invite volunteers to read aloud the section entitled God Reveals Himself.

→ Ask the closing question.

→ Draw the students’ attention to the activity. Read aloud the instructions and give the students several minutes to work. When they are finished invite the class to say the secret message aloud together.

Reinforce→ Ask a volunteer to read the

definition of Divine Revelation from Faith Vocabulary.

→ Give the students index cards to make vocabulary word cards for Divine Revelation. Have them write the term on the front of the card and the definition on the back.

→ Invite a volunteer to read the Catholics Believe feature.

Connect→ Write the word God in the center

of a circle on the board.

→ Ask volunteers to share what they have come to know about God.

→ Write their responses on spokes that come out from the word God in the circle.

PrayHave the students make the Sign of the Cross and pray,

“Lord, help me to live as you want. Amen.”

DISCOVERDAY 3

God Speaks through CreationOne way God speaks to us is through through his

creation. God is the Creator who tells us about himself through the world we live in. When we look at all of creation, we realize how wonderful God is.

The sky, the stars, and the galaxies sing of God’s love. The beauty of horses galloping through a field, dolphins gliding through the ocean, and eagles soaring in the skies all reflect God’s goodness and beauty. All creation gives honor and glory to God.

In the Bible, we read:

Praise [the Lord], sun and moon; give praise, all shining stars. You mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; You animals wild and tame, you creatures that crawl and fly. . . . Let them all praise the Lord’s name, for his name alone is exalted, majestic above earth and heaven. Psalm 148:3, 9–10, 13

Psalm 148 puts into words what we sometimes feel inside. When we look at creation, we realize how wonderful and good God really is. All creation gives honor and glory to God.

How does creation inspire you? What does creation tell you about God?

FAITH FOCUSIn what ways does God reveal himself?

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PrayGather the young people for prayer. Ask a volunteer to read aloud Psalm 148:1, 7.

Teach→ Have a volunteer read aloud the

Faith Focus question. Elaborate on how creation is one way God speaks to us.

→ Invite two volunteers to read. One the first two paragraphs of God Speaks Through Creation and the other the Scripture passage.

→ Discuss other images with the students that reflect God’s goodness and beauty.

→ Read aloud the discussion question to the students. Help the young people to think about how inspiring God’s creation can be. Then ask: How much more should God, the Creator, inspire us?

→ Challenge them to list words that express inspiration. Write these on the board for all to consider.

Key ConceptWe come to know God through the world around us.

Science. Have students research an ecosystem, such as a tide pool. Have them learn about the creatures that are commonly found in them, or other microcosms, such as a desert, a rain forest, a bog, a bayou or even a backyard garden. In each case, students should look for examples of beauty, function, and interdependence to share with the class.

CROSS-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY

DISCOVER

DISCOVERDAY 3

God Speaks through People One of the best ways God helps us to know him is

through people. Throughout the ages God has chosen special people through whom he has revealed himself. In the Bible, God tells us that the Israelites were the first people he chose. They would be his people, and he would be their God. The writer of the Book of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Bible, reminded the Israelites:

[The Lord] has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth to be a people peculiarly his own. Deuteronomy 7:6

God was no stranger to his people. He was always present with them.

How does creation give praise to God? How do people you know give praise to God? How do you give praise to God?

Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Anselm was the archbishop of Canterbury, England. He is honored as one of the great theologians of the Church. A theologian is a person who studies and explains the faith so we can better understand what God has revealed. Anselm described his work as “faith seeking understanding.” His feast day is April 21.

Faith-Filled People

Design a sticker that gives praise to God.

Activity

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Teach→ Ask the students to recall what

they know about the Israelites. Help them recall what they know about the Bible by reminding them that the Israelites are the ancestors of the Jewish people. Have them read silently God Speaks through People to check their understanding.

→ Ask a volunteer to read the passage from Deuteronomy. Ask the students who the writer was talking to in this passage. (the Israelites)

→ Have a volunteer read the Faith-Filled People feature aloud. Point out that Saints like Saint Anselm longed to know God more and more.

Reinforce→ Emphasize that God speaks to

us through creation and through people.

→ Consider using Enriching the Lesson described on page 61, to have the young people create a Wonders of Creation CD Cover.

Connect→ Direct the young people to

complete the activity on the page.

→ Have the students share with partners the seals they created and discuss how they will use their seal this week as a reminder to give praise to God.

PrayQuiet the young people for prayer. Have a volunteer read Psalm 148:3, 9–10, 13 aloud.

Key ConceptGod speaks through people.

FAITH-FILLED PEOPLE

Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109). Saint Anselm, archbishop, monk, abbot, philosopher, and theologian, was born in Italy. He became a Benedictine monk in 1060 and was installed as Archbishop of Canterbury, England, in 1093. For Anselm, faith was not merely knowledge of God; it included a love for God, moving him to live by the will of God. He prayed, “O God, while I am on earth, let me come to know you more and more, so my love for you can grow deeper and deeper and I love you more fully.” Saint Anselm was canonized in 1424 and was named a Doctor of the Church in 1720.

For more information on Saint Anselm of Canterbury, go to the Saints Resource at BeMyDisciples.com.

DISCOVERDAY 4

God Is Fully Revealed in Jesus God revealed himself most fully in his only Son, Jesus

Christ. Jesus is the Word of God. He is the Son of God, who became one of us and lived among us. Jesus spent his whole life on Earth revealing God and God’s love. Through all of his actions and words, we come to know God.

The Gift of FaithGod is always inviting us to come to know him and

believe in him. He gives us the gift of faith. God helps us listen to his invitation. Faith is a supernatural gift and power that helps us respond to God’s invitation with all our heart, our mind, our soul, and our strength.

The Holy Spirit helps us accept the gift of faith. When we accept and live the gift of faith, God works through us to help others come to know, love, and serve him. We are people of faith. We are the community of believers in Jesus Christ. We are the Church.

What can happen when we have faith?

FAITH FOCUSHow did God reveal himself most fully?

FAITH VOCABULARYfaith One of the three Theological Virtues. A supernatural gift and power from God inviting us to know and believe in him, and our free response to that invitation.

A cinquain is a five-line verse. Follow the directions and write a cinquain about Jesus.

Jesus, the Word of God

Write two words that describe Jesus.

Write three action words that describe Jesus.

Write four words that describe a feeling about Jesus.

Write another word for Jesus.

Activity

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PrayWrite on the board:

“O God, let me come to know you more and more, so my love for you can grow deeper and deeper and I love you more fully. Amen.”

Make the Sign of the Cross and all pray it together.

Teach→ Select a student to read aloud the

Faith Focus question. Write Jesus, the Word of God on the board. Ask why Jesus is called the Word of God? (Affirm appropriate responses, such as Jesus is true God; he spent his whole life on Earth revealing God and his love.)

→ Read aloud God is Revealed Fully in Jesus.

→ Explain that just as words express what things are, so God reveals himself most fully in Jesus Christ, ( John 1:14).

→ Have the children silently read The Gift of Faith. Emphasize that God works through us to bring others to him. Discuss the question, about what happens when we have faith. Affirm the students’ ideas that faith affects ourselves and other people.

ReinforceInvite the students to make word cards for faith.

ConnectExplain the directions to the cinquain-writing activity. Have the young people work with partners. Ask volunteers to share their poems.

Key ConceptGod revealed himself most fully in Jesus Christ.

About Cinquains. Writing cinquains provides the young people the opportunity to articulate in a creative way their understanding of a topic. Cinquains are five-line unrhymed poems. The name cinquain comes from a French word that means “five.” The usual structure is as follows: first line: one noun; second line: two words describing the noun; third line: three action words related to the noun; fourth line: feelings about the noun; fifth line, a synonym for the noun. Writing cinquains gives students the opportunity to be creative and write a verse without worrying about the number of syllables or beats in each line.

TEACHING TIP

DECIDEDAY 4

Place a check in the box next to the things you do to grow in your faith. Then write down other things you can do to know God better.

Reading the Bible

Learning the teachings of the Church

Praying to the Holy Spirit

Thinking about God’s gift of creation

Other things I can do to know God better include:

.

Some people who can help me grow in my faith are:

.

LEARNING MORE ABOUT GOD

MY FAITH CHOICE

Pray, Say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of knowledge. Then pray, “Oh Holy Spirit to continue to help me grow in knowing and living my faith. Amen.”

This week I will try to know God better. I will

.

Every day the Holy Spirit is helping you come to know, love, and serve God better. Learning what the Catholic Church teaches will help you understand and live what God has revealed. The Holy Spirit will help you grow as a child of God and as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

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ReinforceRemind the young people that God reveals himself to us in many ways.

Respond→ Read the introductory paragraph

to the students.

→ Before the activity, divide the class into small groups. Have each group list ways they can grow in faith. Have a representative from each group report to the class. List each group’s ideas on the board.

→ Have the young people complete the activity and ask for volunteers to share their responses to Learning More About God.

Choose→ Invite the young people to

complete the My Faith Choice activity.

→ Remind the students that knowing more about their faith will help them to live it more fully.

→ After a moment of prayerful reflection, have the students write their choices on the lines provided.

→ Encourage the young people to put their choices into practice this week.

→ Lead the group in a spontaneous prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of knowledge. Invite the young people to continue asking the Holy Spirit to help them grow in faith.

My Faith Choice. It is important that you allow sufficient time for the students to complete the My Faith Choice activity. This weekly activity, which is a vital part of the catechetical process, allows the young people to move from what they have learned to how they will live their faith in their lives. Discuss and affirm their responses.

TEACHING TIP

CONCLUDEDAY 5

Chapter Review

RecallChoose three of the faith terms in the word bank. Use each term in a sentence to describe how you come to know God.

creation people Jesus Christ faith Church

1.

.

2.

.

3.

.

4. What does it mean to call Jesus the Word of God?

5. Why do we say that faith is a gift?

ReflectImagine that God said to you, “I made you to love and believe in me.” What would you say to him in response?

ShareWork with a partner to make a list of Saints and people from the Bible who lived as people of faith.

TO HELP YOU REMEMBER

1. Divine Revelation is God making himself and his plan of creation and Salvation known.

2. We can come to know God through creation, especially through people.

3. God most fully reveals himself in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became one of us and lived among us.

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Answers will vary.

Jesus reveals God to us and we come to know God

through him.

to respond to him or not.

We are invited to love God and follow him. We are free

58 Student page 20

PrayAsk the students to quiet themselves for prayer. Pray the Our Father together. Begin and end with the Sign of the Cross.

Recall→ Write the term Divine Revelation

on the board. Ask the young people to name three ways God reveals himself. Write their responses on the board.

→ Ask them to check their work by reading the To Help You Remember statements.

→ Read the chapter review activity to the students. Have them work alone to write the sentences using three of the faith terms then write answers to the two questions that follow.

ReflectStudents should also work on their own for the Reflect activity.

Share→ Let the students choose partners to

work on the Share activity. When they are finished, ask volunteers to share their suggestions for biblical people and Saints.

→ Conclude by asking the students what was the most important lesson they learned and why.

Choosing Partners. Most fifth graders will prefer to work with friends. There are times it is good to let the students work together depending upon the goal of the lesson or activity. However, getting along with everyone with kindness and humility is the Christian way. So, occasionally, have a list of pairs prepared, or put all the students’ name in a basket and draw two names at a time. Avoid assigning partners on the spur of the moment.

TEACHING TIP

DISCOVER

CONCLUDEDAY 5

Lord, Help Us BelievePray this act of faith. Ask God to help you come to know and believe in him better.

Leader: God gives us the gift of faith. Let us listen to God’s Word and accept that gift.

Reader: A reading from the Letter of James.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, . . . But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. James 1:22, 25

The word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Leader: Let us ask God to help us come to know and believe in him better.

All: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

Leader: Lord, help me come to know you better.

All: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

Leader: Lord, help me listen and say yes to your gift of faith.

All: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

Leader: Lord, help me love you more and more.

All: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Amen. 1 samuel 3:9

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We Pray→ In preparation for the prayer, you

may wish to share the fuller story of God’s revelation to Samuel found in 1 Samuel 3:1–21.

→ Tell the group that this prayer is an act of faith.

→ Have the students gather in the area in your classroom used for prayer. Place a crucifix and Bible on the table. If possible, light a candle.

→ Give the young people a moment to quiet themselves.

→ Explain to the students that bowing is an ancient sign of respect. Suggest that as they pray the response they bow slightly.

→ Make the Sign of the Cross. Lead the students in praying the prayer.

LITURGY TIPPlacing Oneself in the Presence of God. The chatter that sometimes fills our busy lives can drown out the voice of the Lord, who is always speaking to us. It is important to take some quiet time to prepare for prayer and heighten our awareness of God’s presence with us. Using a single ring of a chime or a bell is a simple way to remind the young people to quiet themselves for prayer. You can also choose to speak more quietly and move more slowly as a way to change the pace in the classroom. This will assist the young people in changing their own pace and prepare for prayer.

CONCLUDEDAY 5

Visit BeMyDisciples.com

→ Take time with the students to explore the many activities and resources available at Be My Disciples Web site.

→ Encourage them to join with their families to discover the many resources available at the Web site.

With My FamilyThis Week . . .In Chapter 1, “Speak, Lord,” your child learned:

→ Every person has been created with an innate longing and a desire for God.

→ God has revealed himself and gives us the gift of faith to know and respond to that desire.

→ Creation points to the existence of a wise, loving and all-powerful God.

→ In Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became one of us and lived among us, God has revealed himself most fully.

→ The virtue of knowledge is a gift of the Holy Spirit that allows us to choose the right path that will lead us to God. It encourages us to avoid obstacles that will keep us from him.

For more about related teachings of the Church, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 50–67, 142–175, 185–197; and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pages 11–19 and 35–47.

Sharing God’s WordInvite all family members to share their favorite Bible story. Then talk about what each story tells us about God. Emphasize that the Holy Spirit helps us to know and believe in God.

We Live as Disciples The Christian home and family is a school of discipleship. Choose one of the following activities to help the members of your family follow Jesus.

→ Invite family members to share the names of people who have helped them know about God. Share how these people have helped.

→ Watch TV, visit your favorite Web sites, or look through magazines. Talk about what the commercials and advertisements tell us about happiness. How does this compare to the happiness God created us to have?

Our Spiritual JourneyDaily prayer is vital to the Christian life. Through prayer we converse with God. He is our companion on our earthly journey. In this chapter, your child prayed an act of faith. This week as a family pray together the prayer on page 21 or simply pray, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Amen.”

For more ideas on ways your family can live as disciples of Jesus, visit

BeMyDisciples.com22

Before Moving On …

60 Student page 22

As you finish today’s lesson, reflect on the following question before moving on to the next chapter.

Which student could use more praise from me?

Preview→ Have the students carefully tear

out pages 21 and 22 along the perforation.

→ Encourage the students to share these pages with their families, and to complete the activities together.

→ If they did not complete the review activity on page 20 by the end of the session, emphasize that they can complete it with their families at home.

→ Point out the title and theme of the next lesson to the students.

Growing in Faith as a Family. It is important early in the year to introduce the children’s families to the Web site, BeMyDisciples.com. In a note or e-mail to parents, explain how to access the family section of the website from the home page. Accessing the website will help families to appreciate the Bible as a resource for growing in faith. If possible, demonstrate the website in the classroom and use the features and resources available on a regular basis.

PARTNERING WITH PARENTS

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Enriching the LessonDesigning a Wonders of Creation CD Cover

Create a Making a Difference Bulletin Board

Creating a Word Web

Purpose Directions Materials

To reinforce that one way God speaks to us is through creation (taught on page 16)

→ Brainstorm with the students images of creation that give honor and glory to God.

→ In small groups, have the young people create titles for these images.

→ Have the students use these titles to create songs about the wonders of creation.

→ Invite the groups to design CD covers with song titles and pictures that will speak to other fifth graders about the wonders of creation. Encourage the groups to share their CD covers.

construction paper

markers or crayons

Purpose Directions Materials

To reinforce that when we accept and live the gift of faith, God works through us to help others come to know, love, and serve him (taught on page 19)

→ Brainstorm with the young people ways living the gift of faith helps people make a difference in the world.

→ In small groups, have the students cut out newspaper and magazine articles that demonstrate people making a difference.

→ Have each group present and discuss their articles to the rest of the class.

→ Invite the students to develop a bulletin board using their articles. Encourage them to add new articles to the bulletin board each time they read about someone making a difference by living their faith.

poster board for the bulletin board

magazines and newspapers

scissors and glue sticks

Purpose Directions Materials

To reinforce the importance of living our faith as well as knowing about our faith (taught on page 19)

→ Draw a large circle on the board. In the center of the circle write the word faith.

→ Discuss with the students the things that they are doing or they can do to grow in faith. Using colored chalk or markers, write appropriate responses on spokes coming out from the word faith.

→ Next discuss with the students things that they are doing or they can do to live the gift of faith. Using chalk or markers of a different color, write appropriate responses on spokes coming out from the word faith.

→ Have the students each choose one way to grow in faith and one way to live their faith. Encourage them to put their choices into action.

chalk or markers of two different colors

For Reflection

CHAPTER 2

62 Grade 5

How do I regularly include hearing and listening to the Word of God in my life?

How can I make the Bible come alive for the students?

BACKGROUND

The Inspired Word of GodGod has inspired human writers to develop a written record of his Revelation of himself and his divine plan of Goodness for humanity and all creation—his plan of creation and Salvation. Sacred Scripture, or the Bible, is the collection of all those inspired writings. The list of these writings is called the canon of Scripture. It includes the forty-six books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament.

The Authorship of the BibleThe Bible is God’s own Word to us. God is the primary author of Sacred Scripture. He acts through the human writers and by means of them. While the human writers wrote in a fully human way, the biblical writers at the same time wrote under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They were given insight and understanding so that they wrote “faithfully, and without error teach that truth which God . . . wished to see confided to the Sacred Scripture.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 107).

Hearing the inspired Word of God is vital to our lives as Christians. Why is that?

In the sacred books the Father who is in Heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them.(Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation [Dei

verbum] 21).

The Word of God is so vital to us that the Church proclaims it in every liturgical celebration.

Proclamation of FaithJesus Christ is the fullness of Revelation and of Salvation. The entire story written in the New Testament completes the many words and actions of God revealed in the Old Testament.

All Sacred Scripture is but one book, and this one book is Christ, “because all divine Scripture speaks of Christ, and all divine Scripture is fulfilled in Christ (ccc 134).

The Gospel is a proclamation of faith. The four accounts of the Gospel are not simply stories about what Jesus

did and said in the past. They are not newspaper or documentary accounts of his life and teachings. While the Gospel accounts are grounded in the historical life of Jesus and in his authentic teachings, they are far more than “eye-witness accounts” of past events. The Gospels are writings of faith. They speak from faith to our faith and invite us to believe in Jesus Christ.

The Four GospelsMatthew, Mark, Luke, and John offer us access to the Person and saving work of Jesus Christ. They draw us more deeply into a relationship of loving trust with our Lord and Savior. The Jesus we encounter in hearing the Scriptures invites us to faith and trust in him.

Whenever we hear or read the Gospel, we come to know Jesus better. In similar and different ways, each of the four accounts of the Gospel leads us to deeper faith in Jesus and in the power and significance of his life, work, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension for the world.

The Word of God

63

Teacher to TeacherGod’s RevelationHave you ever thought of the Bible as God’s diary of his dealings with people? In one sense the Bible is God revealing his deepest thoughts and desires for us. It is the inspired Word of God. You might say God took the time so we might have a written record of everything he wanted to reveal to us so that we could come to know how much he loves us and wants us to live in communion with him, now and forever. Lest we fail to grasp this, God the Father sent his only Son, the Word of God, to dwell among us.

Display a BibleStudents need concrete, visible reminders of the mystery of God’s love. Display a Bible in your classroom, preferably in the space dedicated for prayer. Reverently hold and read or invite a member of the group to read from the Bible whenever Scripture is part of your lesson—do not settle for reading only from the student text or your guide. You might also invite the young people to memorize the Scripture verse that is part of the opening prayer for each chapter and suggest they pray it each day during the week. It is vital that both you and they grow in the awareness that God is always present with them.

The Church Teaches…“Sacred Scripture, the word of God written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has the preeminent position in the life of the Catholic Church and especially in the ministry of evangelization and catechesis” (National Directory

for Catechesis, 24B).

God reveals himself in both Scripture and Tradition. As the children continue their faith journeys this year, it is important for them to grow in their understanding of the Word of God. This chapter continues their introduction to Sacred Scripture.

Further Reading and ReflectionFor more about related teachings of the Catholic Church on the topic of this chapter, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 50–133; and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pages 11–33.

Teacher PrayerOpen my heart and mind to your Word, O Lord, that I may live according to your teachings. Amen.

64 Grade 5

Lesson PlannerTo learn about how to read, interpret, and revere Sacred ScriptureFocusGoal

Chapter 2 The Word of God

To explore the impor-tance of reverence for the Bible

Pages 19–21

→ Proclaim and discuss Mark 4:39-41 (Jesus calmed the storm).

→ Learn how Catholics show reverence for the Bible.

Disciple Power: Reverence

Activity: Find the words about the people and places in the Bible.

Bible

Pencils

Flashlights

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 77 Using Drama Overcoming Fears

To discover that the Bible is the inspired Word of God

Pages 22–23

→ Discover that the Holy Spirit inspired the human writers of the Bible.

Faith Vocabulary: Inspiration of the Bible

Catholics Believe: Lectionary and Book of the Gospels

Activity: Look up Bible passages.

Pencils

Index cards

To discover the message of the Old Testament

Pages 24–25

→ Identify parts of the Old Testament.

Faith-Filled People: Saint Jerome

Faith Vocabulary: Covenant

Activity: Create a Table of Contents for one’s faith story

Pencils

Index cards

To discover the message of the New Testament and to decide on a response to the lesson on God’s Word

Pages 26–27

→ Identify parts of the New Testament.

→ Learn that Jesus most fully reveals God.

Faith Vocabulary: Gospel

Activity: Write words and symbols to describe the Books of the New Testament.

Activity: Create a Web page to encourage reverence for God’s Word.

My Faith Choice: Choose a way to listen to and live God’s Word.

Pencils

Bible

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 77 Creating a Bible App

Additional Activities Booklet: Activities 2a and 2b or see BeMyDisciples.com

To discover that praying with the Bible is a form of meditation and to read and reflect on God’s Word

Pages 28–30

→ REVIEW Review concepts: Recall, Reflect, and Share.

→ PRAY A Light for My Path

→ Grade 5 Music CD

Bible, candle, cross for prayer space

Assessment Tools Booklet: Assessments 2a and 2b

Preview the With My Family page and the theme of the next chapter.

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

LESSON PART PROCESS MATERIALS and RESOURCES

DAY 1 EXPLORE

DAY 2 DISCOVER

DAY 3 DISCOVER

DAY 4 DECIDE

DAY 5 CONCLUDE

BeMyDisciples.com

Assign online Chapter Review at

EXPLOREDAY 1

What is the name of your favorite book?

The Bible is the most widely read book in the world. In the Bible God tells us about his love for us. God most especially tells us about his love through the words and actions of Jesus, the Son of God. In one Gospel story, Jesus calms a storm and calls on his disciples to have faith.

[Jesus] woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm. Then he asked [his disciples], “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” Mark 4:39–41

What can you learn about faith from this story?

WordThe

of God

Looking AheadIn this chapter, the Holy Spirit invites you to →

EXPLORE why Christians show reverence for the Bible.

DISCOVER the different kinds of writings in the Bible.

DECIDE how to listen to and live God’s Word each day.

CHAPTER

2

23

Student page 23 65

Pray→ Invite the students to quiet

themselves for prayer.

→ Lead the young people in a spontaneous prayer for all of the people who teach us about God’s love.

Reflect→ Have volunteers share their favorite

kinds of book.

→ Have the class share their favorite Bible stories.

→ Read the opening sentences about the Bible and invite a volunteer to read the Scripture passage.

Focus→ Tell the young people that

they will now learn about how important the Bible is for Christians. Invite volunteers to read the Looking Ahead section.

→ Ask the closing question and allow several volunteers to respond.

Learning by Heart. The National Directory for Catechesis points out that “certain elements of the Catholic faith, tradition, and practice are learned for a lifetime, form a basis for communication, allow people to pray together in a common language, and contribute to the individual’s continued growth in understanding and living their faith” (NDC 29F). Encourage the students to memorize short Bible passages to add to their language of faith.

HUMAN METHODOLOGIES

EXPLOREDAY 1

Disciple Power

Reverence

Reverence is a virtue and a Gift of the Holy Spirit. Reverence helps us to respect and honor God, Mary and the Saints, the Church, and people as “images of God.”

Reverence for the Bible

Christians are strengthened by hearing and listening reverently to the Word of God. Saint Jerome reminded us of the importance of the Bible. He is famously known for having written, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”

Before the printing press was invented in the sixteenth century, monks and scribes copied the Bible by hand. Artists painted pages of the Bible with colorful images and decorated

the edges of the pages with gold or silver. This type of book is known as an illustrated manuscript, often including calligraphy on papyrus, vellum, or parchment. Many famous ones of the Bible come from the Middle Ages (5th Century-13th Century), like the Lindisfarne Gospels manuscript at the British Library.

Many Christian families have a family Bible. They write down the key events of their family’s faith story in it. They record Baptisms, Marriages, and other important milestones in the faith history of the family.

What are some examples of ways we reverence a Bible?

Initial page of the Gospel of St. John from the Lindisfarne Gospels, circa 700

24

DISCIPLE POWER

66 Student page 24

Reverence. We show reverence to someone or something by our words and actions. As Catholics, how we treat the Bible is one of the ways we show reverence for the Word of God. Before the invention of the printing press around a.d. 1450, skilled scribes and monks made copies of Bibles by hand. There were many steps to the process, beginning with the preparation of the parchment on which the manuscript was copied. The biblical text was then hand printed on the parchment. The last step was to “illuminate,” or decorate, the manuscript. This was all done to show great reverence for the Word of God. Ask the students if they have a Bible in their homes. If so, where is the Bible kept? Discuss ways the children and their families can show respect for God’s Word at home.

IntroduceRemind the students that because the Bible is the Word of God, it is sacred and holy. Emphasize that we should always listen to the reading of the Bible attentively and reverently.

Teach→ Ask the class to read the Disciple

Power feature about reverence. Ask for a volunteer to tell in their own words what reverence means. Accept all reasonable responses that indicate respect.

→ Invite a volunteer to read aloud the first two paragraphs of Reverence for the Bible.

→ Ask how copies of the Bible were made before the printing press was invented. (Scribes copied it by hand. Artists decorated it.)

→ Have the students silently read the last paragraph of this section.

→ Read aloud the discussion question and elicit the students’ examples of how to treat the Bible.

EXPLOREDAY 1

The Word of God at MassAt every celebration of the Mass, the Word of God is

proclaimed. We carry the Book of the Gospels with dignity in the entrance procession and proclaim the Word of God from a place of honor. That place is called the ambo. This liturgical action shows the faith of the Church in God’s own Word to us as revealed in Sacred Scripture.

When we gather with other members of the Church or as a family to read and listen to the Bible, Jesus is there. We listen and ask, “What is God saying to us right now? How can the living Word of God come alive in our lives today?”

When does your family listen to the Word of  God? How does your school show reverence for Sacred Scripture?

Find the words in the word search and circle them. The words are all about people and places you will learn about in this chapter. Then write down one Bible story that you think you will be learning more about.

Bible Story:

Activity

25

I K C T N A N E V O C H K

P Q X R D U P K Z J D F C

P W Y H H V D W L M A R Y

R K I N G D O M O F G O D

O U N Q G O S P E L S D I

V E P V P P R O P H E T S

E U A M P H A B R A H A M

R X U M O S E S H V O I W

B S L Z P R Y V V M M N I

S C O M M A N D M E N T S

K J P E O P L E O F G O D

M E A X X M F L D G Y Y O

B J W I P S U B D X H D M

Commandments

Covenant

Proverbs

People of God

Kingdom of God

Prophets

Wisdom

Gospels

Moses

Paul

Mary

Abraham

Student page 25 67

FAITH-FILLED PEOPLE

Saint Jerome (343–420). Saint Jerome is one of the most renowned biblical scholars of the Church. Jerome was a priest who for two years (382–384) was the secretary of Pope Damasus (304–384). It was Pope Damasus who encouraged Jerome to revise the Latin translation of the Bible. Jerome began but did not complete this work, which became known as the Latin Vulgate. It was probably Rufinus, a disciple of Jerome, who completed the translation Jerome began. For more information on Saint Jerome, go to the Saints Resource at BeMyDisciples.com.

Teach→ Ask for two volunteers to read

aloud The Word of God at Mass.

→ Ask the discussion question.

→ Remind the students that at Mass there are several readings that are from different parts of the Bible. There are some people and times from before Jesus’ life on Earth.

→ Draw the students’ attention to the Word Search activity and give them sufficient time to complete it. Review the answers with the class.

→ Refer students to text page 29 about Saint Jerome as a Faith-Filled People feature. Ask a volunteer to read it out loud; then discuss the work of Saint Jerome and his impact on the Church.

ReinforceDiscuss why it is important to prepare to read aloud a passage from the Bible. (We are proclaiming the Word of God.)

Connect→ Review how the Church and

families show reverence for the Bible.

→ Ask volunteers to answer the question: When does your family and parish listen to the Word of God?

→ Share an example of your own.

PrayHave the young people pray the Sign of the Cross. Pray aloud,

“Lord, help us to treat the Bible with reverence because it contains your Word. Amen.”

DISCOVERDAY 2

Sacred ScriptureBooks tell stories of happiness and sadness, successes and

failures. The Bible tells the story of God’s love for his people and their response to his love. The Bible is God’s Word to us. God speaks to us through the Bible.

Sacred Scripture is another name for the Bible. It is a name that means “holy writings.” The Bible is a collection of many holy writings. The Church divides the Bible into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word testament means “covenant.”

The Holy Spirit inspired, or guided, the human writers of the Bible to faithfully and accurately communicate God’s Word. We call this truth of our faith the Inspiration of the Bible. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church has identified the forty-six books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament to be the inspired Word of God. We call this the canon of Scripture.

Which Scripture stories do you remember? Do you know if these stories are from the Old Testament or the New Testament?

FAITH FOCUSWhat kinds of writings are in the Bible?

FAITH VOCABULARYInspiration of the Bible The Holy Spirit guiding the human writers of Sacred Scripture to faithfully and accurately communicate God’s Word.

26

Testament. When we think of the word testament, we usually think of the word testimony, or “giving witness.” The history of the word testament also shows that the Latin word testamentum was used for “covenant with God.” Both uses of the word help us understand the nature of the Old Testament and the New Testament, which give authentic and inspired witness to the Covenant God has entered into with humankind.

FAITH VOCABULARY

68 Student page 26

PrayHave the students make the Sign of the Cross. Pray aloud,

“Lord, help us to learn about you whenever we read the Bible.”

Teach→ Read aloud the Faith Focus

question.

→ Discuss with the young people that the Bible tells the story of God’s love for his people and their response to his love.

→ Have the students read silently the first paragraph to discover why the writings in the Bible are holy. (They are God’s Word to us, inspired by the Holy Spirit.)

→ Ask a volunteer to read the second and third paragraphs aloud.

→ Have a volunteer read aloud the discussion question. Encourage the students to offer their suggestions for Bible stories and to assist one another in deciding whether a particular story is from the Old Testament or New Testament.

Reinforce→ Have the students stand. Tell

them to sit when they hear a false statement. Read aloud key sentences from the lesson. Make one of the statements false. Ask a volunteer to correct the statement.

→ Distribute index cards. Have the students make word cards for Inspiration of the Bible.

Key ConceptThe Bible is the inspired Word of God.

DISCOVER

DISCOVERDAY 2

Catholics BelieveLectionary and Book of the Gospels

The first two readings at Mass on Sunday are proclaimed from the Lectionary. The deacon or priest proclaims the Gospel from the Book of the Gospels.

Activity Do you know how to look up a Bible passage? Look up John 8:31–32. First decide whether the passage is in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Then follow the clues below to find the passage.

JOHN = Book of the Bible(Hint! Look at the top of the Bible page.)

JOHN 8 = Chapter

JOHN 8:31–32 = Verses

Find the following Scripture passages. Read each one silently. Write what you learned for each passage.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Exodus 20:1–2

Psalm 103:1–3

Luke 10:27

John 8:31–32

27

TEACHING TIP

Finding Scripture Verses. Some students will be overwhelmed by the size of the Bible and the fact that it is an adult’s book. Before having them try to find specific Scripture verses, spend some time explaining and pointing out random examples of a book, a chapter, and a verse. Most helpful of all, make certain that students know where to locate the Table of Contents for their Bibles. They can begin with the Table of Contents to find the name of the book. Then they can focus their attention on the chapter numbers and lastly, the verse numbers. Many fifth graders will need lots of practice to feel comfortable looking for Scripture verses.

Student page 27 69

Connect→ Distribute Bibles to the students.

Practice with the students to find the Scripture passage John 8:31–32. Read the passage out loud and discuss what they have learned from the Scripture passage.

→ Have the students complete the Scripture passages activity. Consider allowing the students to work in groups as many fifth graders may need support in finding Scripture passages.

→ Ask a volunteer to read aloud the Catholics Believe feature. Invite students to recall that they have seen the Lectionary used at Mass during the Scripture readings.

PrayAsk for suggestions from the Scripture activity for possible Bible verses to pray. Assist the students in deciding which of these they wish to pray. Have the students turn to the passage in the Bible. Have them pray the Sign of the Cross and then read the Scripture verse or verses aloud. Say “Amen” as a group.

DISCOVERDAY 3

FAITH FOCUSWhat is the message of the Old Testament?

FAITH VOCABULARYCovenant The solemn agreement that God entered into with his people, promising that he would be their God and they were to be his chosen people.

The Old TestamentThe Old Testament tells the story of the Covenant. The

Covenant is the solemn agreement that God and his people entered into together. The story of the Covenant begins at creation. It continues with the stories of Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets.

The Church has divided the writings of the Old Testament into four different categories of books, or writings. They are the Torah (or Pentateuch), the Historical Books, Wisdom literature, and the writings of the Prophets.

The Torah

The Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament. These books are also known as the Pentateuch, a word meaning “five containers.” The Torah contains the story of the Covenant, the Ten Commandments, and other laws that help God’s people live the Covenant. The five books of the Old Testament that make up the Torah are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

How would you describe the Old Testament?

Samuel anointing David as the future king of Israel.

28

Visual and Hands-on Learners. Have the young people use modeling clay to sculpt scenes of Bible stories they know from either the Old or New Testaments. Have the children explain their work to the rest of the class, if they wish. Display the finished sculptures on a length of colorful fabric or ribbon on a table in your classroom, school or parish common area.

SPECIAL NEEDS

PrayHave the students make the Sign of the Cross. Pray aloud,

“Father, you have placed your law in our hearts so we can grow in love for you.” Have the students respond, “Amen.”

Teach→ Invite a student to read aloud the

Faith Focus question.

→ Read and review the terms in Faith Vocabulary, then read aloud the first paragraph of The Old Testament.

→ Have a volunteer answer the question by explaining a covenant.

→ Divide the class into four groups. Assign one of the four kinds of Old Testament writings to each group (Torah, Historical, Wisdom, Prophetic).

→ Have each group read its section and report to the class what kind of writings its passage contains.

→ Clarify the summaries as necessary.

Key ConceptThe Old Testament tells about God’s Covenant with his people.

70 Student page 28

DISCOVER

DISCOVERDAY 3

Books of the Old TestamentThe Historical Books

There are sixteen historical books. They explain how Israel learned about God and tell about the struggle of the Israelites to live the Covenant faithfully. Some of these books are: Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Samuel.

The Wisdom Books

There are seven wisdom books. They teach practical ways to live God’s Law. These writings include Job, Psalms, and Proverbs.

The Prophetic Books

There are eighteen prophetic books. These books contain the teachings of the prophets. The prophets were people God chose to speak in his name. Some of these books are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and Amos.

Why do you think the story of the Covenant is told through different kinds of books?

Saint Jerome

Jerome (343–420) translated the Bible into Latin. Jerome’s translation became known as the Vulgate Bible and was the standard Bible for the Roman Catholic Church for hundreds of years. Saint Jerome is honored as one of the four great Doctors of the Western Church. His feast day is September 30.

Faith-Filled People

The writers of the Bible told the faith story of God’s people. You are a member of the People of God. You also have a faith story. In the space below, write a table of contents for a book that would show how God has acted in your life.

My Faith Story Table of ConTenTs

Activity

29

LITURGY CONNECTION

The Word of God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 104, states that in Sacred Scripture the Church finds nourishment and strength because Sacred Scripture is not a human word but the Word of God. Through Sacred Scripture, God the Father comes lovingly to meet his children and talk with them.

→ Read aloud the discussion question and ask volunteers to share their opinions about the ways in which the story of the Covenant are told.

ReinforcePair the students and have them quiz each other by giving facts about one of the four kinds of writings, or books, in the Old Testament; the partner must name the section of the text where that writing is found.

Connect→ Explain the activity.

→ Share an example from your own faith story.

→ When the class has completed the activity, ask volunteers to share one of their chapter titles.

PrayAsk for a volunteer to offer a one-sentence spontaneous prayer to God.

Key ConceptThe Bible tells the faith story of God’s people.

Student page 29 71

DISCOVERDAY 4

FAITH FOCUSWhat is the heart of the New Testament?

FAITH VOCABULARYGospel The Gospel is the Good News of God’s love revealed in the life, suffering, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ.

The New TestamentThe New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ is the Son of

God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Jesus is the new and everlasting Covenant. He reveals God and his love for us more fully than anyone else did or will ever do.

The Gospels

The four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the heart of the New Testament. Each Gospel shares in its own way the story and meaning of Jesus’ life, suffering and passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.

The Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the first years of the Church and the work of the Church in the world. Acts gives an account of the Apostles as they spread the Gospel throughout the world.

The Epistles and Letters

These twenty-one letters of Saint Paul the Apostle and other early Christian writers teach about Jesus and how Christians are to live. Longer, formal letters are called epistles.The Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation is the last book of the Bible. In it the Holy Spirit encourages Christians who are suffering to remain faithful to Jesus Christ.

How would you describe the New Testament?

What words and symbols would you use to describe each book of the New Testament? Tell a partner.

Activity

New Testament

The Gospels

The Acts of the Apostles

The Epistles and Letters

The Book of Revelation

30

72 Student page 30

PrayGather the students for prayer. Have them make the Sign of the Cross and then pray aloud,

“Jesus, teach us to depend on you. Amen.”

Teach→ Have the students read the Faith

Focus question silently.

→ Read aloud or paraphrase the introductory paragraph under the New Testament.

→ Divide the class into four new groups.

→ Assign one of the four types of New Testament writings to each group (Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Revelation).

→ Ask the students to read silently their sections to discover what each of these four kinds of writings in the New Testament tells us about Jesus and his followers.

→ Invite one person from each group to present what the group has learned to the class.

Reinforce→ Emphasize that the four Gospels

are the heart of the New Testament.

→ Distribute index cards and have the students create word cards for Gospel.

Connect→ Have the students think about

words and symbols they would use for Jesus Christ.

→ Invite volunteers to share their words and symbols with the group.

Key ConceptThe New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

Group Work. Fifth graders enjoy group work, and one type of group work is called cooperative learning. Fifth graders are able to work successfully in groups of three or four. Occasionally, you may want them to work with partners to stimulate creativity or to check each other’s understanding. In all group work, keep these four guiding principles in mind:

→ Always give clear instructions.

→ Set a time limit for the activity.

→ Choose a group leader to keep the group on track.

→ Have the group choose a note-taker who can report results back to the rest of the class.

TEACHING TIP

DECIDEDAY 4

GOD’S LIVING WORD

MY FAITH CHOICE

Pray, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with reverence as I listen to your holy Word. Help me live as a disciple of Jesus in my home, at school, and in my neighborhood. Amen.”

This week I will listen to and live God’s Word. I will

.

As you listen to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit helps you listen with reverence to what God says to you. His gift of knowledge helps you understand God’s Word. His gift of courage gives you strength to put God’s Word into practice and to live as a disciple of Jesus.

Design or a Web page using words and images to encourage others to live God’s Word.

GOD’S LIVING WORD

31

Student page 31 73

ReinforceShare with the students that the more we read and listen to the Bible, the more we become aware of God’s love for us and how to live as his children.

Respond→ Explain the activity and then have

them complete it. Option: You might distribute pieces of poster board and have the students work in small groups to complete this activity.

→ Ask the students to see if they can find a favorite Bible passage to include in the Web page. Model the activity using one of your favorite stories.

Choose→ Invite the students to complete

the My Faith Choice activity.

→ After a moment of prayerful reflection, have the young people write their choices on the lines provided and silently pray to the Holy Spirit for an increase in the virtue of reverence.

→ Encourage the students to put their choices into practice this week.

→ Have the students say the prayer at the bottom of the page together to end class.

THE TASKS OF CATECHESIS

Teaching to Pray. The Bible contains the inspired Word of God that speaks to our lives today. Explain to the class that it is not necessary to read the Bible in order, beginning with Genesis. Invite your fifth graders to begin reading from the Book of Psalms, which is a collection of song prayers, or from the Book of Proverbs, which offer practical advice. They might also read one of the Gospels from start to finish. Emphasize that they can read a short section every day and reflect on what God is saying to them on that day. Wherever they start, encourage them to pray about, not just read the passage. Encourage them to ask themselves what God is asking of them through this passage.

CONCLUDEDAY 5

TO HELP YOU REMEMBER

1. The Bible is the inspired written Word of God.

2. The Old Testament tells the story of the Covenant, or solemn agreement, that God entered into with his people.

3. The New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the new and everlasting Covenant.

Chapter Review

RecallMatch the faith terms in the left column with the descriptions in the right column.

Terms

_____ 1. inspiration

_____ 2. Sacred Scripture

_____ 3. Pentateuch

_____ 4. Gospels

_____ 5. canon of Scripture

Descriptions

a. the first five books of the Old Testament

b. the list of inspired books named by the Church and collected in the Bible

c. the first four books of the New Testament

d. the holy writings of God

e. the help that the Holy Spirit gave to the human writers of the Bible

ReflectWhat is one thing you are interested in learning more about from the Bible?

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

ShareWork with a partner to recall as many of the books found in the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible as you can.

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e

d

a

c

b

Journal Writing. Having the students write in journals to capture their reflections will help them assimilate what they are feeling and thinking. Give them time to write in their journals after the prayer of meditation. Encourage them to record their thoughts in their journals. Journal writing of this type can become another way of praying.

TEACHING TIP

74 Student page 32

PrayInvite the students to join you in praying the Our Father to begin class.

Recall→ Ask a volunteer to explain the

Bible and its two major parts.

→ Ask the class to check their answers by reading the To Help You Remember statements.

→ Present the Chapter Review matching activity to the students.

→ Read the first description to the students. Ask a volunteer to select the matching faith term.

ReflectGive students several minutes to respond to the Reflect question.

ShareAssign the students partners to work on the Share activity. After they have completed their work, ask the class to recall the books found in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

DISCOVER

CONCLUDEDAY 5

A Light for My PathPraying with the Bible is a form of meditation in which we spend quiet time with God. We read and reflect on his Word. We make decisions to live as disciples of Christ. Meditate on God’s Word using these steps.

1. Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Breathe slowly.

2. In your mind, picture yourself in a place where you can talk and listen to God.

3. Open your Bible and read John 8:12–16.

4. Take time to talk and listen to God. Say, “Your word, Lord, is a light for my path” (based on Psalm 119:105).

5. After a few quiet moments, ask the Holy Spirit, “What is your Word saying to me?” Share your thoughts with a classmate.

6. Silently make a faith decision to put God’s Word into action.

7. Conclude this prayer time with the following prayer together:

Leader: For revealing yourself to us in the Sacred Scriptures,

All: We thank you, Lord.

Leader: For showing us your love and calling us to be your people,

All: We thank you, Lord.

Leader: For sending us your Son, Jesus,

All: We thank you, Lord.

Leader: For sending us the Holy Spirit to help guide us.

All: We thank you, Lord.

33

TEACHING TIPFinding and Choosing Scripture Passages. Depending on their familiarity with the Bible, the young people may have difficulty finding and choosing a Scripture passage to use in a prayer of meditation. Here are some passages from the Gospels that you might suggest:

Matthew 5:13–16 (“The Similes of Salt and Light”)

Mark 4:35–41 (“The Calming of a Storm at Sea”)

Luke 13:18–19 (“The Parable of the Mustard Seed”)

John 10:1–14 (“The Good Shepherd”)

Student page 33 75

We Pray→ Explain that meditation is one of

several forms of prayer.

→ Have the students gather in the prayer center with their Bibles.

→ Ask the young people to be seated comfortably on chairs or on the floor.

→ Lead the class through each step of the meditation.

CONCLUDEDAY 5

Visit BeMyDisciples.com

→ Take time with the students to explore the many activities and resources available at Be My Disciples Web site.

→ Encourage them to join with their families to discover the many resources available at the Web site.

→ Invite each person to share the name of a favorite person in the Bible. Share with each other the stories about these people.

Our Spiritual JourneyThe prayer of meditation helps us reflect on God’s Word and ask him to help us understand its meaning for our lives. Such a conversation with God is vital as we live our lives of faith. In this chapter, your child prayed a form of meditation called lectio divina. Read and pray together this prayer on page 33 or as a family pray, “Your word, Lord, is a light for my path. Amen.”

Sharing God’s WordRead together 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and 2 Timothy 3:16–17. Emphasize that the Bible is God’s Word to us.

We Live as DisciplesThe Christian home and family is a school of discipleship. Choose one of the following activities to do as a family or design a similar activity of your own.

→ Talk with each other about how the Bible guides your family to live as disciples of Jesus. Discuss: How is the Bible a light for our path?

→ Choose a favorite Bible story. Find it in the Bible and read it together. Pray it as a prayer of meditation.

This Week . . .In Chapter 2, “The Word of God,” your child learned:

→ The Bible contains the holy writings that the Holy Spirit inspired God’s people to write.

→ The list of writings named by the Church is called the canon of Scripture.

→ The Old Testament tells the first part of the story of the Covenant that God made with his people.

→ The New Testament tells about the fulfillment of God’s promise in the new and everlasting Covenant of Jesus Christ.

→ The virtue of reverence helps us to have and to show a deep respect for both God and the Church.

For more about related teachings of the Church, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 50–133; and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pages 11–33.

With My Family

For more ideas on ways your family can live as disciples of Jesus, visit

BeMyDisciples.com34

The Family. A family is actually a most significant school of discipleship. Parents are the primary catechists of their children (NDC, 54C). Catholic schools and parishes assist, support, and guide parents in this important role. Encouraging parents to practice their faith everyday and to nurture the faith of their children is one of the main purposes of catechesis. Rather than seeing parents as an obstacle to their children’s faith, the parents and children together in the family unit are at the core of Christian discipleship. Partnering with parents is a more accurate role for teachers to play in children’s faith development. The With My Family feature is one tool in that effort.

PARTNERING WITH PARENTS

As you finish today’s lesson, reflect on the following question before moving on to the next chapter.

Which children work well together?

Before Moving On …

76 Student page 34

Preview→ Have the students carefully

tear out pages 33 and 34 along the perforation.

→ Encourage the students to share these pages with their families, and to complete the activities together.

→ If they did not complete the review activity on page 32 by the end of the session, emphasize that they can complete it with their families at home.

→ Point out the title and theme of the next lesson to the students.

77

Enriching the LessonUsing DramaPurpose Directions Materials

To reinforce the Scripture story, “The Calming of a Storm at Sea” (taught on page 65)

→ Discuss with the students ways they could dramatically retell the Scripture story—for example, turning the lights on and off for lightning, stamping feet for thunder, and other creative devices.

→ In small groups assign the different roles and have the children create a role-play to dramatize the story.

→ Invite the groups to present their dramatic presentations.

flashlights and other dramatic devices

Overcoming FearsPurpose Directions Materials

To reinforce that we trust in God during the “storms” in our lives. This Gospel story tells us we are not alone during those moments (taught on page 65)

→ Discuss with the students what fifth graders are afraid of and how their trust in God calms their fears.

→ In small groups, have the young people create scenarios of what they could say to help a younger child overcome a feeling of fear.

→ Have each group role-play its scenario and have the other members of the class discuss how trust in God helps to overcome the younger child’s fear.

none

Creating a Bible AppPurpose Directions Materials

To reinforce the new knowledge gained in this chapter about the Bible as the Word of God

→ Discuss the elements that a Bible app for a smartphone or touchpad computer would have (information about the Bible, about its authorship and authority, how to use it).

→ Divide the class into groups.

→ Invite them to draw a diagram or graphic organizer listing the elements that they intend to include in their app.

→ Invite them to design a colorful boxed illustration to advertise their app online.

→ Ask each group to share its work.

poster board for each group

crayons or markers

CHAPTER 3

78 Grade 5

BACKGROUND

One God in Three Divine PersonsThe mystery of the Holy Trinity is at the very heart of our faith. The mystery of one God in three Divine Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is a mystery so profound that we struggle for ways to express it.

Central Mystery of Faith and LifeIn the Revelation of himself, we meet the mystery of God the Father, the source of life and love. We meet Jesus Christ the Savior, the only Son of God, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us. We meet the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, the ever-present divine love.

The mystery of the Holy Trinity is at the center of the Church’s faith in God. It is the very foundation of Divine Revelation. No human has or ever will understand this mystery of mysteries, a truth about God we could never have known on our own. We only have come to know that God is Trinity because he has revealed it.

The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and life. God alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Catechism of the

Catholic Church 261).

That is the point that makes this mystery of faith so important. The mystery of the Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and life. We not only believe this truth about God, we also encounter it! God the Holy Trinity is part of our lives every moment of every day.

Encounters with the TrinityIn Baptism, we are claimed for Christ. We are joined to Jesus Christ and become adopted sons and daughters of God the Father. We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and are filled with grace. We are made holy and share in the very life of the Trinity.

In the Eucharist, our communion with the Trinity is deepened. We give honor and glory to the Father through, with, and in Christ, who is really and truly present with us, in unity with the Holy Spirit. In and through and with Christ, we share in the divine life and love.

Sharing in the grace of God, we live in the power of divine love. We live now in faith and hope. We now only have a glimpse of God and his love for us. In faith we believe in him and entrust ourselves, our whole lives to one God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Only after death, when our lives are forever changed, will we encounter God face-to-face in eternity and see what it really means to live in communion with the Holy Trinity.

The Holy Trinity

For ReflectionWhen I bless myself “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” what am I doing? What does my action signify?

How can I help the students understand what they are professing when they pray the Sign of the Cross?

79

Teacher PrayerHoly Spirit, guide me by your wisdom and support me by your power, for you are God, sharing the glory of the Father and the Son. Amen.

Teacher to TeacherThe Mystery of Who God IsWe spend a lifetime getting to know ourselves and those we love. Slowly and often cautiously we reveal our true selves to others. Such revelation is done with trust and from the desire to grow in friendship and intimacy with someone. God has revealed his true identity to us—an identity we could never have known without his revealing it. He is One God in Three Divine Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He has revealed his true identity out of his desire that we come to know and love him and live in communion and intimacy with him not for a few years but for eternity.

Expressing Faith in the TrinityMany ten- and eleven-year-olds are still concrete thinkers. Keep this in mind during this session on the Holy Trinity. For example, include prayers to the Father, and to his Son, Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit throughout the year. When presenting the Scripture passages, especially the Gospel account of the Annunciation and Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit, make reference to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You might remind the group of Saint Patrick’s use of the shamrock and works of Christian art to make this great mystery of faith more accessible to them.

The Church Teaches…“The Christian message is inherently Trinitarian because its source is the incarnate Word of the Father, Jesus Christ, who speaks to the world through his Holy Spirit” (National Directory for

Catechesis, 25B).

This is why the mystery of the Trinity is introduced early, helping the children to center themselves in a Trinitarian faith.

Further Reading and ReflectionFor more about related teachings of the Church, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 232–260; and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pages 49–63.

80 Grade 5

Lesson Planner To come to a better understanding of the mystery of the Holy TrinityGoal

Chapter 3 The Holy Trinity

To explore the mystery of faith

Pages 35–37

→ Proclaim and discuss Psalm 25:4-5 (Make known to me your ways, Lord).

→ Learn and discuss the story of Saint Augustine.

Disciple Power: Wonder and Awe

Activity: Answer questions about the legend of Saint Augustine.

Bible

Pencils

Crayons or markers, props

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 93 Role-playing the Story about Saint Augustine

To discover how the Church explains the mystery of the Holy Trinity

Pages 38–39

→ Learn about the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

Faith Vocabulary: Holy Trinity

Scripture: Go make disciples (Matthew 28:19).

Catholics Believe: Holy Water

Activity: Name ways to express faith in the Holy Trinity.

Pencils

Index cards

Crayons or markers

Poster board

Bible

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 93 Making Holy Trinity Posters

To discover what the Gospels tell us about who God is

Pages 40–41

→ Discover some of the Church’s teachings about Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Faith-Filled People: Saint John de Matha

Faith Vocabulary: Annunciation

Scripture: Jesus promises to send the Advocate (John 14:26).

Activity: Tell what the Bible teaches us about the Holy Trinity.

Pencils

Index cards

Bibles

To decide on a response to the lesson on the Holy Trinity

Pages 42–43

→ Explore the origins of the Nicene Creed

Activity: Write words to explain the Holy Trinity using the word Trinity.

Activity: Create a symbol to express what you know about the Holy Trinity.

My Faith Choice: Choose a way to profess my faith in the Holy Trinity.

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 93 Imagining the Council of Nicaea

Additional Activities Booklet: Activities 3a and 3b or see BeMyDisciples.com

To recall that we renew our faith when we profess the creed, and to pray a renewal of faith

Pages 44–46

→ REVIEW Review concepts: Recall, Reflect, and Share.

→ PRAY Renewal of Faith

→ Grade 5 Music CD

Bible, candle, cross for prayer space, pencils

Assessment Tools Booklet: Assessments 3a and 3b

Preview the With My Family page and the theme of the next chapter.

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

LESSON PART PROCESS MATERIALS and RESOURCES

DAY 1 EXPLORE

DAY 2 DISCOVER

DAY 3 DISCOVER

DAY 4 DECIDE

DAY 5 CONCLUDE

BeMyDisciples.com

Assign online Chapter Review at

EXPLOREDAY 1

What is an example of a mystery you might be able to solve by yourself ? What kind of mystery would you need the help of others to solve?

The words below are from the Old Testament Book of Psalms. In them, the writer longs to know more about God. Listen reverently to these words from the Bible.

Make known to me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. For you I wait all the long day. Psalm 25:4–5

What else do you know about who God is? What would you like to know?

The Holy Trinity

Looking AheadIn this chapter, the Holy Spirit invites you to →

EXPLORE how Saint Augustine learned about the mystery of God.

DISCOVER the Church’s teaching about the Holy Trinity.

DECIDE how to show love for the Holy Trinity.

CHAPTER

3

35

Student page 35 81

Pray→ Begin with the Sign of the Cross.

Ask the opening question and give the class time to think quietly before responding. Repeat the process with the second question.

→ Ask a volunteer to pray aloud Psalm 25:4–5.

→ Ask the closing question and invite responses.

→ End the prayer by praying the Sign of the Cross.

Reflect→ Ask the young people to study

the picture. Tell them it is a Celtic cross. Point out that the cross is part of the unbroken circle. Then ask volunteers to share what they think this tells us about God. (God’s love is constant and unending.)

→ Explain that God’s love, represented by the Cross, is always and forever, as represented by the circle.

Focus→ Ask volunteers to share some of

the people who have helped them learn about God.

→ Tell the young people they will learn more about the mystery of God in this chapter.

→ Ask volunteers to read aloud the Looking Ahead section at the top of the page.

Learning Through the Witness of the Catechist. The National Directory for Catechesis teaches: “For catechesis to be effective, catechists must be fully committed to Jesus Christ” (NDC 29E). As the class explores the mystery of the Holy Trinity in this chapter, recall with them that when we pray the Sign of the Cross, we renew and express our faith in the Holy Trinity. Be sure to emphasize with the students that this is your faith also. Reinforce the importance of praying the Sign of the Cross with reverence.

HUMAN METHODOLOGIES

EXPLOREDAY 1

Disciple Power Saint Augustine

When Jesus told the story of the Good Shepherd, many people at that time did not understand what he was teaching about God. Many Christians have tried to understand what Jesus meant when he said there is One God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one. John 10:27-30

One of those who tried to understand this mystery of faith was Saint Augustine. Did you know there is a famous story about Saint Augustine and his efforts to learn more about God? Whether it really happened is not as important as the underlying truth the legend teaches.

The LegendOne day Augustine was walking on the beach. The vast

ocean inspired him to think about God. As he was walking along, he met a young boy who was taking water from the sea with a small bucket. Augustine watched as the boy kept pouring the water, one bucket at a time, into a hole he had dug in the sand.

Wonder and Awe

This Gift of the Holy Spirit encourages us to respect and be in awe of God. The mystery of faith is something that can cause us to marvel, or stand in awe, at God’s great love.

36

DISCIPLE POWER

Wonder and Awe. Reflecting on the gift of wonder and awe renews our faith, deepens our beliefs, and helps us celebrate our love for God and for life itself. Discuss how Saint Augustine must have felt a sense of wonder and awe when he reflected on the great mystery of the Trinity. Early in his life he turned away from God and refused to be baptized. At the age of thirty-two, he experienced a conversion and was baptized. Saint Augustine was ordained a priest, then a bishop. He wrote the story of his struggle to find God and God’s great love in his book Confessions. He wrote, “You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is your power and your wisdom is without measure.” For more information on Saint Augustine of Hippo, go to the Saints Resource at BeMyDisciples.com.

82 Student page 36

Introduce→ Remind the class that although

we can never fully understand the mystery of God, we can grow in a deeper understanding of who God is with the help of other people.

→ Read the Disciple Power section and tell the students that the gift of wonder and awe helps us appreciate the mysteries of faith.

→ Point out the images on page 36 and talk with the students about what these tell us about our faith.

→ Ask for volunteers to each read one paragraph about the story of Saint Augustine aloud.

EXPLOREDAY 1

Augustine became very curious and asked, “Why do you keep pouring water into the hole?” The boy answered, “Isn’t it plain to see? I’m putting the ocean in the hole.”

Augustine began to laugh. “That’s impossible,” he told the boy. “The great sea is much too large for that small hole.” The boy looked up and said, “And God is too big for your little mind.” Suddenly, the boy disappeared.

Little by little, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can come to know more about the mystery of God the Holy Trinity in whose image we have been created.

How does this story help your faith in God grow?

Pretend you are a newspaper reporter. Answer the following questions about the story as an outline for an article in the newspaper.

Where does the legend take place?

Who are the two characters in the legend?

What is the boy doing?

What is the question that Augustine asks?

What was the little boy trying to teach?

Do you like the legend’s ending? Why or why not?

Activity

37

at a beach

Augustine and a boy

emptying a bucket of water into a hole

Why do you keep pouring water into the hole?

understanding God the Holy Trinity is a mystery

Symbols for the Trinity. Recall with the students that there are many symbols used for the Trinity. For example, Saint Patrick used the shamrock to teach the people of Ireland about the Holy Trinity. Other images include overlapping triangles or circles. A single, thick candle with three wicks also expresses the mystery of one God in three Divine Persons.

TEACHING TIP

Student page 37 83

→ Ask the young people what they think the child in the story is trying to tell Saint Augustine. Lead them to understand that this story is telling us something important about times when we think that we can understand God.

→ Give the students several minutes to answer the questions in the activity. Invite volunteers to share their answers.

ReinforceHave volunteers act out the story of Saint Augustine and the child. Invite another volunteer to state the point of the story. (We cannot fully understand the mystery of the Trinity. Little by little, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can come to a deeper understanding of and faith in the mystery of the Holy Trinity.)

ConnectHave the class discuss how the lesson that Saint Augustine learned helps them grow in their own faith.

PrayHave the students make the Sign of the Cross. Invite three students to share a one-sentence spontaneous prayer about how people cannot understand the mystery of God. Have the class respond:

“Amen”.

DISCOVERDAY 2

FAITH FOCUSWhat is the mystery of the Holy Trinity?

FAITH VOCABULARYHoly Trinity The central belief of the Christian faith; the mystery of One God in Three Divine Persons—God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

Activity

The Holy TrinityJesus told his disciples,

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.” matthew 28:19

The Church follows that command today. Every time the Church baptizes a person, we name the mystery of who God is. We baptize in the name of the One God who is the Holy Trinity. We baptize in the name of the

One God who is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the deepest and most central belief of the Christian faith. This is a truth about God we could have never known unless God revealed it to us.

Why do you think the Holy Trinity is the central belief of our Christian faith?

Check (√) the ways you express faith in the Holy Trinity. In the space name an additional way.

q Bless myself with the Sign of the Cross.

q Pray the creeds of the Church.

q Pray the Hail Mary.

38

The Sign of the Cross. We commonly make the Sign of the Cross as the opening and closing words and gestures to our prayers. However, it can be a prayer all by itself. Pray the Sign of the Cross often during your sessions as a profession of faith. It is a simple, yet powerful prayer. Encourage the students to pause during the day and pray it in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening.

LITURGY TIP

84 Student page 38

PrayQuiet the students. Pray aloud a prayer inspired by Saint Augustine:

“You are great, O Lord, your power and wisdom is without measure.” Have the students respond, “Amen.”

Teach→ Read aloud the Faith Focus

question and point out to the students that they will learn the answer to the question in this lesson.

→ Read aloud the Scripture passage to the class.

→ Have the students silently read the paragraph to learn about the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

→ Ask volunteers to share the most important concept in this paragraph. (The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the deepest and central belief of the Christian faith.)

→ Ask a volunteer to read aloud the definition for Holy Trinity in Faith Vocabulary.

→ Direct students’ attention to the activity. Give them several minutes to think of a way they commonly express their faith in the Trinity. (the Sign of the Cross; Accept any other reasonable answer, such as the traditional prayer the Glory Be.)

Key ConceptThe Holy Trinity is the central belief of the Catholic faith.

DISCOVER

DISCOVERDAY 2

Catholics BelieveHoly Water

Blessing ourselves with holy water and saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” is a sacramental of the Church. Each time we bless ourselves, we remember our Baptism and profess our faith in the Holy Trinity.

Complete the crossword puzzle below.Activity

The Old TestamentIn the Old Testament, we read the beginning of the story

of God’s Revelation of himself. God first revealed himself to Adam and Eve. Years later, God came to Abraham and Sarah and revealed that he alone is God. Abraham came to believe in and trust in one God. The descendants of Abraham and Sarah, the Israelites, shared through many generations their faith in the One True God.

Why do you think God wanted Abraham and the Israelites to know that he is the One, true God?

Across

2. the central belief of the Christian faith

6. man who trusted in God

7. Abraham’s descendants

Down

1. agreement between people and God

3. Three Persons in One God

4. Abraham’s wife

5. name of first man in Old Testament

8. name of first woman in Old Testament

1

2

3

4

5 6

7 8

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C

H O L Y T R I N I T Y

V

T E

R N S

I A A B R A H A M

N D N R

I S R A E L I T E S A

T M V H

Y E

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE

The Mystery of God. The mystery of God is unlike any other mystery. “[God] is infinitely above everything that we can understand and say” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 206). “Even when he reveals himself, God remains a mystery beyond words” (CCC 230). The truth is that God has made and continues to make himself known to us. He invites us to know and share in his love and goodness, to live in communion with him. “The God of our faith has . . . made himself known as ‘abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness’” (Exodus 34:6;

CCC 231).

Student page 39 85

→ Ask volunteers to read aloud the section The Old Testament.

→ Discuss what God revealed to Abraham and Sarah. (He alone is God.)

→ Read aloud the discussion question and allow the students sufficient time to share their ideas about why they think God wanted to reveal himself. Accept all appropriate responses.

→ Invite the students to complete the word puzzle. When everyone has finished, invite volunteers to share their answers.

Reinforce→ Ask volunteers to state what they

mean when they profess, “I believe in the Trinity.”

→ Distribute index cards and have the students create word cards for Holy Trinity.

→ Ask a volunteer to read Catholics Believe which explains how when we bless ourselves with holy water we profess our faith in the Holy Trinity.

ConnectHave each student work with a partner and list three things they have learned about God so far in this chapter.

PrayHave the students pray the Glory Be together. This prayer expresses our faith in Holy Trinity.

Key ConceptGod reveals himself in the Old Testament.

DISCOVERDAY 3

“The Annunciation,” St. Wilfrid’s Church, Burgess Hill, UK.

FAITH FOCUSWhat do the Gospels tell us about who God is?

FAITH VOCABULARYAnnunciation The announcement to the Virgin Mary by the angel Gabriel that God had chosen her to be the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Mary, the Mother of JesusMany centuries after God revealed himself to Abraham,

God invited the Virgin Mary to place her trust in him. God chose the Virgin Mary to be the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God and the Savior he promised to send. She became the Mother of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.

. . . he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man . . . nicene creed

This event, which is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, is known as the Annunciation. It gives us a glimpse into the mystery of the Holy Trinity. So special is Mary’s role in God’s plan that she was free from all sin, from the very first moment of her conception, and throughout her whole life. We call Mary’s birth the Immaculate Conception.

Jesus is true God and true man. The name Jesus means “God saves.” God sent his Only Begotten Son to save us from sin. Through Jesus, we can know God’s love.

Why is Mary’s role so important in God’s plan?

40

PrayGather the young people for prayer and have them quiet themselves. Invite them to pray the Our Father together since in the previous session they learned about how God the Father revealed himself.

Teach→ Read aloud the Faith Focus

question to get the students’ attention about the purpose of the lesson.

→ Invite a volunteer to read aloud the Faith Vocabulary word.

→ Ask volunteers to read aloud Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

→ Have the students pair off into partners and discuss why the Annunciation gives us a glimpse of the Trinity. Invite responses.

→ Read aloud the discussion question and encourage students to identify Mary’s role in God’s plan of Salvation. As the students are discussing the importance of Mary’s role, invite them to think of the titles for Jesus which may help them more fully understand this importance.

Key ConceptThe Gospels tell us about who God is.

True God and True Man. Jesus Christ is both divine and human. “[Jesus Christ] became truly man while remaining truly God. Jesus Christ is true God and true man. During the first centuries, the Church had to defend and clarify this truth of faith against the heresies that falsified it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 464). Refer to the information on The Nicene Creed in this guide on page 88.

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE

86 Student page 40

DISCOVER

DISCOVERDAY 3

Jesus ChristThroughout his life on Earth, Jesus, the Son of God, spoke

clearly of the Father and the Holy Spirit. On one occasion he told Philip the Apostle and the other disciples:

The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. John 14:26

Christians have come to believe and understand that Jesus was speaking of One God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Many years after his Ascension, or the return of the Risen and Glorified Jesus to his Father in Heaven, the Church named this central mystery of our faith the Holy Trinity.

What can we learn about the Holy Trinity from Mary and Jesus?

Saint John de Matha

John de Matha founded the Trinitarians. The prayer and work of the Trinitarians proclaim the mystery of the love of the Holy Trinity for humankind. Saint John de Matha’s feast day is February 8.

Faith-Filled People

What does the Bible teach us about each Person of the Holy Trinity?

Activity God the Father

God the Son

God the Holy Spirit

41

→ Read aloud to the students Jesus Promises an Advocate and slowly proclaim the Scripture verse.

→ Direct the students’ attention to the feature Faith-Filled People. Tell the students the story of Saint John de Matha. Invite any comments or responses to the story. Providing the students with the opportunity to share their responses helps them to understand the example of someone’s life.

Reinforce→ Explain that the Church gradually

came to understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

→ Have the students complete the activity with a partner. When they have finished, call on volunteers to share their work with the group.

→ Distribute index cards. Have the students create word cards for Annunciation.

Connect→ Ask volunteers to name other

people who can help them come to know more about the Holy Trinity.

→ Discuss with the class some ways they could express their belief in the Trinity this week.

PraySay a brief prayer to Saint John de Matha to be with the young people as they face challenges in their lives that make them feel oppressed or trapped.

Key ConceptThe Holy Spirit is the Advocate Jesus promised to send.

FAITH-FILLED PEOPLE

Saint John de Matha (1160–1213). John de Matha is traditionally represented in art with chains in his hands or at his feet. This symbolizes his ministry of freeing and caring for enslaved and imprisoned peoples in northern Africa and Spain. He and his followers begged in the streets for money to pay ransom to free slaves. On one occasion, when John was returning to Italy with one hundred and twenty Africans he had freed, his ship was overtaken by raiders who ripped the ship’s sails, leaving everyone to die at sea. John calmly encouraged everyone to use their clothes to repair the sails and the ship arrived safely in port. John de Matha was canonized in 1694. For more information on Saint John de Matha, go to the Saints Resource at BeMyDisciples.com.

Student page 41 87

DISCOVERDAY 4

FAITH FOCUSIn what ways do we profess the Church’s faith in the Holy Trinity?

The Nicene CreedUnder the guidance of the Holy Spirit, two early councils,

or official meetings of the Church called by the Pope, taught about the great mystery of the Holy Trinity. These were the Council of Nicaea in a.d. 325 and the Council of Constantinople in a.d. 381. The Creed, which we profess at Mass, comes from these two councils.

We can never fully understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity. When our lives on Earth are completed, we will live forever with God in Heaven. We will see God in a way we have never seen or known him before.

What is one way you can explain the belief in the Holy Trinity?

Use each letter in the word TRINITY to write seven words that tell something about the Trinity.

T

THREE PERSONS

I

N

I

T

Y

Activity

42

PrayHave the young people pray aloud the first part of the Nicene Creed found on page 368, ending just before the words “For our sake he was crucified. . . .”

Teach→ Ask a volunteer to read aloud the

Faith Focus question.

→ Read aloud to the class the first paragraph on the page.

→ Point out that it was almost three hundred years after Jesus died before the Church defined her teaching on the Holy Trinity.

→ Remind the class that in the Nicene Creed, we profess that we believe in “the life of the world to come.” All those who die in God’s grace and friendship will live forever in happiness with him and know him in a way we have never known him before.

ReinforceAsk a volunteer to reread Catholics Believe in the student text on page 39 and identify times we bless ourselves with holy water, such as when we enter or leave the church.

Connect→ Have the students brainstorm

words and phrases that describe the Holy Trinity.

→ Have the students complete the activity in groups and ask volunteers to share what they wrote.

Key ConceptThe Nicene Creed professes the Church’s faith in the Holy Trinity.

The Nicene Creed. Among the Church’s earliest professions of faith in Jesus was “Jesus is Lord.” In the first centuries of the Church, some Christians were falsely teaching that Jesus Christ was not true God and true man. Some falsely thought that Jesus was really God and only pretended to be a man; others thought the opposite. The Ecumenical Council of the Church held at Nicaea, in what is now Turkey, in a.d. 325 affirmed the apostolic teaching that Jesus Christ is true God and true man. This teaching and other apostolic teachings about the Trinity were further affirmed at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 and the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The Creed we pray at Mass is based on the teachings of these councils.

SACRED TRADITION

88 Student page 42

DECIDEDAY 4

THE MYSTERY OF GOD

You are becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. Disciples believe there is One God in Three Divine Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Little by little the Holy Spirit is helping you to believe this wonderful mystery of faith.

Pray, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with your gift of wonder and awe. Help me come to know, love, and serve you with my whole mind, heart, and soul. Amen.”

This week I will profess my faith in the Holy Trinity. I will

.

In the space, create a colorful symbol that expresses your understanding of what you have learned about the Holy Trinity.

MY FAITH CHOICE

43

ReinforceRemind the students that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit we continue to grow in our understanding that there is One God in Three Divine Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Respond→ Read the directions to the activity.

As an option, give the students art paper and markers so that you can display their work in the learning areas.

→ Have the students complete the activity and ask volunteers to share their work.

Choose→ Remind the students that using

the names of the persons of the Holy Trinity casually or in anger shows disrespect for the Holy Trinity.

→ Invite the young people to complete the My Faith Choice activity.

→ After a moment of prayerful reflection, have the young people write their decisions on the lines provided.

→ Encourage the students to put their decisions into practice this week.

→ Remind them to pray to the Holy Spirit for the Gift of Wonder and Awe.

Liturgical Education. Call attention to the fact that we honor the Holy Trinity at different points in the Eucharistic liturgy. Explain to the fifth graders that the Eucharistic Prayers at Mass conclude with a doxology, a prayer praising the Trinity. It is usually sung when the Body and Blood are raised for all to see. Invite the children to identify other times when we praise the Three Persons in One God at Mass. Help them to recognize that both the Gloria and the Nicene Creed honor the Persons of the Holy Trinity. Together, recite the Gloria.

TASKS OF CATECHESIS

Student page 43 89

CONCLUDEDAY 5

Share In small groups, list three important things that you learned about the Holy Trinity.

TO HELP YOU REMEMBER

1. The Holy Trinity is the central belief of the faith of the Church.

2. The mystery of the Trinity is most fully revealed in Jesus Christ.

3. We profess our belief in the Holy Trinity when we pray the Nicene Creed at Mass.

Chapter Review

RecallCircle whether each statement is true or false.

1. The Holy Spirit is the mystery of One God in Three Divine Persons.

True False

2. The Annunciation means that Mary was conceived free from all sin.

True False

3. Jesus spoke to his disciples about the Holy Spirit.

True False

4. The Book of Revelation is part of the Old Testament.

True False

5. The Advocate is a name for the Holy Spirit.

True False

ReflectExplain how the Holy Trinity is a mystery.

44

PrayBegin class by reminding the students of God’s presence with them. Slowly and reverently pray the Sign of the Cross together.

Recall→ Use the To Help You Remember

statements to reinforce the concepts. Read the first part of each sentence and allow volunteers to complete it.

→ Present the activity and have the students circle the correct answer.

→ Ask volunteers to share their answers.

Reflect→ Give the students time to respond

to the Reflect question and have volunteers share their answers.

Share→ Divide the class into small groups

to answer the Share question. Have a representative from each group share the group’s list with the rest of the class.

→ Conclude by asking:

— What is the most important thing you learned in this lesson?

— Why is it the most important? Self-assessment. Encourage the students to become aware of their own faith development by giving them the opportunity to engage in self-assessment. This can take many forms, such as journaling, sharing their responses to the lesson with a partner, giving artistic expression to their ideas through drawing, sculpture and music, or creating skits and role-plays. Taking the time to step back and assess their own responses and opinions is an important dimension to growing in faith.

TEACHING TIP

90 Student page 44

DISCOVER

CONCLUDEDAY 5

Renewal of FaithIn this creed, one of the oldest creeds in the Church, we profess faith in the Holy Trinity. Each year at Easter, people who are baptized renew their faith with these words. Let us renew our faith in God now.

Leader: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

All: I do.

Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

All: I do.

Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?

All: I do.

Leader: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

All: Amen.

rite of BaPtism for children, Profession of faith

45

We Pray→ Gather the students in the

prayer center.

→ Remind the students that at Easter we renew the faith we professed at Baptism.

→ Select a leader and have the students pray the Renewal of Faith. At the conclusion, prepare the leader to state clearly, “This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it.”

LITURGY CONNECTIONBaptismal Promises and Profession of Faith. The renewal of baptismal promises and the baptismal profession of faith is an ancient tradition in the Church. Today we continue this tradition on several occasions, for example, during the celebration of Confirmation and on Easter Sunday. In the early Church, the making of the baptismal promises was done dramatically. Those preparing for Baptism would stand in darkness, turn to the east, the source of light, and publicly renounce Satan and his works before the bishop.

Student page 45 91

CONCLUDEDAY 5

Visit BeMyDisciples.com

→ Take time with the students to explore the many activities and resources available at Be My Disciples Web site.

→ Encourage them to join with their families to discover the many resources available at the Web site.

For more ideas on ways your family can live as disciples of Jesus, visit

BeMyDisciples.com

→ This week when your family takes part in Sunday Mass be sure to bless yourself with holy water and pray the Sign of the Cross as you enter and leave the church.

Our Spiritual JourneyOur spiritual journey is marked by actions that express our faith in the Trinity. Almsgiving is one of those actions. When we give alms, or share our spiritual and material blessings with others, we profess our faith in God who is the source of all blessings. In this chapter, your child prayed a prayer renewing his or her baptismal profession of faith. Read and pray together as a family, this prayer which is found on page 45.

Sharing God’s WordRead together Matthew 28:16–20, the Gospel account of Jesus commissioning the disciples. Emphasize that we profess our faith in the Holy Trinity and remember our Baptism when we pray the Sign of the Cross.

We Live as Disciples The Christian home and family is a school of discipleship. Choose one of the following activities to do as a family or design a similar activity of your own.

→ The words of the Nicene Creed can be found on page 368 of this book. Make Nicene Creed puzzle pieces and assemble them with your child to help him or her memorize this important prayer of the Church.

This Week . . .In Chapter 3, “The Holy Trinity,” your child learned:

→ The Holy Trinity is the mystery of One God in Three Divine Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

→ The mystery of God the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith. It is a truth about God that we could never have known unless God revealed it.

→ God revealed this mystery over a long period of time.

→ We profess faith in the Trinity at Baptism.

→ Each time we pray the Nicene Creed at Mass, we renew and profess our faith in this great mystery.

→ The gift of wonder and awe encourages us to respect and be in awe of God.

For more about related teachings of the Church, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 232–260; and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pages 49–63.

With My Family

46

Before Moving On …As you finish today’s lesson, reflect on the following question before moving on to the next chapter.

What can I do to make sure everyone is involved in class activities?

Send an e-mail or note home to parents suggesting that they share what they can of their child’s Baptism. Or, simply mention to the students that they should ask their families about their Baptism. Some families may have saved the candle and white garment. Others might have photographs or video of the celebration. Encouraging families to recall and share memories of this celebration can reinforce to the children that they are part of the family of God and have already experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. If some students have not received the sacrament of Baptism, invite those students with their family to bring a religious symbol used in their home to share with the class.

PARTNERING WITH PARENTS

Preview→ Have the students carefully tear

out pages 45 and 46 along the perforation.

→ Encourage the students to share these pages with their families, and to complete the activities together.

→ If they did not complete the review activity on page 44 by the end of the session, emphasize that they can complete it with their families at home.

→ Point out the title and theme of the next lesson to the students.

92 Student page 46

93

Making Holy Trinity Posters

Imagining the Council of Nicaea

Role-playing the Story about Saint Augustine

Purpose Directions Materials

To reinforce that the Holy Trinity is the mystery of one God in three Divine Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (taught on page 38)

→ Divide the class into three groups and give each group a poster labeled “God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

→ Have the groups record everything they know the Church teaches about each of the Three Divine Persons in the Trinity.

→ Ask the young people to decorate their posters with a symbol for each Person of the Trinity.

→ Invite a student from each group to present and explain their poster to the larger group.

→ Display the posters around the room.

poster board

markers or crayons

Purpose Directions Materials

To reinforce that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, two early councils of the Church, Nicaea and Constantinople, taught about the great mystery of the Holy Trinity (taught on page 42)

→ Have the students work in small groups to imagine they are bishops at Nicaea discussing how they might explain that there is One God in Three Divine Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

→ Invite each group to share its responses.

→ Conclude the discussion by together reciting the Nicene Creed, found on page 368.

none

Enriching the Lesson

Purpose Directions Materials

To reinforce the students’ understanding of the main point of the legend of Saint Augustine and how, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can come to know the mystery of God the Holy Trinity (taught on page 36)

→ Discuss with the young people ways they have come to understand God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

→ With partners, have the students role-play the legend of Saint Augustine. Note: First graders have also learned a story about Saint Augustine. You might wish to collaborate with their classes to act out the stories for each other or for other classes.

→ Choose volunteer partners to present their role-plays and ask the other members of the class to share what they have learned.

Simple props for the role-play

For Reflection

CHAPTER 4

94 Grade 5

Which are my favorite images of God? What do they say to me about God?

What can I do to help the children appreciate that each one of them is an image of God?

BACKGROUND

The Presence of God Saint Kateri Tekawitha remarked that she often went into the woods because it was there that she felt God’s presence with her. Creation is the work of God, and he manifests himself and his love for us in his divine work of creation.

God the Father and CreatorGod is Creator of Heaven and Earth, as we boldly proclaim in the Apostles’ Creed. The awesome, wonderful, and almighty Creator of the universe, of all that is, seen and unseen, the One who created humanity in the divine image and likeness, has imprinted his image on creation. Through that creation he invites us to know and love him.

In the creation of the world and of man, God gave the first and universal witness to his almighty love and his wisdom, the first proclamation of the “plan of his loving goodness,” which finds its goal in the new creation in Christ (Catechism of the Catholic

Church 315 ).

After he created the whole world out of love, “God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good” (Genesis 1:31). Everything God created reveals his infinite goodness and love. This truth about creation is our hope for the future.

At the end of time, there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth in Christ (see Revelation 21:1). God’s plan of goodness, intended from the beginning of creation, will be restored in Christ and will give glory and honor to him forever.

Deliver Us from Evil!We struggle and groan in hope for the future. Not everyone is loving. Evil, sin, and death mar the goodness of the world. People suffer. Violence, disorder, and fear tear nations apart.

In and through all of this we live as people of faith, the People of God. We believe with all our hearts that God created a very good world. We believe in Jesus Christ. Through him we obtain the grace to unite our suffering and to live as adopted sons and daughters of God. In faith and hope we pray:

“Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are your ways, O king of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, or glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come

and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 15:3–4

Great Is the Lord

95

Teacher PrayerLoving Father, I praise and bless you always. May I grow in respect and love for all creation. Guide me to live faithfully in your image. Amen.

Teacher to TeacherAbba, FatherThe New Testament uses the word Abba three times to express both Jesus’ relationship (see Mark 14:36) and our relationship (see Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6) to God the Father. The essence of the relationship described by the word abba is the unconditional trust of a child in the unconditional love of the parent. Perhaps for us the image of young children running with open arms, with broad smiles on their faces, leaping into the arms of their parents, and crying out “Daddy” or “Mommy” gives us a glimpse of the affection of God the Father, our Father.

Addressing GodUse the word Abba in this session—and occasionally future sessions—when referring to God the Father. Perhaps saying “Abba” and not “Father” might help students stop and appreciate how much God loves them and desires them to love him. And when they hear that they are children of God, made in his image and likeness, the words might reach not only their minds but also their hearts.

The Church Teaches…“Human experiences provide the sensible signs that lead the person, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to a better understanding of the truths of the faith” (National Directory for Catechesis, 29A).

That is why every chapter begins by helping the students situate the lesson concepts in their own life experiences. In this chapter, the class will explore some of the attributes of God, attributes they have already come to know through study and prayer and living their faith each day. Furthermore every chapter includes a feature on how the children can grow virtuously as a disciple of Jesus.

Further Reading and ReflectionFor more about related teachings of the Church, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 199–227, 268–274, 279–412; and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pages 49–75.

Goal

To explore the blessing of God’s presence in creation

Pages 47–49

→ Proclaim and discuss Isaiah 64:7 (The clay and the potter).

→ Learn and discuss blessing prayers.

Disciple Power: Joy

Activity: Describe and write about blessings and sacramentals.

Bible

Pencils

Crayons or markers

small bowl of holy water

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 109 Making a Prayer Booklet

To discover God as our Father and Creator

Pages 50–51

→ Explore the attributes of God.

Faith Vocabulary: Attributes of God

Catholics Believe: The Mystery of God

Scripture: Attributes of God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Revelations 15:3; Isaiah 40:28; 6:3; 1 John 4:16; Psalm 33:4a; 99:3; Exodus 34:6).

Activity: Respond to Scripture passages.

Pencils

Crayons or markers

Index cards

Bible

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 109 Affirming One Another

To discover what it means to call God Father

Pages 52–53

→ Discover more about God the Father

Faith-Filled People: Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, also called Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus

Faith Vocabulary: Abba

Scripture: Our Father (Matthew 6:9); children of God (1 John 3:1); God will not forget us (Isaiah 49:15-19).

Activity: Decorate a name for God.

Pencils

Crayons or markers

To decide on a response to the lesson on who God is

Pages 54–55

→ Learn more about God as the Creator.

Faith Vocabulary: soul

Activity: Write or illustrate a movie scene talking about God.

My Faith Choice: Share a quality about God with others.

Enriching the Lesson: Teacher Guide, page 109 Catholic Social Teaching: Preserving God’s Gift of Water

Additional Activities Booklet: Activities 4a and 4b or see BeMyDisciples.com

To reflect on and pray a prayer of praise to God

Pages 56–58

→ REVIEW Review concepts: Recall, Reflect, and Share.

→ PRAY You Alone are God!

→ Grade 5 Music CD

Bible, candle, cross for prayer space, pencils

Assessment Tools Booklet: Assessments 4a and 4b

Preview the With My Family page and the theme of the next chapter.

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

LESSON PART PROCESS MATERIALS and RESOURCES

DAY 1 EXPLORE

DAY 2 DISCOVER

DAY 3 DISCOVER

DAY 4 DECIDE

DAY 5 CONCLUDE

96 Grade 5

Lesson Planner To explore the attributes of God that reveal to us who God is

Chapter 4 Great Is the Lord

BeMyDisciples.com

Assign online Chapter Review at

EXPLOREDAY 1

We use images to describe the qualities of people. For example, we might say, “She’s as fast as lightning.” What is an image you would use to describe yourself ?

The prophet Isaiah used many images to describe the relationship between God and his people. In this Scripture passage Isaiah affirms that we are created by God.

Yet, O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands. IsaIah 64:7

What other images from God’s creation tell us something about God’s goodness?

Great Is the Lord

Looking AheadIn this chapter, the Holy Spirit invites you to →

EXPLORE how the Church uses blessing prayers.

DISCOVER the attributes of God.

DECIDE how to make a quality of God known to others.

CHAPTER

4

47

Student page 47 97

Pray→ Gather the group and begin with

the Sign of the Cross. Say:

“Creator God, help us to remember your loving presence here with us today. Amen.”

Reflect→ Pose the opening question and ask

the students to silently reflect on their answer.

→ Ask a volunteer to read the Scripture verse.

→ Ask the young people what the images of the potter and clay tell them about their relationship to God. (We have been made lovingly by God; all our goodness comes from God.)

→ Tell the students that God’s creation tells us about his goodness.

→ Ask them to think of other images from creation that reveal something about God’s goodness.

→ Summarize by sharing with the young people that all of God’s creation tells something about him.

FocusRead the Looking Ahead points to share with the students what they will be discovering in this chapter.

Learning Through Human Experience. The National Directory for Catechesis states: “Catechesis links human experience to the revealed word of God, helping people ascribe Christian meaning to their own existence” (NDC 29A). Distribute construction paper, string, and long chenille strips (pipe cleaners) for the children to use to create mobiles honoring God. Have them choose and illustrate three of the attributes of God described in this chapter. Hang the finished mobiles in the hallway or classroom to help others come to know more about God. You may wish to conclude images from today’s lesson with this activity.

HUMAN METHODOLOGIES

EXPLOREDAY 1

Disciple Power Blessing Prayers

The Church celebrates her faith in God in many ways. When we pray, we place all our trust and confidence in God. We show that we know that he loves us and will always do what is best for us.

Blessing prayers are one of the five kinds of prayer of the Church. They remind us that God is always with us and blesses us with his love. When we pray a blessing, we are asking for God’s power and protection upon a person, a place, an object, or an activity.

Catholics use many blessing prayers. We pray grace before and after meals. Sometimes we ask a blessing before leaving home or going on a trip. We ask God to bless us at the conclusion of Mass. We ask God’s blessing on every newly married couple. Some families ask for a blessing when they move into a new home. Catholics also have religious objects such as medals blessed by a priest. All our blessings remind us that God is always with us, and this brings us a sense of great joy.

What blessing would you like to receive? Explain why.

Joy

Joy shows that we are cooperating with the grace of the Holy Spirit. We recognize that true happiness comes, not from money or possessions, but from knowing, trusting, and loving God. Joy is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

48

DISCIPLE POWER

Joy. Joy is one of the signs, or fruits, of living a life guided by the Holy Spirit. Ask the children to name someone they would describe as “joyful.” Ask them to suggest why the individual they named is filled with joy. Have the students work in small groups to come up with a list of things that give them joy—things that help them to know, trust, and love God. Ask them to identify one thing they can do to be a better sign of joy for others.

98 Student page 48

Introduce→ Remind the students that the Holy

Spirit helps us show our respect for creation. Point out that Catholics acknowledge God the Father and the Creator as the source of all our blessings.

→ Ask the class to silently read Blessing Prayers to learn more about blessings.

→ Invite the students to share experiences of being blessed. (These might include Baptism, receiving the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, grace before meals, blessings by their parents, and so on.)

→ Highlight Disciple Power and discuss with the students the meaning of the joy that comes from God.

→ Remind the class that God is always with us and blessing us with his love.

EXPLOREDAY 1

SacramentalsJust as blessings remind us that God is always with us,

there are certain objects, symbols, prayers, and gestures that are reminders too. The Church gives us these to strengthen our faith. We call these symbols, prayers, gestures, and objects sacramentals.

Some sacramentals are blessed objects that call our attention to God’s love and presence in our lives. For example, a rosary is a religious object that helps us to pray. Sacramentals help us become closer to God because when we use them, we make ourselves more aware of God’s presence in our lives.

We should always use sacramentals in a respectful and prayerful manner. There are many kinds of sacramentals. Here are two:

Holy Water. This is one of the most widely used sacramentals. It is a reminder of our Baptism. When we enter or leave church, we dip our right hand into the holy water font and bless ourselves by making the Sign of the Cross. Catholics also use holy water to bless their homes, farms, businesses, and even their cars and pets.

Blessed Ashes. On Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent, Catholics have their foreheads marked with blessed ashes. These ashes are a reminder of our need for repentance and contrition.

What are some reminders in your home of your family’s faith?

Name a sacramental. Then explain how it can help you focus on God’s love.

Sacramental:

How it helps you:

Activity

49

Student page 49 99

→ Ask volunteers to read aloud Sacramentals.

→ Read aloud the discussion question and engage the students in a conversation about the sacramentals they might have in their homes. As you talk with the class, list the sacramentals they identify on the board so they can see how many and what kind of sacramentals can be found.

Reinforce→ Give the students the opportunity

to think about how sacramentals remind them of God’s love and action in their lives. Have volunteers share their responses.

→ Ask volunteers to describe why blessing a person, place, or object is a sign of faith. (Affirm appropriate answers. It reminds us that God is always with us and blessing us with his love.)

Connect→ Have the students share what

praying a blessing prayer helps them remember.

→ Explain that blessings remind us to praise and thank God for all creation and the many ways God gifts us with his presence.

PrayPour the holy water in a small bowl. Have the students come forward one by one to dip their fingers in the holy water and make the Sign of the Cross.

Using Sacramentals. Young people may not be accustomed to the use of sacramentals. Their use is not as common in Catholic homes today as it used to be. For example, holy water fonts at the doorways of rooms, crucifixes on display, and the Rosary prayed together every evening or once a week were common. Display and use the sacramentals the Church has given us during your classes. Especially use the sacramentals that are used in the liturgical celebrations of the Church.

TEACHING TIP

DISCOVERDAY 2

FAITH FOCUSWho has God revealed himself to be?

FAITH VOCABULARYattributes of God Qualities of God that help us understand the mystery of God.

Attributes of GodTo help us understand who God has revealed himself to

be, the inspired writers of the Bible have used certain qualities to describe him. These qualities are called attributes of God. They help us get a glimpse into the mystery of God.

Here are a few of the attributes God has revealed about himself.

One God is One. There is only One God. No one and nothing is like him.

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Deuteronomy 6:4

Lord God revealed the name YHWH to describe himself. The writers of the Bible used the name Adonai, or Lord, in place of the divine and sacred name YHWH.

Almighty God is almighty. This means that God alone can do anything.

Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are your ways, O king of the nations. revelatIons 15:3

Eternal God is eternal. God always has been and always will be. God had no beginning and will have no end.

The Lord is the enternal God. IsaIah 40:28

How do the attributes of God help us understand who God has revealed himself to be?

50

Key ConceptThe attributes of God help us understand who he has revealed himself to be.

100 Student page 50

PrayHave a student read aloud Deuteronomy 6:4. Have the class respond, “Amen.”

Teach→ Read aloud the Faith Focus

question and remind the students they will learn the answer to this question during the lesson.

→ Summarize the first two paragraphs in your own words.

→ Have a volunteer read aloud the Faith Vocabulary.

→ Invite volunteers to read aloud the description of each attribute. As they read, write the attributes on the board.

Promoting Knowledge of the Faith. The more we learn about God the Father, the more we recognize that God is a mystery. We begin to realize how limited we are in our thinking. Just being aware of this is a step in the direction of understanding something of the mystery of who God is. Invite the children to think of images that might help them get a glimpse into the meaning of the mystery of God. Triangles, three intertwined circles, or a flower with words listing the attributes of God on the petals are just a few ideas to get fifth graders thinking.

TASKS OF CATECHESIS

DISCOVER

DISCOVERDAY 2

God is Holy, Love, and TruthHoly God is holy. The word holy means “without equal.” No one and no thing that God created is equal to him.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! IsaIah 6:3

Love God is love. God created and saved us to share in that love.

God is love. 1 John 4:16

Truth God is always faithful to his word. He always keeps his promises.

For the Lord’s word is true. Psalm 33:4a

Which is your favorite attribute of God? Why?

Read and think about these Scripture passages. Write what you think God is telling us about himself in each passage.

Thus the Lord passed before him and cried out, “The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity. exoDus 34:6

Let them praise your great and awesome name: holy is God! Psalm 99:3

Activity

Catholics BelieveThe Mystery of God

God is a mystery whom we will never be able to fully know. No matter how much we come to know about God, there will always be more to know.

51

Key ConceptGod reveals himself out of love for us.

Student page 51 101

TeachAfter the attributes of God have been read and the students have responded, have them complete the activity. When they have finished, ask volunteers to share their answers with the rest of the class.

Reinforce→ Have volunteers join in the game

What Attribute of God Am I Thinking Of ? Tell them to give clues until the class guesses the correct word.

→ Distribute index cards. Have the young people make word cards for attributes of God.

Connect→ Remind the class that although we

can never fully understand God, the attributes of God provide clues about who he has revealed himself to be.

→ Have the students share with a partner about an attribute that helps them come to believe in and trust God.

→ Invite volunteers to tell the class what their favorite attributes of God are, and why.

PrayAsk for two volunteers to select two of the Scripture verses found in the list of attributes and have them pray these aloud.

TEACHING TIP

Creating a Mural. The class can begin a week-long mural-making activity today. Divide the students into groups and give each a panel of butcher paper. They can illustrate their panels with words, symbols, and drawings that represent one of the attributes of God they learned about in today’s lesson. Later in the week, the students can add other concepts. The finished murals will make a nice display for your class prayer space.

DISCOVERDAY 3

FAITH FOCUSWhat does it mean to call God Father?

FAITH VOCABULARYAbba The name Jesus used for God the Father that reveals the love and trust that exist between Jesus, God the Son, and God the Father.

God the FatherGod has revealed himself most fully in Jesus Christ. Jesus

spoke about God in many ways. Most of all Jesus spoke about God the Father.

Jesus had a very special name for God the Father. He called God Abba, which means “dear Father” or even “Dad.” In Jesus’ time, when people used the name asbba, they showed how close they were to their father and how much they loved and trusted him. When Jesus called God Abba, he revealed how much he loved and trusted his Father.

Jesus invited his disciples to love and trust God the Father as he did. He said,

“This is how you are to pray: Our Father . . .” matthew 6:9

Jesus revealed that his Father is our Father, too. God the Father loves us and knows each of us by name. When we call God “Father,” we are saying that we are his children. We believe, trust, and love God as Abba, our Father.

How did God reveal himself most fully to us?

Jesus Teaching by the Seashore, by James J. Tissot

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Key ConceptGod the Father loves us and knows each of us by name.

102 Student page 52

PrayQuiet the class for prayer. Have the students begin with the Sign of the Cross and pray together the Our Father.

Teach→ Have the students read the Faith

Focus question to themselves.

→ Have the class silently read Abba Father and highlight important details.

→ Ask volunteers to share what they highlighted.

→ Select a student to read aloud the Faith Vocabulary word.

→ Ask volunteers to share what it means to call God Father. (Affirm appropriate responses, such as: When we call God Father, we are saying that we are all children of God, we believe, trust, and love him.)

→ Ask the discussion question and encourage the students to understand that Jesus’ closeness to God is revealed when he calls God Abba.

Intimacy of Our Relationship to the Father. We cannot understand the depth of the personal relationship between God the Father and his Son, Jesus. Yet through the Holy Spirit, we are invited into the intimacy of that relationship. Jesus reveals to us that God is his Father, and our Father. When we pray to the Father, we are one with him. It is a profound teaching of our faith that Jesus has invited us to call God Father. (See Catechism of the Catholic Church 2780–2781).

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE

DISCOVER

DISCOVERDAY 3

Activity

Communion of Saints panel inside Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, CA.

Children of GodWhen we call God our Father, we are saying that we are all

children of God. The Bible tells us:

See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. 1 John 3:1

As his children we share God’s love with all people everywhere. So close to us is God the Father that he knows and loves each one of us by name. The Bible tells us:

. . . Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name . . . IsaIah 49:15–16

God is our Father, our Abba. How happy we are that God has shared this truth about himself and about us.

What does it mean that God has revealed himself to be our Father?

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Thérèse of Lisieux was born in France in 1873. She lived a simple life of trusting God. Thérèse loved nature and often used nature to explain how God’s loving care is everywhere. This filled Thérèse’s heart with joy. The Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux on October 1.

Faith-Filled People

Write and decorate your favorite name for God. Use that name today to tell a partner about God. Use this name often in prayer.

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Key ConceptWe are all children of God.

Student page 53 103

Teach→ Ask volunteers to read aloud the

section Children of God.

→ Ask the discussion question and give the students sufficient time to offer their ideas. Emphasize that God cares for us like parents care for their children.

ReinforceDistribute index cards. Then invite the group to make word cards for Abba.

Connect→ Have the students complete the

activity on this page.

→ Remind them to pray their favorite name for God often and with reverence.

→ Share the story of Saint Thérèse in Faith-Filled People as an example of a Saint whose experience of her relationship with God brought her great joy.

→ Direct the students to read to themselves the feature Faith-Filled People. Add any additional information you wish the students to know, such as Thérèse of Lisieux is a Doctor of the Church and is one of the most popular Saints. Invite the students to work with a partner to find out more information using the Internet at BeMyDisciples.com.

FAITH-FILLED PEOPLE

Saint Thérèse of the Child of Jesus (1873–1897). Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who is also known as Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and Saint Thérèse, the Little Flower, is one of the Church’s most popular and extraordinary Saints. Her autobiography, Story of a Soul, is a spiritual classic. At the age of fifteen, Thérèse entered a convent, joining the same religious community, the Carmelites, as her two older sisters. Saint Thérèse’s life is an example of humility. She did little things for the love of God. Her smallest actions demonstrated the power of God’s love within our daily lives. For more information on Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus go to the Saints Resource at BeMyDisciples.com.

DISCOVERDAY 4

God the CreatorCreation shows the great glory of God. God created the

whole universe and all creatures, visible and invisible, out of nothing and without any help. Everyone and everything God created is good. In the Apostles’ Creed, we profess:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth . . .

God created people in his image and likeness. He created us with a physical body and a spiritual, immortal soul. Immortal means that the soul will never die.

The writers of the Bible gave the names Adam and Eve to the first humans. In the book of Psalms we read that God has crowned human beings with glory and honor (read Psalm 8:6). No matter the color of one’s skin, the lives we live, or the languages we speak, we all belong to one family—the family of God.

Original SinSadly, Adam and Eve were not satisfied with God’s plan

of goodness and holiness for them. They preferred their own way instead of God’s plan. Sin entered into the world, when they disobeyed God. The Church calls their decision to live apart from God’s plan, Original Sin. It is called Original Sin because it is the first sin and the beginning of all evil and sin in the world.

Original Sin hurts everyone and everything God created. Each person is born sharing in the effects

of Original Sin. Even with Original Sin, God continues to invite and help everyone to

share in his goodness and love. He sent Jesus, his only Son, to redeem us and

restore our friendship with God.

What can each person do to overcome the effects of Original Sin?

FAITH FOCUSHow does Original Sin effect all God’s creation?

FAITH VOCABULARYsoul The spiritual dimension of the human person that never dies, or is immortal.

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Key ConceptGod sent Jesus, his only Son,to redeem us from the effects of Original Sin.

104 Student page 54

PrayGather for prayer. Open the Bible to Psalm 89:12 and select a student to pray this Scripture verse aloud.

Teach→ Draw the students’ attention to the

Faith Focus question.

→ Ask a volunteer read aloud the Faith Vocabulary word.

→ Have volunteers read God the Creator.

→ Remind the students that everyone is created in God’s image and likeness. This means that God has shared with us his own goodness and ability to love.

→ Ask a volunteer to read the first paragraph of Original Sin.

Reinforce→ Write Original Sin on the board.

Ask volunteers to name words and phrases about Original Sin they learned from reading the text and write them on spokes around the term.

→ Read aloud the last paragraph to emphasize that Jesus redeemed us and restored us to friendship with God.

→ Have the students draw ways we show our respect for God’s creation.

ConnectAsk the closing question. (Accept all reasonable answers, such as: Pray for God’s help; think carefully about the effects of our actions.)

Care for God’s Creation. We show our respect for God the Creator by caring for all that he created. Care for creation is, in fact, a requirement of Christian faith. First of all, we are called by God to show care and respect for all people, since we are all created in his image. This is the foundation of our human dignity. We are to be stewards of the Earth as well. Christians must measure every choice by the impact it has on human life and on the environment.

Tips: Lead a discussion about pollution by having the children identify different forms of pollution. Encourage them to brainstorm ways that they can be more conscious of the environment through personal actions and decisions.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

DECIDEDAY 4

CREATING A MOVIEImagine you are a movie director. You are shooting a movie entitled “All About God.” In this space, illustrate or write about a scene in that movie.

MY FAITH CHOICE

Pray, “O God the Holy Spirit, you are the source of life. Help me to live with true happiness in you. Amen.”

This week I will share my faith in God by making known to others one attribute about him. I will show my joy by

.

Disciples of Jesus are people of joy. Your joy comes from your belief that God is always by your side. You show that you believe in and trust in God the Father, as Jesus did, in many ways. You can pray. You treat others and the world with respect and kindness.

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Student page 55 105

ReinforceShare with the young people that we show our belief and trust in God in many ways.

Respond→ Explain the directions for the

Creating a Movie activity.

→ Have each student work to plan a movie scene about God.

→ After the students have had enough time to develop and draw their scenes, have volunteers make presentations to the class.

→ As an option, students could work in groups for this activity.

Choose→ Invite the students to consider

My Faith Choice by writing their choices on the lines provided.

→ Encourage the students to put their decisions into practice this week and continue asking the Holy Spirit for an increase in the virtue of joy in their lives.

Bright Ideas. If you have a video camera, let the young people take turns taping themselves as they work on the activity and as they make their presentations. Having the students record their own creative process and viewing this later will reinforce their creativity, problem solving, and collaboration.

TEACHING TIP

CONCLUDEDAY 5

TO HELP YOU REMEMBER

1. One, almighty, holy, eternal, love, and truth are qualities about himself that God has revealed.

2. God is the Creator of everyone and everything, visible and invisible.

3. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and turned away from his goodness. This sin caused the beginning of all other sin in the world.

Chapter Review

RecallUnscramble the letters of the words in the word box. Then match the words with their meanings.

1. The qualities of God _____________________________________________________.

2. The spiritual dimension of the human person that never dies and lives forever

_____________________________________________________.

3. The sin committed by Adam and Eve

_____________________________________________________.

4. One of the five kinds of prayer

_____________________________________________________.

5. A word for God that means “without equal”

_____________________________________________________.

ReflectWhat do you think it means to try to overcome the effects of Original Sin? What can you do?

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

teribusatt luso naligori sni

gbslseni lohy

ShareWith a partner, discuss some of God’s attributes. How do the attributes of God help us to come to know and love God?

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attributes

soul

Original Sin

blessing

holy

Organizing the Activity. Provide the students with page numbers on which they can find the scrambled words in the Chapter Review activity. The word attributes can be found on page 50; soul and original sin can be found on page 54; blessing can be found on page 48; holy can be found on page 49. You can also highlight or underline the words on the page for children who have difficulty locating them.

Need: Children with spelling difficulties or visual processing disorder

SPECIAL NEEDS

106 Student page 56

PrayInvite the students to quiet themselves for prayer. Begin and end with the Sign of the Cross. Pray the Our Father together.

Recall→ Ask the students what they think

the three key faith concepts are in this chapter. Then invite them to check their answers with the To Help You Remember statements.

→ Introduce the scrambled letters review.

→ Ask for volunteers to share their answers.

ReflectGive the students time to respond to the Reflect question on their own and then to share their responses.

ShareAssign the students partners to answer Share questions.

DISCOVER

CONCLUDEDAY 5

Lord, You Alone Are God!In a prayer of praise, we address God with a title of his greatness. Praise God using this simple prayer of praise.

Leader: God, you are Abba.

All: Amen! You alone are God.

Leader: God, you are Most Holy.

All: Amen! You alone are God.

Leader: God, you are Love.

All: Amen! You alone are God.

Leader: God, you are One Lord, the Almighty One.

All: Amen! You alone are God.

Leader: God you are Eternal.

All: Amen! You alone are God.

Leader: God, you created the whole universe and all creatures.

All: Amen! You alone are God.

Leader: God, you created us in your image and likeness.

All: Amen! You alone are God.

Leader: God, our Father, you called us to be your children. You love us and hold us in the palm of your hand. Help us to trust you every day of our lives. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

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We Pray→ Have the students gather in the

prayer center.

→ Select four leaders for the prayer. Each leader reads two of the leader praises in the prayer.

→ If you want, distribute tambourines or other noisemakers so that as the young people pray the response they can make a joyful noise to celebrate that God is our Father and loves us.

→ Pray the prayer celebration together.

BLESSING PRAYERSClassroom Blessings. Asking God’s blessing on your students reminds them that they are created in God’s image and helps them recognize their goodness. At the end of your students’ school day, take the time to pause for prayer. Have the young people make the Sign of the Cross and bow their heads as you pray that the students and their family’s will be blessed by God and come to know his fatherly love and care for them.

Student page 57 107

CONCLUDEDAY 5

Visit BeMyDisciples.com

→ Take time with the students to explore the many activities and resources available at Be My Disciples Web site.

→ Encourage them to join with their families to discover the many resources available at the Web site.

With My Family→ This Sunday when you take

part in Mass, take time to look at the religious statues or artwork in your church. Talk about how these works of art help you honor and worship God.

Our Spiritual JourneyDid you ever notice that people who have very few material possessions, such as Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, are people of joy? This joy comes from the recognition that God is always blessing us with his presence. In this chapter your child prayed a prayer of praise. Read and pray together this prayer on page 57. Praise God for his presence within you.

Sharing God’s WordRead together and quietly think about the Scripture verses on pages 50 and 51 one at a time. Emphasize that as amazing as God is, Jesus taught us to call God a simple and familiar name, Father.

We Live as Disciples The Christian home and family is a school of discipleship. Choose one of the following activities to do as a family or design a similar activity of your own.

→ Choose one of the Scripture verses on pages 50–51. Make a banner using the verse. Display the banner where it can remind everyone how wonderful God is.

This Week . . .In Chapter 4, “Great Is the Lord,” your child learned:

→ The biblical writers used several qualities, or attributes, to describe God.

→ Jesus loved and trusted his Father, whom he addressed as Abba.

→ The story of God the Creator and the Fall of Adam and Eve reveal God’s great love for us.

→ Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

→ Joy is a sign that true happiness comes from knowing, trusting, and loving God.

For more about related teachings of the Church, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 199–227, 268–274, 279–412; and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pages 49–75.

For more ideas on ways your family can live as disciples of Jesus, visit

BeMyDisciples.com58

Before Moving On …

108 Student page 58

Preview→ Have the students carefully tear

out pages 57 and 58 along the perforation.

→ Encourage the students to share these pages with their families, and to complete the activities together.

→ If they did not complete the review activity on page 56 by the end of the session, emphasize that they can complete it with their families at home.

→ Point out the title and theme of the next lesson to the students.

PARTNERING WITH PARENTS

Supporting Parents as Catechists. Many parents do not feel comfortable in the role of primary catechist for their children. The With My Family page provides not only support but direction in assisting parents in this role. Remind parents to use this feature whenever you have the chance to communicate with them. Not only does the With My Family page keep parents up to date with what their child is learning, but also directly involves them to play active in the faith development of their child.

As you finish today’s lesson, reflect on the following question before moving on to the next chapter.

Am I allowing quiet time for the students to think about the concepts I am presenting?

Making a Prayer BookletPurpose Directions Materials

To reinforce that blessings are one of the ways the Church shows that we believe God the Creator is always with his creation (taught on page 48)

→ Brainstorm with the students God’s many gifts of creation.

→ Invite the students to begin to develop prayer booklets. Have them write blessing prayers in the booklets that thank God for one of the gifts of creation.

→ Have the students decorate their prayers and create covers for their booklets.

→ Collect the booklets and have the students add more prayers throughout the year.

→ As an option use a software program to create a Prayer Booklet on a classroom computer. Students can save their Prayer Booklet in their own file on the computer.

paper stapled together to create a booklet

pens or pencils

Enriching the Lesson

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Enriching the LessonAffirming One AnotherPurpose Directions Materials

To reinforce that God created people in his image and likeness and that we are all children of God (taught on page 53)

→ Brainstorm with the students positive ways to affirm one another and their friends to show they understand that we are all children of God.

→ In small groups, have the young people cut out pictures from magazines or newspaper or make their own drawings to illustrate situations in which they would use these affirming statements.

→ Use these affirming statements throughout your sessions.

art paper

magazines or newspapers

scissors and glue sticks

markers or crayons

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Catholic Social Teaching: Preserving God’s Gift of WaterPurpose Directions Materials

To reinforce the teaching that all of God’s creation is good (taught on page 54)

→ Invite the young people to explore this question: Why is water essential for life?

→ Discuss the ways in which humans both care for and pollute God’s gift of water.

→ Invite the students to research the effects of pollution on our water supply.

→ Ask them to work in groups. Have each group create a poster showing ways that they and their families can do a better job of protecting God’s gift of water.

→ Display their posters within the parish.

poster board for each group

crayons or markers

computers with Internet access for research (optional)

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

Reduce and ConserveThis reservoir is the main source of water for the nearby

town. A severe drought over the past five years has reduced the water level in the reservoir to dangerously low levels.

The situation is even more serious because no water conservation plan has been put into effect. Businesses and homes which rely on the water continue to use the same amounts of water that they used when the reservoir was full.

The drought has affected the ecosystem in the area, particularly the fish and animals who live downstream. The community must act responsibly and find ways to reduce water consumption.

WE CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION

God has given us this world and, with it, the responsibility to preserve its beauty and resources. Sometimes we can take the natural resources around us for granted. When we do, nature is harmed.

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Catholic Social Teaching—Unit 1

PrayRead Genesis 1:31 aloud to the class. Then pray Psalm 148:1–5 together.

Introduce→ Share with the class that

throughout the year they will be exploring some of the basic social teachings of the Church, that is, how we treat each other and the world. Point out the sidebar text. Invite a volunteer to read it aloud to the class.

→ Draw the students’ attention to the photos on the page. Ask them to describe what is going on with the reservoir. Talk about whether your community has ever experienced a drought. If so, discuss the measures the people in the community took to conserve water. As an option students could research community droughts and solutions online and report back to the class their findings.

Teach→ Invite the students to find out what

is going on with the reservoir in the picture.

→ Ask them to read the text to themselves. Invite volunteers to summarize in their own words what is going on with the reservoir. Ask and discuss, What effect has the drought had on the area around the reservoir?

→ Brainstorm ways the community might be able to conserve water.

110 Student page 59

Responsibility for the Environment. Chapter 10 of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (CSDC) speaks to the Church’s teaching on safeguarding the environment. It teaches: “Care for the environment represents a challenge for all of humanity.

It is a matter of a common and universal duty, that of respecting a common good.”1 . . . This perspective takes on a particular importance when one considers, in the context of the close relationships that bind the various parts of the ecosystem . . . which must be handled with a sense of responsibility and adequately protected, because it constitutes an extraordinary richness for all of humanity” (CSDC 466).

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

MAKING CONNECTIONS

What is one thing you can do at home to conserve water? How will this help preserve God’s creation?

.

Faith Action

with CREATIVE ARTSImagine that your family’s water supply comes from a well, but the well is not functioning. Make a list of the things that you are unable to do for one day as a result of having no water. Create a rap song that describes ways to conserve water at home. Use the phrase “Drip, Drip, Drip.”

with LANGUAGE ARTSLook at the pictures on the previous page. Imagine you are the water and write a paragraph describing what you see. In your paragraph give human attributes to the water. This is called personification. Let the water use all five senses when describing what is happening. For example, include descriptions of how water feels and what the water thinks about what is happening to it.

It is easy to take for granted God’s natural gifts, such as water. Humans and all of creation rely on water to live. Conserving water is one way we can take care of God’s creation.

with MATH AND SCIENCEMake a chart that compares the average daily water use now and when conserving. Chart daily water use tasks such as brushing teeth, watering the lawn, washing clothes, and showering. You may want to list other water use tasks on your chart as well. Begin by calculating how much water in gallons used for each activity. Next, calculate how much water in gallons you would save per day if you implemented water-conserving strategies. Then help the community in the story on page 59 understand how much water they can save.

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Catholic Social Teaching—Unit 1

ReinforceInvite a volunteer to read the text at the top of the student page. Have the students underline and explain the last sentence.

ConnectTell the students that they are going to explore the topic of water conservation by completing three different activities. Give them the option of picking which one they would like to do.

→ Language Arts: Explain the activity. Let the students work in teams to complete it. Invite the students to showcase their rap songs for the class.

→ Creative Arts: Write the word personification on the board. Ask the students to define what it means. (Representation of an object or thing as a person.) Read aloud and explain the activity.

→ Math and Science: Explain the activity. Tell the students they will have the chance to calculate their average use of water and to learn to conserve water.

Ask the two questions at the bottom of the page. Invite volunteers to share their thoughts with the class.

PrayConclude by praying the opening prayer again.

Student page 60 111

TEACHING TIPMe Teach Math? So math is not your thing. Or music, or language arts. Meet with your peers at school who are the experts in the areas where you do not feel proficient. If your students meet with another teacher for any of these subjects, share the activities with that teacher and suggest that they implement the activities with the class. This will speak volumes to the students about how faith is not just a topic for religion class.

A. Choose the Best WordFill in the blanks, using the words from the word bank.

Jesus Christ forty-six twenty-seven Mary attributes of God Faith

1. God revealed himself most fully in .

2. There are books in the Old Testament and

books in the New Testament.

3. God chose to be the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God.

4. The help us get a glimpse into the mystery of God.

5. is a supernatural gift and power that helps us respond to God’s invitation with all our heart, our mind, our soul, and our strength.

B. Show What You KnowMatch the words or phrases in Column A with the words or phrases in Column B.

Column A

1. Divine Revelation

2. Evangelists

3. Torah

4. The mystery of the Holy Trinity

5. Original Sin

Unit 1 Review Name

Column B

a. the first five books of Moses

b. wounded everyone and everything God created

c. the deepest and central belief of the Christian faith

d. God’s making known over time the mystery of God and the divine plan of creation and Salvation

e. the writers of the four Gospels

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3

5

4

1

2

Jesus Christ

forty-six

twenty-seven

Mary

Faith

attributes of God

Unit 1 Review

The Unit Review provides the opportunity to assess the students’ understanding of the faith concepts presented in the unit and to affirm them in their growing knowledge and love of God. Here are a few suggestions for using these pages.

→ Share with the children that the next two pages are an opportunity to stop and review what they have learned.

→ Provide time for the children to ask questions.

→ Have the students complete the review alone or with partners.

A. Choose the Best Word→ Read the directions for this section.

→ Then have the student work alone or with a partner to complete the section.

→ Invite volunteers to share their responses. Clarify and correct responses as needed.

B. Show What You Know→ Read the directions for this section.

Answer the first question together as a class.

→ Then have the students continue working alone or with a partner to complete the section.

→ Invite volunteers to share their responses. Clarify and correct responses as needed.

112 Student page 61

Assessing Learning. Throughout the year, use multiple forms of assessment at the end of each unit. Students learn and communicate their understanding in multiple ways. Some forms of communication, for example, writing paragraphs, work better for some students. Other forms of communication, for example, artwork and verbal responses, work better for others. Asking questions, observing small group interactions, and using different activities throughout the chapter will provide you with multiple ways of identifying the students’ understanding.

TEACHING TIP

C. Connect with ScriptureReread the Scripture passage on the Unit Opener page. What connection do you see between this passage and what you learned in this unit?

D. Be a Disciple1. Review the four pages in this unit titled The Church Follows Jesus.

What person or ministry of the Church on these pages will inspire you to be a better disciple of Jesus? Explain your answer.

2. Work with a group. Review the four Disciple Power virtues or gifts you have learned about in this unit. Write down your own ideas, first. Then share with the group practical ways that you will live these virtues or gifts day by day.

62

C. Connect with ScriptureThis section invites the students to reflect on the unique Scripture passages and stories of the Holy Trinity.

→ Provide time for each student to quickly recall and review the Scripture and stories from each of the four chapters.

→ Encourage them to use their Bible or other related resources used in class.

→ Have the students complete the review alone by writing their response to the directions.

→ Then invite volunteers to share their response with the class.

D. Be a DiscipleThis section provides the students with the opportunity to write or talk about what they have learned in the pages entitled The Church Follows Jesus.

→ Have the students complete the section. Then ask volunteers to share with the entire class one of their responses.

→ Invite them to return to the Unit Opener and observe for themselves how they have grown in building their faith knowledge.

→ You may also wish to have the students work with partners to quiz each other on key faith vocabulary terms or key concepts.

Student page 62 113

TEACHING TIPSensitivity to All Learners. As you complete this Unit Review, be sensitive to all types of learners. Those students with special learning needs as well as those who may be hesitant to share their ideas aloud in a group may need particular encouragement and support. Remember that this unit review is only one way to access the students’ understanding of the faith concepts as presented in this unit. Alternative assessments can be found online at BeMyDisciples.com.