Elizabeth McLaughlin Dianna Thompson

St. Laurence Catholic School

Sugar Land, Texas

Images of God: Old Testament Reflections, Curriculum and Sharing

for Middle School

Teacher: Christ, Our KingClass: Thy kingdom comeTeacher: Mary, most prudent, Mother of the ChurchClass: Pray for us.All: May the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of Christ, rest in peace.Teacher: And together we sayAll: Jesus, I trust in you!All make the Sign of the Cross

Opening Prayer and Attention Signal

II rejoiced when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”And now our feet are standing within your

gates, Jerusalem.Jerusalem, built as a city, walled about.Here the tribes have come,The tribes of the Lord.As it was decreed for Israel,To give thanks to the name of the Lord.Here are the thrones of justice,The thrones of the house of David.

Psalm 122:A Pilgrim’s Prayer for Jerusalem

For the peace of Jerusalem pray;“May those who love you prosper!May peace be within your ramparts,Prosperity within your towers.”

(all)For family and friends I say,“May peace be yours.”For the house of the Lord, our God, I

pray,May blessings be yours.”

II.

Tradition and the MagisteriumBiblical LiteracyCovenantSalvation HistoryTypes of Christ and Types of MarySacramental RootsSocial JusticeNew Testament Connections

Themes for Middle School Old Testament Study

Biblical LiteracyDei Verbum- The Dogmatic Constitution

on Divine RevelationTwin Pillars-Sacred Scripture and Sacred

TraditionDivine Inspiration and Oral TraditionLanguages-Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek,

Latin, EnglishLiterary formsHistory and Organization of the Canon

Yahwist- The Creator is called Lord God, translated as YHWH. This source focuses on the relationship of God and man.

Priestly- The Creator is called El Shaddai, and this sources focuses on the Law, genealogies, and rituals.

Elohist- The Creator is called Elohim, and this source focuses on the grandeur and omnipotence of God.

Deuteronomic/Redactor-Thought to have been composed during the Exile, this source recapitulates the teachings and traditions of Moses.

Documentary Source Hypothesis of the Pentateuch

A covenant is :An act of love between God and manWords or deeds of promiseSealed with a sign

Approach: Covenant andSalvation History

Primeval HistoryPatriarchsExodusWilderness Experience and the Conquest of

CanaanThe JudgesThe Kingdoms, the division and the ExileProphetsWisdom Literature

Salvation History

“Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,and with all your soul,and with all your strength.”

The Shema: Deuteronomy 6:4-5

AdamAbelMelchizedekIsaacJosephMosesJoshuaSamuelDavid

Types of Christ

"Death through Eve, life through Mary.“St. Jerome

Genesis 3:15- Proto-Evangelium

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, while you strike at his heel." Genesis 3:15

This passage has a prophetic sense and establishes the trajectory of salvation history with fulfillment in and through Jesus Christ.

SarahRebekahRachelMiriamRahabDeborahRuthHannahJudithEsther

Types of Mary

The Fall and Original Sin

Genesis 3

The Great FloodGenesis 6-9

Crossing the Red Sea

The Exodus

Crossing the Jordan and the Conquest of

CanaanJoshua

Baptism

Sacramental Roots

Jacob and EsauGenesis 33

Joseph and his Brothers

Genesis 42-45

David’s Repentance2 Samuel 11-12

The Prophetic Calls to Repent and Return

to Faithfulness

Reconciliation

Sacramental Roots

Covenant

Patriarchs and

Matriarchs

Marriage

Ruth

Sacramental Roots

KingsAnointing-

Beloved Sons

Messianic Prophecie

s

Sacramental Roots- Confirmation and Anointing

Priest, Prophet and King

MelchizedekGenesis 14

Sacrifice of Isaac

Genesis 22

PassoverExodus 12

MannaExodus 16

Eucharist

Sacramental Roots

• Famine-Joseph• Hospitality-

Abraham, Rahab

Corporal

Works

• Just War Tradition-Joshua, Judges, and Kings

• Social Sin• Babel, Sodom • Idol worship

Justice

Social Justice

Hope Bags for the HomelessGrounds Beautification Rosary and Chaplet MakingPrayer Bandannas for MarinesToiletry/Personal supplies for Teen

ShelterFirst Communion Letters and Sharing

Service projects

Compare/contrast Passover and Holy MassSignificant numbers-40 day flood, 12 tribes, 7

days of CreationOld Testament Covenant and Law/ New

Covenant and Jesus’ Law of LoveMessianic Prophecies and Suffering Servant

Cycle of ReadingsDaily Psalm- Exile and Restoration/Jesus’

death and ResurrectionInfancy Narratives- Advent comparison of

Matthew and Luke, Hanukkah story in Maccabees

Litany of Loreto

New Testament Connections

Rubrics and instructions for these projects can be found on the website:CollagesGood Deed BeadsCoat-of –ArmsSaints Candles/ PostersO Antiphons Booklet or Jesse TreeStained Glass Prayer WindowsPatriarch’s Cartoon10 Plagues or 10 Commandments Booklets10 Plagues DioramasOriginal Illuminated Psalms

Projects

Women of the Old Testament BookletKings and Prophets BookletFirst Communion Cards- reflection

lettersVenn diagrams- Creation 1&2, Passover &

MassMaps of the Middle EastFamily tree of AbrahamScripture search worksheets-from the

textbook

Projects

Creation Prayer Service- from textbook- we read parts of the Genesis account, offer petitions, pray St. Francis’ Canticle, watch video- Word of God Speak (YouTube)

Reconciliation Prayer Service-from textbook, scripture, petitions, prayer, Examination of Conscience

10 Commandments SkitsRosary/ Divine Mercy Chaplet / AdorationStations of the CrossInvestiture of the Brown ScapularGuided Meditations- A Walk with Jesus, The

Resurrection Appearance at the Sea of GalileeCatechism searches and discussionSaints Family quarterly meetings

Activities

Growing in LoveVirtuesBeatitudes, Commandments, and

Corporal WorksSanctity of Human Life, Church teaching

Moral Development

Theme-Sharing the Light of Christ, AdventIce breaker- Let Your Light Shine Chair game Scripture Unscramble, Craft- votive candleCircle of Light Prayer and sharingGuided MeditationStory- The Three QuestionsEnergizers- knots, jelly roll, red light/green

lightMassBus transportation, snack, sack lunches

Retreat- 1 day- Off-site

SmartBoard files- examples as PDF on website

Student research-Coat-of-Arms Project, Saints Candles, Women of the O.T., Kings and Prophets, Sacrament Research Projects- menu and rubric on website

Nest Videos- Abraham, Ruth, Joseph, Resources for Catholic Educatorshttp://www.silk.net/RelEd/011299plan.htm

Multimedia

Website: Elizabeth McLaughlinemclaughlin@stlaurence.orgDianna Thompsondthompson@stlaurence.org

St. Laurence Catholic School2630 Austin ParkwaySugar Land, Texas 77479281-980-0500Permission is granted to copy and reproduce classroom pages for student use only.

Contact Information

The Lord said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites.”Say to them:

“The Lord bless and keep you!The Lord let his face shine upon you,and be gracious to you!The Lord look upon you kindlyand give you peace!”

www.blessingforamerica.com

So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites and I will bless them.

Closing Prayer: The Priestly BlessingNumbers 6: 24-26