OBJECTIVES AND HOMEWORK - Week 12 - January 9-10

SAC PREP ONE - Christmas

• The catechist will see how familiar students are with the Christmas story.
• Children will have practice relating parts of the Christmas story and using the vocabulary (stable, manger, Bethlehem, etc.).
• Children will have the opportunity to discern secular symbols of the holiday from religious symbols.

HOMEWORK: Do pages 64-65 in the textbook. Do the worksheet with someone at home.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION - The Sacrament of Reconciliation

• Children will practice evaluating whether actions are sins, accidents or temptations.
• The idea of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be introduced.
• Other terms for the sacrament will be presented - Confession, Penance, along with the concept of absolution (and the word "absolve")

Homework: Parents – Do the Steps to Peace activity with your children. Suggested answers are provided for you! Help your child work on memorizing the Act of Contrition.

GRADE THREE - Purity, Honesty, Truth

• Students will learn that our bodies are holy, temples of the Holy Spirit
• Students will learn that the 6th and 9th commandments tell us to respect our bodies and those of others in thought and deed
• Students will learn that we must respect the belongings of others (the 7th and 10th Commandments) in thought and deed
• Students will learn that they must respect the truth (the 8th Commandment)

HOMEWORK: With your parents, read over Chapter 12 in the text.

GRADE FOUR: Abraham

• Students will review the story of Abraham
• Students will put together a short play of the story.
• Students will recognize that a covenant has two parts - God's part and our part.
• Students will further explore the concept of "types" or "figures".

HOMEWORK have your parents help you complete the “God’s Gift: Free Will” worksheet. Use the story in the textbook to help you.

GRADE FIVE - The Introductory Rites

• Students will recognize that Love is at the center of the celebration of Eucharist.
• Students will become familiar with the Introductory Rites..

HOMEWORK: Complete page 46 in the text.

GRADE SIX - Abraham and Isaac

• Students will re-familiarize themselves with the story of Abraham and his sacrifice of his son Isaac.
• Students will understand that Abraham sacrificed his will, which is what God wants each of us to do.
• Students will explore how they could sacrifice their own will.
• Students will become familiar with St. Edith Stein

HOMEWORK: Read the story of Abraham and Isaac in the Bible. Genesis 22: 1-18
Read through the scenarios in Master 21 and think what the loving thing would be to do – and how that would be a sacrifice of will.

GRADE SEVEN - The Kingdom of God

• Students will know that Jesus’ public life began when he was around 30 years old, that until that time he lived a hidden life as a carpenter in Nazareth.
• Students will know that Jesus was tempted in the desert.
• Students will know that Jesus had many apostles and twelve disciples.
• Students will be able to explain what a parable is.
• Students will know that Jesus taught by telling parables.
• Students will become familiar with a number of parables.

HOMEWORK: Look at Questions 66-70 on page 65. Be prepared to describe the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, mentioning His baptism, the calling of disciples, and his preaching. Be able to do this in the form of a little speech without notes. (One minute or less should do it!)

GRADE EIGHT - Jesus Teaches and Heals, Part 2

• Students will re-familiarize themselves with the variety of Jesus’ miracles.
• Students will have an opportunity to watch a video about some miracles in the early Church
• Students will understand that it is the message behind the miracles that is most important for us to consider.

HOMEWORK: Look in the Book of Acts and find at least one more miracle about which you
can tell the class next week.