In this unit, the children will take pride in their ability to respond to others. The concepts for this unit lay the foundation for Unit 4 in which the children will see how Jesus responded with loving care to the people in his world. See Family Time for additional background and family activities. English Spanish Chapter 8 |  Chapter 9 |  Chapter 10 |  Chapter 11
		God Gives Me a Family Learning Goals This chapter will help your child • appreciate the family that God has given him or her. • appreciate that a family takes care of and shares God's love. • realize ways to give thanks to one's family for being loved. • become aware of ways to be of help to the family. • celebrate the love shared in families. Background Children take pride in their ability to respond to others. They learn that there are many types of family units; two-parent, one-parent, blended and extended. They are trying new ways of expressing emotions. It is in their families that children will first test these new behaviors. About Your Child Help your child to understand that love comes in many forms and many shapes. Talk with your child to recognize the family and parish as safe communities where adults and children support one another and share good times. Back to top
		God Gives Me Friends Learning Goals This chapter will help your child • appreciate the friends God has given each person. • realize that God wants us to be friends with each other. • understand that friends help and thank each other. • make friends and cooperate with each other. • celebrate the love shared with friends. Background The New Testament tells us the disciples were special friends of Jesus. In the last discourse of John's Gospel, Jesus says, "I call you friends, since I have made known to you all that I heard from my Father." (based on John 15:15) With his friends, Jesus shared his adult life. He chuckled at their jokes; he shed tears over their mistakes; he was close to them and liked to be with them. About Your Child A child's world swirls with new friends, with quarrels, and with making up. You are often able to see your child confide in friends, play with them, quarrel with them, and help them. But sometimes, you may miss the signs that your child has had a disagreement with a friend. Try to find time each day to talk with your child about how the day has gone. Watch for body language as well as words to determine if something is bothering your child. Like you, your child needs friends to help grow into a mature and self-confident adult. Back to top
		God Gives Me Teachers Learning Goals This chapter will help your child • appreciate all the teachers God has given your child. • appreciate that family members teach each other new things. • realize that your child can teach, too. • express thanks to teachers. • celebrate the love shared with teachers. Background Through his words and actions, Jesus taught the Good News of God's unconditional love. He taught both his disciples and the crowds of people who flocked to him. He used parables and examples to proclaim the Good News! We all have many teachers. Each day the teachers in our lives share new things with us, and we can pass what we learn on to others. Teachers have helped us learn to walk, talk, dance, sing, solve math problems, write a paragraph, look up information in reference books, drive a car, operate a computer, clean, shop, and bake. The list of things others have taught us is endless. About Your Child This chapter celebrates all the teachers who have introduced new skills and learning to your child. Your child is encouraged to appreciate his or her own ability to teach others. Children take great pride in showing through their actions that they are growing up. One of their favorite sentences is "It's easy!" They use this phrase often after they have learned something. They may demonstrate their learning to someone else. Because of a teacher, an action has become easy. Many times your child may teach a younger sibling, friend, or cousin something new he or she just learned. Like Jesus, you invite your child, through your patience, love, tolerance, genuine interest, and laughter, to accept the love of a gracious God who calls us all to growth. Back to top
		God Gives Me Neighbors Learning Goals This chapter will help your child • appreciate the neighbors and community members God gives us. • realize that neighbors show God's love. • understand who neighbors and community members are. • learn how neighbors and community helpers show God's love. • discover how to be a good neighbor and show God's love. Background Your child's world is expanding daily. He or she is continually experiencing new things and meeting new people. This chapter introduces many people who give help to others and show God's love. Throughout the chapter there is discussion about neighborhood and community helpers. There may be a gas station attendant who greets children in a friendly way, the crossing guard who helps them cross the street, or the bus driver who takes them to and from school. These and many other people touch children's lives almost daily. About Your Child Your child can learn how to be a good neighbor, how to extend God's love to other people. Your child is beginning to mature in the understanding that he or she can show love and concern for others. Help your child build a strong foundation to learn more about Jesus and how he proclaimed through his words and actions the Good News of God's irrevocable love. Back to top