This unit sets aside time for the children to celebrate their growth this year and realize that they can show their love for God, themselves, others, and Jesus. The feeling that pervades this unit is one of joy - joy that you and your child have experienced so much together, joy that your child has grown and changed, joy that the message of God's love has been heard and celebrated. See Family Time for additional background and family activities. English Spanish Chapter 19 |  Chapter 20 |  Chapter 21
		God Loves Us Learning Goals This chapter will help your child • deepen an appreciation of God's everlasting love for us. • understand that we become children of God at Baptism. • understand that God loves and cares for everyone. • learn to take care of God's natural gifts. • celebrate God's gift of nature. Background This chapter begins with a lesson on readiness for the idea of eternity - God loves us forever. It also introduces Baptism - the sacrament by which God claims us as friends of Jesus - from God's viewpoint forever. Those who are baptized share God's gifts of nature with all. Finally, the baptized help preserve God's gifts. About Your Child As you look over this chapter, consider all that your child has learned this year. Consider both the big things and the small things! Your child has grown physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Help your child use this growth to praise God and to show love for God. Back to top
		We love Jesus Learning Goals This chapter will help your child • realize that Jesus is God's Son and tell stories about Jesus. • plan a Bible dramatization about how Jesus showed God's love. • plan for a play about the wedding feast at Cana. • practice for the play. • celebrate God's love with friends and family. Background This chapter helps children appreciate Jesus and his storytelling. It shows how to celebrate God's love just as Jesus did. The children hear about the wedding feast at Cana, where Jesus once again responded to the needs of others and showed them the love God has for everyone. With this chapter, the children realize anew that they praise God and show God's love when they tell and act out stories that bring happiness to other people. About Your Child In this unit, your child has met Jesus, a person who realizes the needs of everyone. Jesus' compassion, kindness, and common sense mixed with imagination engender in your child feelings of security, of being with someone who cares for him or her. Jesus' message of love builds this security because your child needs to hear, again and again, of God's love. Back to top
		We Love Others Learning Goals This chapter will help your child • discover that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, loved others. • begin to learn the Hail Mary. • learn a Mary crowning song. • pray the Hail Mary. • celebrate Mary by participating in a Mary crowning. Background At the end of this school year, this chapter offers an opportunity to thank God for the children's growth and to rejoice in all they have learned about themselves and others during the year. In this chapter the children celebrate their growth during the year. They make friendship necklaces and can participate in a "praise parade". They discover how Mary loved others. They learn the first part of the Hail Mary, which is composed of words spoken by the angel Gabriel and Mary's cousin Elizabeth. They prepare for and participate in a Mary crowning while learning the second part of the Hail Mary. About Your Child Your child's growth through this year praises the God who bestowed the gifts of talents, feelings, senses, families, friends, and neighbors. You have watched your child's skills and friendships develop and grow. You have seen how your child's body expresses feelings. You have watched your child gain friends and delight in the wonder of friendship. Back to top