Unit Activities & Answer Key   Unit Resources  

 

Unit 3 is based on the realization that God gives children many people to love - families, friends, teachers, neighbors, and community members. BLEST ARE WE CD K "Did You Ever See...," track 15, 16 "Oh, I Can Help My Family," track 12 "Thank You, God, for Family," track 17, 18 "I Have Friends Both Far and Near," track 19, 20 "Oh, My Teachers," track 21, 22 "I'm Learning How to Dance," track 2 "The Helper in the Store," track 8 God Gives Me a Family Children appreciate that God has given them families to take care of and love them. They realize they can thank and help their families. Children celebrate the love they share in families. God Gives Me Friends Children appreciate the friends God has given them. They understand that God wants them to help and thank each other and to cooperate with one another. They celebrate the love they share with friends. God Gives Me Teachers Children appreciate all the teachers God has given them and give thanks for them. They realize that family members can teach each other. They celebrate the love they share with their teachers. God Gives Me Neighbors Children appreciate the neighbors and community members God has given them. They learn how neighbors and community members show God's love. They celebrate ways neighbors can show love. Take Home Storybook Wanda Wondered Why The storybook for this unit shows children how people outside their immediate family can help them. The parent letter affirms that it is parents who provide the most consistent and supportive love necessary for growth and development.

"They shall be my people and I will be their God. One heart and one way I will give them, that they may fear me always, to their own good and that of their children after them."

—Jeremiah 32:38-39

Call to Family, Community and Participation - Catholic Social Teaching
As catechists and teachers you are valuable members of your faith community. You guide parents in educating their children in our Catholic faith. You are an important role model for other members of the community as well. You provide an interconnectedness between families.

Another important form of connection is through the extended family. Not all families are near their own extended families. For those who are, encourage parents to include them in parish liturgies. Intergenerational activities help bring together not only extended families but also elderly parishioners who may not have family in the area and young families without grandparents nearby.

Liturgies, shared meals, yard sales, and food collections are but a few of the ways to bring people of all ages together. Praying and working together models the true blessings of parish family life. Living as a community opens people up to all types of faith enhancing experiences.

On a day-to-day basis, it's important to keep in mind that elderly parishioners can use assistance as much as parents of young children. Both benefit from help, just in different ways. Elders may need transportation getting to appointments or shopping. Young parents may need baby-sitters so that they can get to appointments or go shopping.

•  Have I set aside family time within my own family circle?
•  Do I remember my status as a role-model when I'm away from church - at supermarkets, sports activities, and the like?

Action Opportunity
Plan an intergenerational parish activity. Involve other parish leaders in the planning. It could be a parish picnic, an ice cream social after a prayer service, a coffee hour after weekend Mass with a brief program (an outline of parish ministries/activities open to all), or a social justice project. Advertise in advance through all parish organizations as well as through the religious education program.

Quick Take
Ask children to name people in the parish community that they know by name or ministry and how they got to know them. Finish with a brief prayer for the whole parish community.