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| Unit Theme |
What Catholics Believe |
How Catholics Worship |
How Catholics Live |
How Catholics Pray |
Unit 1

Our Church Community

Children are helped to explore the Sunday worship experience and learn the meaning of the signs and events they may witness. Basic orientation toward liturgy and prayer, as well as a sense of community, are part of the unit objectives.

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1. We Belong to Jesus' Church

Appreciate belonging to a family

Identify the Church to which we belong as the Catholic Church

Explain how people will recognize Jesus followers

Name some of the things that Catholics do

Learn to make the Sign of the Cross

CCC 764, 2157

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2. We Gather to Celebrate Mass

Recognize the cross on a church as a sign of Jesus

Understand that our parish community gathers in church to celebrate Mass

Realize that Jesus is with us when we pray with our church community

Name some of the objects in a Catholic church

Pray a blessing prayer for Gods gifts
to us

CCC 1083, 118081, 119899

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3. God's Word Teaches Us at Mass

Identify different ways children learn

Realize that the readings at Mass come from the Bible

Understand that the word of God and the homily teach us how to follow Jesus

Discover that God speaks to us when we listen to his word

Pray a prayer about listening to the word of God

CCC 104

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4. We Give Praise to God

Describe how we feel when someone praises us

Learn that prayers of praise celebrate Gods goodness

Discover how people in Bible times praised God

Discuss ways Catholics praise God
at Mass

Sign, say, and sing praise to God

CCC 2564, 2691, 2696

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| Unit Theme |
What Catholics Believe |
How Catholics Worship |
How Catholics Live |
How Catholics Pray |
Unit 2

Our Loving God

God the Father, as presented by Jesus in the Gospels, is at the center of this unit. The Fathers love and goodness are highlighted.

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5. God Is Our Loving Father

Explain how things God made show his love

Learn that God created everything in the world from nothing

Discover ways that God, our loving Father, cares for all that he creates

Discuss ways that we can care for Gods creation

Pray a prayer of thanks to God for the gifts of creation

CCC 27, 51, 21821, 23940, 275, 295, 301, 336, 352

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6. Baptism Is a Wonderful Gift

Discuss the importance of welcoming others

Appreciate Baptism as a celebration of becoming a member of the Christian community

Describe how a person is baptized

Realize that as Christians, we are
followers of Jesus Christ

Pray with holy water, a sign of our new life with Jesus

CCC 1213, 1668

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7. God Made Us to Be Good and Holy

Understand that everything has a
purpose

Explain that God made us to be loving people

Realize that God wants us to be happy with him in heaven

List ways that we can show our love for God and others

Pray with movement to a holy song

CCC 102324,1700, 1702, 171921, 1726

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8. We Give Thanks to God

Discuss why it is important to thank someone

Understand why we call God "our Father"

Name special gifts they should thank God for

Learn about the leper who returned to thank Jesus

Give thanks to God with hearts and voices

CCC 2143, 2638, 27002704, 2722, 279293, 2801

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| Unit Theme |
What Catholics Believe |
How Catholics Worship |
How Catholics Live |
How Catholics Pray |
Unit 3

God's Son, Jesus

Jesus is Gods greatest gift to us. He is Gods Son and our brother, divine and human. Jesus Christ is present to us in the Eucharist. We learn about Gods forgiveness in the Gospels.

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9. Jesus Is God's Son

Tell about hearing good news

Understand that Mary is the mother
of Jesus

Realize that God sent his Son, Jesus, into our world because he loves us

Explore ways to spread the good news of Jesus birth

Pray an echo prayer about Jesus

CCC 457, 501

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10. We Celebrate the Gift of Eucharist

Discuss what makes family meals
special

Recognize that the words of the Eucharistic Prayer describe what took place at the Last Supper

Explain that Jesus is present in the Eucharist

Learn about Saint Katharine Drexel

Pray before the Blessed Sacrament with signs of respect

CCC 1323, 137880

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11. Jesus Teaches Us About Forgiveness

Interpret right and wrong actions

Realize that God wants us to be sorry when we do wrong, and that God is always ready to forgive us

Learn that Gods laws help us choose what is right

Know when to say "I am sorry" and "I forgive you"

Pray a prayer of sorrow

CCC 1850, 1950, 1975, 2083, 2113, 2401, 2454, 2464, 2505

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12. We Pray with God's Word

Name ways that people like to pray

Describe some ways that Jesus prayed

Learn how to pray with Gospel stories

Experience praying with Gods word as a way of getting closer to Jesus

Act out a Bible story

CCC 2705, 2708

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| Unit Theme |
What Catholics Believe |
How Catholics Worship |
How Catholics Live |
How Catholics Pray |
Unit 4

The Holy Spirit

Scripture stories about the promise of the Holy Spirit and the action of the Spirit are presented. These
stories show the relationship of the Holy Spirit to the Father and the Son, as well as the role the Spirit plays in the life of the Church and every person.

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13. Jesus Sends Us the Holy Spirit

Discuss how people help us

Realize that Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit

Understand that the Holy Spirit is the gift of Gods love

Name ways the Holy Spirit helps us make good choices

Praise God as Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit

CCC 733

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14. We Celebrate the Gift of the Holy Spirit

Name everyday uses of water and oil

Realize that water in Baptism and holy oil in Confirmation are symbols of the Holy Spirit

Understand that the Holy Spirit lives
in us

Identify ways the Holy Spirit works in our lives

Pray with oil as a reminder that the Holy Spirit lives in us

CCC 1262, 1302

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15. The Holy Spirit Is Our Helper

Distinguish good habits from bad habits

Name seven fruits of the Holy Spirit

Understand that the Holy Spirit helps us follow Jesus

Describe ways of using the fruits of the Holy Spirit

Pray to the Holy Spirit for help and guidance

CCC 1803

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16. The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray

Name people who teach us to do new things

Understand that the Holy Spirit teaches us to pray

Discover how the Church prays to the Holy Spirit

Write a petition to the Holy Spirit

Participate in a Holy Spirit procession

CCC 2670-71

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| Unit Theme |
What Catholics Believe |
How Catholics Worship |
How Catholics Live |
How Catholics Pray |
Unit 5

Jesus' Church of Followers

The beginnings of the Church which Jesus founded are presented through Scripture stories and
liturgical passages Emphasis is placed on the concept of Church as the center of action for those who are dedicated to living the Gospel.

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17. Jesus' Followers Become the Church

Discuss what friends do with each other

Learn about life in the first Christian community

Realize how church members care for one another

Describe ways we can act like the first Christians

Pray "Amen" as a prayer of faith

CCC 764, 781, 106165

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18. We Celebrate Pentecost

Discuss what makes birthday
celebrations special

Recognize the feast of Pentecost as the "Birthday of the Church"

Realize that the Church is a diversified world community

Describe ways the church celebrates Pentecost

Experience in prayer the love and peace of the Holy Spirit

CCC 1076, 193435

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19. The Church Helps the World

Identify needs that people have

Understand that the mission of Christians is to help others

Discover ways the Holy Spirit works through the Church today

Learn ways that church helpers love and serve others

Listen to God and say yes to his call

CCC 781, 2392

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20. We Pray with Holy Songs

Name times when people like to sing

Discover that holy songs are prayers

Realize that when we sing with our hearts, we are praying

Understand why Catholics sing holy songs

Sing an end-of-year prayer of thanks and praise to God

CCC 115657

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