Grade 1 – Chapter 5

STEP 1 - WELCOME

STEP 2 - INVITE

STEP 3 - DISCOVER

STEP 4 - LIVE

STEP 5 - CLOSING

Jesus is both true

God and true man.

Jesus, Mary, and

Joseph are the Holy

Family

Share with Your Students “What’s Up”

-Leading a group means guiding them step by step through the

time together, so let them know what’s next

-Be specific when guiding them to what else they can expect

from the lesson. It allows students to feel comfortable knowing

what else they may experience throughout the class

-Being specific helps our brains to envision directions

-Put directions in the positive – “Keep your glass up” – helps us

get it right

-When we put them in the negative – “Don’t spill that!” – we

envision spilling the glass and often do just that!

STEP 1 - WELCOME

Community Activity

Can do the coloring sheet for Abraham and Sarah (stars)

STEP 2 – INVITE

Let us Pray

• Do the prayer

• Say the Our Father

• Practice the Our Father with the flash cards as you did with the Hail Mary

• Use this poem after the opening prayer, before explaining that our families are gifts from God.

• Read the first six lines of the poem to the children.

• Ask them where they might go for help or comfort.

• Read the rest of the poem to the children.

• Ask: What is one way that your family cheers you up?

• When finished, transition back to the lesson instruction.

My Family

When you need someone to talk to

If you’re feeling kind of low,

When you need some help or comfort

There’s somewhere you can go!

Now where in the world

Will that place be?

It’s with your family!

• Read God’s Word section

• Talk about the What do you Wonder questions.

STEP 3 – DISCOVER

Family Love

• Ask question on p 92

• Talk to the children about families.

• Read about the different families and discuss them.

• Stress acceptance under quick tip (p.93)

Jesus’ Family

• Read about Jesus’ family

• Activity – Hand puppets of the Holy Family

A Day in Nazareth

• Read about Nazareth and God’s Word

STEP 4 – LIVE

Our Catholic Life

• Read about what it was like for Jesus when he was growing up.

• How is it like what happens with us?

Saints Lesson

• What are Saints?

• Saints are heroes of the Church who loved God, did his work on Earth, and

are now with him in Heaven. We are connected to the saints. They watch

over and pray for us in Heaven.

Activity – Color the Happy All Saints Day picture. This is celebrated Nov 1st.

• Discuss several saints. Tell the kids about them and show them pictures.

Take Home:

• Remind the children to share the Family and Faith section with their

parents.

• Chapter Review

STEP 5 – CLOSING

Let us Pray

• Review the liturgy link on pg 98. Ask the children if they have seen their

parents do this at mass. Practice making little signs of the cross on the

forehead, lips, and heart.

• Do the prayer on page 98.

Saint Joseph

A few verses in Matthew and Luke tell us all we know about St.

Joseph. They provide just enough information to demonstrate why he

was the divine choice to become the husband of Mary and the foster

father of Jesus. Joseph was genealogically perfect for these roles. A

distant descendant of King David, he gave Christ the King his royal

lineage. Joseph also came from the right hometown. He was from

Bethlehem, the city that Scripture predicted would produce the

messiah (see Micah 5:1). And as a carpenter (see Matthew 13:55),

Joseph was poor-Christ's condition of preference.

Scripture portrays Joseph as open to God, obedient, upright, and, above

all, kind. The saint displayed all of these qualities in his handling of

Mary's surprise pregnancy. Imagine the confusion of emotions that must

have flooded him when Mary confided that she was going to have a

baby by the Holy Spirit! As a devout observer of the law, Joseph knew

that he might have to repudiate his betrothal. But his kindness and

confidence in Mary prevented his taking such a harsh step, which would

have shamed her. It may have even put her in danger of capital

punishment (see Deuteronomy 22:20-21). Joseph must have agonized

over his decision, praying intently about it. Finally, he decided to divorce

Mary quietly. But Joseph was open to God, and in a dream a divine

messenger told him to take Mary home as his wife. Joseph did exactly as

he was told.

., -- •

Saint Peter

Peter is named first among the apostles of Jesus; he was often their

spokesman and leader; he was the first to preach after Pentecost; and he

was the leader in defending Christ and his message. Peter was at the

Transfiguration and in the garden.

He proclaimed to Jesus, "You are the Christ," and Christ singled him out:

"[S]o I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,

and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you

the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be

bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

(Matthew 16:18-19)

Jesus prayed for Peter that he might strengthen his brothers. (Luke 22:32)

And Jesus gave Peter a threefold commission to "feed my sheep." (John

21:15-17)

From the beginning, the specialness, or primacy, of Peter has been

recognized. On the feast of the Chair of Peter, we celebrate our unity as a

Church. We celebrate the love, presence, and protection of Christ for us, the

Church. The title Chair of Peter refers to the chair from which a bishop

presided, a symbol of his authority. When the title refers to Saint Peter, it

recalls the supreme teaching power of Peter and his successors. It is from

the chair, from the pastoral power given him, that the pope shepherds

Christ's flock.

Saint Francis of Assisi

Early Life: Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1182. He grew up leading a

privileged life as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. Francis loved to learn

and sing songs as a boy. His father wanted him to become a businessman and

taught him about the French culture.

Going to Battle: About the age of nineteen Francis went to battle against

the nearby town of Perugia. Francis was captured and taken prisoner. He

was held prisoner in a dungeon for a year before his father paid the ransom

and he was set free.

Visions from God: Over the next few years Francis began to see visions from

God that changed his life. The first vision was when he was sick with a high

fever. At first he thought that God had called him to fight in the Crusades.

However, he had another vision that told him to help the sick. Finally, when

praying in a church, Francis heard God tell him to "repair my church, which

is falling in ruins." Francis gave all his money to the church. His father

became very angry with him. Francis then left his father's home and took a

vow of poverty.

The Franciscan Order: As Francis lived his life of poverty and preached to

people about the life of Jesus Christ, people began to follow him. By 1209, he

had around 11 followers. He had one basic rule which was "To follow the

teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps". Francis was

a devoted follower of the Catholic Church. He and his followers traveled to

Rome to get the approval for their religious Order from the pope. At first

the pope was reluctant. These men were dirty, poor, and smelled bad.

However, eventually he understood their vow of poverty and blessed the

Order.

Love for Nature: Francis was known for his love of nature and animals.

There are many stories about Saint Francis and his preaching to animals. It is

said that one day he was talking to some birds when they began to sing

together. Then they flew into the sky and formed the sign of a cross. It was

also said that Francis could tame wild animals.

One story tells of a vicious wolf in the town of Gubbio that was killing people

and sheep. The people of the town were frightened and didn't know what to

do. Francis went to the town to confront the wolf. At first the wolf growled at

Francis and prepared to attack him. However, Francis made the sign of the

cross and told the wolf not to hurt anyone else.

The wolf then became tame and the town was safe.