This Week in Religious Education Class…
Week 7
Grade 1
This week our Fantastic First Graders reflected on the church seasons and the liturgical year. We
explored the many ways to celebrate Jesus throughout the year.
We began with prayer and discussed the prayer table. Right now it is “dressed” for Ordinary
time in the color green. In a few weeks, it will be the season of Advent and our prayer table will
reflect that.
We heard the story of “The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle. We worked on a Church Calendar. The
children are encouraged to place their Church calendar near the family calendar to remind them
of the church season. We also worked together on a worksheet about the Church Seasons.
We finished up with assigning a Bible Buddy who brought home a bible storybook. Enjoy
reading the stories together and remember to bring it back next week.
Grade 2
This week our Super Second Graders took a break from their Reconciliation books. After
praying in our classroom, we met in the Parish hall of a Reconciliation Retreat. We had fun
blowing bubbles but could not put them back in the bottle as directed. We learned that this is
similar to sin. Once we sin, we cannot just tuck it back inside. We must say we are sorry and be
forgiven. God forgives us EVERY time!
We also played a fun game that helped us recognize the difference between a sin and a mistake.
We saw a power point presentation of Fr. John celebrating reconciliation with a girl named
Sophie. We practiced the Act of Contrition prayer that we say at Reconciliation. We know what
to expect when we celebrate our First Reconciliation on November 22 or December 6. We also
toured the Reconciliation Room in the back of church and heard a story about forgiveness.
We finished the class by returning to the classroom. Remember to practice the Act of Contrition
with your child.
Grade 3
Our Terrific Third Graders discussed the church calendar called the Liturgical Year. We focused
on the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent and Easter.
After our opening prayer time, we worked in groups to make seasonal banners for our Prayer
Table. We played a fun game of guessing the answer to liturgical riddles and we made a Church
Year Wheel.
Grade 4
Our Fine Fourth continued to study the Ten Commandments. We covered Commandments 4-6
and 9. We played a rousing game of “Obey Your Parents Promptly.” I am positive that your
children will bring home that attribute and obey you immediately! We made some posters “All
About Mom” and “All About Dad.” We also played a review game with dice helping us to name
the Ten commandments.
We finished the class by praying the “Our Father” and “Glory Be.” Practice makes perfect!
Grade 5
The First-rate Fifth Graders continued their unit on the sacraments. This week, our discussion
and activities covered Anointing of the Sick. We reflected on the power of Jesus’ healing love.
To reinforce our textbook materials, we played a game of “BandAid Relay” where we healed a
broken heart. We also worked on a fleece blanket by tying knots in the fringe. Each time a knot
was tied, a child said a prayer for God’s healing love for the recipient. When finished we will
donate this blanket to Providence Park.
The children continued in their Sacrament Booklet working on the Sacrament of Anointing of the
Sick.
Grade 6
The Supreme Sixth Graders discussed what it means to live a holy life. We had rousing
discussions about the Corporal Works of Mercy. We viewed a power point presentation on the
works of mercy and worked together on a class booklet. Which work of mercy did your child
illustrate for the book?
We completed our class by praying together the Act of Charity, the Act of Faith and the Act of
Hope.
Grade 8
Our Special Seventh Graders encountered Jesus in the Word through various activities. Our
icebreaker activity involved a listening activity. We placed a piece of paper atop our heads and
following directions, drew a person and wrote our names. We then discussed how easy/difficult
this was and how important it is to be open to direction and to listen. We completed our opening
activity with prayer asking the Holy Spirit to join us as we listen to the Living Word of God.
The youth rotated to three different activities in which they examined the Bible. At our first
rotation, we played a game naming the different books of the bible and determining their location
in the Bible. We then practiced looking up verses with some silly consequences. Our second
rotation helped us to understand what our clergy experiences when writing a homily. We read
and reflected on a bible passage and then wrote a homily about it. Our homilies will be
submitted to Fr. John. He will review them and choose one of the homilies to give at the
December 6/7 liturgies, crediting the 7th graders. We are encouraging all 7th graders to attend
weekend Mass to see if they submitted the winning homily.
Our final rotation lead a special form of bible study called lectio divina. We heard the same
passage three different times and reflected upon what we heard. We then shared our thoughts
and experience through discussion.
We completed our evening with an Imagination Prayer. We heard a bible passage and imagined
ourselves as part of the story. We understand that the bible is truly the Living Word of God.
The kids have an amazing amount of energy and are actively engaged in learning about their
faith. The Table Parents are building those faith relationships with our children. I look forward
to the evening spent with your amazing children!