SYLLABUS GRADE 7—2011-2012
Grade
Page #
Text
Safety Prog
Grade 7
Page # 1
“Finding God,
Celebrating
Church” text
Session/ Date
Parent/student
Meeting
Sept. 27th
KCS—
“Created for
Love”
Additional
Resource:
“The
Catechist’s
Journey”—
blog by Joe
Paprocki
http://www.lo
yolapress.com
/blogscatechistsjourney-htm
October 4th
[Creation & God
the Father]
Syllabus
Review
Notes/
Sequence
Chapter &
Content Points
Parent/student
meeting followed by:
Opening Class
Introductions
Getting to know one
another
Review Fire Drill Plan,
Book, Syllabus, &
Classroom Management
Unit 1: Chapter 1:
“We Trust in God’s
Goodness”
Book of Genesis
teaches us that God
created everything
GOOD
During the Exile,
Israelites kept hope
alive by placing faith &
trust in God
Faith is gift from God
Rather than literal,
Creation story written
to show how God made
us with love & care
Creation story & story
of Evolution not
mutually exclusive
Unit 1: Chapter 4: “God
is Always Near”
Faith & Science come
from God
Evolution explains how
world was made & in
Genesis we learn why
God made us
Rationalism &
fundamentalism
Prayer Ways
Safety
Program
Lesson
Prayer(s)
Sign of the Cross,
Our Father, Hail
Mary,
Encourage Mass
participation
Prayer of Saint
Francis
Glory Be
[October is the
month of the
Rosary]
Introduce praying
of the Rosary &
Mysteries of the
Rosary
(Distribute rosary
beads or rings)
Suggested
Activities
Talk about the
“Blessing of the
Animals” that
will take place
at St. Francis of
Assisi Parish on
Saturday,
October 1st
Church & World
Timeline
(page #318)
Recycling
discussion
and/or project
Importance of
morning & evening
prayer
Christian
Scriptures
Spending time with
God—reflecting on
the wonders of
Creation
“Holy Spirit” prayer
The Psalms &
Psalm #139
Praying the Psalms
Activity on
“worldview”—
“seeing through
the eyes of
faith”
“The Man Born
Blind” Scripture
(Story on DVD
by ValLimar
Jansen
Additional Suggestions
and/or
Comments
Talk about the
Servathon also
scheduled Oct. 1st—
encourage participation
Video clip of the
Creation of the World
(youtube)
Introduce “The Gospel
of Life” written by
Pope John Paul II
Grade 7
Page # 2
“Finding God,
Celebrating
Church” text
October 18th
[Jesus & the
Holy Spirit]
KCS—
“Created for
Love”
Nov. 1
Unit 1: Chapter 2:
“Jesus, God’s Gift”
Jesus, is God’s Gift
God communicates to
us thru the Holy Spirit
in prayer, Scripture,
Church, in relatives &
friends, in wisdom of
elders, & in our own
experience
Jesus restored our
relationship with God
The Our Father prayer
Unit 1: Chapter 3
The Holy Spirit
Images of the Holy
Spirit
Water & oil
Friendship
All Saints Day Nov. 1st
All Souls’ Day Nov. 2nd
Canonized Saints
Called to be saints
Communion of Saints—
pgs. #305-308
Mary—see page #163166
Unit 1: Chapter 5: “God
for All People”
Gr. 7 Meet as group

“Musical Chairs
Activity

Brainstorm Ways to
Make the World a
Better Place

Develop Thanksgiving
Project
Review “Faith in Action,
pg. #61-62
Prayers of Petition
Encourage praying
rosary as a family
Pray decade of the
rosary
The Corporal &
Spiritual Works of
Mercy
Review prayer as
listening to God
Remind to pray
morning & evening
prayers
Review an
explanation Our
Father prayer
10 Things about
Jesus’ name on
page # 21
Friendship
stories Pg. #35
“A good friend
tells you what
you need to
hear—not what
you want to
hear”
Complete “The
Challenge” pg.
#40
Discuss Saints as
role models who can
help us form our
conscience
Hail Mary
Prayers to Mary &
the Saints (prayers
of Intercession)
Litany of Saints
? “Saint” video
clip
[?”Entertaining
Angels”
clip/Dorothy
Day with
discussion Q.
from “Using
Remote…”]
Enthronement of
Bible
“Death ends a
life, not a
relationship,”
from Tuesdays
with Morrie
Ways to make
the world a
better place:
(Our role in the
Church and
Faith in action—
“Pay It Forward
clip “Mr.
Simonet”
Sidebar, pg. # 23 on
“Revelation”
(“The Lifting of the
Veil”)
Discuss “instant
communication” via
internet, texting vs.
“being with”
Discuss obstacles,
challenges that are
faced in high school
Video clip with
discussion on
“friendship”
Discussion Questions in
Groups
Have students make
poster displays and do
presentations by class
to the groups
regarding Actions
Alternative video:
“Peer Pressure, Gossip,
Clique” video segment
Grade 7
Page # 3
Nov. 15
“Finding God,
Celebrating
Church” text
Spontaneous
prayers of Praise &
Thanksgiving
The Apostles Creed
Grace/blessings
before & after
meals
The Psalms
Prayers of the Mass
Prayers of the
Faithful
Review Renewal of
Baptismal Promises
Mass changes in the
Liturgy
Simple Mass
Responses
Sign of Peace
Prayer with
gestures/movement
Spiritual songs-play ValLimar
Jansen song
Singing is praying
twice!
Thanksgiving projects
Review Eucharist &
parallels/roots with
Passover meal, Thanksgiving table etc.
Unit 2: Ch. 1:
“Getting to Know
Jesus”
“Pictures of Jesus”
article followed by
each student
undertaking the
activity
Conversion & the story
of Saul
Incarnation—fully
human, fully Divine
Christian hymns—pg.
#72 & songs
KCS—
“Created for
Love”
Nov. 29
Advent--Text, pg.
#281- 284
Role of John the
Baptist & story of
Zechariah
Review the Liturgical
Year & Calendar-pg.
#279-280
Feast of Immaculate
Conception—Dec. 8th
Feast of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, Dec. 12th
(See pg. # 132, “Honoring
the Mother of God” &
sidebar, pg. #124).
“Created for
Love”—Session
#1 (Approx. one
hour)
Advent Wreath
Prayer
Review new Mass
changes
Introduce “The
Liturgy of the
Hours” and “The
Canticle of
Zechariah”
Marian Feasts
Activity
inspired by
“Pictures of
Jesus” article
Meditation
activity (John
15:17) found on
pg. #69 TT
sidebar
Explain the
Jesse Tree
Reflection Question:
“How will you prepare
for the coming of
Jesus?”
Grade 7
Page # 4
Dec. 13
“Finding God,
Celebrating
Church” text
KCS—
“Created for
Love”
Unit 2: Chapter 2:
“Jesus, God and Man”
Ecumenical Councils:
The Council of Nicaea
declared Arius wrong &
that Jesus is one in
being with the Father
Council of
Constantinople stated
that Jesus is fully man
(& that Holy Spirit is
equal to the Father &
the Son)
Council of Ephesus—
declared Mary is the
mother of God
(Theotokos)
The God-Man
“Who do you say that I
Am?”
Advent prayer
Mary’s Magnificat
Reflective Prayer
on Scriptures
Listening to God’s
Word in order to
ACT on God’s Word
Remind daily prayer
Silent prayer
Centering prayer
The Psalms
Old & New
Testaments are
inspired by God
Scripture:
Matt 16:13-16
The Liturgical Year &
Ordinary Time
Renewal/Reconciliation
Guided
Meditation
Prayer or video
Meditation prayer
Christmas & Epiphanypgs. 285-288
Jan. 3, 2012
Page #78: 10
statements
about Jesus
that describe
his being fully
human, fully
divine
Christmas
Project?
“Created for
Love”—Session
#2 (Approx.
one hour)
Review Sacrament
of Reconciliation
Examination of
Conscience
Act of Contrition
(Renewal in new
year!)
Two forgiveness
parables in
Scripture: The
Parable of the
“Two Sons” of
the “Lost
Sheep”
Grade 7
Page # 5
“Finding God,
Celebrating
Church” text
KCS—
“Created for
Love”
Jan. 17
Unit 2: Chapter 3 “New
Life through the
Cross”
War, poverty, &
disease of Middle Ages
brought people great
suffering
St. Francis used image
of crucified Jesus to
teach people to care
for the poor &
suffering
The call of St. Francis
Cross means
redemption for all
Jesus died out of love;
we’re called to love one
another
The Jewish people are
not responsible for the
death of Jesus
Differentiate between
cross & crucifix
Franciscans promoted
the practice of praying
the Stations of Cross
Discuss
Reconciliation
Prayer Services
(without individual
Confession)
Explain
“Veneration of
the Cross”
Reflection Question:
“What does
discipleship mean for
you?”
Matthew 16:24
(on Discipleship)
10 Reasons the
Gospel is “Good
News”—pg. #95
Prayer of
Intercession
Community prayer—
pg. #102
Class Mass
Participation,
Grades 7 & 8—as
possible
U. S. Bishops’ 3
goals for
spreading the
Gospel:

enthusiasm
for the
faith

invitation

fostering
Gospel
values
Reflection Question:
“How can you live out
the Bishops’ “goals”?
Review Corporal &
Spiritual Works of
Mercy
Grade 7
Page # 6
Jan. 31
“Finding God,
Celebrating
Church” text
KCS—
“Created for
Love”
Beginning of Unit 2:
Chapter 4: “Sharing
the Good News
Transmitting the
Christian faith by
proclaiming Jesus
Christ a.k.a. evangelization
Inspired by the Holy
Spirit
Feb. 14
Complete Unit 2:
Chapter 4: “Sharing
the Good News
Missionary endeavor
requires inculturation
(process of adapting a
message to a specific
culture without compromising the message
Saint Therese
Ash Wednesday (Feb.
22)
Lent—pgs. #289-292
Ashes
Time to renew Baptism
Time of Preparation
for Easter
Prayer, Penance, Acts
of Love
Purple color of
Penance/Preparation
“Created for
Love”—Session
#3 (Approx.
one hour)
“Created for
Love”—Session
#4 (Approx.
one hour)
Evaluations of
“Created for
Love”
curriculum
Reflective reading
of the Scriptures—
Lectio Divina
Saint Valentine
Prayer
Talk about Prayer,
Fasting, &
Almsgiving
Saint Therese (the
“Little Way”)
Listening to God’s
Word in order to
ACT on God’s Word
1 Samuel 3:1-9
Grade 7
Page # 7
Feb. 28
Unit 2 Chapter 5: “Our
Hope in Jesus”
Hope—a Theological
virtue
The Resurrection &
Hope
“Final Judgment”
Heaven
Hell
Purgatory
Thomas’ faith affirmed
by Risen Lord
Second Coming
Indulgences
“Finding God,
Celebrating
Church” text
KCS—
“Created for
Love”
End of life issues—the
Consistent Ethic of
Life
Mar. 13
March 27
Acts of Faith,
Hope, & Love
prayers
Prayers of the
Eucharistic liturgy
Prayers for the sick
& elderly
Complete “The
Challenge” on pg.
#114 and then
group share
Page #123
“Breaking Bread”
“Details to
support the
Resurrection”
“Seamless
garment”
demonstration
Jesus and the Shroud
of Turin
Show video:
“Jesus & the
Shroud of Turin”
(approx. one-hour)
Discussion with
regard to
Resurrection & who
Jesus is
Holy Week
Pgs. #293-296
Review events of
Holy Week
Stations of the
Cross
Reflection
Question:
“How does this
video impact your
faith or not?”
Information about
Seder Meal
Grade 7
Page # 8
Apr. 10
“Finding God,
Celebrating
Church” text
KCS—
“Created for
Love”
Apr. 24
Easter, Ascension, and
Pentecost, pgs. #297299
Unit Opener: Pg. #117
Unit 3: Chapter 1: “The
Beginnings of the
Church”
After his Ascension,
Jesus sent Holy Spirit
Pentecost
Acts of the Apostles—
how Peter & Paul filled
with Holy Spirit spread
the Good News
Saint Stephen—Martyr
Breaking of the Bread
Mary as Jesus’ Mother
& first disciple
Unit 3: Chapter 2: “The
Church Takes Shape”
Choosing Leaders
Constantine
Edict of Milan
Christendom
Council of Nicaea
Council of Ephesus
“Priest, Prophet, &
King”—call to holiness
Peter as “rock”
Special role of pope—
pg. # 134
Bishop of Rome as
“Vicar of Christ”
Role of Magisterium
The Nicene Creed
Evaluation of year
Endings and new
beginnings
Christian
Meditation prayer—
pg. #125
Pope Paul VI’s
encyclical: “On
Evangelization in
the Modern
World”—see pg. #
127 sidebar
Activity, Pg. #131
The Creed
Closing Ritual