Christ Our Life | Parish Catechist's Guide | Gr 1

Christ Our Life God Is Good PARISH EDITION Catechist’s Guide ® GRADE 1 SAMPLE

www.christourlife.com 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 VTL 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Imprimatur In accordance with c. 827, permission to publish is granted on October 17, 2022, by Most Reverend Robert G. Casey, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Permission to publish is an official declaration of ecclesiastical authority that the material is free from doctrinal and moral error. No legal responsibility is assumed by the grant of this permission. In Conformity The Subcommittee on the Catechism, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has found this text, copyright 2024, to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Acknowledgments Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition, copyright © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The English translation of the Order of Penance © 2019 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal. Copyright © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved. Excerpt from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America copyright © 1994 United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. The prayers Sign of the Cross/Signum Crucis, Glory Be to the Father/ Gloria Patri, Lord’s Prayer/Pater Noster, Hail Mary/Ave Maria, Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina) come from the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. English translation copyright © 2006, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. Exclusive licensee in the United States is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Prayer to One’s Guardian Angel comes from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Copyright © 2006, U.S. Conference Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved. Excerpt from Laudato Si copyright © 2015. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. Excerpt from Evangelii Gaudium copyright © 2013. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. Loyola Press has made every effort to locate the copyright holders for the cited works used in this publication and to make full acknowledgment for their use. In the case of any omissions, the publisher will be pleased to make suitable acknowledgments in future editions. Cover and interior design: Loyola Press Cover illustration: Chiara Fedele 978-0-8294-5294-5 Copyright © 2024 Loyola Press All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. Manufactured in China Art Credits i Chiara Fedele. iv(t) Vivian Imbruglia/Iconographer; (b)kookookoo/ iStock/Getty Images. v Marina Seoane. vi ajt/iStock/Getty Images. OV-3(t) Davyd Volkov/iStock/Getty Images; (b) FatCamera/ iStock/Getty Images; SDI Productions/E+/Getty Images. OV-8 monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images. OV-10(t) AzLa/ Shutterstock.com; (b)jhuting/iStock/Getty Images. OV-12 JGI/ Jamie Grill/Tetra images/Getty Images. OV-14 Capelle.r/Moment/ Getty Images. OV-15 (t) Johner Images/Johner RF/Getty Images; (b) Warling Studios. OV-16) Nongkran_ch/iStock/Getty Images. OV-18) mxtama/iStock/Getty Images. OV-21) colematt/iStock/Getty Images. OV-23 Cultura Creative RF/Alamy Stock Photo. OV-30 Anna Khomenko/iStock/Getty Images. OV-33 and2DesignInc/ DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images. OV-36 (left to right, top to bottom) Loyola Press; bubaone/DigitalVision/Getty Images; Loyola Press; Shams Suleymanova/iStock/Getty Images; bortonia/ DigitalVision/Getty Images; appleuzr/DigitalVision/Getty Images; bortonia/DigitalVision/Getty Images; TotemArt/Shutterstock.com; Nadiinko/iStock/Getty Images. OV-37 elenabsl/Shutterstock.com. OV-39 Warling Studios. OV-40 adriaticfoto/Shutterstock.com. OV-41 FatCamera/E+/Getty Images. OV-42 Warling Studios. OV-43 (t) Phil Martin Photography; (b) Loyola Press. OV-44 Ariel Skelley/DigitalVision/Getty Images. OV-45 amtitus/DigitalVision/ Getty Images. Continued on page T405. SAMPLE

v Contents Digital Resources Easily access the robust digital resources included with Christ Our Life by visiting digitallibrary.loyolapress.com. Contact your administrator for your login credentials. God Is Our Good Father T1 Chapter 1 Jesus Is Our Friend. . . . . . . T2 Chapter 2 God Is Good. . . . . . . . . T14 Chapter 3 God Is Our Father. . . . . . . T24 Chapter 4 God Our Father Is Holy. . . . . T34 Chapter 5 God Shares His Life with Us. . . T44 Chapter 6 God Speaks to Us. . . . . . . T54 Chapter 7 We Pray to God Our Father. . . .T66 Chapter 8 Jesus Teaches Us to Pray to Our Father. . . . . . . . . .T78 UNIT 1 God Sent His Son as Our Savior T91 Chapter 9 God Promised a Savior. . . . . T92 Chapter 10 God Chose Mary and Joseph. . .T102 Chapter 11 Jesus, Our Savior, Was Born in Bethlehem . . . . . . . . T112 Chapter 12 Families Share Life and Love. . .T122 Jesus Shows Us He Is Good T135 Chapter 13 Jesus Calls the Apostles. . . . T136 Chapter 14 Jesus Shows God’s Love. . . . T146 Chapter 15 Jesus Teaches Us to Love God. . T156 Chapter 16 Jesus Teaches Us to Love Others. . . . . . . . .T166 Chapter 17 Jesus Calls Himself the Good Shepherd. . . . . . . . T176 Chapter 18 We Come to Our Good Shepherd. . . . . . . .T186 UNIT 2 UNIT 3 Program Overview. . . . . . . OV-1 Welcome OV-1 Program Overview OV-2 Spiral Curriculum OV-23 Scope and Sequence OV-24 Media at a Glance OV-30 The Catechist’s Handbook . . . OV-31 The Vocation of a Catechist OV-31 The Role of the Catechist OV-32 Knowledge and Skills of a Catechist OV-34 Inclusion: Diverse Learners OV-39 Multicultural Awareness OV-44 Profile of a First Grader OV-45 SAMPLE

vi What Catholics Should Know T351 Prayer and How We Pray T353 Stations of the Cross T360 The Seven Sacraments T364 Holy Days of Obligation T368 The Commandments T369 Making Good Choices T370 The Bible T371 Showing Our Love for the World T372 Student Book Cover Prayers T375 Saints and Feast Days T377 September T379 October T379 November T380 December T381 January T382 February T383 March T383 April T384 May T385 June T385 July T385 August T386 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . T387 Index..............T395 Scripture Index . . . . . . . . . . T403 Jesus Shows His Great Love T197 Chapter 19 Jesus Gives the Gift of Himself .. .T198 Chapter 20 Jesus Is Risen . . . . . . . .T212 Chapter 21 Jesus Sends Us the Spirit. . . .T224 Chapter 22 Jesus Is with Us in His Church. ..T234 Chapter 23 Mary Is the Mother of the Church. . . . . . . . . .T244 Chapter 24 The Holy Spirit Helps the Church. . . . . . . . . T256 Chapter 25 We Give Glory to God. . . . . T266 Special Seasons and Lessons T279 The Year in Our Church T281 1 Feast of All Saints T282 2 Advent T287 3 Christmas T295 4 Lent T300 5 Holy Week T306 6 Easter T314 7 Pentecost T319 8 The Holy Guardian Angels T324 9 Thanksgiving T328 10 The Presentation T331 11 Saint Blaise T334 12 Saint Joseph T337 13 Planning a Mass T341 14 End-of-the-Year Activities T345 UNIT 4 SAMPLE

Media in this Unit When preparing to teach the unit, determine how you will use the media for children. Media can be accessed by scanning the QR codes found on the student pages. Continue your formation by scanning the QR code at the top of the Preparing for the Faith Experience page in each chapter of this guide. The media can also be accessed from the LP Digital Library. UNIT 1 Media in This Unit When preparing to teach the unit, determine how you will use the media. Media that enhances each chapter can be accessed by scanning the QR codes found on the student pages. All media resources are available to you through the LP Digital Library (digitallibrary.loyolapress.com). Contact your administrator for your login credentials. God Is Our Good Father Goals • Children will know and express that God the Father created them and that his Son, Jesus, invites them into friendship with him. • Children will pray the Sign of the Cross and the Lord’s Prayer. 1 Jesus Is Our Friend Jesus invites us to be his friends and to enjoy his presence, just as he welcomed the little children of Galilee. Children learn that Jesus’ Death on the Cross showed the depths of his love for us. The crucifix reminds us that Jesus died but is risen and is still with us. Children learn how we pray the Sign of the Cross to remind us of Jesus’ love. 2 God Is Good The goodness of creation leads us to give thanks and praise to our Father, the source of all life and goodness, who lets us share in bringing all creation to fulfillment. Children learn that God made everything and that living things grow best when they are given good care. 3 God Is Our Father God continually invites us to grow and deepen our relationship with him and others. God gives us unique gifts and calls us to use them to give human expression to God’s loving, forgiving care for every person. Children learn that they are made in God’s image and likeness. 4 God Our Father Is Holy God speaks to us and is available to us so that we can experience joy, support, and strength in God’s friendship. Children enter the sacred space we call church, the place where God meets us and where we ponder God’s ways. They learn how we, in word and gesture, acknowledge the presence of the all-holy One who remains with us as Christ our Lord and Savior in the Blessed Sacrament. . 5 God Shares His Life with Us God the Father shows the greatness of his love by giving us a share in his own life at Baptism. Children learn that our newness of life calls us to live by the Spirit we received when we were incorporated into God’s family, the Church. 6 God Speaks to Us God’s Word enlightens and guides those who choose to follow his path of peace and love. Children learn how we can hear God’s gentle voice in created wonders and providential care, in the Bible, in the teaching of the Church, in the directives of those God has chosen to care for us, and in the silence of our own hearts. 7 We Pray to God Our Father In prayer we consciously open ourselves to God’s dwelling in our souls and come to recognize God’s loving hand in all that happens to us. Children learn how to listen to God and talk to God by sharing their deepest thoughts and desires. 8 Jesus Teaches Us to Pray to Our Father Jesus taught us to call God “Our Father” and to acknowledge with confidence our dependence on God’s faithful, forgiving care for us. Children learn about the solidarity of the human family and our relationship with God as they come to understand the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer and learn how to make it their own prayer. T1 SAMPLE

CHAPTER 1 Jesus Is Our Friend Listening “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. … I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” John 15:12–16 Reflecting Jesus came to bring salvation to the world, not only as our Lord and Savior but also as our friend. The Lord who is above all, who is incomprehensible, and who is Holy Mystery desires our friendship. Jesus Christ is our friend. He loves and cares for us and longs to be one with us. Jesus considers himself a friend to us when he says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14) The Gospels are rich with stories about Jesus’ friendship with people from all walks of life. Jesus especially loved children. Faith Focus Jesus, our Savior, invites us to be his friends. Reflecting on the Faith Experience Take a few moments to reflect prayerfully before preparing the lesson. Responding Jesus, help me guide the children I teach in deepening their friendship with you. Scripture for Further Reflection Ephesians 1:3–10 The Father’s plan of salvation is fulfilled in Christ. Hebrews 12:1–2 We are encouraged to persevere and to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who endured the Cross. It is not uncommon in Catholic Tradition to speak of Jesus as a friend. Saint Ignatius of Loyola taught his followers that prayer should be like one friend speaking to another. Saint Teresa of Ávila, a Doctor of the Church who taught about prayer, wrote often of Jesus as a true friend. Jesus will never reject us or abandon us, even when we are troubled or distressed. Pope John Paul II, in his speech at World Youth Day XII, called young people to talk with Jesus as they would a friend. In being our friend, Jesus models how we are to relate to one another. Just as he calls us friend, so are we to call each of our sisters and brothers friend. We are to care for one another as Jesus cares for us. How do I welcome the Lord in the children I teach and in the other people and events I encounter on the path of my daily life? T2 Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father Scan the QR code to view a 5-Minute Formation video or access it from the LP Digital Library. SAMPLE

4. Being part of a group helps children grow and learn and brings out their better qualities. Develop children’s sense of belonging, as well as each child’s sense of importance in the group. Calling each child by name is an effective way to foster a feeling of belonging and importance. 5. Encouraging children to think about the nature of friendship and their relationships with others is a way to express the Church’s social teaching on Family and Community. Good relationships, especially within the family, are central to our faith and to a healthy society. Family and Community 6. Present the Paschal Mystery, the passage of Christ from Death to life, in a simple way: Jesus died on the Cross for us, and he was raised from the dead. Now Jesus is in heaven with his Father, but he is with us too. 7. You may wish to administer Reproducible 1a as a pre-test. Use the test to assess children’s familiarity with faith concepts being covered this year. You then can use the results to plan your lessons for the year. Save the tests. At the end of the year, give the test again as a post-test. Lead children to see how much they have learned. Before You Begin 1. Determine whether the media will be experienced during class or at home. 2. Download from the LP Digital Library Reproducible 1b, Chapter 1 Quiz. 3. Children encounter God through people who reflect his love in their daily lives. When we express kindness and concern in our eyes, our tone of voice, and our words, gestures, and actions, we are making God’s presence visible. Preparing for the Faith Experience Church Documents Catechism of the Catholic Church. The themes in this chapter correspond to the following paragraphs: 425, 617–618, 2157. Directory for Catechesis #75. The goal of catechesis is to develop communion and intimacy with Jesus. Angelus August 30, 2020 (Pope Francis). The Gospel demands love and self-surrender. The way of Christ is the way of the Cross. Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy #128 (Congregation for Divine Worship). The Cross expresses Christ’s triumph over the powers of darkness and is therefore a sign of blessing when made upon oneself. Media in This Chapter Determine in advance if you will have children experience the media during class or at home. This media can be accessed by scanning the QR code with a webenabled smartphone or tablet. Families in Mission Send home the Families in Mission pages after teaching the chapter so that families can further explore the teaching, grow in faith, and be inspired to go forth as missionary disciples. Enriching the Faith Experience Use the activities at the end of the chapter to enrich a lesson or to replace an activity with one that better meets the needs of your class. Scripture in This Chapter Mark 10:13–16 Blessing of the Children Luke 18:16 Jesus calls the children to himself. John 15:14 Being Jesus’ Friend Matthew 28:20 Jesus is always with us. Mark 16:15 Share the Good News. Catholic Social Teaching Family and Community Jesus Is Our Friend Chapter 1 T3 Inclusion Scan the QR code for Inclusion articles or access them from the LP Digital Library. SAMPLE

Get-Ready Guide Steps Learning Outcomes Children will be able to Action Plan Materials Centering 5–10 minutes Pages 1–2 • describe their newly received religion book as a way to get to know God and to share love with others. • name ways to take care of their book. • Help children to get to know you and one another. (T5) • Distribute the Student Book and explore it with children. PAGE 1 • Explore the unit opener page. • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. (T5) PAGE 2 • Direct children to share A Letter Home with their families. Copies of the Student Book (with children’s names on the covers) OPTION Device with internet access Bible Sharing 40 minutes Pages 3–7 • tell the story of Jesus and his love for little children. • explain how Jesus invites each of them to come to him. • describe ways to be with Jesus today. • describe the Sign of the Cross as a prayer that Jesus’ followers pray to remember Jesus’ love. • pray the Sign of the Cross with reverence. • define the Word to Know. Sign of the Cross See the Glossary for definition. PAGE 3 • Read and discuss God Gives Us Friends. (T6) • Tell the story of Jesus and the children. • Introduce the Bible. PAGE 4 • Read and discuss God’s Son, Jesus. (T7) • Explain how Jesus, the Son of God, is always with us. • Complete the Jesus and Me activity. PAGE 5 • Read Jesus’ Love. (T8) • Complete the Someone I Love activity. PAGE 6 • Explain that the crucifix is a sign of Jesus’ love. (T8) • Read Jesus Shows His Love. (T9) • Read the Word to Know. • Pray A Moment with Jesus. PAGE 7 • Read the Sign of the Cross. (T10) • Teach the gestures and words of the Sign of the Cross and explain that we use the sign as a blessing. • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. (T10) • Allow time for children to practice praying the Sign of the Cross. • Help children associate the crucifix with the Sign of the Cross. Crucifix enthroned on a table Crayons or markers Acting 5–10 minutes Page 8 • retell the story of Jesus and the children. PAGE 8 • Go over the Chapter Review. (T11) • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. (T11) • OPTION Complete the Chapter 1 Quiz or Pre-test/ Post-test. • Invite children to tell the story of Jesus and the children to their families. OPTION Reproducible 1a OPTION Reproducible 1b Families IN MISSION Remind children to take home pages 9–10 to share what they are learning with their families. T4 Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father SAMPLE

Centering 1. Warmly welcome children and introduce yourself. Invite them to introduce themselves. 2. Help children get to know one another through a name song sung to the tune of “Where Is Thumbkin?” Invite them to stand. Where is [Name]? Where is [Name]? Here they are. Here they are. Welcome here today, friends. Welcome here today, friends. Please sit down. Please sit down. 3. Present a copy of the Student Book to each child. • I’m happy you’re here today because you will receive your religion book. This book will tell you many things about God the Father, his Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. It will show you ways you can show love for others. You can share the book with others, especially with your family. Because it is such a special book, you will want to receive it and hold it reverently and with respect. [Let a child or two demonstrate.] • Call each child by name and present the book in a reverent manner. • [Name], this is your own book about God. It will help you better know God the Father, his Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. 4. Explore the Student Book with children. • Have children look at the cover. Read aloud the title and have children repeat it. Then let them look through the book. • How can you take good care of your religion book? (Turn pages carefully; do neat and careful work in it; protect it from becoming wet or soiled; put it away in the right place.) 5. Have children turn to page 1. Read aloud the unit title, God Is Our Good Father. 6. Have children find the Scripture passage at the bottom of page 1. Explain that the words are from our holy book, the Bible. Show the Bible. Read aloud the Scripture passage. 7. Discuss the pictures on page 1. Point out the pictures of the children praying, a church, and people worshiping God inside a church. Tell children that, in this unit, they will learn about God and about some holy things we see in church. 8. Direct children to the QR code at the bottom of page 1. Explain that you will be inviting them to access media behind the code, either in class via computer or tablet or at home via smartphone, computer, or tablet. A Letter Home At the beginning of the unit, have children tear out page 2 and bring it home or send the entire Student Book home. Ask children to read this letter with their parents and use the QR code found on the page to experience and discuss the media before your next class meeting. A Letter Home God Invites Us Our loving God is always inviting us to deepen our relationship with him. We can trust in the faithful, forgiving care of our Father, the source of all life and goodness. At Baptism, we are united with God as his children, and we receive new life in Christ. We receive our call as disciples to put away our old selves and “put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.” (Ephesians 4:24) The Holy Spirit fills us, and we are welcomed into the family of the Church. The Word of God guides us to follow his path of peace and love. We can hear God speaking to us in the wonders of his creation, in the teachings of the Church, in the Bible, in the people who love and care for us, and in the silence of our hearts. In prayer, we consciously open ourselves to God’s presence in our lives. We recognize his loving hand in all that happens to us. He faithfully calls us to encounter him, to lift our minds and hearts in prayer, and to respond to his Word in everything we do and say. In this unit, children learn that they were created in the image and likeness of God and that his Son, Jesus, died and rose for them. They learn to pray the Sign of the Cross and the Lord’s Prayer and to explore the many ways that God speaks to them. Children revisit chapter content, complete a Your Turn activity, and undertake an interactive chapter review in the Review section of each chapter. At the end of each chapter of this unit, children will bring home the Families in Mission pages so that you can further explore the chapter content, grow in your faith, and be inspired to go forth as a family of missionary disciples. The last chapter of each unit includes a unit review, where you will find a QR code to scan to play the Stump the Shepherd unit review game. LOOKING AHEAD Scan the QR code with a web-enabled device to view a video about Saint Ignatius of Loyola together as a family. You will learn more about this 16th-century saint in the Families in Mission pages for Chapter 8. 2 Unit 1 Christ Our Life® For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:14 God Is Our Good˜Father UNIT 1 1 Jesus Is Our Friend Chapter 1 T5 SAMPLE

• The Bible has many stories about God’s people and how God spoke to them and helped them. The Bible also tells us what Jesus said and did. These stories are found in the part of the Bible called the Gospels. • In the Bible, Jesus calls us friends. He said, “You are my friends.” (John 15:14) Jesus also said, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) [Pause.] • What did Jesus call us? (his friends) Friends like to be together. What did Jesus promise he would do? (be with us always) It is very good to have Jesus for a friend and to know that he is with us. • How do you know that Jesus wanted the children to be his friends? (Jesus wanted the children to be with him; the children were welcome in the Kingdom of God; Jesus hugged and blessed the children.) • Does Jesus want you to be his friend? How do you know that? (Yes. He loves little children.) • Refer back to the image on page 3. Note the posture of the children, which shows they are friends with Jesus and with one another. 5. Show and briefly describe the Bible and tell children what Jesus said in the Gospels. • I want to tell you more about the Bible. Sharing 1. Refer children to page 3. Read aloud God Gives Us Friends and have children answer the question. 2. Direct children’s attention to the picture on page 3. • Invite volunteers to describe and comment on the image. Point out that Jesus is smiling kindly at the children and blessing them. • Jesus is our friend. Let’s all be good listeners as I tell a story that we learn from the Gospel according to Mark in our holy book, the Bible. This story shows us that Jesus is a friend to children. 3. Tell the story of Jesus and the little children. (Mark 10:13–16) Jesus and the Children People brought little children to Jesus for him to bless. Jesus’ friends, the disciples, told the people to go away because Jesus was tired. Jesus did not like that the disciples were sending the children away. Jesus said, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Then Jesus put his arms around the little children and gave them his blessing. (From Mark 10:13–16) 4. Guide children to realize that Jesus is a friend to children. • Why did the people bring their children to Jesus? (for him to bless) • Why did Jesus want the children to come to him? (He liked being with them and wanted to bless them.) • Who did Jesus say belong to the Kingdom of God? (those who are like children) CHAPTER Jesus Is Our Friend God Gives Us Friends We love our friends. We like to be with our friends. We like to talk to them. They do kind things for us. They make us happy. Friends show us they love us. God is good to give us friends. How can we show our care to our friends? 1 3 Jesus Is Our Friend Chapter 1 T6 Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father SAMPLE

6. Read God’s Son, Jesus on page 4 to children. 7. Explain how Jesus is with us. • It would have been nice to be with those children who saw Jesus long ago. But Jesus loves us, too, and he calls us to come to him. We can come to him even though we cannot see him. Help me say what Jesus said, “I am with you _________.” (always) • Here are some ways we come to Jesus. • We come to Jesus when we pray. • We come to him when we learn about him from others. • We come to Jesus when we go to church and speak to him there because he is present in church in a special way. • We come to Jesus when we care for others as Jesus would. • Jesus blesses us and loves us today, but it is different from the way he blessed and loved people long ago. • When our parents and others love and care for us, Jesus blesses us. • When our teachers help us learn, Jesus blesses us. • When we go to church, Jesus blesses us. • When we see how beautiful the world is, Jesus blesses us. • Have children complete the Jesus and Me activity on page 4. God’s Son, Jesus Jesus is the Son of God. He is also known to us as Jesus Christ. He invites us to be his friends. He likes to be with us. Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” Luke 18:16 Jesus blessed and loved the children when they came to him. He blesses and loves us too. God the Father is good to give us Jesus. He is always with us. Jesus and Me Draw yourself with Jesus. 4 Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father Jesus Is Our Friend Chapter 1 T7 SAMPLE

8. Read aloud Jesus’ Love on page 5. • If we are Jesus’ friends, we want to follow him. We want to be like him and love others. 9. Have children complete the Someone I Love activity on page 5. Encourage children to also draw something loving they will do with the person. 10. Lead children to understand that the crucifix is a sign of Jesus’ love. • Who are some people who love you? How do you know that these people love you? • Who are some people you love? How do you show love for these people? • When we truly love someone, our love makes us willing to do things for that person, even things that are hard. • Reverently pick up the crucifix and hold it while you proclaim the message. • This is a crucifix. It is a cross with the image of Jesus on it. [Pause.] Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He came to show us God’s love. [Pause.] Jesus died on the Cross for us. He gave us the gift of forgiveness from sin and life with God. • After people took Jesus down from the Cross, they put his body into a tomb. It was like a cave. Then they rolled a big stone in front of it. [Pause.] But three days after Jesus was buried, he was raised from the dead. He came back to life with a new life, a risen life. [Pause.] • Now Jesus is in heaven with his Father, but he is with us too. Jesus said, “I am with you _______.” (always) Jesus is alive and with us in the Holy Spirit, whom he gives to his people. • [Pause.] Whenever we look at a cross or a crucifix, we can remember that Jesus died for us, is risen, and is with us now. Jesus’ Love Jesus loves everyone. We want to follow Jesus. We want to be like him. When we act like Jesus, we bring his love to others. We are loving, caring, and helpful. Someone I Love Draw a picture of someone you love. Read the sentence below your picture. I love you. Jesus Is Our Friend Chapter 1 5 T8 Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father SAMPLE

11. Direct children to page 6. Read aloud Jesus Shows His Love. • How did Jesus show us how much he loves us? (He died on the Cross for us.) • What can we do when we look at a cross or crucifi ? (remember that Jesus died for us, is risen, and is with us now) Word to Know Read aloud or invite a volunteer to read aloud the definition of Sign of the Cross from the Word to Know feature. Children can further explore the meaning of the word in the Glossary. A Moment with Jesus 12. Lead children in praying A Moment with Jesus on page 6. • A Moment with Jesus is an opportunity for children to turn to God in the quiet of their hearts. This is a time for personal, internal prayer. You may wish to use a soft chime or other musical tone to let children know when prayer time begins and ends. • Let’s bow our heads and think about how Jesus loves us and invites us to be his friends. • [Pause.] We can speak to Jesus deep in our hearts because he is always with us. • Suggestions for guiding children in silent prayer: • We can tell Jesus anything. Maybe you would like to tell Jesus that you’re happy to be his friend. [Pause.] • You might like to thank him for being your friend. [Pause.] • You could thank him for all the friends you met today. [Pause.] • You might want to tell Jesus that you love him. [Pause.] • Now tell Jesus anything else you’d like. [Pause.] Jesus Shows His Love Jesus shows us how much he loves us. He died on the Cross for us. He gave his life so that our sins can be forgiven and we can live with God in heaven. The Cross reminds us of Jesus’ love. Jesus’ followers pray the Sign of the˜Cross. A Moment with Jesus Jesus is always with us. We can tell him anything. Talk to Jesus in the quiet of your heart. Word to Know Sign of the Cross The action of blessing oneself in the name of the Holy Trinity— Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father 6 Jesus Is Our Friend Chapter 1 T9 SAMPLE

17. Allow time for children to practice praying the Sign of the Cross. 18. Help children associate the Sign of the Cross with the crucifix. • When we pray the Sign of the Cross, we are drawing a cross on ourselves. We remember Jesus’ love. We remember that he died on the Cross and rose for us. • Make the Sign of the Cross as you say: We give Jesus our mind [touch forehead], heart [touch chest], and whole body [touch shoulder to shoulder]. 13. Read aloud The Sign of the Cross on page 7 and teach children the gestures for the Sign of the Cross. • Ask children to look at the pictures on the page. • Now it’s your turn to pray the Sign of the Cross. This prayer has two parts: gestures and words. We are going to begin with the gestures. • We are going to do exactly what the children in the pictures are doing. • Ask children to raise their right hands. Make sure each child has raised the correct hand. Then make the five gestures for the Sign of the Cross with children. Move slowly from gesture to gesture, watching to be sure that children understand. Repeat reverently as many times as needed. 14. Present the words of the Sign of the Cross. • Now we are going to add the words to the actions. • Repeat the above procedure very slowly, adding the words that accompany each movement. Repeat as needed. 15. Tell children that we use the Sign of the Cross as a blessing. • When we pray the Sign of the Cross, we bless ourselves by asking God to bless us. To bless someone or something is to ask that the power of God’s goodness come upon that person or object. • When have you been blessed by someone? When have you seen someone or something being blessed? • When can you bless yourself? (first thing in the morning and last thing at night; at meals; anytime) 16. OPTION Have children scan the QR code on page 7 using a handheld, web-enabled device to experience the media. 1 2 3 4 5 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Sign of the Cross When we pray the Sign of the Cross, we remember that Jesus loves us. We pray the Sign of the Cross in words and gestures. Praying this prayer shows that we believe in God the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus Is Our Friend Chapter 1 7 T10 Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father SAMPLE

Families IN MISSION Remind children to take home pages 9–10 to share what they are learning with their families. CHECKPOINT Were the learning outcomes achieved? How do children express the conviction that Jesus loves them? How are children making efforts to be loving? Families IN MISSION A Catholic to Know Invite one family member to read aloud about Saint Mark. Then discuss how his example can guide our lives. Mark was a friend of the apostle Peter. Peter told Mark all about Jesus. Mark loved Peter’s stories about Jesus so much that he wrote them for others to read. The Gospel of Mark tells about Jesus’ life, teachings, and miracles. Witness and Share These sentences describe what Catholics believe. Invite one family member to read aloud the My Way to Faith statements. Ask yourself, “How do I live my Catholic beliefs?” My Way to Faith • Jesus died on the Cross for us. • I remember Jesus’ love when I pray the Sign of the Cross. • I love Jesus. Share Your Faith Draw how you can show your faith in God this week. Invite your family members to show their faith in God. Saint Mark 10 Grade 1 Christ Our Life® Families IN MISSION CHAPTER Continued on next page. Do these pages at home as a family. As Catholics, we gather to hear God’s Word and celebrate the sacraments. “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 Know and Proclaim Read and discuss the introduction and the chart below. Jesus, the Son of God, is our friend. We share this happy news with others. We Know Our Faith We Proclaim Our Faith Jesus Christ is our˜friend. As Catholics, we show our friendship with Jesus by loving others. Jesus died on the Cross because he loves us. We remember Jesus’ love when we pray the Sign of the Cross. Test Your Catholic Knowledge Fill in the circle that best answers the question. Then discuss the correct answer. Why do we pray the Sign of the Cross? ❍ to learn about shapes ❍ to have fun with friends ❍ to remember that Jesus loves us ❍ to ask Mary to pray for us 1 Scan the QR code for the answer to the question and to access other Christ Our Life resources for families. 9 Christ Our Life® Grade 1 Acting 1. Direct children to the Review on page 8. • I have two questions to ask you from a special section of your book called We Remember on page 8. [Ask the We Remember questions several times.] Try to memorize this section every week. • Read aloud the Word to Know. • Have children look at the We Respond section. Explain that it always has a prayer. Invite children to pray the prayer aloud after you: “I love you, Jesus.” • Read the directions for the Your Turn activity and allow time for children to complete it. • At the end of class, have children tear out and take home page 8. 2. OPTION Distribute Reproducible 1a, Pre-test/Post-test or Reproducible 1b, Chapter 1 Quiz. Use this opportunity to assess children’s understanding of the main concepts in the chapter. Read aloud all quizzes for children until they can read. 3. OPTION Have children undertake the interactive chapter review by scanning the QR code on page 8 and send the results to you. 4. Invite children to tell their family and friends the story of Jesus and the children. Encourage them to tell their family about the new friends they met today. Name 1a REPRODUCIBLE Christ Our Life® All Rights Reserved Christ Our Life® Reproducibles w3154 www.christourlife.com GRADE 1 Chapter 1 Page 2 of 2 Pre-test/Post-test (cont.) Circle T if the sentence is true. Circle F if the sentence is false. 11. God is our heavenly Father. p. 22 T F 12. The world made itself. pp. 12, 17 T F 13. Jesus is the Son of God. pp. 4, 85 T F 14. Mary is the Mother of God and of the Church. pp. 87, 205 T F 15. Jesus died on the Cross to free us from sin. p. 172 T F 16. Jesus rose from the dead on Christmas. pp. 97, 177 182 T F 17. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to Mary and the Apostles. p. 188 T F 18. Adam and Eve always obeyed God. p. 79 T F 19. The Holy Spirit helps us be like Jesus. p. 143 T F 20. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. p. 170 T F REVIEW Your Turn Color the cross. Then trace the words. Jesus loves me. Word to Know Sign of the Cross pp. 6, 278 We Remember Why did Jesus die on the Cross? Jesus died on the Cross to show how much he loves us. What is the Sign of the Cross? The Sign of the Cross is a prayer. When we pray this prayer, we remember that Jesus loves us. We Respond I love you, Jesus. CHAPTER Jesus Is Our Friend 1 8 Chapter 1 Chapter Review Jesus Is Our Friend Chapter 1 T11 SAMPLE

T12 Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father Chapter 1 Enriching the Faith Experience Use the following activities to enrich a lesson or to replace an activity with one that better meets the needs of your class. For activities related to the liturgical season, see Special Seasons and Lessons, which begin on page T279. 1. Explore or revisit the multimedia for this chapter in more depth. 2. Explain that Jesus is with us today in people who love and care for us. Give a personal example of someone who brings Jesus’ love to you. • Who brings Jesus’ love to you? How? • When people love and care for us, they show Jesus’ love and care for us. Jesus is with us in our family and in doctors, nurses, teachers, and friends. He is with all those who love us and try to help us. He is with each one of us. He helps us show his love and care. 3. Let children dramatize how Jesus loves them through people. Provide the following examples: • A family member helping a child make a snack • A crossing guard helping children cross the street • A parent reading a story to children • A teacher playing a game with children 4. Show pictures of people being kind and loving. Explain that one of the ways Jesus is with us is in the people who bring us his love. Let children take turns selecting a picture and telling how it shows Jesus’ presence. 5. Explain that we can make the Sign of the Cross on others as a way to bless them. Sometimes the Sign of the Cross is traced with holy oil called chrism or with ashes. • Trace the cross on each child’s forehead. • Say: “Jesus is with you, [Name].” 6. Alert children to the use of the Sign of the Cross in church. • Watch during Mass for times when the priest prays the Sign of the Cross as a blessing. • Watch during Mass for times when we bless ourselves. • Remember to bless yourself with holy water when you enter and leave the church. 7. Ask a priest to preside at a celebration with children and, if you wish, invite their parents to join you. Have them bring a crucifix to be blessed for their homes. Place the crucifixes on a table. An outline of a celebration follows: Song Sing a song of your choice. Reading This reading is from a letter written by one of Jesus’ friends, named John. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. … Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. (1 John 4:9,11) The Word of the Lord. [Prompt children to respond, “Thanks be to God.”] Comments by the Priest Explain the meaning of the Sign of the Cross. Blessing of the Crucifixes The Sign of the Cross may be made before the blessing. Presentation of the Crucifixes The priest gives the crucifixes to the parents, who give them to their children. Song Sing a song of your choice. SAMPLE

Jesus Is Our Friend Chapter 1 T13 8. Engage children in role-playing to help them realize that they are able to choose to act like Jesus. Introduce the activity. Provide an opportunity for each child to take part, but do not force participation. • Jesus is our friend. He showed love for other people. Do you think we can be like Jesus and show love for others? Let’s have some skits. I will tell what is happening in each skit. You must decide how to finish the skit in a way that shows love for others. Each of you will have a chance to be in a skit if you want to. • You are on the playground playing in a group. You see Jennifer by herself with no one to play with. • You are playing ball with your friends during recess. A ball from another class rolls into the place where you are playing. • You are at the lunch table with Marcus and some other children. Marcus has no lunch because he forgot it at home. • The bell has rung, and the class is lining up. If you run a little, you can get ahead of Emma and be the first in line. • Did the skit show people who chose to do things the way Jesus’ followers would? How were those people like Jesus? 9. Comment on the role-playing activity: • Remember that Jesus is with you in a special way when you show you are his follower. • Jesus asks you to love others as he did. SAMPLE

CHAPTER God Is Good Listening Come and see the works of God, awesome in deeds before the children of Adam. Psalm 66:5 God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good. Genesis 1:31 Reflecting The first American astronaut to view our planet from space expressed awe upon seeing such a different view of something he had come to take for granted. We might have experienced a similar wonder the first time we heard our own heartbeat and realized the meaning of that rhythmic pulsing. Pausing to reflect on the intricacy, design, power, or infinite variety in the created world refreshes the mind that is weary from the sensory overstimulation of our technological age. Through the psalmist, God invites us: Be still and know that I am God! Psalm 46:11 Faith Focus God made the world good. Reflecting on the Faith Experience Take a few moments to reflect prayerfully before preparing the lesson. Responding Spirit Divine, open our hearts that the children and I might see your goodness in ourselves and in all creation. Scripture for Further Reflection Daniel 3:52–90 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown into a white-hot furnace because they will not worship a golden idol. When an angel of the Lord protects them from harm, the three glorify and bless God, the Lord of all creation. Matthew 6:26–34 Jesus emphasizes dependence on God. He tells us that we are not to worry about our lives and what we will eat or drink or about our bodies and what we will wear. If only we will take the time to put aside our busyness, the goodness of creation will captivate us and lead us to give thanks and praise to God our Father. We can open our senses to the warmth of the sunlight, the beauty of a rainbow, the gentleness of a refreshing breeze. We can pause to see the dew on the grass, the winged wonders in the sky, or the antics of a chipmunk scampering nearby. We can recognize the goodness of God shining through the eyes of a child and hear our Creator speak in the exclamations of delight of young children at play. In Eucharistic Prayer IV, we lift up our hearts to praise and thank God, and we acclaim: You, who alone are good, the source of life, have made all that is, so that you might fill your creatures with blessings and bring joy to many of them by the glory of your light. How are these words, as well as the daily signs of God’s wisdom and love, meaningful to me? 2 T14 Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father SAMPLE

Care for God’s Creation. Children learn to have a sense of reverence and responsibility for the world. This lesson will help them be aware of their stewardship responsibilities. God has made us stewards over the wealth and natural resources of the earth. As Christians, we are responsible for our planet for the sake of all people and for generations to come. God’s Creation 5. In his 1990 World Day of Peace message, Pope John Paul II reminded us to be committed to a healthy environment. This commitment comes directly from our belief in God the Creator. We have respect for everything in the world because it was all created by God. 6. Be conscious of the great privilege of sharing the Bible with children. You are introducing them to the rich heritage of the religious experience of God’s people. Through the Bible, children enter into the intimate relationship of God with his people. Let children sense that Bible sharing is a sacred and precious time as you reveal to them the faith history of the Christian community. 7. We tell or read Scripture stories not only for enjoyment but also to impart a religious message. God talks to us through these stories. Teach children early to show a reverence for Scripture stories so that they will gradually develop an awareness and acceptance of God’s presence among them in his Word. Before You Begin 1. Determine whether the media will be experienced during class or at home. 2. Download from the LP Digital Library Reproducible 2b, Chapter 2 Quiz. 3. The powerful actions of God in the creation of our world are the beginning of the mystery of our salvation. Creation leads directly to our redemption in Jesus Christ. God has always been present with his people. God continues to be actively and lovingly present in our world, bringing it to completion and us to a knowledge of himself and his goodness. 4. Throughout this chapter, children are immersed in one of the major themes of Catholic social teaching— Preparing for the Faith Experience Scripture in This Chapter Genesis 1:1–1:31 The Story of Creation Psalm 104:24 How varied are your works. Catholic Social Teaching God’s Creation Church Documents Catechism of the Catholic Church. The themes in this chapter correspond to the following paragraphs: 282, 289–293, 299, 307, 2415. Directory for Catechesis #12. Jesus proclaims and reveals that God is not distant from us but rather is present among us with a powerful love. Laudato Si' #13 (Pope Francis). Catechesis should encourage respect for the integrity of creation and our obligation to protect and preserve the environment. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church #36. All people are called to roles of leadership in promoting peace and justice and in seeing that the goods of the earth are more equitably distributed among all people. Followers of Christ are to be seriously involved in bringing about the fullness of love as Christ did in his life on earth. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World #34. Because all creation reflects the goodness of God as its source, the preservation and protection of creation is a common priority for all people but especially for Christians. Media in This Chapter Determine in advance if you will have children experience the media during class or at home. This media can be accessed by scanning the QR code with a webenabled smartphone or tablet. Families in Mission Send home the Families in Mission pages after teaching the chapter so that families can further explore the teaching, grow in faith, and be inspired to go forth as missionary disciples. Enriching the Faith Experience Use the activities at the end of the chapter to enrich a lesson or to replace an activity with one that better meets the needs of your class. God Is Good Chapter 2 T15 Inclusion Scan the QR code for Inclusion articles or access them from the LP Digital Library. SAMPLE

Get-Ready Guide Families IN MISSION Remind children to take home pages 19–20 to share what they are learning with their families. Steps Learning Outcomes Children will be able to Action Plan Materials Centering 5–10 minutes Page 11 • recall the last chapter. • name some of the wonders of creation. • Welcome children. • Review the previous chapter. (T17) PAGE 11 • Read and discuss Yellow Dancing Butterflies. Bible enthroned on a table (Bookmark Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:31.) Sharing 40 minutes Pages 11–17 • relate the beauty of creation to God’s goodness. • tell the biblical story of creation. • give examples of God’s continuing creative activity in our world. • explain that our natural resources require care to preserve them and suggest ways they can care for our world. • define the Words to Know. creation Creator See the Glossary for definitions. • Discuss the illustrations and the children’s experiences of the natural world. • OPTION Complete the drawing activity. (T18) PAGE 12 • Read and discuss God Made Everything. • Read the Words to Know. • Tell and discuss the story of creation. • Complete the God’s Creation activity (T19). • Read the God’s Word feature. PAGE 13 • Read and discuss Caring for God’s World. • OPTION Guide children to the multimedia. (T19) • Discuss our responsibility to care for God’s creation. • Lead the children in praying A Moment with Jesus. PAGES 14–16 • Read and discuss A Seed. (T20) PAGE 17 • Complete The Story of Creation activity. OPTION Device with internet access Crayons or markers Drawing paper (optional) Acting 5–10 minutes Page 18 • participate in prayer around the main theme of the chapter. PAGE 18 • Go over the Chapter Review. (T21) • OPTION Complete the Chapter 2 Quiz. • OPTION Guide children to the multimedia. (T21) OPTION Reproducible 2b T16 Unit 1 God Is Our Good Father SAMPLE

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