Christ Our Life God Cares for Us PARISH EDITION Catechist’s Guide ® GRADE 2 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 the doctrinal content of this manual, 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 © 2010 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, Act of Contrition, and 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 prayers Grace Before Meals, Grace After Meals, and Prayer to One’s Guardian Angel come from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Copyright © 2006, U.S. Conference Catholic Bishops. 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 978-0-8294-5295-2 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. 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 T357. 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 Gives Us Life and Love T1 Chapter 1 God Is the Giver of Gifts. . . . . T2 Chapter 2 Jesus Is God’s Best Gift. . . . . T12 Chapter 3 Jesus Lives in His Church. . . . T22 Chapter 4 God Speaks to Us. . . . . . . T32 UNIT 1 Jesus Calls Us to Give Ourselves in Love T41 Chapter 5 Jesus Shows Us How to Love God Our Father. . . . . . T42 Chapter 6 Jesus Shows Us How to Love Others. . . . . . . . . T52 Chapter 7 We Give Love to Others. . . . . T62 Chapter 8 Jesus Calls Us to Live in Love. . .T70 Jesus Gives Us the Gift of Peace T79 Chapter 9 Our Friend Jesus Forgives Us. . . T80 Chapter 10 Jesus Leads Us to His Peace. . . T92 Chapter 11 The Holy Spirit Helps Us. . . . T102 Chapter 12 We Meet Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. . .T112 Chapter 13 We Grow as Disciples. . . . . T120 Chapter 14 Jesus Calls Us His Friends. . . .T128 Jesus Gives Us the Gift of Himself T137 Chapter 15 Jesus Promised the Gift of Himself . . . . . . . .T138 Chapter 16 We Celebrate God’s Love. . . . T148 Chapter 17 Jesus Invites Us. . . . . . . T158 Chapter 18 We Listen and Pray. . . . . . T168 UNIT 2 UNIT 3 UNIT 4 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 Second Grader OV-45 SAMPLE
vi What Catholics Should Know T303 Prayer and How We Pray T305 Stations of the Cross T312 The Seven Sacraments T316 Holy Days of Obligation T319 Commandments T320 Making Good Choices T322 The Bible T323 Showing Our Love for the World T324 Student Book Cover Prayers T325 Saints and Feast Days T327 September T328 October T329 November T330 December T331 January T332 February T333 March T334 April T335 May T336 June T336 July T337 August T338 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . T339 Index..............T349 Scripture Index . . . . . . . . . . T355 Chapter 19 We Prepare Our Gifts . . . . . T178 Chapter 20 Jesus Offers Himself. . . . . .T186 Chapter 21 We Receive the Bread of Life. . T194 Chapter 22 We Share God’s Love with Others . . . . . . . . T204 The Church Celebrates God’s Care T213 Chapter 23 We Are One in the Church. . . .T214 Chapter 24 Mary, Mother of the Church, Cares for Us. . . . . . . . .T226 Chapter 25 The Church Celebrates God’s Love. . . . . . . . . T234 Special Seasons and Lessons T243 The Year in Our Church T245 1 Feast of All Saints T246 2 Advent T251 3 Christmas T260 4 Lent T266 5 Holy Week T273 6 Easter T279 7 Pentecost T284 8 The Missions T289 9 Reconciliation Service T296 10 Eucharist: Planning a Mass T298 UNIT 5 SAMPLE
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. UNIT 1 God Gives Us Life and Love Goals • Children will tell how everything and everyone is a gift from God. • They will demonstrate understanding of Baptism and the Church. 1 God Is the Giver of Gifts The living God shares with each person the gift of human life and calls each one to eternal union. Children learn that their life is a sign of God’s love and that they are led to a deeper awareness of God’s presence in the love, beauty, and goodness of the other gifts given to them each day. 2 Jesus Is God’s Best Gift God the Father reveals his love for the human family in the gift of his Son, Jesus. Jesus shows us how we can come into the fullness of our being and enjoy life with him forever. Children learn how they can live in union with God, who has come to dwell among us. 3 Jesus Lives in His Church Baptism joins us to the Church, a community of people who believe in Jesus and live together in love and unity under the leadership of our Holy Father, the pope. Children learn how Baptism is the beginning of a new life and opens their hearts to God’s love. They learn that the Church proclaims and teaches God’s Word, celebrates God’s presence among us, and devotes itself to living in the power of God’s love. Children share in the mission of Christ as members of his Church. 4 God Speaks to Us We celebrate God’s gifts by sharing them with others. Children review the main concepts of Unit 1. They participate in a celebration of their belonging to the Church community. T1 SAMPLE
CHAPTER God Is the Giver of Gifts Listening You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know. Psalm 139:13–14 Reflecting Poets and writers capture in words the wonder of the world and the vitality of life. Their sensitivity to sights, sounds, and feelings helps us see familiar things in a new way and increases our awareness of the greatness of God. Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans says: Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. Romans 1:20 Faith Focus We were made like God and given many gifts. Reflecting on the Faith Experience Take a few moments to reflect prayerfully before preparing the lesson. Responding God, giver of all good gifts, thank you for your gift of life. Scripture for Further Reflection Genesis 1:27–30 We are created in the image of God. Luke 12:24–29 God provides for his creatures. James 1:17 Every perfect gift comes from God. The psalmist, reflecting on how the human person surpasses the other marvels of creation, says: When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place— What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him little less than a god, crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, put all things at his feet. Psalm 8:4–7 How do I express my thanks to God? How can I share with others how thankful I am? 1 T2 Unit 1 God Gives Us Life and Love SAMPLE
Preparing for the Faith Experience Directory for Catechesis #237. Children should learn to recognize their own dignity and their importance not only for what they will do in the future but for who they are now. Sharing Catholic Social Teaching (USCCB). Our Catholic tradition teaches us that every person is precious and that people are more important than things. 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 web-enabled smartphone or tablet. 6. Our lives are precious gifts from God our Father, who has formed all people in his image and likeness. God made us with the power to think, to choose, and to love. 7. God has set humankind over the rest of the created world and calls us to cooperate in caring for it. The story of creation in the Book of Genesis is placed at the very beginning of the Bible for a reason: to make the emphatic statement that all of creation comes from God, is directed toward God, and is good. 8. A person whose vision of life is shaped by the Christian faith sees God manifesting himself in all of creation, in the events of everyday life, and especially in the people who faithfully reflect God’s loving kindness. 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. 9. Presenting the religion book in a prayerful ceremony encourages children to regard it as a meaningful book that can help them come closer to Jesus. If a priest cannot be present for this, perhaps he can bless the books beforehand. 10. 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. Scripture in This Chapter Psalm 104:1 Bless the Lord Genesis 1:27 Made in God’s Image Psalm 139:14 Psalm of Praise Luke 12:24–29 God Cares for You Psalm 40:6 God’s Immeasurable Gifts Mark 16:15 Share the Gospel Catholic Social Teaching Life and Dignity God’s Creation Church Documents Catechism of the Catholic Church. The themes in this chapter correspond to the following paragraphs: 299, 301, 355–358, 422. Before You Begin 1. Determine whether the media will be experienced during class or at home. 2. Download from the LP Digital Library Reproducible 1a, Pre-Test/Post-Test, and Reproducible 1b, Chapter 1 Quiz. 3. God reveals himself as a loving Father who has given us everything in nature and even a chance to participate in divine life. 4. All creation speaks of the wonders of our God, who calls us to an ever-closer intimacy. 5. God’s gifts are given for all people and are to be shared by all. We are called to care for God’s creation. God Is the Giver of Gifts Chapter 1 T3 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 9–10 to share what they are learning with their families. 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 share love with others. • Welcome children. (T5) • Distribute the Student Books with a prayerful celebration. PAGE 1 • Explore the Unit 1 opener. • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. PAGE 2 • OPTION Remove and send home A Letter Home at the end of class. OPTION Device with internet access Music Student Book for each child Sharing 40 minutes Pages 3–7 • explain that we are made in the image of God. • name three things we can do because we are created in God’s likeness. • explain how to give ourselves as gifts. • describe God’s never-failing care for creation. • identify the different levels of being. • describe the dignity of each person. • define the Word to Know. Trinity See the Glossary for the definition. PAGE 3 • Read and discuss God’s Gifts Show His Love. (T6) • Discuss how people are God’s gifts. • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. PAGE 4 • Read and discuss We Are Gifts. (T7) • Read and Discuss God’s Word. PAGE 5 • Read and discuss God Gives Us Gifts. (T8) • Complete the activities I Can Think, I Can Choose, and I Can Love. • Tell Jesus’ story about how God cares for all creation. • Discuss how we can care for creation. PAGE 6 • Read and discuss God Cares for Us. (T9) • Pray A Moment with Jesus. • Complete the activity God Cares for His Gifts. • Complete and discuss the Ladder of Creation exercise. PAGE 7 • Read and discuss God’s Gifts Are Precious. (T10) • Complete the activities My Gift from God and Thank You, God. Box with a mirror taped inside so that when children look inside the box, they see themselves Bible bookmarked to Genesis 1:27 Art supplies Drawing of ladder steps Picture of a rock Picture of a plant Picture of an animal, such as a dog, a turtle, or a bird Picture of a child Acting 5–10 minutes Page 8 • review key concepts. PAGE 8 • Guide children through the Chapter 1 Review. • Pray together We Respond. • Complete the Your Turn activity. OPTION Administer the Chapter 1 Quiz. OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. OPTION Reproducible 1a OPTION Reproducible 1b T4 Unit 1 God Gives Us Life and Love SAMPLE
UNIT 1 Bless the LORD, my soul! LORD, my God, you are great indeed! Psalm 104:1 God Gives Us Life and Love 1 Centering 1. Warmly welcome children and introduce yourself. • You have come here to learn more about Jesus so that you can grow to be more like him. • During this year together, we will help one another know and love Jesus more as we get to know one another better. We will share ideas and pray together. 2. Play a game of “Follow the Leader.” • Play music and invite children, one by one, to follow you around the room. You might choose to have everyone hop on one foot or clap their hands. 3. Present and distribute the religion books. • This year is unique because you will be preparing to meet with Jesus in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. • Today you will receive an important book to use this year. Show the religion book. • Why do you think this book is important? (It will help us learn more about Jesus.) 4. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the title of Unit 1, God Gives Us Life and Love on page 1. • Describe the pictures on this page. (a loving family; a mama bird sitting on her eggs in a nest; neighbors and families walking to church) 5. Have children find the Scripture passage at the bottom of page 1. Invite a volunteer to read it aloud. • God the Father is truly great and wonderful. He gives us many gifts. God’s most important gift to us is his Son, Jesus. 6. OPTION Direct children to the QR code on page 1. • Explain that you will be inviting them to access media behind the code, whether it be 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 LOOKING AHEAD Scan the QR code with a web-enabled device to view a video on the life and charism of Saint Pius X together as a family. You will learn more about this 20th-century saint in the Families in Mission pages for Chapter 3. Dear Parents and Family, Welcome to Christ Our Life! You have the opportunity to be involved in your child’s learning about the Catholic faith. Your interest, participation, and discussions at home will expand your child’s understanding of these lessons and convey a message about their importance. Unit 1 introduces your child to an all-loving God who cares personally about each of us. Children learn that everything and everyone are gifts from God, and they are led to a greater awareness of God’s presence in the everyday. They learn that God the Father’s greatest gift is his Son, Jesus, who freed us from sin. Jesus shows us how we can enjoy life with God forever. Children come to a deeper understanding of Baptism, which joins us to the Church and is an initiation into a new life united with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This leads to a discussion of the Trinity. Children learn how the Church shares and teaches Sacred Scripture, celebrates God’s presence among us, and is dedicated to living in God’s love. At home, consider lighting your child’s baptismal candle at a family meal as a reminder of your child’s Baptism and bringing Jesus’ Light to others. Children revisit essential 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 is a unit review. There you will find a QR code to scan to play the Stump the Shepherd unit review game. 2 Unit 1 Christ Our Life® God Is the Giver of Gifts Chapter 1 T5 SAMPLE
CHAPTER 1 God Is the Giver of Gifts God’s Gifts Show His Love God is the GIVER OF GIFTS. God gives the gift of summer. I feel the warm sun on my back and cool blades of grass beneath my feet. And I know that GOD IS GOOD! God sends the gifts of rain, colorful flowers, trees to climb, and lakes with waves. I know the gift of the touch of a soft, furry kitten and the sight of a puppy’s wagging tail. And I know that GOD IS GOOD! God gives the gift of people who love me and care for me when I fall and scrape my knee, who help me with my schoolwork, who hug me when I feel sad or lonely or scared. And I know that GOD LOVES ME! God Is the Giver of Gifts Chapter 1 3 Sharing 1. Discuss gifts. • What are some gifts you have received? • Did you ever receive a gift that wasn’t in a gift box? What was it? Look at page 1 in your books. Here is a picture of some gifts that are not wrapped up and tied with pretty bows. What are the gifts in this picture? (a family, a bird, a church, a neighborhood) • How many of you have made something, or drawn a picture, or picked flowers as a gift for someone? • What was your gift? Why did you give these gifts? (to show my love) • God has given all of us so many gifts, more than we could ever count, out of love. 2. Turn to God’s Gifts Show His Love on page 3. • What is the title of the poem? (God’s Gifts Show His Love) • Invite children to listen while you read aloud each verse of the poem and discuss the gifts it mentions: • (after verse 1) What gifts of God did you enjoy this summer? • (after verse 2) What things in the world are your favorite gifts? • (after verse 3) Who are some of the people who love and care for you? • Re-read aloud God’s Gifts Show His Love. Have children read aloud the words in all capital letters. 3. Present the box with the mirror inside. • I want to show you another of God’s wonderful gifts. You will know what this gift is when you look inside the box. Who would like to look inside and find out what the gift is? Don’t tell us what you see so that it is a surprise for everyone. • Let children take turns looking inside to discover that the gift is themselves. • What happened when you looked in the box? • You saw an image, or likeness, of yourself. • The Bible tells us that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Read aloud Genesis 1:27 from the bookmarked Bible. • God made us to be like himself. Of all the wonderful creations in our world, we are the closest to and the most like God. • What can people do that the mountains, fowers, and animals God made cannot do? 4. OPTION If feasible, have children scan the QR code on page 3 using a handheld, webenabled device to experience the media. T6 Unit 1 God Gives Us Life and Love SAMPLE
We Are Gifts God the Father makes everything. He made the sun and the moon. He made plants and animals. All creation is a gift from God. God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The one God in Three Persons is called the Trinity. God made us. We are gifts too. Humans are different from the rest of creation. We are made in God’s image and likeness. This means God made us to be like himself. We can think. We can choose. We can love. God created us to be with him and to be happy, now and forever. Gifts are to be given. We give ourselves to others. We give ourselves to God. God’s Word I praise you, because I am wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 Word to Know Trinity The mystery of one God existing in Three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Unit 1 God Gives Us Life and Love 4 God’s Word 8. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the Scripture passage from Psalms from the God’s Word feature on page 4. • We are all wonderfully made by God our Father. He loves us and cares for us. Let’s take a moment now to praise and thank God for making us so wonderful! • Allow time for children to pray silently. 5. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the first paragraph of We Are Gifts on page 4. • Who creates all things? (God) • What is another name for God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? (Trinity) • We recognize the Trinity every time we pray the Sign of the Cross. Word to Know Invite a volunteer to read aloud the definition of Trinity from the Word to Know feature. Children can further explore the meaning of the word in the Glossary. 6. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the next paragraph. • We are precious gifts from God. God loves and cares for each one of us. • What three things can we do because we are made in the image and likeness of God? (think, choose, and love) God’s Creation 7. Ask a volunteer to read aloud the third paragraph. • We can give the gift of ourselves by helping and caring for others. What are some examples of giving ourselves to others? (zip up someone’s jacket; give someone a smile or a kind word; sing a song; give someone a hug) • How can we give ourselves to God? (by ofering ourselves to God in prayer; by doing everything for God) Life and Dignity God Is the Giver of Gifts Chapter 1 T7 SAMPLE
God Gives Us Gifts God gives us a mind so that we can think. We can choose. God also gives us the ability to love. I Can Think Write one thing you learned recently. I Can Love In the heart, draw a picture of someone you love. Ask God to bless that person. I Can Choose Choose the pet you like best. Circle it. God our Father, please bless . God Is the Giver of Gifts Chapter 1 5 • If time allows, share with children a personal experience of God’s loving care, and invite volunteers to share theirs. 11. Discuss with children how they can care for creation. • God asks us to take care of ourselves, other people, and all the things he makes and gives to us. Why do you think God wants us to look after all these things? • How can you take care of yourselves? (eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, cleaning up after myself) How can you take care of others? (sharing, helping, using my gifts) • Do flowers have to make cloth and sew clothes? (No.) Why are flowers so beautiful? (God makes them that way.) • Why does Jesus say we don’t need to worry? (because God will take care of us) Why does God care for us? (We are more precious than all the other creatures.) • How are people extraordinary? (God made us in his image and likeness. We can think, choose, and love.) No matter how you may be feeling—happy, sad, excited, angry, or afraid—God is always with you and will take care of you. 9. Guide children to read and complete page 5. • Ask a volunteer to read aloud God Gives Us Gifts. Then invite children to do the activities I Can Think, I Can Choose, and I Can Love. • Ask volunteers to share their work. 10. Tell Jesus’ story about how God cares for all creatures. • Jesus wanted people to know that God our Father cares for everything he makes and that God cares for people so much more. • In the Bible, Jesus tells us about God’s loving care. • Read aloud God Loves and Cares for Us. God Loves and Cares for Us Luke’s Gospel tells us that one day, Jesus was teaching people about his Father. He wanted them to know that God the Father loves and cares for us more than anything else in the world. Jesus told the people to look at the birds in the sky. He said that birds don’t plant seeds or store food in storehouses or barns. Yet, God our Father feeds them. Jesus said we are much more important than birds. Then Jesus pointed out the flowers that grow wild in the field. He reminded the people that flowers don’t spin thread or weave cloth to make clothes. Yet not even a king has clothes as beautiful as theirs. Jesus told the people that if this is how God clothes the wild grass in the field, which is here today and gone tomorrow, he will take much more care of us. Jesus said that God’s people are worth so much more than the birds and the flowers. We can trust in God and not worry anymore. (From Luke 12:24–29) • Do birds plant seeds or store food in barns? (No.) • Why don’t birds do this? (God provides food for them in nature.) T8 Unit 1 God Gives Us Life and Love SAMPLE
God Cares for Us The Gospel of Luke tells us that one day, Jesus was teaching people about God the Father. Jesus wanted everyone to know that the Father loves us and will always take good care of us. Jesus reminded the people of how God takes care of the birds and flowers. He makes sure that they have what they need. Then Jesus told the people that God loves us much more than the birds and the flowers. God loves us more than any part of his creation and he will always provide for us. A Moment with Jesus Think about the wonderful things God the Father makes. Listen to his Son, Jesus, tell you how much God loves and cares for you. God Cares for His Gifts Tell Jesus how you will care for God’s gift of creation. Unit 1 God Gives Us Life and Love 6 • How can you help take care of the beautiful land God has given us? (not littering or destroying the land) • How can you take care of the water in the lakes, rivers, and streams? (not polluting; conserving water) • How can you help take care of living things such as animals? (feeding, playing with, and loving your pets; respecting wild animals) • How can you show God that you’re grateful for the gift of food? (Don’t play with food. Pray before and after meals.) God’s Creation 12. Invite volunteers to read aloud God Cares for Us on page 6. A Moment with Jesus 13. Lead children in personal prayer using A Moment with Jesus. • 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 them know when prayer time begins and ends. • Invite children to spend some quiet time with Jesus each day. 14. Invite children to complete the activity God Cares for His Gifts on page 6. • You might encourage children to draw more flowers, butterflies, and birds on the page. • Invite volunteers to share their work. 15. Introduce the Ladder of Creation exercise. • Let’s work together to make a Ladder of Creation. What does the word creation mean? (things God makes) We can also use the word creatures to describe things that God makes. • Let’s put a rock, a plant, and an animal on the correct steps of the ladder. • On the bottom step belongs something God made that is not alive. What can we put on that step? (rock) • Let’s put a living thing that can grow, but cannot see or hear, on the next step. (plant) • On the third step, let’s put a creature that can do more than a plant can do. (animal) • What are some things an animal can do that a plant can’t do? • At the top of the ladder belongs a creature God made in his own image and likeness. Who could this be? Place a picture of a child on the top step of the ladder. 16. Discuss why people are precious. • Why are people on the top step of the ladder? (People are greater than the other creatures God makes on earth.) • Why are people the most important in all of God’s creation? (God made people in his own image and likeness.) • How are people like God? (People can think, choose, and love.) • Because we are more advanced than any other creature on earth, we have a responsibility to take care of God’s creation. God’s Creation God Is the Giver of Gifts Chapter 1 T9 SAMPLE
God’s Gifts Are Precious Think about all the gifts God has given you. God is good to give us many gifts. My Gift from God Choose one of the gifts that God has given you. Draw yourself in the box using your gift. Then write your name on the gift tag. Thank You, God Write a prayer to thank God for the many good gifts he gives us. To: From: God God Is the Giver of Gifts Chapter 1 7 REVIEW Your Turn CHAPTER God Is the Giver of Gifts 1 Below, draw a picture of something God created that shows his love. Word to Know Trinity pp. 4, 244 We Remember How are humans different in God’s creation? God made us in his image and likeness. We can think, choose, and love. What is the Trinity? The Trinity is one God inThree Persons—God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We Respond You, yes you, O LORD, my God, have done many wondrous deeds!. . . Should I wish to declare or tell them, too many are they to recount. Psalm 40:6 8 Chapter 1 Chapter Review 17. Invite a volunteer to read aloud God’s Gifts Are Precious on page 7. 18. Have children complete the activities My Gift from God and Thank You, God. • Supply words they might need to write their prayers, such as Jesus, love, thank, and God. • Invite volunteers to share their drawings and their prayers. Acting 1. Guide children through the Chapter 1 Review on page 8. 2. Pray together We Respond. 3. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the directions for the Your Turn activity and have children complete it. 4. 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. 5. At the end of class, have children tear out and take home A Letter Home on page 2 and pages 9–10. 6. OPTION Have children undertake the interactive chapter review by scanning the QR code on page 8 and send the results to you. Name Score REPRODUCIBLE Christ Our Life® All Rights Reserved Christ Our Life® Reproducibles w3155 www.christourlife.com GRADE 2 Chapter 1 1b Chapter 1 Quiz Write the correct word on the line to complete each sentence. Use the word bank to help you. WORD BANK creation think Son choose image everything Trinity God gifts us 1. God is Father, , and Holy Spirit. p. 4 2. We are made in God’s . p. 4 3. All is a gift from God. p. 4 4. God the Father will always take good care of . p. 6 5. God gave us a mind so that we can . pp. 4,5 6. God is good to give us many . p. 7 7. God gave us the ability to love and to . pp. 4,5 8. We give ourselves to . p. 4 9. God the Father makes . p. 4 10. The mystery of one God in three Persons is called the . p. 4 Son image think gifts creation choose everything Trinity God us 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? Were children able to demonstrate an understanding of giving themselves as gifts? Were children able to share ways they can care for creation? Families IN MISSION A Catholic to Know Invite one family member to read aloud about Saint Bernadette. Then discuss how her example can guide our lives. Bernadette was born in France in 1844. As a young girl, Bernadette was visited by Mary at a cave near her home. Mary gave her a message of penance and prayer to share with others. Bernadette told the truth about what she saw. Hardly anyone believed her at first, but Bernadette never backed down. Today, millions of people have visited Bernadette’s town in France seeking God’s healing in their lives. 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 • I believe that God made everything and everyone. • I believe that God made me in his image. • I remember the Trinity when I pray the Sign of the Cross. Share Your Faith Below, write one way you can share your Catholic faith. Then invite family members to tell more ways to share God’s love. Saint Bernadette 10 Grade 2 Christ Our Life® Families IN MISSION CHAPTER Continued on next page. Scan the QR code for the answer to the question and to access other Christ Our Life resources for families. Do these pages at home as a family. 1 As Catholics, we gather to hear God’s Word and celebrate the sacraments. “Go . . . proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 Know and Proclaim Read and discuss the introduction and the chart below. God gives us our lives. We share God’s love with others. We Know Our Faith We Proclaim Our Faith God made everything. God loves everyone. As Catholics, we take care of God’s creation and respect all people. God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We call this the Trinity. Catholics remember the Trinity when praying the Sign of the Cross. It is a sign of our faith. Test Your Catholic Knowledge Fill in the circle that best completes the sentence. Then discuss the correct answer. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are ❍ saints. ❍ disciples. ❍ the Trinity. ❍ prophets. 9 Christ Our Life® Grade 2 T10 Unit 1 God Gives Us Life and Love SAMPLE
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 T243. 1. Explore or revisit the multimedia for this chapter in more depth. 2. Guide children in completing Reproducible 1c, God Gives Us Many Gifts, which leads them to a greater appreciation of the gifts of creation. 3. Talk about things children can do with their senses. • God has given us eyes to see. What are some of your favorite things to look at? • God has given us ears to hear. What kinds of sounds do you like? • God has given us touch so that we can feel things. What are some comforting or favorite things you like to touch and feel? • God has given us a nose to smell. What smells good to you? • God has given us taste to enjoy food. What do you like to eat? 4. In connection with Sharing #15, place a picture of an angel above the Ladder of Creation. • God made some creatures who are his helpers and messengers. They adore God in heaven. What do we call them? (angels) • Angels can do some of the things we do. What are some of these things? (They can think, choose, and love.) • Angels also take care of us. 5. Make a class booklet with drawings of good things God has given us. Let each child contribute one page. Together, design a cover for the booklet and write on it the title “God Fills My Life with Goodness.” 6. Ask children to think about how they can give someone the gift of themselves today. Invite volunteers to share their ideas and list their suggestions. Ask children to choose from the list (or come up with an idea of their own) one way they can give themselves and the person to whom they will offer that gift. Life and Dignity 7. Start a Good News box by covering a small box with a lid and labeling it with the words “Good News.” Each week, have children think of one or two important things they have learned. These might be taken from We Remember and We Respond, or they might be expressed in the children’s own words. Write them on cards, place the cards in the box, and use them for review the following week. Name REPRODUCIBLE Christ Our Life® All Rights Reserved Christ Our Life® Reproducibles w3155 www.christourlife.com 1c GRADE 2 Chapter 1 possible answers: I am a fast runner. I am a good artist. I like to sing. I like to write stories. possible answer: drawing of a child running in a charity 5K God Gives Us Many Gifts Write three gifts that God has given you. Below, draw a picture of yourself using one of your gifts to show love for God and others. God Is the Giver of Gifts Chapter 1 T11 SAMPLE
CHAPTER Jesus Is God’s Best Gift Listening For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. John 3:16 Reflecting Augustine of Hippo, one of the greatest philosophers the world has ever known, tried to find happiness in the delights of the earth. Eventually he realized that only through Jesus can a person come to enjoy the intimate and real contact with God that alone satisfies the deepest human desires: I sought a way of acquiring strength sufficient to enjoy You; but I found it not until I embraced that “Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5) “who is over all, God blessed for ever” (Romans 9:5). Confessions, Book 7, Chapter 18 Jesus is the best gift of the Father, the perfect revelation of the Father, the Savior who died and rose to bring us the Father’s love. To know Jesus is to know the Father, whose faithful love continually invites us to share more fully in his life. The image Jesus used to express the nature of our relationship with him expressed clearly the overwhelming bounty of God’s love: Christ is the vine, and we are the branches. The branches of a vine yield a fruit that gladdens the human heart, but this delightful fruit results only when the branches remain united to the vine. By themselves, the branches can produce nothing. Faith Focus God sent Jesus to die and rise in order to give us new life. Reflecting on the Faith Experience Take a few moments to reflect prayerfully before preparing the lesson. Responding Thank you, heavenly Father, for your best gift, your Son, Jesus. Scripture for Further Reflection 1 John 4:9–16 God has made his love for us known through his Son. Ephesians 2:1–10 God, in his great love, intimately shares his life with us through Christ. When our hearts were opened to God’s Word at Baptism, Jesus touched us. We can appreciate and proclaim the good news of Jesus’ saving power. A prayer we may say at Christmastime can be our daily prayer, especially when we confront the sinful, dehumanizing forces that turn us from God, from other people, and from our own personal fulfillment. Then, with hearts truly open to God’s Word in all creation, we will proclaim his glory and speak of his never-failing love: O God, who have made this most sacred night radiant with the splendor of the true light, grant, we pray, that we, who have known the mysteries of his light on earth, may also delight in his gladness in heaven. Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Collect Christmas Mass During the Night How do I cultivate my relationship with Jesus? 2 T12 Unit 1 God Gives Us Life and Love SAMPLE
in nature often leads to life in another; so, too, his Death results in a new life for himself and for his people. 5. There is surprisingly little about Mary in the New Testament. She does not play a major role in Jesus’ public ministry. Yet it is clear that Mary came to be revered in the early Church. Because of her position as the Mother of the Savior and her commitment to him, she is recognized as Jesus’ first disciple and the Mother of the Church. 6. Christ, as the new plant risen from the earth on Easter Sunday, has included us in his new life. Jesus used the figure of a vine to show how our union with him gives us a share in God’s life and enables us to perform good works. A branch withers and dies when it is separated from the life-giving sap of the vine. Apart from Jesus, we die. 7. The Sign of the Cross has been a popular prayer since apostolic times. It symbolizes God embracing us with blessings. At the same time, in the Sign of the Cross, we express our belief in God from whom all blessings come, and we recall the loving sacrifice of Jesus crucified. 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. Grace is God’s very life shared with us. It directs us beyond our self to God; it completes our human nature. When aware of God’s grace in our lives, we can live without fear knowing that we are not alone. 4. Never in their wildest imagining did the Hebrews think that God himself would be their Messiah. When the Son of God became incarnate, it became possible to know God more directly and more intimately than ever before. To see Jesus is to see God, but Jesus does more than reveal God to us. Jesus teaches us that death in one form Scripture in This Chapter John 12:23–24 A Buried Seed Matthew 4:18–22 Calling the Disciples John 15:5 The Vine and the Branches John 3:16 God’s Greatest Gift Catholic Social Teaching Solidarity Church Documents Catechism of the Catholic Church. The themes in this chapter correspond to the following paragraphs: 457, 615–618, 2157. Directory for Catechesis #113. Our principal task as teachers is to present Christ to our students and to encourage them to follow Christ and be in communion with him. 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 one’s self. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church #3 (Vatican II). Through Christ, we learn the mystery of the Father. Called to union with Christ, we share in his life and work to bring about his kingdom of love. 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 web-enabled 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. Preparing for the Faith Experience Jesus Is God’s Best Gift Chapter 2 T13 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 17–18 to share what they are learning with their families. Steps Learning Outcomes Children will be able to Action Plan Materials Centering 5–10 minutes • explain that a seed dies as a seed to have new life as a plant. • Introduce children to the idea of dying to new life by using a seed and a plant. (T15) • Discuss God’s gifts and Jesus as God’s best gift to us. Bible Package of seeds, preferably lima bean Pot with soil Water Picture of Jesus, attached to the board or wall and covered Sharing 40 minutes Pages 11–14 • explain that Jesus showed the Father’s love by dying and rising to give us new life called grace. • identify the disciples and themselves as members of the Church. • explain the story of the seed and the parable of the vine and branches. • define the Word to Know. disciple See the Glossary for the definition. PAGE 11 • Read and discuss Jesus Shows Us the Father’s Love. PAGE 12 • Present Jesus’ story about a seed. (T16) • Read and discuss Jesus Saves Us. • Invite children to complete the activity The Story of a Seed. • OPTION Read the story of Jesus’ call to the disciples from Matthew’s Gospel. PAGE 13 • Read and discuss Jesus Calls People to Follow Him. (T17) • OPTION Discuss being a disciple of Jesus. • Discuss the ivy plant. PAGE 14 • Read and discuss Jesus Shares His Life with Us. (T18) • Complete the activity The Vine and the Branches. • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. OPTION Device with internet access Art supplies Ivy plant (or a picture of an ivy plant) Acting 5–10 minutes Pages 15–16 • name ways to follow Jesus more closely. • pray the Sign of the Cross. • respond to God’s presence in prayer. PAGE 15 • Discuss ways to follow Jesus more closely. (T19) • OPTION Discuss the Cross as a sign of a Christian. • Demonstrate how to pray the Sign of the Cross. • OPTION Practice praying the Sign of the Cross. • Read and discuss We Pray the Sign of the Cross. • Complete the activity How to Pray the Sign of the Cross. • Pray A Moment with Jesus. PAGE 16 • Guide children through the Chapter 2 Review. (T20) • Pray together We Respond. • Complete the Your Turn activity. • OPTION Administer the Chapter 2 Quiz. • OPTION Direct children to the multimedia. OPTION Reproducible 2b T14 Unit 1 God Gives Us Life and Love SAMPLE
CHAPTER 2 Jesus Is God’s Best Gift Jesus Shows Us the Father’s Love Maria was playing in the ocean. A big wave knocked her down. Under the water, Maria could not breathe. She could not cry for help. She did not know how to swim. She was scared. Then Maria felt someone lift her up. She was pulled out of the water. She could see the sun again. Maria’s big brother had saved her life. Jesus, the only Son of God, came to save all of us. He was sent by God the Father. Jesus is the Father’s greatest gift to us. He tells us about the Father. He teaches us how to live. Most wonderful of all, Jesus gives us new life. We call this new life grace. Jesus Is God’s Best Gift Chapter 2 11 Centering 1. Hold a seed concealed in your hand. • I have one of God’s gifts to show you. It is something so tiny you can hold it in your hand, but it can become something large. • Can you guess what it is? • After several guesses, show the seed to children. 2. Show children a package of seeds. • What will happen if I keep the seeds in the package? (nothing; seeds will not grow) • What has to happen to a seed before it can become a new plant? (It needs to be planted in soil.) • Invite a volunteer to plant a seed. • What else does the seed need to grow? (water and sunlight) • Invite a volunteer to water the seed. • When a seed is in the ground, it begins to change, or die, so that it can become a new plant. 3. Review God’s gifts and introduce God’s best gift. • What other gifts has God given us? • Why has God given us so many wonderful gifts? (He loves us.) • God loves us so much that he even gave us his best gift. What do you think it is? • A picture of God’s best gift is covered up. Uncover the picture of Jesus. • Who is this? (Jesus) Sharing 1. Ask a volunteer to read aloud the chapter title and the first two paragraphs of Jesus Shows Us the Father’s Love on page 11. • A savior is someone who saves another person. Who was Maria’s savior that day at the ocean? (her brother) • All of us have been saved by Jesus. 2. Guide children to understand why Jesus is God’s best gift. • God our Father loves us so much that he gave us his only Son, Jesus, to be our Savior. He let his Son become a man and live with us on this earth. • When was Jesus born? (on the rst Christmas, more than 2,000 years ago) Where was he born? (in Bethlehem) • Who is the mother of Jesus? (Mary) • Who was Jesus’ foster father on earth? (Joseph) • Jesus showed us the Father’s love by doing good things while he was on earth and teaching us how to live. What are some of the good things Jesus did? (He showed us how to love God our Father and one another. He helped people. He died for us and rose from the dead.) • Why did Jesus suffer and die for us? (to save us from sin, to give us a share in his life, to open heaven for us) • Draw children’s attention to the image on page 11 that shows Jesus’ crucifixion. 3. Ask a volunteer to read aloud the last two paragraphs on page 11. • Remind children that grace is the life of God in them. Explain that the gift of grace is received at Baptism. Jesus Is God’s Best Gift Chapter 2 T15 SAMPLE
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