God Guides Us SCHOOL EDITION Teacher’s Guide ® Christ Our Life GRADE 4 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. Copyright © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved. Excerpt from the Directory for Catechesis. Copyright ©2020 Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. 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 Hope, Act of Faith, Act of Love, and the Hail, Holy Queen 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, Prayer to the Holy Spirit, Prayer to St. Michael, 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. The Prayer for Vocations is copyright © Loyola Press. “God’s Grandeur” by Gerard Manley Hopkins is in the public domain. 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 978-0-8294-5289-1 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 Anni Betts. vii ajt/iStock/ Getty Images. viii (br) Svetlana Vorotniak/Shutterstock.com; (b) kirstypargeter/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 Klaus Vedfelt/Digital Vision/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 T479. 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. We Come to Know God T1 Chapter 1 God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son. . . . . .T2 Day One God Gives Us Special Gifts T4 Day Two God Reveals Himself to Us T7 Day Three Jesus Helps Us Believe T11 Day Four We Come to Know Jesus T14 Day Five Extending the Chapter T17 Chapter 2 God Speaks to Us in Scripture. . .T18 Day One We Know God Through Scripture T20 Day Two Scripture Tells of God’s Love for Us T22 Day Three Scripture Tells Us the Good News T25 Day Four We Enthrone the Bible T27 Day Five Extending the Chapter T29 UNIT 1 Chapter 3 God Speaks to Us Through the Church . . . . . . T30 Day One The Church Spreads the Good News T32 Day Two Jesus Gave Authority to Peter T35 Day Three The Church Has Leaders T38 Day Four We Pray for Our Leaders T41 Day Five Extending the Chapter T43 Chapter 4 God Offers Us Eternal Life. . . . T44 Day One Faith Makes Us New People T46 Day Two Review T49 Day Three Unit 1 Test T51 Day Four We Celebrate Our Faith T52 Day Five Extending the Chapter T54 God Strengthens Us to Be Holy T55 Chapter 5 We Are Called to Follow Jesus. . .T56 Day One Kindness Brings Joy T58 Day Two Forgiving Love Heals People T61 Day Three We Pray to Our Just God T63 Day Four Kindness Helps People in Need T66 Day Five Extending the Chapter T69 Chapter 6 Jesus Invites Us to Receive God’s Mercy. . . . . . . . . T70 Day One We Recognize Our Need for Mercy T72 Day Two God Gives Us Guides T76 Day Three We Celebrate God’s Mercy T80 Day Four We Respond to God’s Mercy T82 Day Five Extending the Chapter T85 Chapter 7 We Worship God. . . . . . . .T86 Day One We Worship with Love T88 Day Two United to Jesus’ Offering T92 Day Three The Saints Worshiped God T96 Day Four We Praise the Lord T99 Day Five Extending the Chapter T101 UNIT 2 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 Fourth Grader OV-45 SAMPLE
vi Chapter 12 We Keep the Lord’s Day Holy. . .T156 Day One God Tells Us to Keep His Day Holy T158 Day Two We Celebrate Sundays and Holy Days T160 Day Three We Value the Eucharist T164 Day Four We Praise the Lord Our God T166 Day Five Extending the Chapter T169 Chapter 13 We Grow in Holiness. . . . . . T170 Day One We Receive God’s Word T172 Day Two Review T176 Day Three Unit 3 Test T179 Day Four We Serve God’s Kingdom T179 Day Five Extending the Chapter T182 We Love God’s People T183 Chapter 14 We Honor and Obey . . . . . .T184 Day One We Love Our Families T186 Day Two We Respect and Obey T189 Day Three We Are Loved T193 Day Four We Are Good Citizens T195 Day Five Extending the Chapter T197 Chapter 15 We Respect the Gift of Life. . . T198 Day One Our Lives Are Precious T200 Day Two We Care for Life T203 Day Three Christians Are Merciful T206 Day Four We Show Kindness to Others T210 Day Five Extending the Chapter T211 UNIT 4 Chapter 8 God Gave Us Laws for Living. . .T102 Day One We Follow God’s Laws T104 Day Two We Love God’s Commandments T108 Day Three God Gave Us Laws of Love T110 Day Four The Commandments Help Us T112 Day Five Extending the Chapter T115 Chapter 9 We Honor Mary . . . . . . . T116 Day One We Honor Mary in Prayer T118 Day Two Review T122 Day Three Unit 2 Test T124 Day Four We Pray the Angelus T124 Day Five Extending the Chapter T126 We Love God T127 Chapter 10 We Show Our Love for God. . . T128 Day One God Asks for Our Love T130 Day Two We Give Our Love in Prayer T133 Day Three We Honor the Saints in Prayer T135 Day Four We Pray for Others T138 Day Five Extending the Chapter T141 Chapter 11 We Love All That Is Holy. . . . T142 Day One We Praise the Name of the Lord T144 Day Two Our Words Give Honor to God T147 Day Three We Respect All That Is Holy T151 Day Four We Make a Pilgrimage T153 Day Five Extending the Chapter T155 UNIT 3 SAMPLE
vii Jesus Leads Us to Happiness T283 Chapter 21 God’s People Put Their Trust in Him. . . . . . . . T284 Day One The Beatitudes Bring Happiness T286 Day Two We Depend on God T290 Day Three Saint Francis Chose to Be Humble T292 Day Four We Are Grateful T295 Day Five Extending the Chapter T298 Chapter 22 God’s People Act with Compassion and Humility. . . T300 Day One We Will Be Comforted T302 Day Two We Are Called to Be Humble and Gentle T306 Day Three We Follow Christ’s Way T310 Day Four We Share Our Happiness T312 Day Five Extending the Chapter T313 Chapter 23 God’s People Long to Be Clean of Heart and Holy. . . . T314 Day One The Clean of Heart See God T316 Day Two We Seek Holiness T320 Day Three We Can Be Holy T322 Day Four We Pray the Morning Offering T325 Day Five Extending the Chapter T327 Chapter 24 God’s People Bring Mercy and Peace to Others. . . . . .T328 Day One Jesus Is Merciful T330 Day Two Jesus Gives Us Peace T334 Day Three We Are Peacemakers T338 Day Four We Follow Jesus’ Way T341 Day Five Extending the Chapter T343 Chapter 25 God’s People Are Blessed. . . T346 Day One God’s People Suffer for Him T348 Day Two Review T352 Day Three Unit 5 Test T354 Day Four We Are Glad in the Lord T355 Day Five Extending the Chapter T359 UNIT 5 Chapter 16 We Are Faithful to Ourselves and Others. . . . . . . . . T212 Day One We Share in God’s Holiness T214 Day Two We Are Faithful to Others T217 Day Three We Are Holy T221 Day Four We Give Glory to God T224 Day Five Extending the Chapter T227 Chapter 17 We Respect What God Has GivenUs. . . . . . . . . .T228 Day One God Gives Us What We Need T230 Day Two We Respect Others’ Things T233 Day Three We Live Justly T237 Day Four We Respect Others’ Rights T239 Day Five Extending the Chapter T241 Chapter 18 We Respect the Gifts of the Earth. . . . . . . . .T242 Day One We Care for Creation T244 Day Two We Share God’s Gifts T247 Day Three We Are Not Wasteful T251 Day Four We Pray for Those in Need T253 Day Five Extending the Chapter T255 Chapter 19 We Speak the Truth with Love. . T256 Day One We Speak the Truth T258 Day Two We Speak with Love T262 Day Three We Choose the Truth T264 Day Four We Speak Kindly T267 Day Five Extending the Chapter T269 Chapter 20 We Live God’s Laws . . . . . .T270 Day One We Keep God’s Laws T272 Day Two Review T274 Day Three Unit 4 Test T277 Day Four We Love God’s Laws T278 Day Five Extending the Chapter T282 SAMPLE
viii Saints and Feast Days T445 September T446 October T448 November T450 December T451 January T452 February T453 March T454 April T456 May T457 June T458 July T459 August T460 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . T461 Index..............T471 Scripture Index . . . . . . . . . . T477 Special Seasons and Lessons T361 The Year in Our Church T363 1 Feast of All Saints T364 2 Advent T369 3 Christmas T378 4 Lent T383 5 Holy Week T390 6 Easter T397 7 Pentecost T402 8 The Holy Guardian Angels T407 9 Reconciliation Service T411 10 Queen of Heaven T415 What Catholics Should Know T419 Prayer and How We Pray T421 Prayers We Pray T423 The Rosary T427 Stations of the Cross T430 The Seven Sacraments T431 The Order of Mass T432 Living Our Faith T435 The Ten Commandments T435 Making Good Choices T436 Showing Our Love for the World T440 The Bible and You T442 Student Book Cover Prayers T443 SAMPLE
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. We Come to Know God Goals • Children will identify ways God is revealed in creation, in Sacred Scripture, in the Church, and most perfectly in his Son, Jesus. • Children will explain the role church leaders and all church members have in spreading the Gospel through prayer, work, and witness. 1 God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son To help us believe in him and thus attain eternal life, God reveals himself to us in natural and supernatural ways. In this chapter children learn that God is revealed in creation, in his words and deeds, and most perfectly in his Son. Not only does God speak through Jesus, but Jesus is God, speaking and acting. Children learn that the Apostles came to know Jesus and, through him, the Father. They are introduced to the gift of faith and Jesus’ ways of strengthening that faith. They are led to appreciate the greatness of God and goodness of his creation and to respond to God’s call to faith with a sincere desire to learn more about him. 2 God Speaks to Us in Scripture The Bible, or Sacred Scripture, is the written Word of God. In this chapter children learn more about Scripture and discover that God’s love is the Bible’s most important message. They are encouraged to grow in love and respect for the Word of God when it is proclaimed or read. 3 God Speaks to Us Through the Church God continues to speak to us through others, in particular those who form the community of the Church. In this chapter children learn more about the structure and work of the Church, particularly the position of its leaders. They discover that the authority Jesus gave to the Apostles is passed on to successive bishops and popes of the Church. Children are encouraged to show their appreciation and love for church leaders by praying for them. They are also taught to use their own talents to help spread the Good News through prayer, work, and Christian witness. 4 God Offers Us Eternal Life God calls us to believe and trust in him in order to enjoy eternal life with him in heaven. In this chapter children are led to reflect on the great treasure that awaits them if they respond to God’s call and live in his friendship. They review the key concepts of this unit and celebrate their faith. See page T17 for STREAM activity. T1 SAMPLE
CHAPTER 1 Responding O God, fill the children whom I catechize with a strong desire to know you. Scripture for Further Reflection Matthew 11:27 Jesus is the fullness of God’s Revelation about himself. To know Jesus is to know God. John 1:16–18 God has given us himself by sending Jesus, his Incarnate Word. God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son 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 So that we may believe and attain eternal life, God reveals himself to us in two basic ways: natural and supernatural. In natural revelation, God makes himself known through the world of creation; in supernatural revelation, God communicates by divine speech, as he did through the prophets in the Old Testament and through his Son in the New Testament. As an artist’s personality is reflected in his or her work, so God reveals himself in his wondrous creation: 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 God reveals himself in many ways but most especially through his Son, Jesus. Reflecting on the Faith Experience Take a few moments to reflect prayerfully before preparing the lesson. Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ, viewing creation with the eye of a poet and the heart of a mystic, exclaimed: The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; from “God’s Grandeur” In supernatural communication, God speaks through others. The prophets, for example, were seers chosen by God to bring his revelation to us. In the person of Christ, however, it is not merely God speaking through someone but God himself speaking to all of humanity. What response does the reality of God’s existence call forth from me? T2 Unit 1 We Come to Know God SAMPLE
WHAT IS GOD LIKE? Preparing for the Faith Experience Church Documents Catechism of the Catholic Church. The themes in this chapter correspond to the following paragraphs: 65, 151–152, 293–294, 457–458. Directory for Catechesis #14. God’s divine plan is first of all a plan of loving goodness. God first loves us and calls us to respond. Our response to him becomes a sign of love for others. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation #3 and 4. Everything God has created provides evidence of his nature. Jesus’ words and works, but especially his Death and Resurrection, are the best revelation of God’s love for us and his plan for us to have eternal life with him. 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. Scripture in This Chapter John 17:20–21 Jesus’ prayer for unity and faith without seeing I John 3:1 God’s love makes it possible to be called his children. Psalm 104:1–2 Praise of God the Creator for his greatness John 3:16 God so loved the world, he gave his only Son. John 14:8–11 Jesus’ response to Philip’s question about the Father John 20:24–29 Jesus’ appearance to the Apostle Thomas Mark 16:15 Jesus calls the Apostles to witness for him. Catholic Social Teaching The Poor and Vulnerable Day One God Gives Us Special Gifts Day Two God Reveals Himself to Us Day Three Jesus Helps Us to Believe Day Four We Come to Know Jesus Day Five Extending the Chapter The following pages present a plan for teaching this chapter in five days. Adapt the lessons and pacing to suit your program. STREAM Each unit has a STREAM small-group activity aligned to the content of one chapter in that unit. Use these activities to help children see that their Catholic faith is at the heart of everything they do as they develop interdisciplinary academic skills (page T17). Bulletin Board A suggestion for a bulletin-board design for this chapter is pictured. God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son Chapter 1 T3 Inclusion Scan the QR code for Inclusion articles or access them from the LP Digital Library. SAMPLE
LEARNING OUTCOMES Children will be able to • name the Three Persons in the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. • describe that Jesus calls us to be his friends so that we can be truly happy with God. Materials • Device with internet access, optional • Student Book for each child • Background music, optional • Reproducible 1a 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 God Guides Us. 3. By leading children through an appreciation of the things they can enjoy because of their natural human life, this lesson helps them understand the greatness of the eternal life that God offers them. They learn that Jesus won this life for them through his Death and Resurrection, and that God gives a share in eternal life to those who believe in his Son. 4. Administer Reproducible 1a, Pretest God Guides Us. After correcting the pre-tests, analyze them to uncover children’s level of familiarity with the material. 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. Let children see how much they have learned. Centering 1. Greet children as they enter and introduce yourself. • Stand close to the entrance into your class space. Warmly welcome each child and ask his or her name. • Call the group to attention and share some personal facts, such as how long you’ve been a teacher, what you enjoy most about catechesis, school and parish activities, and other faith-related topics. 2. Have children introduce themsleves to one another. Sharing 1. Conduct a ceremony during which you distribute student books. • You may wish to play soft music as children come forward to receive their books. • Show children the student books and read the title. • As you give each child his or her book, pray a prayer such as: “[Name], may you grow closer to Jesus this year.” Children may respond, “Amen.” Day One God Gives Us Special Gifts Student pages 1–3 UNIT 1 See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. 1 John 3:1 We Come to Know God 1 T4 Unit 1 We Come to Know God SAMPLE
• Let children look through the books and comment on them. Remind them to treat the books with reverence. 2. Invite children to open their books to page 1. Read aloud the unit title, We Come to Know God. • Have children look at the scenes shown on the page. • How can we see the presence of God in each scene? (The images show God’s presence in others, the Church, and in creation.) • Explain that in this unit we will learn the ways God reveals himself to us and how we respond. 3. Direct children to the Scripture verse at the bottom of the page. Explain that these words are from the Bible. • Read aloud the Scripture verse on page 1. Invite children to read aloud with you a second time. • Emphasize to children that we are children of God, and God has given us many gifts, but the greatest is to be his children. 4. 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 whether it be in class via computer or tablet or at home via smartphone, computer, or tablet. 5. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the first two paragraphs of God Calls Us to Be His Friends on page 3. • What might Mateo have wanted to tell Ethan? (where he had gone; what he had seen) Why was Mateo eager to tell his friend about these things? (because he wanted to share his excitement) • Ask children to name other things that they like to tell their friends. • Explain that God calls us to be his friends. God wants to share wonderful things with us. He calls to us through Scripture, creation, the Church, our families, and most of all in his Son, Jesus. 6. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the fourth paragraph on page 3. • Ask children what words begin with the prefix tri-. (tricycle, triangle, triplet) • What does tri- mean? (“three”) • Draw children’s attention to the word Trinity in their book. Explain that just as tri- means “three “in the words mentioned, it means the same thing in the word Trinity. • Trinity refers to the Three Persons in one God. Who are the Three Persons? (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) • What prayers do we pray that address all Three Persons? (the Sign of the Cross, the Glory Be to the Father) 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 Catherine of Siena together as a family. You will learn more about this 13th-century saint in the Families in Mission pages for Chapter 4. Dear Parents and Family, Welcome! You have an exciting role ahead. Your interest, participation, and discussion will expand your fourth grader’s understanding of these lessons and convey their importance. In Unit 1, children will explore the many ways God reaches out to us. They first learn how God reveals himself in creation and Scripture. His greatest revelation is his Son, Jesus. Children will learn to see God’s hand in creation and to respond to his call with a real desire to learn more about him. You can help them identify God’s handiwork in the world around them. Next, children learn a key message of the Bible—God loves us and wants us to know and love him. A better understanding of Scripture will help them develop a devotion to the Word of God. In Chapter 3, children see that God continues to reach out to us through the Church. They will understand that the authority that Jesus gave to the Apostles is the same authority handed down to the pope and bishops today. Children are encouraged to show their appreciation for church leaders as well as to use their own talents to help spread the Good News of Jesus’ saving sacrifice through prayer and their own example at home, at school, and in the community. In Chapter 4, children consider the purpose for which we are all created: eternal life with God. They will learn more about the joy of heaven and Jesus’ promise that all those who live and die in God’s friendship will have everlasting joy and union with God. At the conclusion of each chapter of this unit, children revisit essential chapter content, complete a Your Turn activity, and undertake an interactive chapter review. 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® CHAPTER 1 God Calls Us to Be His Friends “Ethan, over here,” Mateo called excitedly as Ethan walked into the classroom the day after vacation. “Wait till you hear what I did this summer!” Ethan couldn’t wait to hear what his friend had to tell him, and he had some things to tell Mateo too. In a similar way, God calls to us so he can tell us about wonderful things. He calls to us through Scripture and his creation, the Church and our families. God loves us so much that he chose to tell us about himself. He reveals things we could never know otherwise. God reveals himself as one God in three divine Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We call this the Trinity. God the Father wants us to come to know him better so that we can participate in his divine life. You will come to know the Three Persons of the Trinity in many ways, but especially through Jesus. Jesus calls us to live in his friendship. We are made to be with God. It is in him that we find the everlasting happiness for which he created us. God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son 3 God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son Chapter 1 God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son Chapter 1 T5 Day One SAMPLE
7. Read aloud the last paragraph on page 3. • What does Jesus call us to? (to be his friends) • We are made to be with God. Why? (we find everlasting happiness with him) 8. Invite children to share something they know about Jesus. • (He is God’s Son; he loves us; he died on the Cross to save us; he taught and healed people while on earth; he had friends and followers; he gave us the Church and sacraments.) • Jesus said that he loves us and wants us as his friends. We are his friends because we believe in him and love him. Acting 1. Have children look at the picture of Jesus and children on page 3 and discuss. • Imagine that Jesus and the children are talking about the things we talked about today. • What might Jesus be telling the children about himself so they could know him better? • What might the children be telling Jesus about themselves so they could get closer to him? 2. Distribute Reproducible 1a, Pre-test God Guides Us. Use the test to assess children’s familiarity with the content that will be learning this year. CHECKPOINT Were the learning outcomes achieved? Name Score REPRODUCIBLE Christ Our Life® All Rights Reserved Christ Our Life® Reproducibles w3157 www.christourlife.com GRADE 4 Chapter 1 Page 2 of 3 Pre-test/Post-test Write on the line the letter of the answer that best completes the sentence. B 21. e mystery of God becoming man is the A. Assumption. B. Incarnation. C. Ascension. p. 5 B 22. e part of the Bible that is about the life of Jesus and his teachings is A. the Old Testament. B. the Gospels. C. Revelation. p. 13 B 23. e visible head of the Church is A. priests. B. the pope. C. bishops. p. 22 C 24. Jesus came that we may have A. punishment. B. commandments. C. life. p. 37 A 25. To be a follower of Jesus, we must A. pray. B. work miracles. C. be perfect. pp. 37–39 B 26. A er Jesus, the holiest person who ever lived was A. Peter. B. Mary. C. omas. p. 69 C 27. Li ing up our minds and hearts to God is A. sacri ce. B. service. C. prayer. pp. 37, 83 B 28. Positive church requirements on the minimum Catholics must do in prayer and in moral life are called A. moral choices. B. precepts of the Church. C. Beatitudes. p. 98 B 29. Christians celebrate Sunday as the Lord’s Day because A. Jesus commanded it. B. Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday. C. the Old Testament says to. p. 97 B 30. e commandment that teaches us we are to believe in, hope in, and love the one true God above all else is the A. Fourth. B. First. C. Seventh. p. 82 A 31. e commandment that tells us to respect and protect all life is the A. Fi h. B. Seventh. C. Tenth. p. 12 5 B 32. Our eternal life with God, unending and full of joy, a er this life is called A. Purgatory B. heaven. C. the Church. p. 27 C 33. e Tenth Commandment tells us to be A. truthful. B. pure. C. satis ed with what we have. p. 141 B 34. e gi s of the earth are for A. rich people. B. all people. C. good people only. p. 152 B 35. To bear false witness is to A. cheat. B. lie. C. steal. p. 157 1a Name Score REPRODUCIBLE Christ Our Life® All Rights Reserved Christ Our Life® Reproducibles w3157 www.christourlife.com GRADE 4 Chapter 1 Page 1 of 3 Write on the line the letter of the term that best matches the description. D 1. A way that God reveals himself without words pp. 4, 8 G 2. Our faith grows when we celebrate them p. 7 F 3. Why we believe without seeing p. 6 C 4. e written Word of God p. 11 I 5. ose who teach and govern the Church p. 19 B 6. A prayer that Jesus taught us p. 39 J 7. e gi from God that helps us choose what is good and avoid sin p. 48 A 8. e priest’s words of forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation p. 50 H 9. God’s laws that show us how to love God and others p. 65 E 10. Ways Jesus taught us to have true happiness and live in God’s kingdom pp. 175, 180 Write T on the line if the sentence is true or F if it is false. F 11. e Fourth Commandment is only about obeying parents, not leaders and others in authoirty. p. 119 T 12. God the Father reveals himself most perfectly through Jesus. p. 5 T 13. Everyone in the Church is called to spread the Good News. p. 19 T 14. e Church is always guided by the Holy Spirit. p. 19 F 15. Our highest form of worship is the Lord’s Prayer. p. 53 T 16. e Trinity is the mystery of one God in ree Persons. p. 3 T 17. e First Commandment tells us to love God above all else. p. 82 T 18. We honor God when we honor the saints and all things holy. p. 84 F 19. Catholics no longer have to celebrate the Eucharist on holy days. pp. 98, 102 T 20. One way we obey God is to obey our parents. p. 117 Pre-test/Post-test A. absolution B. Lord’s Prayer C. Scripture D. creation E. Beatitudes F. faith G. sacraments H. commandments I. bishops J. conscience 1a T6 Unit 1 We Come to Know God Day One SAMPLE
Day Two God Reveals Himself to Us Student pages 4–5 LEARNING OUTCOMES Children will be able to • describe how creation shows the presence of God. • identify Jesus as the perfect way God revealed himself to the world. • recognize that Jesus reveals the Father to us. • define the word Incarnation. Word to Know Incarnation See the Glossary for definition. Materials • Device with internet access, optional • Drawing of a picture frame on the board or to display with the title My Favorite Things • Strips of construction paper, 4" x 9" • Crayons or markers Before You Begin 1. Determine whether the media will be experienced during class or at home. 2. Our good God reveals himself to us so that we can come to know and love him. In this lesson children learn that God helps us know him through his words and deeds. They consider the works of creation and realize that they can learn something about God from them. God reveals himself perfectly in his Son, Jesus. 3. We can come to know God in many ways, but the best and most intimate way is in and through Christ. Jesus truly brings God’s loving presence among us. He is, as Saint Paul expressed it, “the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15) Children will learn how the Apostles came to know Jesus and, through him, the Father. Centering 1. Begin by praying the Glory Be to the Father located on the inside of the student book cover. How does this prayer connect to what we discussed yesterday? (It’s a prayer to the Trinity.) 2. Review the last lesson. • Who is the Trinity? (the Three Persons in one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) • What does Jesus call us to be? (his friends) • What does God want for us? (to share in his life, to be happy with him, to live with him forever) 3. Invite a volunteer to draw some of his or her favorite things inside the large frame on the board. Ask children to discuss what these things tell the classs about him or her. Sharing 1. Use examples to show how we come to know others from what they do. • We reveal ourselves to others through the things we say and do. We can come to know some things about people we have never met if we know what they do. • Ava usually wears a blue bow in her hair. Her new sweater is blue. She has a blue comforter on her bed. What can you guess about her? (Ava likes blue.) • Cameron is often smiling. Whenever anyone needs something, he is ready to share what he has. Cameron is usually one of the first to volunteer when help is needed. What kind of boy is he? (kind, generous, happy, loving) • Caleb saves money and makes sacrifices to give money to the missions. He writes to Father Ray, a missionary in Kenya. Caleb also reads about Africa and its people. What might he want to do someday? (become a missionary; go to Africa) 2. Pair children with partners. They can keep the same partners all year, or you may pair them with others for future activities. 3. Invite partners to tell each other some things they like to do or would like to try. • Each person should tell the other what he or she thinks that information reveals about his or her partner. • Ask volunteers to share with the class one thing they found out about their partners. • Today we have gotten to know one another a little better. Getting to know others is the way we grow in friendship. God wants us to know him better so that we will love him more. Today you will find out how to learn more about God. God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son Chapter 1 T7 SAMPLE
4. Invite a volunteer to read aloud God Reveals Himself in Creation on page 4. • Ask children to give examples of how God reveals himself different aspects of creation. • Invite children to think of other examples of things we know are true even though we haven’t seen them. (gravity, atoms) 5. Guide children in completing the activity Share God’s Creation with Others on page 4. • Ask children to pretend they are messaging one of their friends. • Have children explain what their description says about God (“trees are big like God’s power,” “the grass is colorful and fresh like God’s love,” “the sounds make me feel happy, like I’m hearing God’s voice speaking to me.”) • Invite volunteers to share their descriptions and what this tells them about God. • How can we come to know God when we have not seen him? (through what God has created) • Why did God create everything? (to make known his goodness and glory, for us to use and enjoy) • People can help us know God. Think of a parent and a child. What does a parent, grandparent, or anyone else who cares for a child tell us about God? (God is loving.) • Look at the picture of the caterpillar on page 4. What does the caterpillar make you think of God’s creation? (God’s creation can be delicate.) A caterpillar turns into a butterfly. What does that tell you of God’s creation? (God’s creation can be beautiful; it can change before our eyes.) 6. Reflect with children on how God speaks to us through nature. • What does God tell us by giving us water? (God tells us he is good by caring for living things, which all need water.) • How can water tell us God is powerful? (Water’s power is shown in floods, waves, and shaping rocks.) 7. If feasible, have children scan the QR code on page 5 using a handheld, web-enabled device to experience the media. 8. Have volunteers read aloud the first two paragraphs of Jesus Reveals the Father’s Love on page 5. • How does God reveal himself perfectly? (through Jesus) • What are some things Jesus reveals about God our Father? (things we might not learn in any other way; how good and great God is; God’s kindness, forgiveness, and love for those in need) God Reveals Himself in Creation Share God’s Creation with Others In the tablet, write a text describing a place you like to visit outdoors. What does your description of this place tell you about God? We have not seen God. How can we know him? We can know him by the many ways he reveals himself to us. All the things God has created tell us something about him. They tell us that God is great and good and loving! God created everything for us to use and to take care of. How good God is! Bless the L , my soul! L , my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and splendor, robed in light as with a cloak. You spread out the heavens like a tent; Psalm 104:1-2 4 Unit 1 We Come to Know God T8 Unit 1 We Come to Know God Day Two SAMPLE
• What are some of the things you have come to know about God? (God is the Creator of heaven and earth; God is love; God is good because he sent his Son to save us; God forgives us.) • What are three ways that God reveals himself to us? (in words, in deeds, through Jesus) Word to Know Invite a volunteer to read aloud the definition of Incarnation from the Word to Know feature on page 5. Children can further explore the meaning of the word in the Glossary. 9. Lead children in reflection on eternal life. • Why did God become man? (so that we might have eternal life) • We already have this life that will last forever. When did we receive it? (at Baptism) • In Baptism we receive life that will last forever. This life is a share in God’s own life. We can’t see now what it will be like one day. It is in us in much the same way as a tiny seed is in the ground. [On the board draw a seed in the ground.] Can you see what this seed is going to become someday? (no) It doesn’t look like anything wonderful yet. What might it become? (a beautiful flower, a tree) • [Draw a tree next to the seed.] Does the tree look like the seed from which it began? (no) Yet the same life that was in the seed is in the tree. The seed developed into what it had the power to become—a tree. • Our sharing in God’s life is something like this. We have God’s life now, but not in the full way we will in heaven. 10. Explain how people in Jesus’ time came to know him. • The Apostles and other people who lived in the time of Jesus came to know God our Father through Jesus. They met Jesus. They saw what he did and heard him speak. The Apostles lived with Jesus day after day for three years. They heard Jesus speak about his Father’s love and care. • Jesus once told a story about the prodigal son who ran away from home but who was lovingly forgiven by his father when he returned. In this story, Jesus was telling us how much God our Father loves us. • Another time Jesus spoke about how our heavenly Father takes care of the birds and the flowers. What was Jesus telling us? (how God takes care of us) • People saw Jesus cure sick people, raise others from the dead, and bring sinners back to God. What other wonderful things did Jesus do? • One great thing that Jesus did tells us more than all the rest about how much God loves us. Do you know what it was? (Jesus died for us.) Jesus’ Death reveals God’s saving love in a very special way. What do we have because Jesus died and rose? (eternal life) Jesus Reveals the Father’s Love Jesus is God. He reveals how much God the Father loves us. Jesus’ words and deeds tell us how great and good God is. He shows us his Father’s wisdom, forgiveness, and love for the poor. He wants us to show loving concern and care for those who are poor too. Word to Know Incarnation The Son of God becoming man in order to save us The Bible records how God has made himself known since the time of creation. He has revealed himself through the words he has spoken and in the loving deeds he has done for his people. God the Father reveals himself perfectly through his Son, Jesus. Over two thousand years ago, the Son of God became incarnate of the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit. In assuming a human nature, Jesus did not lose his divine nature. Jesus is both true God and true man. This great mystery of the Son of God becoming man is called the Incarnation. Why did God become man? The Bible tells us: 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 Jesus wanted his Apostles to understand his unique relationship to God the Father. At the Last Supper, Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us!” Jesus answered, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus continued by telling Philip, “The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.” Finally, Jesus urges Philip, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.” (John 14:8–11) 5 God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son Chapter 1 God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son Chapter 1 T9 Day Two SAMPLE
11. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the third paragraph about the conversation between Jesus and Philip at the Last Supper (John 14:8–11). • Who was it that Philip wanted to see? (the Father) • How did Jesus show that he was disappointed with Philip? (“Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me?”) • What didn’t Philip understand? (that to see Jesus was to see God our Father) • What did Jesus say about the words he speaks? (“I do not speak on my own.”) Whose words did Jesus speak? (God the Father’s) • What did Jesus say about his works? (“The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.”) He and the Father are one. 12. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the last paragraph on page 5. Note that all of us are called to reveal the love of God the Father by showing care and concern for those who are poor. The Poor and Vulnerable 13. Read aloud the poem “Philip.” • Have children listen for the important thing that Jesus wanted to tell Philip. • What did Jesus want Philip to remember? (that seeing Jesus is seeing the Father) Philip He saw the deeds that Jesus worked, Deeds filling people with awe. But Philip did not understand That it was GOD he saw! He listened to the Master speak. He heard Christ’s saving word. And yet, he did not really know That it was GOD he heard! “Show us the Father, Lord!” he cried. “Show us enough to see!” “You know him, Philip,” Christ replied. “You have seen him, seeing me.” SND Acting 1. Lead children in prayer. • I will say some prayers. After each one you may respond, “We believe in you.” • Jesus, you have shown us the Father . . . • You have told us that our Father loves us . . . • You have shown us the Father’s love . . . • You suffered and died to show us how great his love is . . . 2. Distribute the construction-paper strips for the activity. Have children use their crayons and markers to make bookmarks that they can use during the year. Invite them to include phrases of things they learned in the lesson. CHECKPOINT Were the learning outcomes achieved? Jesus Shows Us the Father WE BELIEVE He Gave His Only Son T10 Unit 1 We Come to Know God Day Two SAMPLE
Day Three Jesus Helps Us to Believe Student page 6 Word to Know faith See the Glossary for definition. Materials • Crayons or markers • Colored construction paper LEARNING OUTCOMES Children will be able to • describe how Jesus confirmed Thomas’s belief in him. • identify that faith is a special gift from God. • define the word faith. Before You Begin To believe is to trust another and accept what he or she tells us because we are sure of his or her love and knowledge. We believe in God and trusts in his goodness, love, and knowledge. We accept all that God teaches through his Son, Jesus, and his Church. Christian faith is a gift received from God in Baptism. Centering 1. Invite volunteers to tell what they wrote on the bookmarks they made in the previous lesson. Encourage them to share their bookmarks with the class. 2. Tell a story about faith. A Leap of Faith Jimmy was only five years old when something frightening happened to him. One night while everyone was asleep in the family’s apartment, a fire broke out. Jimmy was trapped in his room. People outside the building saw Jimmy at the window, and they knew firefighters wouldn’t arrive in time to save him. One man put a ladder against the building and climbed up, but the ladder didn’t reach the window. Jimmy would have had to climb over the window ledge and jump down to the man standing on the ladder. Such a jump would have been hard for Jimmy because he is blind. The man on the ladder called to Jimmy, but Jimmy didn’t move; he didn’t have faith in the man. Then Jimmy’s father pushed his way through the crowd and climbed the ladder. “Jimmy,” he said, “I’m here.” At the sound of his father’s voice, Jimmy relaxed. His father went on. “You’ll have to jump, but I’ll catch you. Crawl over the window ledge and hang from it, holding on very tightly. Now, when I tell you to, just let go. All right, Jimmy. Let go!” Jimmy fell into his father’s arms and was safe! Later, a newspaper reporter said to Jimmy, “You’re a very brave fellow. Weren’t you afraid?” Jimmy answered, “Yes, but my dad was there. I knew he’d take care of me.” 3. Lead children to understand Jimmy’s faith in his father. • Why was Jimmy ready to jump when his father spoke? (He trusted his father.) • This story shows what it means to believe in someone. Today you will learn how Jesus helped the apostle Thomas believe in him and how Jesus helps us. God Reveals Himself to Us Through His Son Chapter 1 T11 SAMPLE
what he tells us, like Jimmy did what his father told him. 5. Discuss ways to grow in faith. • How have you grown in faith since you were baptized? (I have learned more about Jesus and the Church; I have learned more about the promises made at Baptism.) • Our faith grows when we pray. What prayers do you know? (Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory Be to the Father) • Our faith becomes stronger when we celebrate the sacraments. Which sacraments can we celebrate often? (Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, Eucharist) Sharing 1. Invite volunteers to read aloud the story about Thomas in the first four paragraphs of Jesus Invites Us to Believe on page 6. • Why wouldn’t Thomas believe the other Apostles when they told him that Jesus was risen? (He didn’t see Jesus himself.) • Why do you think that Jesus invited Thomas to put his hand into Jesus’ side? (He wanted Thomas to believe.) • What was Thomas’s prayer when he saw Jesus and believed? (“My Lord and my God!”) • What did he tell Jesus through this prayer? (He believed Jesus is God.) • Did Jesus praise Thomas for his faith? (no) • Whom did Jesus call blessed? (those who believe without seeing) Jesus wants us to believe in him without seeing him. He wants us to have faith in him because he loves us. 2. Invite a volunteer to read the fifth and sixth paragraphs on page 6. Word to Know Invite a volunteer to read aloud the definition of faith from the Word to Know feature. Children can further explore the meaning of the word in the Glossary. 3. Invite a volunteer to read aloud the final paragraph on page 6. 4. Lead children to understand the gift of faith and how it helps us. • Faith is a special gift from God. It gives us the power to believe and trust that everything God tells us is true. • Jesus helps us believe by showing us how God our Father loves us. He tells us what his Father wants us to do to show our love for him and to reach our heavenly home. • We believe what Jesus tells us because he is the Son of God. Jesus is good and tells us only what is true. • To understand how faith helps us, think of Jimmy, who couldn’t see to find the way to safety. Then his father told Jimmy to do what he said and that he would save him. Jimmy knew his father would guide him and so he trusted him. • We are like Jimmy. By ourselves we can’t find the way to eternal life. But Jesus, the Son of God, leads us. When we believe and obey him, we are on the right path. God is all good and will not deceive us. That is why we believe and trust God. We do Jesus Invites Us to Believe Our faith becomes stronger when we celebrate the sacraments, when we listen to God’s Word and study the Church’s teachings, and when we follow God’s will. Word to Know faith The Theological Virtue that makes it possible for us to believe in God and all he has made known A Moment with Jesus Think about the place you described earlier in the chapter. Invite Jesus to join you in that special place. Thank him for his awesome gifts of creation. Ask him to help you deepen your faith. Tell him how much you love him and enjoy knowing how much he loves you. We read in the Gospel of John that on the first Easter evening, when Jesus came to the Apostles, Thomas was not with them. Thomas did not believe the Apostles when they told him that Jesus was risen from the dead. Thomas said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later Jesus came to the Apostles again, and Thomas was with them. Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” John 20:29 We believe without seeing because we have faith. Faith is a precious gift from God that makes it possible for us to believe in him and all he has revealed in words and deeds. We need the Holy Spirit to help us believe. Because we are made in God’s image, we are free to believe. Our faith is both a gift and a choice. When we were baptized, God gave us the gift of faith and a share in his own life. We must have faith to be saved and to enjoy eternal life with God. Through his Church, Jesus helps our faith to deepen. Unit 1 We Come to Know God 6 T12 Unit 1 We Come to Know God Day Three SAMPLE
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