Proclaiming the Promise
DAY 5: Friday / Suggested Grade Level:
PRIMARY
BOOK TITLE: / The Mitten Tree /
AUTHOR and
ILLUSTRATOR: / Candace Christiansen
Photo Illustrations by Elaine Greenstein
ISBN-13 / 9781555917333
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
The Mitten Tree is a sweet story that gently illustrates the joy that comes from helping others. In the story, an elderly woman named Sarah sees a young boy waiting by the bus who doesn’t have mittens, so she generously knits him a pair and when no one is looking, hangs them on a tree in a location where he is sure to see them. She then notices other children who need mittens and Sarah knits them pairs as well. Then, one day the favouris returned and Sarah receives a basket full of yarn to help her continue her work. This book illustrates that giving from the heart with no need for recognition or applause brings joy. This is a great lesson for all. It is nice to see a main character that is happy not because he or she was recognized for their act of service or generosity, but just because doing kind things makes a person happy. / MATERIALS:
-The Mitten Tree
LEARNING GOALS:
Students will:
understand that when we are helpful and kind to others, we are being like Jesus
learn about kindness, compassion and self-sacrifice
learn reading, listening skills and inferencing
CATHOLIC CONNECTIONS:
OCSGE:
An Effective Communicator
A Reflective, Creative and Holistic Thinker
Catholic Social Teaching:Call to Family, Community and Participation, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Scripture Focus: Micah 6:6-8
“Act justly, love kindness and walk humbly with God.”
R.E. Curriculum: Living in Solidarity, Living in Communion, Living a Moral Life
Family Life Curriculum:Themes – Living in Relationship, Growing in Commitment, Created and Loved by God / MINISTRY CURRICULUM LINKS:
Language Arts
MINDS ON (Before) Approximately 5 minutes / TEACHING TIP
Reading Skills and Strategies; Ask questions:
Why the book is called“The Mitten Tree.”
I wonder if her children visit her.
I wonder why the children don’t smile at Sarah.
Why does the boy have no mittens?
Why is the boy not playing with the other children?
ACTION (During) Approximately 5 minutes / TEACHING TIP
Reading Skills and Strategies; Ask questions:
How did the boy know those mittens were for him?
I wonder if the boy did see Sarah.
Why was Sarah knitting so many mittens?
I wonder who gave Sarah the basket of yarn.
CONSOLIDATION (After) Approximately 10minutes / TEACHING TIP
Reading Skills and Strategies; Ask questions:
Do the children have an idea who is knitting the mittens?
Does Sarah have an idea who is leaving her the yarn?
Why was Sarah so lonely?
Why did Sarah leave the blue mittens on the tree?
Why was the boy so happy?
Why was Sarah happy?
NEXT STEPS / TEACHING TIP
Characterization: Describe Sarah. Describe the boy in blue.
Classify and Categorize: Things that show kindness and things that don’t. Activities you would wear mittens and activities you wouldn’t.
Connections; Text-to-Self Connections:When someone has left you a surprise gift. Having a neighbour that you don’t talk to. Making a gift for someone. Doing something special for someone. Having a grandmother or mother as giving as Sarah. Not having matching gloves.
Drawing Conclusions and Inferencing:What kind of person is Sarah? What kind of boy is the boy in blue? Who is leaving Sarah the basket of yarn?
Predict:Will the children figure out who is leaving the mittens? Will the children ever thank Sarah? / An art idea…
Mitten Tree of Kindness
Catholic Education Week 2018: Renewing the Promise
Proclaiming the Promise
DAY 5: Friday / Suggested Grade Level:
JUNIOR
BOOK TITLE: / Lessons from Pope Francis for Children /
AUTHOR and
ILLUSTRATOR: / Angela M. Burkin
Photo Illustrations by Maria Cristina Lo Cascio
ISBN-13 / 9781593252663
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
This book contains lessons that Pope Francis has outlined for all of us. The lessons are based on scripture passages. Then, Pope Francis gives a lesson and he invites us to an action to grow in faith. / MATERIALS:
-Lessons from Pope Francis for Children
-Elmo – overhead projection device
-Philippians 4:4-5
LEARNING GOALS:
Students will:
learn about Pope Francis’ dream for them
CATHOLIC CONNECTIONS:
OCSGE:
An Effective Communicator
A Reflective and Creative Thinker
Catholic Social Teaching:Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Scripture Focus: Luke 24:32-35
“And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?’”
R.E. Curriculum:Hope Expectations – BL1, 2, CL1, 2, LM1, LC1, PR1
Fully Alice Curriculum:A1, 2, B1, 2, E2, 3 / MINISTRY CURRICULUM LINKS:
Language
Oral 1.2-1.5, 2.1-2.5
MINDS ON (Before) Approximately 10 minutes / TEACHING TIP
Success Criteria:
Students will listen to the lessons of Pope Francis.
Students will make some connections with Pope Francis’ lessons and the theme of Proclaiming the Promise.
Students will participate in a specific activity to deepen their understanding of a particular lesson.
Who is the Pope?
What is the Pope’s job?
Who was the first Pope?
Let’s look at the book cover. What do you think the book is about? Predict what you think this book will be about. Tell the students the title of the book. Does the title change your prediction?
What do you think of Pope Francis? What is your impression of him as a leader? What is your impression of him as a Holy man of God? / Assessment of Learning (AoL) to assess if students have learned to make predictions/inferences.
ACTION (During) Approximately 20-30 minutes / TEACHING TIP
Read Lesson 5. Give students time to look at the illustration that goes with the lesson. The first part of the lesson is a summary of a scripture passage. Then, the lesson that Pope Francis wants to share with children is outlined. Then, there is an activity to make the lesson personally meaningful.
Read Lesson 6, if you have selected it. It follows the same outline as the first.
Read the seventh lesson, following the same pattern.
Read the eight lesson, following the same pattern. / You may only read two or three lessons; you know how long your students can sit and focus.
CONSOLIDATION (After) Approximately 10 minutes / TEACHING TIP
Have the students decide which lesson they want to work with further. This may set up activity stations for your class. Attached, are activities that can be prepared for the students.
List of Lessons in the Book
The First Pope – St. Peter
Lesson Five – Love Jesus in the Eucharist – Junior
Lesson Six – Pray Every Day – Junior
Lesson Seven – Take Care of People in Need – Junior
Lesson Eight – “May I?” “Thank You” “Sorry” – Junior
Activity FIVE for Lesson Five
Invite students to think of a way that they could make a gift of themselves like Jesus did for us. This does not mean they have to die on the cross, Jesus has already done that for us. How can they share their time and/or talents with people at home or at school? Ask Jesus to help you make a good choice. Make a plan and do it; could be as simple as smiling at five people during the rest of the school day. Then ask students to explain to their parents that Pope Francis wants me to love Jesus present in the Eucharist!This is how they will proclaim the promise.
Activity SIX for Lesson Six
Invite students to go to the prayer centre in the room and have a chat with God. Write the name of someone you love on a piece of paper. Put the paper in a basket and ask God to take care of that person. Invite students to explain to their parents that Pope Francis wants me to pray and listen to God every day! This is how they will proclaim the promise.
Activity SEVEN for Lesson Seven
Invite students to think about someone who has a need. Ask them to think of someone who is suffering like the person beat up by the robbers. It might not be someone robbed of money. Maybe there is someone at school who is excluded from their circle of friends. Maybe there is someone at school or in their neighbourhoodwho is being treated unkindly. Make a decision to be a Good Samaritan. Act on it. Invite students to explain to their parents that Pope Francis wants me to remember and care for the poor!This is how they will proclaim the promise.
Activity EIGHT for Lesson Eight
Invite students to decorate the three important words for a peaceful and joyful family. Invite students to explain to their parents that Pope Francis wants my family to be filled with peace and joy!This is how they will proclaim the promise.
“Rejoice in the Lord always, again, I will say Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:4-5
Catholic Education Week 2018: Renewing the PromiseProclaiming the Promise
DAY 5: Friday / Suggested Grade Level:
INTERMEDIATE
BOOK TITLE: / Harmony: Photographic Journeys Across Our Cultural Boundaries /
AUTHOR and
ILLUSTRATOR: / The Harmony Movement Macmillan Canada
Introduction by June Callwood
ISBN-13 / 9780771576324
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
In the summer of 1997, twenty-four leading photojournalists and photographers set out to explore and record the myriad cultures which together make up Canada. The results were collected for a travelling exhibit of photographs titled Them=Us: Photographic Journeys Across Our Cultural Boundaries. Harmony,a companion to the exhibit, is a visual feast that celebrates our layered, multi-textured society. Interspersed throughout these photographs are illuminating fragments of prose and poetry contributed by such well-known writers as Margaret Atwood, Timothy Findley, Joy Kogawa, Carol Shield, Tomson Highway, Anne Michaels and Marie-Claire Blais. / MATERIALS:
-Harmony: Photographic Journeys Across Our Cultural Boundaries
LEARNING GOALS:
Students will:
learn about Canada’s diverse ethnicity
honour the life and dignity of the human person
stand in solidarity with others
proclaim God’s promise
CATHOLIC CONNECTIONS:
OCSGE:
A Discerning Believer
An Effective Communicator
A Reflective, Creative and Holistic Thinker
A Responsible Citizen
Catholic Social Teaching:Solidarity, Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community and Participation
Scripture Focus: Philippians 4:4-5
“Rejoice in the Lord always, again, I will say Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.”
R.E. Curriculum:Living in Solidarity, Living in Communion, Living a Moral Life
Family Life Curriculum: Themes – Living in Relationship, Growing in Commitment, Created and Loved by God, Living in the World / MINISTRY CURRICULUM LINKS:
Language Arts
History
Geography
MINDS ON (Before) Approximately 10 minutes / TEACHING TIP
Discuss what makes Canada diverse. Reflect on all the different ethnicities and cultures in the classroom.
When Jesus said to, “go out and make disciples of all the nations,” what does that mean to you?
Educator: Explain that we will be looking through this book that was put together by Canadian photographers, photojournalists and writers, to celebrate Canada’s diversity.
Prompt your students to keep in mind how they relate to the photo/story/poem, etc. Where/how do you see God’s love in this photo? How would you share the Good News or God’s love with the people in this photo? Are there similarities and/or differences in the people you see in the photos? How does this photo speak to you? What is happening in this photo?
ACTION (During) / TEACHING TIP
Use this link to display the photos from the book on your smartboard:
Educator: Choose a few photos/poems/prose that you’d like your students to reflect upon. Discuss the photos using the prompting questions above.
OR
Divide your class into groups. Allow each group to choose 1-2 photo’s that speak to them and have them present their reflections and thoughts. / Suggested photos:
Pages 17, 19, 20, 26, 29, 35, 38, 51, 55, 67, 85, 87
CONSOLIDATION (After) / TEACHING TIP
Discussion session; ask for students’ reactions, thoughts, reflections
Assignment: Have students bring in family photos; prompt them to talk about their culture and family. Reiterate that we are all part of one family, God’s family, we are all brothers and sisters and children of God. / Pages 94-105 are brief descriptions of the photographers.
1