RERC Planner:January/February Primary: 4/5
Month/Season: January/February Class:Primary 4/5Level:First/Second
Strands of Faith : Experiences and Outcomes / Core Learning / Learning & TeachingClass/School/Home/Parish / Resources / Assessment
Signs of God
RERC 1-08a
I know that through the Community of the Church, people can experience God’s love and care and I have reflected on how this community celebrates together. / I know that Christ said to Peter: ‘” You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.” (Matthew 16: 18a).
I know that the Pope is the successor of Peter and the Pastor (shepherd) of the whole Catholic Church.
I know that, through the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, the Pope and his Bishops have the authority, given to them by Jesus, to teach and guide us
according to his command. (CCC 888)
I know that the “Primacy of the Pope” means that the Pope has God-given authority over, and responsibility for, the whole Catholic Church on earth. (CCC 882)
I know that "Pope" means "father" and that part of the Pope’s fatherly care is to make pastoral visits to different countries around the world. / Class:Teacher distributes bibles to the class and the children work in pairs to locate Matthew 16: 13-20. Children read the scripture passage, teacher then discusses the following points with the children. Who did people say the Son of Man was? Who did Peter say the son of Man was? Who helped Peter to give the correct answer? What did Jesus compare Peter to? What was Peter to build on the rock? What did Jesus mean by the keys of the kingdom of heaven? What comparisons did Jesus make about earth and heaven? What did Jesus mean when he referred to himself as the Messiah? Why do you think Jesus asked the disciples not to tell anyone he was the Messiah?
Class:Teacher discusses the use ofimagery inMatthew 16: 13-20. Jesus describes Peter as a rock and tells him that he is giving him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Teacher should note that:
- Jesus’ church means the community that he will gather and that, like a building, will have Peter as its solid foundation.
- The name Peter comes from the Greek word petros meaning stone or rock
- The bible uses the key as a symbol of authority. In the Old Testament, a trusted servant to the king wore the key to the king’s house on a hook on his shoulder. Therefore, he had the authority to open or close the king’s house.
Class:Teacher explains to the class thatSaint Peter, also known as Simon Peter, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. He is considered to be the first bishop and Pope by the Roman Catholic Church. Teacher explains to the class that Pope Francis is the 266th and current Pope of the Catholic Church having been electedBishop of Rome on 13th March 2013. Children use books and the internet to research the life of Pope Francis and complete Pope Francis Fact File(attached to planner) about him.
Class:Pope Francis is a successor of Peter and is the pastor (shepherd) of the whole Catholic Church. Teacher reads to the class from the bible the Parable of the Good Shepherd John 10:1-16. Teacher explains that a shepherd will often spend the night outside with his sheep. He will gather the sheep together in a pen so they are not scattered. The shepherd would then sleepacross the opening of the pen. He did this so the sheep would not wander out and get lost; it was also to keep out the wild animals. In this parable we are like the sheep and Jesus is the Good
Shepherd. We need to understand that our good shepherd loves us and will protect us. On earth, Pope Francis is our shepherd and he leads us, protects and takes care of us. Teacher discusses with the class the role of a shepherd and why the Pope is the shepherd of the Catholics Church.
Class:Children work with their shoulder partner to complete Role of theShepherd worksheet (attached to planner).
Class:Teacher shows the class images of a shepherd’s crook and crosiers (attached to planner). Teacher explains that a shepherd’s crook is a stick with a C- curve at the top and has been used for centuries by shepherds all over the world. The shepherd uses the crook to help him walk over uneven or steep ground when looking for his sheep. When not in use, he can hang the crook over his arm, leaving his arms free to tend the sheep. The curved handle is normally wide enough to fit around the neck of a sheep or goat, allowing a shepherd to catch an animal that is straying and reroute it to a different direction.
A crosier looks like a shepherd’s crook and on occasion is carried by the Pope. Because a crook was used by shepherds, it is symbolic of the Pope’s role as shepherd of the whole Catholic Church. A crosier can be made of wood or metal and is often ornamented with carvings. The bent top of the crosier represent the Pope’s role as one who should draw in people to God.
Modern day popes often use a staff with a curved cross at the top rather than a crosier. Teacher shows the class an image of Pope Francis with a staff (attached to planner).
Class:Children design and make a crosier or staff for Pope Francis.
(CCC888) Bishops, with priests as co-workers, have as their first task "to preach the Gospel of God to all men," in keeping with the Lord's command. They are "heralds of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic teachers" of the apostolic faith "endowed with the authority of Christ.”
Class:Teacher reads from the bible to the class John14:15-17 and explains that Jesus promised the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would remain with them and give them the strength and courage to spread the Word of God. Teacher revises the events of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1-21) and how the promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled. Today the Pope and his Bishops have the same authority, given to them by Jesus, to teach and guide us.
In the Catholic Church a bishop oversees adiocese, which is a collection of local parishes. Each bishop must make a visit to the Holy Father every five years and give a report on his particular diocese. Bishops make visits to the parishes and chair numerous meetings with their staff. Each individual bishop has his own authority to run the diocese. He’s not an ambassador of the pope but governs the local diocese as an authentic successor of the apostles, just as the Pope governs the universal Church as the successor of St. Peter.
Class: Children research information on the Bishop for their diocese and source articles in Catholic newspapers. Children share their findings with the class.
(CCC882) The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor "is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.""For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.”
Class: Teacher explains to the class that Pope has God –given authority over, and responsibility for, the whole Catholic Church on earth. Teacher shows the children the image of the Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church (attached to planner). Teacher discusses the information displayed on the image with the children emphasising that the Pope, represented by a blue dot, is head of the Catholic Church, Bishop of a Rome and also a parish priest. Children work in groups to interpret other information from the poster and share the facts with the class. An Information Sheet on the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church for the teacher is attached to the planner.
Class: Teacher explains that the word"Pope" means "father" and that the Pope cares for each one of us just like a father cares for his children. The Pope likes to visit Catholics in different countries all over the world. These visits are called pastoral visits. Pope Benedict XV visited the United Kingdom in September 2010 and even met Queen Elizabeth II. There are some great clips on YouTube of his visit to the United Kingdom and the Mass he celebrated at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. Children could start collecting pictures and articles on the Pope’s pastoral visits around the world and display them in a book at the class altar.
KEY VOCABULARY: Pope, successor of Peter, authority, pastor, shepherd, father, pastoral visits / Bible
Use of Imagery in the Gospel of Matthewworksheet.
Pope Francis Fact File
Reference Library
Internet
Bible
Role of the Shepherd worksheet
Images of a shepherd’s crook and crosiers
Image of Pope Francis with a staff
Art materials
Bible
Internet
Catholic Newspapers
Image of Hierarchy of the Catholic Church and Information Sheet
Internet
Book for class altar
Newspaper cuttings / Children will show understanding of the words from scripture, “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.” (Matthew 16: 18a).
Children can complete Pope Francis Fact File.
Children know that the Pope is the successor of Peter and the Pastor (shepherd) of the whole Catholic Church.
Children can explain the significance of the Pope’s crosier.
Children know the name of the Bishop of their Diocese and that his authority was given to him by Jesus.
Children know that the Pope has God-given authority over, and responsibility for, the whole Catholic Church on earth.
Children know that the Pope shows his fatherly care by making pastoral visits to different countries around the world.
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RERC Planner:January/February Primary: 4/5
Strands of Faith : Experiences and Outcomes / Core Learning / Learning & TeachingClass/School/Home/Parish / Resources / Assessment
Son of God
2-06b
I have examined the role of Jesus as a teacher and a healer and I have reflected on how His words and actions influence my own life and the lives of others. / I know that Jesus proclaimed the Good News from God and called people to repent (Mark 1: 14-15).
I know that we too can experience repentance and forgiveness particularly during Lent and through the Sacraments of the Church.
I know that Jesus called the disciples to follow him:
- the call of the first four disciples (Mark 1: 16-20)
- the call of Levi (Mark 2: 13-15)
- the call of the Twelve: (Mark 3: 13-19).
Children copy the words of Jesus from Mark 1: 14-15 onto a sheet of paper/religious jotter.
Class: Teacher explains to the class that Jesus knows we will not always make the right choices. He loves us and has given us a way to overcome our wrong choices. He has told us that we must repent so we can return to live with him and God the Father. When we do something wrong, it is like having a cut. It hurts inside and makes us sad because we know we have done wrong. Repentance can help us when we have made a mistake. It is a way of cleaning and healing a spiritual hurt. To repent
- Weshould admit that we made a wrong choice and feel sorry that we did it
- We must then ask to be forgiven for what we have done. We can ask God for forgiveness through prayer and/or the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- Next we need to try to correct any problems we have caused because of our wrong choice. Sometimes we cannot correct the problems (such as replacing something that we ruined), but we need to do the best we can.
- Finally we must decide not to make that wrong choice again.
Class:Children complete Road to Repentance worksheet (attached to planner).
Class:Teacher revises with thechildrenthe Sacrament of Reconciliation which they received in Primary 3:
- The priest forgives us in the name of God and the Church
- The Word of God assures us of God’s love and challenges us to conversion of heart
- It is important to prepare to confess my sins, and to be truly sorry and try not to sin again
- the priest says the prayer of absolution in which we are forgiven in God’s name through the power of the Holy Spirit
- I must make an act of contrition
- I show that I want to make up for the wrong we have done by undertaking a penance
The Prayer of Absolution and the Act of Sorrow are attached to the planner.
Home:Children should take home a copy of the Act of Sorrow to pray with their family.
Class: The teacher explains to the class that Lent is a season that asks us to live our lives as Christ lived his. Throughout his life, Christ focused on prayer, fasting and serving those in need. Lent remembers Jesus’ 40 days in the desert without food, and fasting and prayer directly relate to his experience. Lent is a great time to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. Lent, in the liturgical year, is known as a penitential season. As Catholics, we are asked to give up various items or habits and commit to activities that bring us closer to God and our community. Reconciliation is a natural step to cleanse ourselves from sin and start anew with a renewed focus on Christ. Teacher revises with the class the format the Sacrament of Reconciliation takes and prepares them to receive the Sacrament during the Season of Lent (How to Go to Confession Information Sheet is attached to planner).
Parish: The children should be given the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent.
Class:Teacher distributes bibles to the class and assists the children to locate and read Mark 1: 16-20. Children locate Lake Galilee in a Map of Israel in Time of Jesus (attached to planner). Children could be given an A5 copy to stick in their religious jotter. Teacher discusses the call of the first four disciples with the class. Where did Jesus go? Who were the first two men he called? And the next two brothers? What did these men do when Jesus called them? What did Jesus promise to teach them? What do you think he meant by fishers of men? Why did Jesus call fishermen to follow him? Jesus chose these men because they were hard-working men. They were not rich or educated. Yet that did not matter to Jesus. He cared about what was in their heart. He knew that they had faith in God. And that is what he was looking for in his followers. The fact that the men left everything to follow Jesus shows their great faith.
Class:Teacher teaches the children the hymn Follow me; Follow me(lyrics attached to planner).
Available on YouTube at:
Class:Teacher explains to the class that Jesus called another man to follow him. This man’s name is Levi (Matthew). He was a tax collector. In the bible, tax collectors were people who collected money from other people to pay for different things. But most of the time, tax collectors would be liars and would steal more money than they were supposed to from people. Why do you think Jesus would wants tax collector to follow him? Jesus’ love is unconditional. This means it doesn’t matter what we do or what we will do, he will always love us. He offers sinners forgiveness from their sins, a chance to start again and grow closer to God.Teacher distributes bibles to the class and assists the children to locate and read Mark 2: 13-17. Teacher discusses the following points with the class:
- Jesus called Levi to follow him even although he was a tax collector
- Jesus called Levi to follow him even although he did not always show love to others
- Jesus came to invite sinful people into the family of God
- Do you think it is important to be in the family of God?
- Why do you think you deserve to be in the family of God?
- What do you think it means to follow Jesus?
Religious Jotter
Road to Repentance Worksheet.
Prayer of Absolution
Act of Sorrow
How to Go to Confession Information Sheet
Bibles
Map of Israel in Time of Jesus.
Lyrics of Follow me, Follow me
Bibles
Templates of Tee-shirt / Children know that Jesus proclaimed the Good News from God and called people to repent.
Children develop understanding of the true meaning of repentance.
Children know the Act of Sorrow.
Children should develop understanding that we experience repentance and forgiveness particularly during Lentand through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Children can locate Lake Galilee in a map of Israel.
Children can sing the hymn Follow me; Follow me.
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