Stage 1 (Year 1)

Sharing with others as Jesus showed us

Module Focus

This module focuses on Jesus' sharing and caring for others exemplified in Mark's account of the 'Feeding of the five thousand' (Mk 6: 30-44). The concept of mission is introduced as being like Jesus through caring and sharing in a loving way for people in need. Learning experiences develop students' consciousness of how their parents and others share with them and assist them to discern how they can share with others in need in their family and school, in their own country and overseas.

These modules uniquely relate to materials developed for the celebration of World Mission Day/Week in October each year. Therefore, the suggested period for the implementation of these modules is the first four weeks of Term 4. Resources are reviewed and new resources are developed by Catholic Mission each year.

Please note: Students may have completed the module ‘Stories about Jesus’ in which the core scripture is also ‘Feeding the Five Thousand’. As the students should already have a knowledge and understanding of this passage, the focus of this module will be to examine the implications of the message of this scripture in terms of outreach to others. Very careful selection of strategies is recommended.

Outcomes

J S1.2:Sequences, records and communicates stories about Jesus
S S1.5: Identifies and recalls stories from Sacred Scripture through which God reveals Himself.
Students Learn About:
/ Students Learn to:
J S1.2:
  • Jesus’ ministry to the sick and the outcast
  • Jesus’ relationship with the Father
  • The genre of the ministry stories.
  • Being a disciple of Jesus
S S1.5:
  • the Bible as the Word of God
  • the purpose of the Bible
  • stories of God’s call and people’s response
  • stories of the Bible revealing God’s love
/ J S1.2:
  • locate, research and record selected Biblical stories
  • recount stories of Jesus’ ministry
  • reflect on and express key messages from Jesus’ ministry
  • name actions appropriate to discipleship
S S1.5:
  • retell specific Scripture stories in their own words
  • enact stories from the Scriptures
  • ask questions to clarify meaning
  • explain what these stories teach

Discipleship Challenge
Students are challenged to recognise the implications of Jesus’ words and actions
Students are challenged to show reverence to and appreciation towards the Bible

Catholic Discipleship

The sense that we all belong to God’s family and accordingly have responsibilities to each other begins in immediate relationships: family, those we encounter on a regular basis. For sharing to make sense in the lives of young children they need to experience it at home and have it modelled for them at school. Such sharing is not just a matter of “being nice” but a response to the call from Jesus to try to live like him.

Duration

This module is designed to support learning experiences of approximately FOUR WEEKS

Core Scripture

Mk 6:30-44Jesus Feeds Five ThousandMy First Catholic Bible p. 247

The Eager Reader Bible p. 286-289 Gold & Honey Bible p. 282-285

Scripture in Context

The feeding of the five thousand shows how Jesus was concerned that people receive their basic human needs. This concern for others is at the heart of Christian justice: we share with each other as members of God’s family.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

nn. 781-829 The Church - People of God

nn. 830-856 The Church is Catholic

nn. 2083-2195 You shall love the Lord

nn. 2196-2557 You shall love your neighbour

Backgroundfor the Teacher

Of the many ways to approach the feeding of the five thousand the emphasis on Jesus’ concern for the physical needs of others is most pertinent when investigating the mission of the Church. The scripture scholars tell us that this miracle has Eucharistic overtones. This too is important, as participation in the Eucharist challenges us to share our selves and all we have with others.

The Church is most importantly the People of God. This is not merely a name describing those who have received the sacrament of Baptism. Importantly, the name describes those who act as the People of God. They celebrate together in prayer and reach out to others in love.

In the story from Sacred Scripture what appears to be little feeds many. The truth we are offered is that when we are prepared to share there is enough to go around. This is true of the world’s resources, and of our Christian life.

Jesus’ life provides examples for our own behaviour. His life of total self-giving certainly does this, but many of his actions convert that total self-giving into practical options. Jesus’ actions were not for his own self-glorification but for the good of others. Moreover, the sharing does not come from his own resources but from the food of an unnamed boy in the crowd. It is through that anonymous generosity that the glory of God is revealed.

In the lives of young students the mission of the Church is realised in their day to day relationships. They evangelise to each other when they show concern. They too can share like Jesus did, particularly at home with their siblings. When they seek to act like Jesus did they demonstrate that they are part of the Church, the community of disciples of Jesus.

Jesus’ lessons were for adults. This Eucharistic sharing may well be grounded in the learned behaviour of young people, but it is behaviour that points towards an adult commitment to change the balance of power in the world. Only when such balance is attained will justice reign. When we strive for such balance, firstly in our daily lives, we are fulfilling Jesus’ command to love one another.

In Brief for Students

  • Jesus calls us to share like he did
  • Mission begins in our daily lives

Student Context

Why am I teaching this module to these students at this time using these strategies and resources?

Developing the Partnership

How can I make connections between the learning in this module and parents and the wider community?

  • Students suggest times when they have experienced/witnessed sharing, either from home or the community.
  • Parents are invited to support the Mission week activities/liturgy.

Curriculum Links

Indicate outcomes from other Key Learning Areas to be covered in this module.

Suggested Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategies

Suggestions for preparing classroom and initiating the module:

Word bank –for reference throughout the module, e.g. Mission, sharing, kindness, care, concern, compassion, image and likeness of God, neighbour, community, disciple.

Display Symbols – for reference throughout the module. E.g. Bible, globe or map of world, posters/pictures/photos of people (these can be added to, changed during module), bowl of rice, Catholic Mission posters and other materials, candles to be used in processions with bible to classroom prayer space/table and in class veneration of the Bible and holy water to sprinkle on Bible during prayer.

Locate Catholic Mission posters and teaching/learning materials for THIS Year. Display this year’s theme in a prominent position in classroom.Select other appropriate resources to be used during this module including Catholic Mission’s Prayer Box 1, The Face of God CD, the video Faces and explore and choose internet sites from list at end of module.

At a whole school level, tap into any parents or community connections that can provide direct and authentic first hand experiences of missionary work. Plan for these experiences to be shared across the various stages teaching these Mission modules.

  • Have lollies or small gifts and share them unfairly with the class. Discuss or role -play responses that show how it feels when someone doesn't share what they have. Re-share lollies/gifts fairly and encourage responses of how students feel now.

OR

  • List or role-play things that parents and siblings shared with students in the morning. Discuss what it would have been like if they hadn’t. Write a thank you card to the parents/ sibling for their sharing

OR

  • Construct a class concept map to display with the word ‘sharing’ in the middle surrounded by pictures/words from each student on their experience of sharing
  • Complete a book review from literature based on sharing, e.g., Rainbow fish, The StewThat Grew, or Three Bags Full using thinking tools / strategies to assist students understanding, eg. Possible Question starters for Bloom’s Taxonomy The Thinking Platform p. 62, De Bono’sSix Thinking Hats Expressions Book 1 p. 106 or Ten Story Questions Expressions Book 1 p. 107
  • Take photos of sharing in the school. Label/display. Write a personal/ class acrostic or create a comic strip based on the word SHARING and add to the display. Share display with other classes.
  • Read 'Feeding the five thousand' (Mk 6:30-44). Perform Chorus Play, ‘Many are fed but few understand’;Just Imaginep.25, Rina Wintour.
  • Lead students in a guided meditation based on Mark 6:30 - 44: Guided Meditations for Children p. 214
  • From Mk 6:30-44, take on the role of a character (e.g. Jesus, the boy, a disciple, someone in the crowd.) Recall what happened, ‘Think-Pair-Square’ what you did and how you felt. Record your reflections.

OR

  • Discuss the message of this passage, making links between the passage and the importance of sharing. Complete a T Chart- What does sharing look like? Feel like?
  • Discuss and pose questions around the concept of sharing one’s faith and the sharing that takes place at the Eucharist. Record pictorially how we do this.Brainstorm & organise things that can be collected to aid the less fortunate children on the CentralCoast.
  • Listen to a visiting speaker from Catholic Mission. (Contact Catholic Mission. email: or visit the website:
  • Complete a simple research of organisations (eg. Catholic Mission, Caritas, St Vincent de Paul) involved in sharing resources with people in need. Brainstorm things students can share with those less fortunate, e.g. tinned food clothing, money, prayers, time. Devise a class plan for what the students will share during Mission Week this year.
  • Read the current Mission Week materials. List how and what the people involved in mission share with others.
  • Learn the song, 'Share in the bread’, Simmons & Morehu from Can you hear me? , 'Five thousand people' from Face of God or 'Tell them, Feed them' Christopher Walker from Stories & Songs of Jesus. Devise actions to the chosen song. Use this for the Mission week liturgy.
  • Concluding activity – invite local St Vinnies to come to collect the material collected for the less fortunate kids in Sydney/ Australia. Celebrate Mission Week with a whole school liturgy. Invite parents to attend.

Resources

The resources indicated below are recommended to assist with the teaching of this module. Please add others that are used.

Teacher

  • Catholic Mission materials

Catholic Mission National Office
Level 5 - TowerBuilding
ChatswoodVillage
47 Neridah St
Chatswood NSW 2067 / PO Box 1061
Chatswood NSW 2067
Tel (02) 9411 4611
Fax (02) 9411 4622 / Freecall 1800 257 296
  • My First Catholic Bible 2001. Thomas Nelson Inc. Nashville
  • Carlson, M. (1997). Gold and Honey Bible. Oregon: Multnomah Publishers.
  • Hari, A. & Singer, C. 1993. Experience Jesus Today. Understanding the Gospel. France: Editions Du Signe.
  • Henley, K. (1989). The Beginners Bible. USA: Zondervan.
  • Lucas, D. 1998. The Eager Reader Bible. UK: Candle Books
  • Ryan M. and Elliot M. 1999. Religion Quick Prints. Katoomba: Social Science Press.
  • Wintour, Rina. 2000. Just Imagine. Creative Ways of presenting Scripture. Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises.

Music

  • As One Voice for Kids. 2002. Australia: Willow Connection and Openbook Publications
  • Farrell, B. As One Voice. (God has Chosen Me)
  • Mangan, M. Sing Jubilee. (The Spirit of God, This is the Time)

Audio Visual

  • Catholic Mission has provided schools with Prayer Boxes and resources for several years. There are some highly recommended videos within these.

Literature

Internet Sites

‘My Classes’ DBB RE Teachers Resource Page

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