| LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The Faith Formation Board has established a policy of learning objectives for all grade levels. Each child or teen is responsible for knowing his or her grade level's objectives, and to also be familiar with the previous year's objectives. By reviewing these objectives with your child or teen you will be strengthening your faith bonds with your children and the partnership between home and parish family.
Grade One
By the end of Grade One, the child should have a knowledge and understanding of the following key concepts:
• The Holy Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God loves us so much he sent his Son, Jesus, to save us by dying and rising again. God sends the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love and guide the Church.
• The Bible is God’s word written by human hands and includes stories about holy people and Jesus. Jesus’ words and actions teach us how to love and serve God.
• God forgives those who are truly sorry and want to do better; God asks us to forgive others and ourselves.
• Baptism is one of seven sacraments, signs of God’s love, and welcomes people into the church family.
• Prayer is listening and talking with God. Making the Sign of the Cross when we pray and praying the “Our Father” and the “Hail Mary” are ways we love and honor God and Mary.
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Grade Two
By the end of Grade Two, the child should have a knowledge and understanding of the following key concepts:
• The Trinity is three persons in one God – the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is the creator of all that is good, and who can be trusted.
• Conscience is God’s gift that helps you know right from wrong. Sin is free choice to do what is wrong, but God will always forgive you when you are truly sorry.
• The Mass has two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Eucharist means thanksgiving, and is a memorial of the sacrifice of Jesus.
• We receive the gift of the Eucharist with reverence because Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine, and His Spirit works within us as members of the Body of Christ.
• Praying the “Our Father”, the “Hail Mary”, the “Gloria” and the “Act of Contrition” is an important part of being Catholic Christians.
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Grade Three
By the end of Grade Three, the child should have a knowledge and understanding of the following key concepts:
• The Church is the People of God gathered in the name of Jesus; at home we have a “domestic” church where we learn about God’s love through our families.
• The Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic because it is unified, everywhere, for everyone, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit, the teachings of the church, scripture, and conscience help you make good choices and live a good and moral life.
• The pope, bishops, and pastors, inspired by the Holy Spirit, lead and guide the Church in its mission to work for peace and justice.
• Daily prayer is important in the life of a Christian and includes the Apostles Creed and the Hail Holy Queen.
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Grade Four
By the end of Grade Four, the child should have a knowledge and understanding of the following key concepts:
• We can know God through Scripture and Tradition, which includes praying the Rosary as well as knowing and obeying the 10 Commandments.
• Jesus gave us the Greatest Commandment – to love God with all your heart, strength and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.
• The Beatitudes show us how to live and act as followers of Jesus, and also describe the reign of God that Jesus announced.
• Jesus gave the leaders of the Church the authority to interpret Scripture and Tradition for the faithful, under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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Grade Five
By the end of Grade Five, the child should have a knowledge and understanding of the following key concepts:
• The Mass celebrates the Paschal Mystery of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
• Jesus is the incarnation of God; truly human and truly divine and is present in the Word and the Eucharist during the Mass.
• Through the signs and symbolic actions of the sacraments, God’s life becomes truly present in our lives. The 7 Sacraments include Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Marriage.
• Pray the Nicene Creed and understand that it is a community statement of belief during the Mass.
• Every baptized person has the responsibility of sharing the good news to all people everywhere to fulfill the evangelizing mission of the Church.
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Grade Six
By the end of Grade Six, the child should have a knowledge and understanding of the following key concepts:
• The salvation history of the people in the Old Testament and the covenant as fulfilled in the salvation from Jesus Christ.
• The ways that psalms are used in liturgy and the mass and how to pray them, as well as praying spontaneously, in many different forms and for specific purposes.
• The Ten Commandments’ importance in our moral decision-making and living a Christian life and a deeper understanding of heaven, hell and purgatory.
• The role of John the Baptist in the story of our salvation as we are preparing for God’s kingdom through actions that bear witness to our dignity and respect the dignity of all people.
• The presence of the Trinity throughout scripture.
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Grade Seven
| Kingdom/Reign of God: |
Living out the teachings of Jesus. Treating all others with respect and compassion. Working to bring peace, justice, truth, respect, love and the Word of God into our life and the lives of others. |
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| The Name Jesus Christ: |
The name, Jesus, was given to Him by the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation. It means "God Saves". This is His proper name and expresses both His identity and His mission. Christ (from Greek) means "anointed" and was applied to Jesus because he accomplished perfectly the divine mission of the Messiah. |
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| The Infancy Narratives: |
The stories of Jesus' birth and earliest years which begin the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. |
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| Incarnation: |
Jesus became truly man while remaining truly God. |
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| Jesus' 3 Types of Miracles: |
In showing his compassion, service and Divine power, Jesus performed -
- Physical miracles
- Spiritual miracles
- Miracles of Nature
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| Abba: |
Hebrew word (affectionate) for "Daddy" which Jesus used to describe His Father. This declares that God is a loving, concerned, forgiving Father to us all. |
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| Mass: |
Celebration of the Eucharist. The order of the Mass:
- Introductory Rites
- Liturgy of the Word
- Liturgy of the Eucharist
- Concluding Rite
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| Judaism/Jew: |
The religion of Jesus, out of which Christianity developed. Based on the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament) and the Talmud (an explanation of how to live by the law of the Torah). |
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| Beatitudes: |
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. |
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| The Ten Commandments: |
- I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.
- Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Keep holy the Lord's day.
- Honor your father and mother.
- Do not kill.
- Do not commit adultery.
- Do not steal.
- Do not lie about your neighbor.
- Do not covet your neighbor's wife.
- Do not covet your neighbor's possessions.
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| Our 3 Roles as Jesus' Disciples: |
By our Baptism, we are called to be:
- Priest (a bridge between God and man),
- Prophet (proclaim the Good News) and
- King (servant to others).
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| Other Requirements: |
Must be able to look up a passage in the Bible. |
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Grade Eight
| Morality: |
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The way we put our beliefs into action for what is good; it is based on God's revelation and nature itself. |
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| Grace: |
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God's gift of Himself to us which helps us to make morally mature (good) decisions. |
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| Justice: |
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Treating all people fairly and with respect; keeping a right relationship with God, others, and all creation. A prophet is one who takes action against injustice. |
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| Conscience: |
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The human ability to make judgments about what is right and wrong. The conscience uses standards to make these judgments. These standards include the 10 Commandments, Beatitudes, Golden Rule, Jesus' Law of Love. |
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| Seven Capital Sins: |
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These sins are very basic, very wrong and the root of all other sins: Pride, Greed, Lust, Anger, Gluttony, Envy and Laziness. |
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| Value: |
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A belief that means something to me that I choose to act on. Key Christian values are in harmony with the life and teachings of Jesus. |
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| 4 Signs of a Good Decision: |
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The decision is prudent, just, lasting and moderate (also known as the Cardinal Virtues). |
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| Ten Commandments : |
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See above, Grade 7. |
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| Precepts of the Church: |
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1. Attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation.
2. Confess sins at least once a year.
3. Receive Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.
4. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence.
5. Help to provide for the needs of the Church. |
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| Conversion: |
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When a person, through grace, turns away from sin and returns to rightness with God, family and friends. |
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| Sin: |
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Separation from God. An action, or failure to act, that breaks the right relationship with God. |
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| Venial vs. Mortal Sin: |
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A venial sin is a small sin that weakens our relationship with God. A mortal sin is seriously wrong. We know beforehand that it is seriously wrong and yet we freely and completely choose to do wrong. |
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| Sacrament of Reconciliation: |
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A homecoming celebration always available to you that focuses on God's ever-present love and forgiveness. |
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Grade Nine
| Catholic vs. catholic: |
"Catholic" refers to those Christians who live a continued tradition of faith and worship, who hold to the apostolic succession of bishops and priests since Christ; "catholic" means "universal." Roman Catholics accept the pope as their Holy Leader. |
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| Church: |
The Body of Christ. All who are unified through belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. |
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| Apostolic: |
The Church was founded on the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. The Apostles (and us today) are sent by Christ Himself to be His witnesses "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8) |
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| Paschal Mystery: |
The passion, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. Through these events, Jesus brought salvation to the whole world. |
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| Holy Spirit: |
Third person of the Holy Trinity, the Giver of Life. The Holy Spirit dwells in us through sanctifying grace. |
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| Holy Days of Obligation: |
Immaculate Conception (December 8): celebrates that Mary, as Jesus' mother, was preserved from original sin from her conception.
Christmas (December 25): commemorates the birth of Jesus, that God became one of us in Jesus Christ out of love.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1): celebrated in the Christmas season to honor Mary's motherhood, and all Christian mothers.
Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter): celebrated during the Easter season. Jesus' completion of his earthly mission and return to God.
Assumption of Mary (August 15): celebrates that Mary was assumed, that is, brought up into heaven, body and spirit, to be with God Jesus; as the First Disciple, Mary is the first to experience the totality of heaven, and where she is, we will follow.
All Saints (November 1): celebrates the men and women throughout history who lived Christ-like lives and are an example for us to follow. |
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| Pentecost: |
The occasion when God the Father poured out the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, fulfilling a promise made to the apostles by Jesus. This event marks the birth of the Catholic Church and the beginning of the apostles' mission to spread the Gospel message. |
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| Passover Meal: |
Celebrated by all Jews, including Jesus, as the Seder Meal, it celebrates the Exodus from Egypt (Ex 12:14). The meal is rich with symbolism and was the meal being shared at the Last Supper. |
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| Immaculate Conception: |
Mary, as Jesus' mother, was preserved from original sin from her conception. |
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| Other Requirements: |
Name at least two Stations of the Cross and how they relate to our lives today. |
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Catholic Social Teaching Curriculum
Each month a different theme of Catholic Social Teaching will be highlighted with a learning focus or service project that reflects the theme. These themes are:
October – “Life and Dignity of the Human Person”
All human life is sacred and there is inherent dignity in each person.
Learning Focus: Respect for each other in our classrooms and community
November – “Rights and Responsibilities of the Human Person”
Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency.
Corresponding to these rights are responsibilities to one another, our families and our community.
Service Learning: Thanksgiving Food Baskets collection
December – “Call to Family, Community and Participation”
The family is the central foundation of our society and must be strengthened by communities and people
who participate in seeking the common good and well-being of all.
Service Learning: Adopt-A-Family (parish-wide) students will donate used children’s books and make
Christmas cards to include in adopt-a-family gift packages.
January – “Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers”
The dignity of work and the basic rights of workers must be respected.
Learning Focus: A living wage, benefits and conditions in employment
February – “The Option for the Poor and Vulnerable”
In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the
Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable of our society
first.
Service Learning: Feed My Starving Children collection boxes (throughout Lent)
March – “Solidarity”
We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.
Learning Focus: Global unity
April – “Care for God’s Creation”
We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation.
Service Learning: Recycling; shrinking our “carbon footprints”
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