CHAPTER 1: GOD IS OUR FATHER

End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 9/19/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 1 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
As the children learn about God and creation, explore with them their understanding that God is their Father and is the creator of all things. Help them to understand that God offers us a special way to be with him and show our love for him when we gather together at Mass. Emphasize that at Mass we thank God for giving us the world we live in and we thank God for creating us.

In this chapter children will learn:

• God created the world
• God created all people
• God gives us special gifts
• God promises to love us always

Family Activity:  We Are Gifted
Choose a relative or friend of the family. Together make a card to send to the person. Have each member of your family write one thing that they like about that person. Then have everyone sign the card. Send the card to your relative or friend.

CHAPTER 2: WE BELIEVE IN THE BLESSED TRINITY

End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 9/19/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 2 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
In Chapter 1 the children learned that God created the world and all people. In this chapter the children will learn that God sent Jesus, his own Son, to us.

In this chapter children will learn:

• God sent his own Son, Jesus, to us
• Jesus is God’s greatest gift
•  There are Three Persons in One God
• The Sign of the Cross is a prayer to the Blessed Trinity

Family Activity
Acitvity Download
"God's Greatest Gift"
Read the words of the song. Have the children practice singing. Let them suggest actions they can do while singing particular verses. Then, pray together in word and song.

Prayer Discovery: The Sign of the Cross
The Sign of the Cross is a prayer to the Holy Trinity. Reinforce the idea that we are speaking to God every time we pray this prayer. Remind the children that every Mass begins and ends with this prayer to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

CHAPTER 3: JESUS GREW UP IN A FAMILY

End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 10/24/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 3 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
In this chapter the children will learn how Jesus grew up as part of a family. For Catholics the Sunday liturgy is the center of our lives as the family of Jesus. Participating at Mass together is the most important thing we do as a community of believers. Explain to the children that when we gather at Mass, we praise and thank God together for his many gifts, especially for the gift of Jesus. Remind them to share the sign of God's peace with both their family members and the other people at Mass.

In this chapter children will learn:

• God created the world
• God created all people
• God gives us special gifts
• God promises to love us always

Family Activity
What childhood memories do you have of experiencing God’s presence in your family? Share these with your child.

Many times the Holy Family traveled together. Make a travel prayer card with your family and keep it in a safe place. Say the prayer together when you begin your trips.
The Travel Prayer:
Holy Family, be with us as we travel. We believe that all God’s ways are beautiful and all his paths lead us to peace and happiness

CHAPTER 4: JESUS WORKS AMONG THE PEOPLE

End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 10/24/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 4 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
In this chapter the children will learn that Jesus worked among the people, sharing God’s love. Jesus calls us to love and work among his people. He wishes us to do many of the works he did — serve the sick, feed the hungry, console the afflicted, teach those who wish to love and serve God, and so much more. Help the children think about opportunities they have to offer their resources to others, such as assisting their parents with housework and helping out in other ways at home.

In this chapter children will learn:

• John the Baptist helped people to get ready for Jesus
• Jesus shared God’s love with all people
• Jesus teaches that God watches over us and cares for us
• Jesus helped all those in need

Family Activity:  God Is With Us
Activity Sheet Download
Find the word to finish the sentence. Color all the O spaces green. T ell the children that they may use different colors for the X spaces. Remind the children to complete the sentence below the puzzle.  When the children have completed the activities, pray together: "God we believe you love us. We trust you."

Answer: Jesus tells us to  trust God.

CHAPTER 5: JESUS TEACHES US ABOUT LOVE
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End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 10/24/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 5 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
In this chapter the children will learn about love and how Jesus wants us to live our daily lives. As the children learn about the Great Commandment, explain that when we celebrate Mass on Sunday with our parish, we are showing our love of God. We also show love for others by praying for the needs of others.

In this chapter children will learn:

• Many people wanted to follow Jesus
• Jesus taught the Great Commandment
• Jesus taught us to love God, ourselves, and others
• Jesus taught us that all people are our neighbors

Family Activity: Stewardship
Talk together about ways family members can be good neighbors. Choose one or two of
these ways and make a plan as a family to be a good neighbor this week.

CHAPTER 8:  JESUS HAD MANY FOLLOWERS

End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 11/28/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 8 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
In this chapter the children will learn about the people who followed Jesus and what they learned from him.

In this chapter children will learn:

• Jesus invited people to be his followers
• Jesus’ followers believed that he was the Son of God
• Jesus showed his followers how to pray
• We pray the Lord’s Prayer

Family Activity: Prayer Discovery
Acitvity Download
"The Lord's Prayer"
Color the prayer card and display in a common area to remeber to pray the Our Father each night this week

CHAPTER 9: JESUS DIED AND ROSE TO NEW LIFE

End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 11/28/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 9 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
In this chapter the children learn that Jesus loves us and that he died on the cross and rose to new life for us.

In this chapter children will learn:

• Jesus told his followers that he loved and cared for them
• Many people gathered to welcome and praise Jesus
• Jesus taught in the Temple in Jerusalem
• Jesus died and rose

Family Activity: Stewardship
We are called by God to be loving and caring toward one another. Encourage the children to think of ways God would want them to act with their friends. For example, suggest that if they were to see someone being bullied, they could think of ways to help that person. They could offer to walk away with the person being bullied or report the bullying to a teacher. Discuss with the children other ways that they can show love and care for other people in their lives.

CHAPTER 10: JESUS SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT   

End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 11/28/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 10 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
In this chapter the children will learn that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his followers.

In this chapter children will learn:

• The risen Jesus visited his followers
• Jesus Christ promised that the Holy Spirit would come to his followers
• The Holy Spirit was sent to Jesus’ followers
• The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity

Family Activity: Jesus is Always With Us
Acitvity Download
Read the message on the fish. Color the fish and cut it out. Punch a hole in the fish. Put a string through the hole. Hang the fish in a place where you will see the message often.

CHAPTER 11: THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS THE CHURCH GROW 

End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 12/19/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 11 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
In this chapter the children will learn how the Holy Spirit helps the Church to grow.

In this chapter children will learn:

• The Church began on Pentecost
• The first members of the Church did many things together
• The Holy Spirit helped the Church to grow
• The Holy Spirit helps the Church today

Sharing the Faith: A Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Acitvity Download
Cut out the prayer card and ask each person in your family to write his or her initials on the flame. Hang the card as reminder to pray to the Holy Spirit often.

CHAPTER 12: THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS THE CHURCH GROW

End of Chapter Test: due for completion by our next meeeting on 12/19/2022
Please complete the chapter test in the textbook. Keep this test to be turned in at our next meeting.

Lesson and Overview
Chapter 12 Lesson and Overview Downloadable Resource
In this chapter they will learn that Jesus appointed the Apostles to care for the Church, and how the pope and bishops care for the Church today.

In this chapter children will learn:

• The Apostles led and cared for the Church
• The bishops lead and care for the Church
• The pope leads and cares for the whole Church
• The Church serves others

Family Activity: Jesus is Always With Us
Acitvity Download
Help your child find the hidden letters:  P in the upper left-hand corner;  E on the tunic of the apostle second from left;  T on the pocket of the apostle holding the walking staff;  E on the top left brick of the wall;  R in the cloud in the upper right-hand corner. Then your child to color the picture. Remind them that Peter and the apostles traveled to teach people about Jesus. They helped the Church grow.

Answer: Peter and the apostles were the first Curch leaders.