The task of evangelizing families, children and youth, in the Christian faith calls for a courageous renewal on the part of the parish and the Catholic school.

Reflection is an action that takes place when a person encounters a new experience, particularly when it presents information that is in conflict with their present world view. Used in religious education, it can help students deepen their understanding of a new concept, record their reactions for later consideration, summarize content in their own words, compare new information with other viewpoints such as those of the media or peers, and to come to new understandings of humanity and our relationship with God.

 

Information and communications technology (ICT) provides a range of tools with a unique capacity to extend and enrich teachers’ instructional strategies and students’ learning in social religious education. Information and communications technology can be used to connect students to other schools, at home and abroad, and to bring global issues and the beliefs of other Christian denominations and world religions into dialogue with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

 

 

Grade One – Overall and Specific Expectations

 

 

BL1: Demonstrate an understanding of the Bible (i.e. Word of God) as the inspired story of the Revelation of God (i.e. Plan of Loving Goodness) that unfolds in stages and finds its fullest expression in Christ Jesus. [CCC nos. 50-73; 456-682]

 

BL1.2: Retell scripture passages that show how God formed a people who were his own (i.e. Israel) and demonstrate an understanding of the Old and New Testament as a collection of stories inspired by God and written by his people so that they can share their knowledge of God with others. [CCC nos. 50-73]

 

ML1: Demonstrate an understanding that we are created in the “image of God” and that this gift calls us to live in a way which reflects this truth. [CCC nos. 1699-1715]

 

ML2: Demonstrate an understanding that we are able to think (i.e. use our reason) about our actions and to know that they affect our relationship with God, other people, and ourselves. [CCC nos. 355-384; 1778-1779]

 

ML3: Demonstrate an understanding that as human beings God calls us to grow in holiness (i.e. to grow in charity and goodness). [CCC nos. 946-975; 1474-1477; 1812-1829; 2012-

2016]

 

ML1.2: Explain why it was so important for Jesus to be born a human person like us in every way except sin (he shared in our human life and provided for us a perfect example of how we can live and treat others as the “image of God”). [CCC nos. 1701, 1708-09]

 

ML1.3: Identify through Scripture (i.e. Genesis 1) that God has created the world we live in and made human beings to be unique (i.e. with a spiritual soul, intellect, free will, reason and an exalted vocation), and demonstrate how our human life is a gift to us and to others. [CCC nos. 1700-1705]

 

ML2.1: Listen to Gospel narratives that reveal the consequences of choosing not to obey God’s will (e.g. Lk. 16:19-31 – Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus; Matt. 24:45-51 – Parable of the Faithful and Unfaithful Slave; Matt. 26:69-75 – Peter denies Jesus three times). [CCC no. 532]

 

LS2: Focus: Human Dignity

Understand that as human beings made in God’s image we are social by nature and are called both as individuals and as a community to offer friendship and charity to all people.

 

LS2.1: Examine selected Gospel narratives to identify ways that Jesus promoted the dignity of the poor and the outcast by restoring and healing their social relationships (e.g. the healing narratives, the meal narratives) and link human dignity to being made in God’s image. [CCC nos. 1877-1896]

 

Grade Two -  Overall and Specific Expectations

 

CL1: Focus: Reconciliation/forgiveness and Eucharist/sacrificial love Understand that the Church celebrates God’s presence and his gift of love in the sacraments. [CCC nos. 1322-1344, 1422-1449]

 

CL1.1: Examine a selection of gospel narratives that reveal God’s grace as a gift that changes lives (healing and teaching gospel narratives) and the sacrifice of love we are to offer to God out of gratitude. (e.g. 1 Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 9:13 and 12:7; Matthew 5:23-24); and connect these narratives to the gift of Grace in the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist (i.e. removes sin and purifies our soul, forms us to act justly and with charity). [CCC nos. 1425-1429; 1443-1445]

 

CL1.2: Define the meaning of “Grace” and compare the need for God’s grace to effect salvation to our need of other “super-natural” aids to sustain a happy, healthy life (e.g. infants depend on our parents to feed us, to keep us safe, and to teach us how to walk, speak, etc.).

 

CL1.3: Identify ways we encounter the presence of God (i.e. in the created world, in other human beings and in Jesus Christ) and explain what these encounters teach us about how we experience and share in God’s love (i.e. healing, forgiveness, strength).

 

CL2.1: Examine the account of the Last Supper in John 13:1-35 and explain what Christ was teaching his disciples by washing their feet. (We share in Christ’s self sacrifice when we place others before ourselves and serve them.)

 

ML1.3: Recognize that God has placed a natural desire for happiness in the human heart and explain why and how this is a sign of God’s love (God loves us so much he wants us to be happy; the desire for happiness draws us to the One who can fulfill that happiness and to the gift of the heavenly kingdom). [CCC nos. 1718-1719]

 

ML2.1: Identify those passages found within the New Testament which illustrate the following themes: Love of God and neighbour, sin, God’s mercy and forgiveness, and explain how they can guide us in judging our relationships with parents, friends and teachers. [CCC nos. 1965-1986; 1846-1951]

 

ML2.2: Identify certain actions in our lives which demonstrate our lack of love for God and our neighbour (i.e. sin) and how in the Eucharist Jesus extends to us the gift of God’s mercy and forgiveness for our sins (Introductory Rite). [CCC nos. 1849-1851; 1391-1401]

 

ML2.3: Identify the Law of God in the Old Testament (i.e. Ten Commandments) and in the New Testament (i.e. Commandment of Love) and show how they guide us in making choices to act in ways that show love to God and our neighbour. [CCC nos. 1949-1986; 1786-1789; 1847]

 

ML3.1: Identify the specific graces that come from God and that we receive in our lives when we celebrate the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist and explain how they help us to live the Christian life and how we should respond. [CCC nos. 2006-2011]

 

ML3.2: Identify how we receive grace from God and identify ways we can use the gift of Grace to help others and build up the Church. [CCC nos. 1996-2005]

 

LS1: Understand that the Eucharist deepens our relationship with Jesus so that we are prepared to be God’s messengers and witnesses to the Risen Christ in our communities (i.e. families, school and society). [CCC nos. 1137-1355; 1391-1491]

 

LS2.3: Identify ways we can express to God that we respect the gift of our “human dignity” and show respect toward others (i.e. family and school communities) through our prayers and actions. [CCC nos. 356-384; 1928-1933; 1391-1401]

 

Grade Three - Overall and Specific Expectations

 

ML1: Demonstrate an understanding of how God teaches us to be good and to reflect this goodness in our actions (i.e. Moral Law – revealed in Scripture e.g. Old Law – Ten Commandments, New Law – Law of the Gospel). [CCC nos. 1949-1986; 2052-2082]

 

ML1.3: Explain how receiving and following instructions demonstrates our need for help and benefits us (i.e. brings us happiness, helps us to be good, etc.) and use examples to illustrate how obeying the Ten Commandments strengthens our relationship with God (i.e. Commandments 1-3) and with others (i.e. Commandments 4-10). [CCC nos. 1949-1964; 2052-2082]

 

ML2.2: Identify those things in our life which can threaten or weaken our human freedom (i.e. sin, fear, bad habits, being controlled by negative passions, etc.), and describe ways that we can strengthen our human freedom as a force of growth and maturity in our lives. [CCC nos. 1730-1748]

 

ML2.4: Outline the consequences of choosing between good and evil using a variety of strategies (drama, case studies and scenarios). [CCC nos. 1730-1738]

 

ML3.1: Define the meaning of “sin”, differentiate between venial and mortal sins and provide examples of both taken from the experience of their everyday lives. [CCC nos. 1846-1876].

 

ML3.2: Define the difference between personal (a wrongful act committed by only one person who thus bears full responsibility for the consequences) and social sin (a wrongful act committed with others who share the responsibility for its consequences, e.g. group bullying, destruction of property) and explain why both weaken our relationship with God and others. [CCC nos. 1846-1876]

 

ML3.3: Examine a selection of scripture passages that demonstrate both personal and social sin and the consequences for the protagonist and those offended (e.g. the fall of Adam and Eve; Peter denies Jesus; Judas’ betrayal of Jesus). [CCC nos. 1846-1876]

 

ML3.4: Describe what the Church teaches about God’s mercy and what we must do to rebuild our relationship with God and those we have offended. [CCC nos. 1846-1848]