ST. JOSEPH
PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION
CURRICULUM GUIDE
2005
ST. JOSEPH PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION
CURRICULUM GUIDE
As Catholics we
believe that the divine truth or revelation is given to us through two means:
Holy Scripture and Tradition (the teachings of the Church). Therefore, the
curriculum reflects a balance between these two sources.
Each grade level
indicates the core scripture incorporated throughout that grade.
The Catholic
Tradition is categorized under the four pillars of the Catechism:
V
Creed (We Believe)
V
Liturgy/Sacraments
(We Worship)
V
Prayer (We Pray)
V
Morality
(We
Live).
Within each of the
above pillars of our faith are found the 10 domains (main teachings) of our
faith. The first part of this curriculum guides lists the specific faith
knowledge to be learned.
TRIUNE GOD (Creed)
JESUS (Creed)
CHURCH (Creed and
Liturgy/Sacraments)
SACRAMENTS
(Liturgy/Sacraments)
SCRIPTURE (Creed)
DOCTRINE (Creed)
MORALITY (Morality)
BRING FORTH THE KINGDOM
(Morality)
EVANGELIZATION (Morality)
In addition, the
grade level section of the guide offers the topics to be covered, the core
scripture incorporated, Catholic prayers/practices, faith vocabulary and saints.
This curriculum
spirals upon itself, rather than being thematic. This enables the child to be
re-introduced to the main teachings of our faith throughout their years in PSR.
Teachings are re-introduced at age-appropriate manner, so that child is provided
the opportunity to grow in their understanding and application of this
knowledge to their life.
The emphasis on the
faith knowledge is that is to be applied to daily life. Faith is not meant to
be a matter of memorization of information, but rather the knowledgeable
application and celebration of the faith knowledge learned.
OVERALL GOALS BASED ON THE TEN DOMAINS & PILLARS OF THE CATECHISM
Students will
express understanding of the Triune God and the activity of the persons of the
Trinity in their lives; they will demonstrate the importance of a personal
relationship with God in their lives and in the life of the community.
Students will
express a basic understanding of Jesus, his life and teachings; they will
recognize Jesus as their Savior and model for Christian living.
Students will
describe how the Church carries out Jesus’ mission of message, community,
worship and service; the structure and function of the Church in the world; and
key developments in the history of the Church, including the role of Mary and
the saints.
Students will
participate in the worship of the faith community, use a variety of prayer
forms to enrich and express personal and communal spirituality, plan liturgy
and prayer experiences with appropriate resources and demonstrate an
understanding of the liturgical seasons, feasts, saints days and sacramentals.
Students will
participate in the sacramental life of the Church, recognizing the Eucharist as
the source and summit of Christian life; they will express an understanding of
the nature, importance and ritual of the seven sacraments and the
sacramentality of all creation.
Students will
demonstrate knowledge of Sacred Scripture as the inspired Word of God revealing
God’s plan for salvation, and will read, interpret and apply Scripture to their
lives.
Students will
demonstrate understanding of authentic Catholic teachings as promulgated by the
Magesterium of the Church and apply these teachings to all life situations.
Students will
demonstrate understanding of Catholic moral teachings, make moral decisions
consistent with these teachings, and especially exhibit a respect for life
toward self, others and creation.
Students will
exercise responsible stewardship for the gift of creation, share their time,
talent and treasure in service to the community as response to the Gospel call,
and evaluate societal structures in light of Catholic social justice
principles.
Students will
exhibit a welcoming and inviting attitude toward all persons encountered in the
broader community and share their Catholic identity, beliefs and practices.
Students will express understanding of the
Triune God and the activity of the persons of the Trinity in their lives; they
will demonstrate the importance of a personal relationship with God in their
lives and in the life of the community.
Goals:
¨
Student
will express understanding and appreciation of the Father as Creator
¨
Students
will express an understanding of Jesus as Son of God and our brother and friend
¨
Students
will describe the Holy Spirit as our helper and guide
¨
Students
will identify the Trinity as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
CONTENT
TOPICS:
¨
Trinity
– One God, Three Persons
¨
Father
– creator, source of all life, love of creation
¨
Son –
Jesus, Savior, brother, friend, Human and divine, Incarnation
¨
Holy
Spirit – Helper, guide, advocate, paraclete, source of sacraments, gifts and
fruits of the Holy Spirit
¨
Trinity
– model of relationship, community
¨
See God
as all loving and eternally merciful
¨
Feel a
need for God in their lives
¨
Be open
to the Holy Spirit
¨
To
imitate God’s love and respect for all creation: human, creatures, and
environment
¨
To care
for and respect human life
¨
To
model development of relationships and community on the Trinity
¨
Recognize
God’s presence in the world today
¨
To be
tolerant and respectful of all people
¨
To
develop and foster prayer life that stems from the recognition of God’s
presence and our need of him
Students will
express a basic understanding of Jesus, his life and teachings; they will
recognize Jesus as their Savior and model for Christian living.
Goals:
¨
Students
will express an understanding of Jesus as Son of God and our brother and
friend.
¨
Students
will express understanding of Jesus as present in the sacraments.
¨
Students
will profess belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
¨
Students
will identify Jesus as the founder of the Church.
¨
Students
will demonstrate understanding of Jesus as teacher and role model for Christian
living.
¨
Students
will express understanding of the Incarnation.
¨
Students
will refer to and reflect upon Scripture texts relating to the Sacraments and
their institution by Christ.
¨
Students
will express understanding of Jesus as messiah, fulfillment of Old Testament
prophecy
¨
Students
will express a basic understanding of Jesus, his life and teachings, and
recognize the importance of a personal relationship with him as their Savior
and model for Christian living.
¨
Students
will express understanding of Jesus as champion of the underdog.
¨
Life of
Jesus
¨
Teachings
of Jesus
¨
Jesus
as human and divine, as Incarnation
¨
Presence
of Jesus in sacraments
¨
Jesus
as teacher, role-model, personal Savior, founder of the Church, Bread of Life,
Messiah, Second Person of the Trinity, friend, brother
¨
Jesus
as center of our faith
¨
Acknowledge
by words or actions that Jesus is the heart of our faith
¨
Recognize
Jesus came into the world to save everyone
¨
Recognize
Jesus as personal Savior
¨
Recognize
Jesus as role model for us to follow
¨
To
evaluate choices in light of Jesus
¨
To tell
the story of Jesus
¨
To pray
to Jesus
¨
To see
Jesus as one, who, by reason of his humanity understands us.
¨
To
participate in the sacraments
¨
To
build the kingdom
Students will describe how the Church
carries out Jesus’ mission of message, community, worship and service; the
structure and function of the Church in the world; and key developments in the
history of the Church, including the role of Mary and the saints.
Goals:
¨
Students
will identify Mary as the Mother of Jesus and our mother
¨
Students
will define Baptism as joining the family of the Catholic Church.
¨
Students
will identify the Church as the People of God.
¨
Students
will describe events in the history of the early Church
¨
Students
will relate the Pentecost Event as the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early
Church and express understanding that the Holy Spirit continues to be present
in the Church and in individuals today
¨
Students
will describe and express understanding of the Marks of the Church.
¨
Students
will recognize the structure of the liturgical year and its impact on
liturgical celebrations.
¨
Students
will express understanding that the Mass is the great celebration of the Church
¨
Students
will distinguish between various vocations/ministries in the Church and will
describe the hierarchy of the Church
¨
Students
will identify the Laws of the Church
¨
Students
will use the Creed as a summary of Christian beliefs.
¨
Students
will demonstrate understanding of the structure and images of the Catholic
Church
¨
Students
will trace the history of the Roman Catholic Church from apostolic times
through the twentieth century.
¨
Church
as community, Body of Christ, People of God
¨
Church
founded by Christ
¨
Universal
Church
¨
Dimensions
of Church
¨
Worship
¨
Community
¨
Message
¨
Service
¨
Marks
of the Church
¨
One
¨
Holy
¨
Catholic
¨
Apostolic
¨
Role of
the laity
¨
Hierarchy
and role of ordained ministers
¨
History
of Church from apostolic times to present
¨
Mary as
Mother of Jesus, Mother of God, our mother
¨
Saints
¨
To feel
a sense of belonging to God’s family
¨
To
appreciate and understand the gifts and responsibilities of Baptism
¨
To feel
a sense of joy in celebrating the liturgical year
¨
To feel
desire to evangelize
¨
To
recognize the Church as the basis of Catholic identity
¨
To
value being Catholic
¨
To
participate in the sacramental life of the Church
¨
To
utilize gifts for Church (stewardship)
¨
To show
pride in Catholic identity
¨
To
develop awareness of belonging to a universal church as part of the community
of saints
¨
To
respect other faith traditions
¨
To
share faith with others
¨
To
develop personal spirituality
Students will
participate in the worship of the faith community, use a variety of prayer
forms to enrich and express personal and communal spirituality, plan liturgy and
prayer experiences with appropriate resources and demonstrate an understanding
of the liturgical seasons, feasts, saints days and sacramentals.
Goals:
¨
Students
will recognize prayer as listening and talking to God and will participate in
traditional prayers of the Church.
¨
Students
will participate actively in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word and the
Liturgy of the Eucharist as the community worship of the church
¨
Students
will express understanding that the Mass is the great celebration of the Church
¨
Students
will distinguish between various vocations/ministries in the Church and will
describe the hierarchy of the Church.
¨
Students
will demonstrate familiarity with various prayer styles.
¨
Students
will apply prayer to decision making.
¨
Students
will apply prayer to daily life.
¨
Understanding
and reverence of sacred space
¨
Mass as
celebration of the Church
¨
Structure
¨
Responses
¨
Roles
¨
Signs
and Symbols
¨
Liturgical
year
¨
Sacramentals
¨
Types
of prayer
¨
Adoration
¨
Thanksgiving
¨
Intercessory
¨
Contrition
¨
Forms
of prayer
¨
Vocal
¨
Traditional
¨
Spontaneous
¨
Scriptural
¨
Meditation
¨
Contemplation
¨
Centering
prayer
¨
Imaging
¨
Prayer
services
¨
Knowledge
and memorization of traditional prayers of the Church
¨
To
value communal prayer
¨
To
value personal prayer
¨
To
reverence sacred space
¨
To
appreciate and value prayer and liturgy
¨
To show
respect for Church “things”
¨
To
understand and appreciate liturgical environment, music and art.
¨
To
develop personal prayer life
¨
To
utilize various prayer forms
¨
To
participate in the sacramental life of the Church
¨
To use
scripture as source for prayer
¨
To use
personal life experiences as source for prayer
¨
To
recite the traditional prayers of the Church
Students will
participate in the sacramental life of the Church, recognizing the Eucharist as
the source and summit of Christian life; they will express an understanding of
the nature, importance and ritual of the seven sacraments and the
sacramentality of all creation.
Goals: