Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

August

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies

To become aware of social justice issues in the world and how he/she can make a difference

To improve the student’s prayer life including daily prayer written and led by a student and prayer services

To live as a true disciple of Christ by making moral decisions based on love and respect for God, others, yourself, and all creation

To share scripture stories and tie them to events in the student’s life

Recognize stereotypes and how these cloud the student’s judgements of others

Recognize those we exclude and include in our world and how this can be changed

Recognize the horrible treatment of people around the world such as Darfur and the Middle East

Understand the meaning of the Greatest Commandment

Recognize what Jesus meant by our neighbor

Recognize and understand the stereotypes in our world and how to stand up against them

Use the gifts of individual students to reach out to others in need such as soldiers in Iraq, disaster victims, nursing home residents, veterans, the poor in Mexico, the hungry in our area, our adopted girl, Vilma, in Guatemala, the first grade buddies, etc.

To tie in our religion work with the novels in our reading class through such issues as stereotyping, exclusion, and prejudice

Surveys

Skits

Small/large group discussion

Scripture study

Writing assignments including journals and prayer

Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

September

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies

To make students aware of the needs of others and reach out to help-school-wide Life Walk for the Pregnancy Care Center in Waterloo and monthly collection for Vilma

To improve the student’s prayer life including daily prayer written and led by a student and prayer services

Recognize the gifts of all people-Grandparents’ Day celebration

Build teamwork, cooperation, and leadership skills

To share scripture stories and tie them to events in the student’s life

Explain why the Church uses sacred symbols and actions to worship God

Describe the use of sacred images and music in the celebration of the faith

Explain the diverse ways the Church celebrates the liturgy

Describe the ways the Church serves the People of God who are deaf

Demonstrate ways we show respect and reverence for God, people, and creation

Explain the history of the Temple in Jerusalem and restate the message of King Solomon when he dedicated the Temple

Compare the Temple in Jerusalem with churches today

Describe the symbols of God’s presence found in church

Explain how the human body is a special place to meet God

Use the gifts of individual students to reach out to others in need

Artwork including creating a modern symbol of the Church

Small/large group discussion

Quizzes

Scripture study

YMCA Field Trip

Written assignments including an essay on their grandparents and prayers

Eighth grade outreach requirement including a central focus project of 4-5 hours by each student/20 hours completed by May 1

Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

October

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies

To make students aware of the needs of others and reach out to help-collection for fire victims, monthly collection for Vilma, and food collection for CUP

To improve the student’s prayer life including daily prayer written and led by a student and prayer services

Celebrate the  Rosary as a school

Recognize the gifts of all people-grades 1 and 8 pumpkin carol at the Red Bud Nursing Home

To become aware of the hunger problem in the world through our Mission Unit  Come and See

Explain how the liturgy helps us keep God at the center of our lives

Describe how the celebration of the sacraments allows us to become sharers in the life of God

Identify the changeable and unchangeable parts of the celebration of the sacraments

Identify the blessings and other sacramentals that help us respond to God’s presence in our lives

Demonstrate an awareness of God’s presence in our lives

Describe the pattern that John uses in the discourses with Jesus

Review holy days and liturgical year

Journal

Questions

Quizzes

Tests

Small/large group discussion

Artwork including posters on hunger

Written assignments including prayers

Scripture study

Covenant Sheets with Mission Unit-students are in groups and must come up with a project of their own “to feed the hungry”-these included a collection for Shawn Hornbeck, letters to food companies and restaurants asking what they to help the hungry, and get well cards to parish sick.  These were spread over the next several months.

Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

November

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies

To make students aware of the needs of others and reach out to help-Pinwheels for Peace, thank you letters to parents, Christmas cards to soldiers, and monthly collection for Vilma

To improve the student’s prayer life including daily prayer written and led by a student and prayer services

To review the Ten Commandments

Describe how the Church helps people renew their faith in Christ

Identify fears that keep us from growing as faithful disciples of Jesus

Summarize the way the Sacrament of Initiation initiate us into the Body of Christ, the Church

Describe how the sacrament of Baptism transforms our life

Explain the effects of celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation’

Explain how the National Catholic Youth Conference helps Catholic youth grow as a faith community

Demonstrate how each of us can be a welcoming person

Explain the symbolic meanings of bread-friendship, hospitality, and God’s loving care

Describe how Jesus uses the word bread to reveal his identity

Retell the gospel of Jesus feeding the crowd of five thousand people

Explain the connection between Jesus feeding the people and the Church’s sharing in the Eucharist

Tests

Quizzes

Worksheets

Written Assignments including prayers and letters of thanks to parents

Small/large group discussions

Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

December

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies and Reconciliation

To make students aware of the needs of others and reach out to help-Hat/Scarf/Mitten Tree, monthly collection for Vilma, and Advent Alphabet Booklet for Grade 1

To improve the student’s prayer life including weekly Advent prayer services as a school and as a class and daily prayer written and led by a student

To share scripture stories and tie them to events in the student’s life

Recognize Advent as the first season in the liturgical year

Understand how the celebration of Advent helps us live our life in Christ

Understand the message of John the Baptist and how it helps us celebrate the season of Advent

Recognize Advent as a season of hope

Recognize and understand the symbols of Advent and their rich history-Advent wreath, Jesse tree, and the O Antiphons

Scripture study including weekly study of the Sunday gospel

Quizzes

Tests

Written assignments including prayers and a Nativity poem as if the students witnessed the event

Small/large group discussion

Artwork including an Advent wreath, Jesse tree, and alphabet book on Advent

Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

January

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies and the Catholic Schools Week Sunday liturgy

To make students aware of the needs of others and reach out to help-community outreach during Catholic Schools Week and monthly collection for Vilma

To improve the student’s prayer life including daily prayer written and led by a student and prayer services

To share scripture stories and tie them to events in the student’s life

To recognize how the Christmas season helps us profess our faith in God’s presence with us

To understand how the gospel story of the Magi tells us about our own faith in God’s promises

Describe the Eucharist as Jesus’ promise of eternal life

Describe the Eucharist as a sacrifice that makes present again the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross

Explain how the different elements of the Mass constitute one single act of worship

Identify ways in which the Eucharist joins us closer to Christ and to one another

Give examples of how we can be “bread” to others

Explain the Eucharist as the source of Christian life that celebrates our love and friendship with Jesus and with one another

Describe how Christ’s healing power continues in the Church today

Explain the importance of the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

Describe how the sacrament of Reconciliation reconciles us with God and the church community

Explain the role of ministers to the sick

Summarize some steps to forgiveness and healing

Explain how the sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony consecrate some members of the Church to live a life in Christ

Questions

Tests

Quizzes

Artwork-including posters on the sacraments covered this month

Skits

Survey

Written assignments including letters of thanks to area fire departments, police departments, paramedics, hospital, and city governments

Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

February

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies

To make students aware of the needs of others and reach out to help-Jump Rope for Heart, Hoops for Heart, St. Jude’s Mathathon, and monthly collection for Vilma

To improve the student’s prayer life including the Stations of the Cross and daily prayer written and led by a student

To share scripture stories and tie them to events in the student’s life

Describe the three degrees of Holy Orders

Describe the special sign of love and unity Christian spouses are consecrated to be

Explain why the family is called a domestic church

Identify the way the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy call all Christians to serve others

Identify the liturgical year and the important holy days and seasons of the Church

To enter into a deeper involvement and a fuller share in the life of the Church

To help students develop their Christian awareness, their sense of service, and their commitment to a life of faith

To help students recognize their Christian social responsibility

To get students actively involved in reading Scripture and in applying what they have read to their own lives

To prepare the students to receive the sacrament of Confirmation

To better understand the lives of the saints

To recognize that Confirmation celebrates the pledge of growth in grace through study and prayer as a member of a faith community

  Recognize that the sacrament of    Confirmation is intimately linked with the sacrament of Baptism

Become familiar with the rite of Confirmation; to appreciate the symbols and prayers of the rite

Recapture the significance of the Pentecost experience in order to appreciate the importance of Christian service

Recognize Lent as a journey of discipline, prayer, and almsgiving

Confirmation preparation begins this month

Quizzes

Tests

Written assignments including prayer and saint study

Questions

Artwork including a Lenten locker poster, a Station of the Cross, and sacrament posters turned into a booklet

Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

March

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies and Reconciliation

To make students aware of the needs of others and reach out to help-food collection for CUP, monthly collection for Vilma, and shoeboxes for Mexico-including a speaker who builds homes there each Easter/Christmas

To improve the student’s prayer life including the Stations of the Cross, a Confirmation retreat,  and daily prayer written and led by a student

To share scripture stories and tie them to events in the student’s life

To recognize the gifts of others and themselves and how they can affect change

To recognize the importance of sharing the stories

Understand that the memory of Jesus is kept alive by the Holy Spirit through Scripture and the sacraments

Explore how we personalize and affirm our beliefs as Catholics

Deepen understanding of the meaning of the Catholic Church to better understand Confirmation as a commitment to Christ through the Church

Recognize that membership in the Church develops in stages

Recognize that Confirmation celebrates the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and marks the beginning of a deeper involvement in the mission of Jesus

Recognize the Confirmation celebrates the willingness of the members of the Church to be identified as followers of Jesus.

Learn that prayer and study can deepen beliefs into genuine convictions

Understand the importance of the Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, and the basics are to living a Christian life

Use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to guide them in decision-making

Review basic knowledge such as the rules of the Church, Sacraments, Ten Commandments, lives of saints, Beatitudes, Corporal Works of Mercy, etc.

Quizzes

Tests

Written assignments including letter to the Bishop, prayer, saint report, an obituary, and poetry

Questions

Artwork including gift boxes and Holy Spirit posters

Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

April

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies, participation in the Easter Triidium including being the disciples in the Washing of the Feet, and attendance at the Chrism Mass

To improve the student’s prayer life including prayer written and led by a student and prayer services

To share scripture stories and tie them to events in the student’s life

 To make students aware of the needs of others and reach out to help-clean flowerbeds in front of school and Church

To recognize the importance of sacrament to others-create welcoming lambs for grade 2

Learn that strong emotions are healthy and normal and need to be handled with care and patience

Recall the role emotions play in people’s life

Understand and practice virtues that help them appropriately deal with emotions

Recognize the value of turning to the Holy Spirit for guidance

Learn that show respect for God’s gift of life means making good and healthy choices about physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health.

Learn that healthy and responsible relationships are based on respect for oneself and others

Recall the importance of showing respect for God’s gift of life

Understand their role in influencing the policies of our government-guest speaker, Sen. Luechtefeld

Examine the threats to value of life

Practice witnessing to the value of life

Understand the impact of good healthy choices on their growth

Practice good health habits

Understand the importance of caring for their spiritual well-being

Learn that marriage is a life giving and a love-giving relationship vocation.

Learn the importance of building good relationships and positive role models and know that maintaining these relationships takes work.

See that dating is preparation for marriage and family life

Explore the guidelines for responsible dating behavior

Understand the real meaning of Christian love

Recognize that marriage has a life-giving and love-giving purpose

Decide on qualities that make up

 good Christian parenting

Family Life-Diocesan Requirement

Quizzes

Tests

Written assignments including prayer and letters to area government leaders on issues such as stem cell research and abortion

Small/large group discussion

Artwork including lambs for grade 2

Month

Content/Skills

Goals/Standards

Assessment

May

To understand and celebrate the sacraments in a more meaningful and life-giving way through weekly liturgies

 To improve the student’s prayer life including the Rosary and a prayer written and led by a student and prayer services

Learn that your life has purpose and a meaning and that you can help fulfill God’s purpose for us by reaching out to others

Recall the importance of belonging to a community

Develop skills in choosing and being a good role model

Practice the skills of Christian community

Assess their past accomplishment and identify their future hope

Identify the sources of meaning and purpose in their life

Recognize their contributions to the God’s reign of justice, love, and peace

Worksheets

Quizzes

Tests

Surveys

Writing assignments including prayer, prescriptions for good living, Commandments for parents, essays on Outreach experiences, and letters