Grade 3 – Curriculum
Unit 1 – The Church Is One
Theme – The Church is presented as united in our belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our sacramental encounter with grace, and our commitment to charity.
Chapter 1 – The Holy Spirit Guides Us to Become Church
· Experience sharing personal good news
· Understand that Scripture reveals that we are called to live together as Christians
· Explore the meaning of the Communion of Saints and the purpose of baptism and Confirmation
· Describe the Unity of the Church
· Pray for the Church
· Identify ways to welcome someone
· Understand that Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are sacraments of initiation
· Understand that the Holy Spirit works within us
· Describe ways to be active members of the Church
· Pray to be faithful disciples
· Identify ways to love and care for family members
· Understand that Scripture reveals God’s healing power
· Explore the meaning of neighbors and domestic church
· Describe ways to show respect for neighbors
· Pray a prayer of petition
· Understand that a good father teaches and cares for his children
· Learn that Jesus teaches us to call God “Father”
· Understand that Scripture reveals how Jesus wants us to pray
· Learn four kinds of prayer
· Pray the Lord’s prayer
Theme – The teachings of the Gospels develops the idea of holiness in the Church and for individuals. The sacrament of Reconciliation is highlighted as part of the Church’s holiness.
Chapter 5- Jesus Shows Us How to Forgive and Heal
· Identify ways we have been healed by others
· Understand that Scripture reveals that Jesus can forgive sins
· Explore the meaning of compassion and mercy
· Describe ways to be compassionate and merciful
· Pray by using drama
· Explain the need for reconciliation
· Understand that the Church celebrates healing through the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick
· Explore the meaning of sin
· Review the steps in the sacrament of Reconciliation
· Pray the act of contrition
· Identify community rules that affirm love of neighbor
· Understand that Jesus teaches the good news by the authority of God
· Explore the meaning of the Great Commandment
· Describe ways to show love to neighbors
· Pray for our neighbors
· Identify ways their parents provide for them
· Understand that Scripture tells us to ask God the Father for what we need
· Understand that the Holy Spirit is with us always
· Learn about the missionary work of St. Patrick
· Pray for their needs through the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Theme – Membership in the church is not conditioned on race, nationality, gender, or status in society, nor is the Church’s mission of service restricted to members.
Chapter 9 – Catholics Are “Open to All”
· Discuss the gift of water
· Understand that the Scriptures reveal that Jesus offers living water
· Explore the meaning of catholic
· Describe ways to be accepting of all people
· Pray to the Holy Spirit for an attitude of openness
· Identify reasons for celebrating
· Explore the celebration of the liturgy
· Understand how the Lord is present in the liturgy
· Learn the order of the liturgy
· Pray a liturgical prayer
· Identify qualities of a good messenger
· Describe ways to be a missioner
· Explore the meaning of grace
·
Learn about the first Black Catholic priest in
the
· Pray for the grace to spread the Good News
· Identify the qualities of a role model
· Understand that the Holy Spirit filled the disciples with power on Pentecost
· Explore the meaning of devotions
· Learn to pray the Rosary
· Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance
Theme –
The Church is committed to being faithful to the teaching of the Apostles. This
fidelity is related to the ideas of vocation and ministry as expressed in the
sacraments at the service of communion.
Chapter 13 – The Church Continues the
· Identify traditions passed on by parents
· Understand that Jesus commissions the Apostles to continue his work in the world
· Learn the marks of the Church
· Understand that Mary models the way to follow Christ
· Pray the Apostles’ Creed
· Explore the meaning of “promise”
· Learn about the sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders
· Explore the meaning of vocation and commitment
· Realize that God wants us to keep our promise to serve
· Pray a blessing
· Identify ways talents can be used
· Understand the mission of the Apostles
· Explore the meaning of covenant
· Identify parish members and ministries
· Pray to be faithful
· Identify Catholic Church
· Understand the importance of a creed
· Learn about Joan of Arc
· Explore the meaning of the Apostles’ Creed
· Pray for Faith
Theme – Basic concepts of social justice are introduced. The Church is presented as both a sacramental community and a servant community.
Chapter 17 – The Church Is a Sign of the
· Describe a place of peace and happiness
·
Learn about the
· Relate concepts of justice to the kingdom
·
Learn to describe the
· Pray to be signs of God’s kingdom
· Identify times to pray
· Learn Catholic blessings
· Explore the meaning of blessings
· Remember that God is with us always
· Pray a blessing
· Identify qualities of a good neighbor
· Understand Jesus’ definition of neighbor
· Explore the meaning of justice and peace
· Learn about Cardinal Bernardin and Henriette Delille
· Pray a prayer of petition
· Realize that God wants all people to live in peace
· Understand that Jesus frees people from sin to live in peace
· Explore the meaning of peace
· Learn ways to pray for peace
· Pray for world peace
** Advent
· Share experiences of looking forward to a special event
· Learn about the events surrounding Jesus’ birth
· Express how we will prepare for the birth of Jesus
· Share family traditions that help us prepare for Christmas
· Learn about the Church tradition of the Advent wreath
· Recognize the significance of the Advent wreath
· Share memories of different Christmas crèches
· Recognize the significance of the crèche during Advent
· Share feelings of expectation while awaiting a visit from someone special
· Understand ways that the meaning of Advent is expressed in prayer
· Use prayer and gesture to welcome Jesus
** Christmas
·
Appreciate
the special celebrations that bring happiness to our lives
·
Understand
that Christmas celebrates the coming of Jesus as the Light of the World
·
Identify
ways of bringing happiness to others
·
Understand
the significance of the Feast of the Epiphany
·
Recognize
that Jesus revels himself to us every day
·
Appreciate
people who have helped us know about Jesus and become better Christians
·
Appreciate
the people in our lives who are faithful to us
·
Celebrate
God’s faithfulness to us
·
Use
prayer and gesture to express our faithfulness to God
** Lent
· Understand that Lent is a season when our Christian life is renewed
· Appreciate that there are different ways to grow in holiness
· Think about ways we can do kind acts for others
· Discover that Jesus is the perfect example of holiness
· Lear about King David, who wrote Psalm 23
· Express out love for God in a poem
· Understand that Jesus asks us to do kind acts during lent
· Learn that Lent is a time of preparation before the celebration of Easter
· Recognize that praying the Way of the Cross is a way to prepare for Easter
· Understand that God the Father forgives to help grow in holiness
· Learn about Jesus’ story of the Forgiving Father
· Express how God forgives us in our lives
· Appreciate how Jesus cares for all people in need
· Understand that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and guide to holiness
· Use prayer and gesture to express our concern for people in need
** Holy Week
· Appreciate that doing something good for someone may require us to give up something we would rather do
· Understand that Jesus loved us and gave his life for us
· Learn that through Jesus’ death, God gives us life everlasting
· Learn about the final days of Jesus’ life on earth
· Understand the meaning of each of the days of Holy Week
· Appreciate the symbols and images of Holy Week
· Express how we will observe Holy Week
· Learn the final events of Jesus’ life on earth
· Use prayer and gesture to recall the events of the last week of Jesus’ life on earth
** Easter
· Share experiences of hearing good news
· Understand that Easter celebrates the Good News of Jesus’ rising from the dead
· Grow in awareness of good news that brings happiness
· Compare feelings of disappointment and hope
· Learn how Jesus appeared to his followers after he had risen from the dead
· Solve a challenge that tells the story of the road to Emmaus
· Appreciate the many ways that Jesus comes to us each day
· Identify behaviors that reveal Jesus to others
· Describe ways we have shown Jesus to others through acts of kindness, caring, and forgiveness
· Identify things for which we are thankful
· Understand that Easter is a time to praise and thank God for his many blessings
· Express thanks to God in prayer and gesture
** Holy Days
· Share experiences of having to fulfill an obligation
· Learn about the doctrine of Mary’s Immaculate Conception
· Reflect on the ways that God works through us to do his will
· Share experiences of doing special jobs for others
· Learn how Jesus told his disciples to carry on his mission
· Appreciate that Jesus returned to heaven so that we can return with him to God
· Share experiences of people’s feelings when a new baby joins the family
· Learn the story of John the Baptizer’s birth
·
Discover how the Feast of Saint John the
Baptizer is celebrated in
· Share experiences of keeping a promise
· Learn about Mary’s life and the Assumption
· Appreciate Mary’s special role in the Church
** Mary
· Share experiences about how we share news with others
· Learn about God’s plan for Mary and her response
· Appreciate the people who are good examples to us
· Share experiences about how an unexpected event can change our lives
· Learn about the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego
· Image ourselves as Saint Juan Diego and write a diary entry
· Share experiences about ways that people show they love and care for us
· Respect Mary because she is Jesus’ mother and an example of faith for us
· Learn that Mary helped to build up the early Church and continues to help by her prayers
· Recall prayers we have memorized
· Learn to pray the Angelus
· Use prayer and gesture to show thanks to Mary
** Saints
· Share experiences of peer pressure
· Learn about he life of Saint Dominic Savio
· Understand that we have choices about how we act in response to peer pressure
· Share feelings and experiences about the importance of being honest
· Learn about the life of Bernadette Soubirous
· Choose things that we wish to pray for today
· Share experiences of asking others for help
· Understand the intercessory roles of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
· Appreciate the ways in which the archangels are depicted in Christian art
· Share reasons why having a brother, a sister, or a close friend is an enjoyable experience
· Learn about the lives of Saint Scholastica and Saint Benedict
· Learn about a monastic saying that reflects Benedict’s rules
· Share experiences of being helped by people to learn about different things
· Discover how Jesus taught the family of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to trust him
· Explain the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in sequence
** Holy People
·
Share
experiences about what it feels like to be ridiculed for doing the right thing
·
Learn
about the life of Blessed Cyprian Iwene Tansi
·
Reflect
upon ways that we have felt God’s love
·
Share
experiences about how it feels to share our time, talents and treasures with
others
·
Learn
about the life of Dorothy Day
·
Recognize
that one person can make a difference in the lives of others
·
Share
experiences about how school has helped us to accomplish a goal
·
Learn
about the life of Blessed Edmund Rice
·
Appreciate
that we can use our talents to help build a better world
·
Identify
people who do God’s work of service
·
Appreciate
that we can support missionaries by prayers and awareness of their work
·
Learn
about the missionary work of the Maryknoll Sisters