Grade 5 – Curriculum

Unit 1 – The Sacrament: Gods Gifts of Life

Theme – This first unit introduces the children to the concepts necessary for understanding sacraments in the Church.

Chapter 1 – Sacraments of Creation

· Recall that God is the Creator of all things

· Understand that God created humanity in his own image and likeness

· Learn that Jesus Christ is God’s greatest gift to humans

Chapter 2 – The Church Is a Sacrament of God’s Life

· Realize that as members of the parish community, we are members of the Body of Christ

· Understand that the Paschal mystery is Christ’s life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension

· Learn that God’s grace comes to us through the sacraments

Chapter 3 – Living the Beatitudes

· Understand that the sacraments help them see God in all people and things while the Beatitudes help them show God’s image to others

· Realize that Jesus began the kingdom of God on earth by establishing the Church

· Learn that all true happiness lies in living the Beatitudes

Chapter 4 – Sacramentals, Prayer, and Devotions

· Appreciate that the Communion of Saints is all the followers of Jesus, both living and dead

· Learn that devotions are a form of prayer that can help them encounter God

· Understand that sacramentals are sacred objects, prayers, actions, or blessings that draw them closer to God

Unit 2 – Baptism and Confirmation

Theme – Through Baptism and Confirmation we are welcomed into the Church and strengthened in our faith.

Chapter 5 – Signs of Christian Faith

· Realize that Christ invites people to become members of the Body of Christ through Baptism

· Learn that Christ sends the Holy Spirit to the members of his Body, the Church

· Understand that when we are baptized into the Church, we believe the Incarnation (Jesus, is both God and man)

Chapter 6 – Baptism and Confirmation

· Recognize that Baptism calls them to share in the priesthood and mission of Christ

· Learn that the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) welcome new members into the Catholic Church

· Understand that Confirmation increases in them the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Chapter 7 – Grace: A Gift of Strength and Support

· Understand that sanctifying grace is the free gift of God’s life

· Learn that sanctifying grace is God’s free gift of his life, that heals us of sin and makes us holy

· Realize that they receive God’s sanctifying grace each time they receive the sacraments

Chapter 8 – We Profess Our Faith

· Understand the Apostles’ Creed as a set of beliefs

· The Blessed Trinity is one God in three Persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

· Realize that when we say the Apostles’ Creed we are agreeing to our beliefs as Christians

Unit 3 – The Eucharist

Theme – In the Eucharist, we celebrate what we as a community believe. Through the Eucharist, our faith is strengthened and the bonds of community are renewed.

Chapter 9 – God’s Word Feeds Us

· Understand that Jesus’ death was part of the mystery of God’s plan for the salvation of the world

· Discover the connection between the Old Testament and Jesus

· Understand that the Scriptures and the Church’s Tradition teach us how to follow Jesus

Chapter 10 – The Eucharist

· Understand the liturgical year and how it celebrates the Paschal mystery

· Learn about the two parts of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist

· Realize that the celebration of the Eucharist is the center of Catholic life

Chapter 11 – Living God’s Word

· Recognize that Scripture and the Church’s teachings provide guidance for living a moral life

· Understand that Catholics have the privilege and obligation of attending Sunday Mass

· Learn the holy days of obligation

Chapter 12 – We Pray the Lord’s Prayer

· Learn that God gave Jesus the words of the Lord’s Prayer, the most perfect of prayers

· Realize that God is a loving father who wants us to bring our needs and requests to him in prayer

· Understand the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer

Unit 4 – Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick

Theme - Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick are sacraments of healing which are meant to be celebrated primarily in community.

Chapter 13 – God’s Love is Endless

· Understand that God created the world out of love but that our first parents, Adam and Eve, hurt human nature through their sin

· Baptism frees us from original sin and restores us as God’s children

· Learn that our relationship with God will continue after physical death and that it will be based on the choices we make in this life

Chapter 14 – Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick

· Realize that the sacrament of Reconciliation provides for the forgiveness of sins after Baptism

· Understand how the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick heals us

· When we receive the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, we are united with Jesus’ suffering on the cross

Chapter 15 – Living God’s Commandments

· Understand how to form a healthy conscience

· Recognize the difference between a mortal sin and a venial sin

· Understand that sin weakens our relationship with God but that God is always willing to forgive us

Chapter 16 – We Pray for Forgiveness

· Realize that God loves us and always present to us, even when we sin

· Understand that when we sin, we must pray a prayer of sorrow, or an act of contrition

· Recognize that we ask God’s forgiveness during the Penitential Rite of the Mass

Unit 5 – Holy Orders and Matrimony

Theme – Matrimony is presented in the context of the family as “domestic church.” Holy Orders is a sacrament of leadership and ministry.

Chapter 17 – United in Christ

· Learn about the Church’s unbroken line of succession from Saint Peter to today’s pope and bishops

· Learn about religious life

· Pray for the leaders of the Church

Chapter 18 – Holy Orders and Matrimony

· Understand that vocations are ways to serve God and the Church

· Learn about Holy Orders, a sacrament at the service of communion

· Learn about Matrimony, a sacrament at the service of communion

Chapter 19 – Living as Christians

· Learn that the family is the domestic church

· Know that as Christians we must respect our bodies and the bodies of others

· Understand the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.)

Chapter 20 – We Pray for Guidance

· God is always calling us and we can seek God through prayer

· Realize that Jesus is our model for prayer

· Realize that each person has a vocation in life

Other Activities

** Advent

· Learn about our living relatives and ancestors

· Understand that Advent is four weeks of preparation for the Feast of Christmas

· Recognize how the Jesse Tree can remind them of their ancestors in faith

** Christmas

· Realize that Christmas is celebrated both as a secular holiday and a religious feast

· Understand that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth

· Recognize that Jesus comes in the stillness of the Season, when we remember to be still, watch, and listen

** Lent

· Understand that Lent is a time of prayer and sacrifice

· Realize that Lent is the time in the church year to remember Jesus’ suffering and death

· Train our hearts, minds, and spirits so we may become more faithful followers of Jesus

** Holy Week

· Understand that the Triduum includes the three holiest days of the church year

· Identify what is celebrated on each day of the Triduum

· Relive the great mystery of Jesus’ suffering, death and Resurrection

** Easter

· Recognize that Easter celebrates Jesus’ rising from the dead

· Understand that Easter celebrates the gift of new life that Jesus’ Resurrection won for us

· Celebrate Jesus’ precious gift of peace

** Holy Days

· Discover that keeping our spirits and souls close to God is as important as keeping our bodies strong and healthy

· Learn how to nourish our spirits with the Bread of Life

· Understand that on the Feast of Corpus Christi, we honor Jesus Christ in the Eucharist

** Saints

· Identify the qualities of good leaders

· Learn about the apostles Peter and Paul

· Appreciate the Church’s saints

** Mary

· Honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus, on special feast days in the church year

· Learn about the life of Mary

· Appreciate that Mary is our mother and looks after us

** Holy People

· Learn about the life of Sister Thea Bowman

· Understand that we are to use their gifts and talents to praise God

· Recognize that everyone is worthy of love and respect