Teach the Faith
Teaching Religion 2/3
At first I was very nervous about teaching religion class to both the Grade 2 and Grade 3 classes. Although I have grown up practicing the Catholic faith, that doesn't mean that I knew my stuff good enough to answer kids' tough questions about God, evil, and the Bible. It has been an INCREDIBLE learning experience for me this year learning more of the technicalities of the Catholic religion. My own faith has grown immensely as I have deepened my own understanding about God's plans for us and about our responsibilities as Catholics. Below are "slideshows" 5 of my favorite religion lessons this year!
Theme: Walking together
Because our division-wide theme this year was "walking together" I began the very first religion classes by reading the Footprints poem and then having each kid decorate a footprint saying how they plan to show that they are walking with God. The footprints hung up in our room for about half of the year as a common reminder. The poem and message really seemed to stick with the kids!
Because our division-wide theme this year was "walking together" I began the very first religion classes by reading the Footprints poem and then having each kid decorate a footprint saying how they plan to show that they are walking with God. The footprints hung up in our room for about half of the year as a common reminder. The poem and message really seemed to stick with the kids!
Theme: Friendship
After the unit about friendship, we had a "friendship party" where we did activities to celebrate friendship, to become unified as one class, and to enjoy each others' presence. We made "friendship bracelets" where every kid had a different kind of bead, and to get beads from your classmates you had to give them a compliment. By the end of the activity you would have a colorful and unique bracelet. We also made a thumbprint "friendship tree" where everyone got to put their own thumbprint on the tree. This hangs in our room and is a great reminder of our unity as a class and the friendship promises that we have made to each other.
After the unit about friendship, we had a "friendship party" where we did activities to celebrate friendship, to become unified as one class, and to enjoy each others' presence. We made "friendship bracelets" where every kid had a different kind of bead, and to get beads from your classmates you had to give them a compliment. By the end of the activity you would have a colorful and unique bracelet. We also made a thumbprint "friendship tree" where everyone got to put their own thumbprint on the tree. This hangs in our room and is a great reminder of our unity as a class and the friendship promises that we have made to each other.
Theme: Bible stories (Advent Jesse Tree)
I decided to do a Jesse Tree with my students this year and it was a HUGE success. The kids were begging me to read them more Bible stories and some of the parents went out of their way to thank me for taking the time to read the Bible. I found it to be very rewarding and interesting to read because you begin to learn all of the family relations in the Bible! I will definitely be doing a Jesse Tree again next year!
Theme: Creation and Thanking God for the Gifts of this World
Another one of our fun units this year focused on the Creation story. I showed the kids this video, and then I sorted them into groups to try and find magazine examples of different categories.
after thanking God for all of our gifts, we spent some time exploring our 5 senses and how God has given us those gifts as well so that we can enjoy all of the natural things that he has put on Earth.
Theme: Eucharist (bread and wine)
We talked about how we could use our gifts from God and make new things by the "work of human hands". After learning about the Eucharist, the Last Supper, and the symbolism of the bread and wine, our class made homemade bread and we squished our own grape juice!
Theme: Eucharist (bread and wine)
We talked about how we could use our gifts from God and make new things by the "work of human hands". After learning about the Eucharist, the Last Supper, and the symbolism of the bread and wine, our class made homemade bread and we squished our own grape juice!
Parish-Classroom Connections
Father Newton has been in numerous times this year to talk to the kids about church expectations. Before my class was to lead the Stations of the Cross, I asked him if he could tell us all of the proper actions for when we were in the church (photographed below).
I also let the parents know any time that the kids need to practice a reading or when they will be performing a celebration so that the parents can be an active part of the process as well.
Religious & Welcoming Environment
I tried really hard to make sure that my classroom environment displayed messages of religion and religious messages. I believe that the more that these quotes are displayed around the room, the more opportunities that he kids have to internalize those messages. Below are some examples of my classroom environment and how it supports Catholic themes.
However, I also wanted the environment to foster unity, inclusiveness, kindness, and a sense of belonging as well. Here are some examples of other things in the class that support those themes as well.
Classroom Music
I believe that it is important to foster a classroom community that is constantly referring to God and continually celebrating of our faith. I was sad to find out that many of my students didn't know some of my favorite worship songs so I began playing the Songza Station called "Today's Top Worship Songs" while the kids were having down time such as during lunch and during coloring activities. I also created my own YouTube playlist of many of the songs that I had learned throughout church and SABC. I love that the kids have now also learned these songs and that they sing along as we work. During music and Religion we revisit some of these songs to celebrate the actions and meanings behind the lyrics. It has been a great way for the kids to subtly begin memorizing worship songs.
The "Religious Root" in commercialized celebrations
I was shocked to find out that so many kids don't understand that most commercialized holidays have a Catholic root behind them. I have taken it upon myself to educate children about the religious background to holidays whenever we are celebrating one. Below are some pictures of religion-based books that I have bought as well as a few videos that I have used in class to demonstrate how those days came to be.
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Cross-Curricular Religion
One of the most important mindsets that a Catholic teacher needs to adopt is the fact that religion is NOT just a subject in school. It is an atmosphere in the school that needs to be carried across curricular boundaries in order to make it more meaningful for the students. Below are some examples directly out of my Long-Range Plans about how I have integrated Religion into other courses as well.