2A Jesus the Saviour

Show some understanding of the difference between needs and wants. Understand the gospel message that Jesus is saviour. Show understanding of how lent invites and challenges Christians.

 

1. Jesus saves

• Introduce new topic area.
• Write out your letter to Santa for this year.
• From this letter discuss the things you needed and wanted, what’s the difference?
• Complete the needs and wants survey (A time to live pg199).
• Are needs and wants the same for all? Where do we turn when needs are not met?
• Introduce the fact that Jesus is our Saviour; explain to a 5 year old what Jesus came to do.

 

2. Miracle Maker

As an introduction to Jesus’ mission watch ‘The Miracle Maker’

 

3. God answers

• Recap on the need for Jesus who will save us.
• Introduce Jesus as saviour by name.
• In pairs work through fact file, in back of books.
• Use this information and that from the video to create a ‘This is your life’ for Jesus.
• “Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life.” What does this mean and how does it show Jesus as Saviour?

 

4. Assessment

 

5. The Gospel Challenge

• Recap on the work/mission of Christ.
• Our challenge is to continue the good news.
• Lent is a particularly important time for this. Traditionally it should involve fasting, almsgiving and prayer.
• In groups come up with some Lenten challenges.
• Feedback and share some ideas.
• Ask students to write and decorate a pledge for lent
• (hwk-see book pg 44)

 

6. Proclaim the good news

• Recap on last lesson, but identify that the good news is not just for lent.
• Good news is often classed as Justice.
• Introduce the work of Cafod (Cloze procedure might be useful here).
• Guide class to the Cafod website, and show them around each part.
• In pairs hunt for the information use prompt sheet as a guide.
• Design a fact file for the work of Cafod.

 

7. Cafod

• Recap on what we already know about cafod and how it helps us to spread the good news.
• Complete a number of Cafod activities;

The story of Mercedes (pg69)

What is health? (Pg60)

Refugee quiz (pg 49)

So why are people hungry? (Pg 28)

Behaving like animals (pg 42)

           (Either as station activities or class activities)

• Why does Cafod choose people/communities like these to help?
• Is cafod a truly Christian charity? Write a paragraph under ‘yes’ and one under ‘no’ and give your opinion.

 

8. But what can we do?

• Recap on the good news Jesus had to offer.
• Listen to “Christ has no body…”
• How can we do God’s work? Brainstorm using scribes.
• Look at the list of ideas and prioritise.
• Form an act of dedication with pledges.

 

9. Parable of the Talent

• Recap on the whole topic area. (Use testing times as guidelines).
• Read the parable of the Talents as read and shoot.
• What’s the message of this story?
• Introduce and explain fundraising activity.
• Write out action plan for the activity, check each one.
• Begin to plan for activity.

 

 

2B Celebrating Easter

How people give themselves for others That at Easter the church celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus

 

1. Sacrifice

• Introduce the new topic area.
• How do you make sacrifices in your life?
• Share some examples and define sacrifice.
• Introduce people who have given their lives as a sacrifice i.e. Oscar Romero (show video clip) and Terry Waite (read article).
• In groups, could you give your life for others? Why/why not?

 

2. The Original Holy week

• The church believes that Jesus’ life and death is the greatest act of self-giving love. Easter is the remembrance of these.
• In groups, using bibles work out Jesus’ movements in the last week of his life.
• Map out Jesus’ last movements with illustrations.
• Play the Holy week game.
• Highlight the fact that these events are remembered in the events of Holy week.
• Match the day and event; write up in book (include the Easter Tridiuum).

 

3. Passion Sunday

• Recap on the story of Palm Sunday.
• Show clip from Jesus of Nazareth.
• Discuss importance of an event; by looking at the way we enter somewhere and what it says about us.
• How is this remembered today? Talk through and explain procession and reading of the passion.
• Design a then and now.

 

4. Holy Thursday

• Recap on the Easter Tridiuum.
• Led reflection on the last supper and Gethsemane.
• In pairs sit back to back, one is God the other is Jesus. Have a silent conversation. Begin “It’s dark, I’m frightened…”
• Read a few out to the class.
• How is Holy Thursday remembered today? Discuss reasons for the features.
• Draw up an advert for Maundy Thursday service.

 

5. Good Friday

• Recap on the story so far and carry on with the crucifixion.
• Explain the nature of crucifixion.
• What happens at a Good Friday service?
• Go through service in an animated fashion and make notes on the board.
• Design an order of service for the liturgy.

 

6. Easter Vigil

• Recap on how we got to this point.
• Read the Resurrection using team readers.
• What could have happened to the body? As detectives in groups.
• Feedback refuting ideas conclude with the idea of Resurrection.
• Introduce the Easter Vigil as the most important service.
• Make a note of the key features.
• Design and explain a Paschal candle.
• Use testing times to sum up area.

 

 

2C Living as Easter people

The power of light as a symbol of life and hope. The churches role as witness to the Resurrection of Jesus and the Easter call to new life.

 

1. Christ our light

• Introduce new topic, by recapping on the message of Easter.
• Light a candle; what does this remind you of?
• Introduce the meaning of light at Easter.
• Read baptismal promises, how do these help us as ‘Children of the light’?
• Using items in the news, what does this mean?
• Write some modern day baptismal promises.

 

2. Witnesses

• The Christian community began to understand that all members were a witness to the Resurrection of Jesus.
• Read the testimonies as guess whom.
• Focus on Paul by watching Paul's adventures
• What made Paul a witness?
• Design an advert for a modern day witness.

 

3. Witnesses today

• Recap on the whole idea of witness.
• Read Matthew 5:13-16.
• Read the story of love like salt, what’s the message?
• Hat would life be like without light? Message?
• Write a one-minute ‘thought for the day’ about a world without salt or light.
• Share a few examples, what does it say about witness.

 

4. Witnesses today

(NB: Copy master 12)

• Cafod encourages light and salt in practical ways.
• Play the banana game.
• What power have we got?
• What can we do to be true witnesses?
• Design a guide for a new witness.
• Use testing times as summary.

 

 

2D called to change

The place of forgiveness in life and its power to bring about change. The sacrament of Reconciliation brings the gift of forgiveness.

 

1. Called to change

• Introduce new area and what will be covered
• If we are prepared to change we can often grow.
• Show headlines and write what could have happened, in groups.
• Discussion on what happens if people do or do not say sorry?
• Show Les Miserable, Jean Val Jean’s meeting with priest. What ending could there be? What’s the best and why?

 

2. Forgiveness: A new beginning

• Recap on the idea of change and its importance.
• Complete the 'Could you forgive?' sheet
• Feedback and define forgiveness.
• Story in the letter to Philemon.
• Read letter and discuss meaning.
• Translate into modern day language.
• Improvise Philemon’s response to the letter.
• What does the church believe about forgiveness?

 

3. Celebrating love and mercy

• Recap on previous lessons on forgiveness.
• Play ‘confessions’ game, prepare and share.
• Bring around to Catholic churches celebration of God’s call to share in the sacrament of reconciliation.
• The Prodigal son highlights this sacrament.
• Explain the story, using Icons.
• Bring out themes of repentance, confession, penance and forgiveness.
• Explain and illustrate each theme in order for reconciliation to take place.

 

4. The Sacrament

• Recap on the themes in the sacrament and what it is.
• Go through the sacrament explaining and showing what happens.
• In pairs, go through a trial sacrament.
• Prepare a prompt card for someone preparing for his or her first confession.
• Use testing times to check understanding.
• Hold a sin bin activity to music, to complete module of work.

 

 

2/3E A place for prayer

The spiritual side of being human. Our father is a model of Christian prayer, and some Catholic prayer traditions.

 

1. There’s more to me than meets the eye

• Ask each member of the class to write a paragraph about someone else in the group. (Must be positive)
• Collect in and play guess whom.
• Describe a human from PG 64 and discuss what is missing from that view of a person.
• Outline the idea of physical, emotional and spiritual growth.
• Draw and describe self at 5, 10, 15 and 20. What will/were you like?
• To grow spiritually prayer is considered as essential.

 

2. The prayer of all disciples

• Recap on the idea that spiritual growth requires prayer.
• In groups brainstorm prayer, feedback and share ideas.
• What is prayer?
• Go through the Our Father, explaining what each part is saying.
• Write a modern day version of the father.
• What is this prayer saying?

3. The prayer of the church

(NB: copy master 14)

• Recap on the idea of prayer.
• Read PG 67 on prayer of the church.
• Outline times for prayer and their names, make a note of them.
• Listen to Gregorian chant whilst writing a day in the life of a monk or nun.
• Using the three elements of psalm, scripture and prayer design an order of service in groups, for a prayer of the church.

 

4. The life of Jesus in prayer

(NB: copy master 13)

• Recap on the prayer of the church.
• Explain how the rosary is the life of Jesus in a special prayer.
• Show the rosary and explain how it works.
• Draw and label the rosary.
• Re-organise the mysteries of Jesus.
• Pray a decade of the rosary.
• Use testing times as summary
• HWK: Design a bookmark with tips for prayer.

 

 

2/3E other faiths (Hinduism)

The Hindu religion and where Hindu communities are in Britain. Hindu belief in Brahman, the Supreme Being.

 

1. Introducing Hinduism

• Why is it important to learn about other faiths? Brainstorm and outline the churches view.
• Share the story of the elephant to illustrate.
• Outline the number of Hindu’s in Britain and where their main faith communities are.
• In groups do placing Hinduism.
• Feedback and go through.
• Complete cloze procedure on Hinduism.

 

2. A Hindu believer

• Recap on what we know about Hinduism.
• Read story in book, write down any beliefs.
• Explain what beliefs mean.
• Read sheet on beliefs.
• Design a fact file on Hindu beliefs.

 

3. Belief in Brahma

• Introduce the belief in one God who can be spoken about in different ways.
• Show OHT of God’s and send round pictures.
• Outline what some of gods stand for.
• Complete the Hindu God’s tree.
• Use testing times as summary.
• HWK: What have I gained from learning about another faith.

(NB: Could include a lesson on Hindu worship, Hindu festivals, Belief in reincarnation)