First Grade Curriculum

Our Heavenly Father

The students are introduced to the Holy Trinity through studying the development of salvation history and presentations on God the Father, the life of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Students are also introduced to God’s plan and their participation in God’s family, which includes Mary, the angels, and the saints. The emphasis of the first grade curriculum is for students to grow to know, love, and trust God.

Creed/Scripture

Students develop an understanding of the mystery of Christ through age appropriate teachings on Church doctrine and scriptural references as listed below and in the teacher’s manual.

Sacraments

Students learn that God shows his love and mercy by giving us the Church and the sacraments to restore our life of grace. Special emphasis is given to Baptism and the Eucharist.

Christian Living

Throughout the first grade, students develop their understanding of the dignity of the human person. Students learn to live out their faith and respond to what they learn by forming a moral conscience and by living out their call to justice and service through imitating the life of Jesus.

Prayer

Throughout the first grade, students begin to develop a prayer life that informs their Christian living. They learn the basic traditional Catholic prayers and are introduced to spontaneous prayer. They also learn that giving praise and thanksgiving to God are forms of prayer and that prayer is talking with God

Topic

Proclamation

Supporting Topics

Related Topics

Aims

Other

Heavenly Father

God’s Gifts

The Our Father

God is our Heavenly Father, who created us because he loves us. Since God is the Father of everyone we should love everyone in his family.

· God is our Heavenly Father, who created us because he loves us.

· God gives us all good gifts and we should thank him when we talk to him in prayer.

· We should love everyone in the family of God.

· Prayer/forms of prayer

· God the Father, the Father of Jesus

· Students will be able to explain that God is their perfect Father in Heaven who created each of them out of love and that they are children of God.

· Students will know that God wants them to respond to his love with love and gratitude.

· Students will be able to understand that they can and should talk to God in prayer and that God always hears their prayers.

· Prayer: Our Father, Prayer Before Meals, Litany of Gratitude

· Scripture: God’s loving protection for Israel and all his people (Is 49)

Heaven

Sign of the Cross

Mass

God desires to have us with him in heaven. When Jesus died on the Cross, he opened the gates of heaven so we could be with God forever.

· Heaven is God’s home, the place of perfect happiness.

· The earth is our temporary home.

· Heaven is our true home where we will be with God forever.

· The Sign of the Cross reminds us of who God is and what Jesus did to open the gates of heaven for us.

· Mass is a foretaste of heaven.

· Angels and saints

· One God, three persons

· Students will understand that heaven is God’s home and a place of perfect happiness.

· Students will be able to make the Sign of the Cross.

· Students will realize that Jesus is present at Mass.

· Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

· Saint Benedict

· Scripture: the incomparable goodness of heaven, which is God’s gift to man (1 Cor 2:9)

Creator

Angels

God is the Creator, who watches over everything.

· God is everywhere, all powerful, all knowing, and all good.

· God is our Creator.

· God created the angels.

· Devils

· Visible and invisible world

· Students will know that God is constantly loving and caring for them.

· Pope Leo XIII

· Prayer: Saint Michael Prayer, Our Father, Sign of the Cross

· Scripture: Creation, Fall of Satan and his angels

Body and Soul

Guardian Angels

God created us with a body and soul. He created us out of love to know, love and serve him.

· God created us with a body and soul to know, love, and serve him.

· Our souls will live forever.

· God gave us guardian angels to help us get to heaven.

· Guardian angel

· Hierarchy of being

· Gnostic heresy

· Students will realize that God gave them a soul that enables them to know, love, and choose, and that they are made in God’s image.

· Students will recognize that they must know, love, and serve God, and that their guardian angels help them on this road to heaven.

· Saint Thérèse and the Little Way

· Scripture: to know, love, and serve God.

· Chalk Talk: Staircase of Creation

Adam and Eve

Grace

God created Adam and Eve and gave them the gift of grace so that they could live with him forever.

· God created Adam and Eve and gave them many gifts including the gift of grace.

· We should take care of God’s gifts.

· Grace is God’s life in us.

· We are children of God.

· Bible, creation, and evolution

· Stewardship

· Baptism

· Image of God

· Students will develop an understanding of and familiarity with the subjects of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, original sin, and the role of grace.

· Students will learn that they need God’s life (grace) in their souls.

· Saint Francis

· St. John Chrysostom

· Prayer: Our Father, Guardian Angel Prayer

· Scripture: Creation

Original Sin

Promise of a Savior

When Adam and Eve sinned they lost the gift of grace. God promised to send a Savior to restore the gift of grace.

· Adam and Eve sinned and lost the fullness of God’s gifts.

· Sin is saying no to God.

· God promised to send a Savior to open the gates of heaven.

· Temptation

· Ash Wednesday

· Effects of original sin

· Darkened intellect and weakened will

· Students will learn that God is always willing to forgive them.

· Students will learn that Jesus is their Savior.

· Prayer: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Guardian Angel Prayer

· Scripture: Fall of man

Noah and the Flood

Abraham and Isaac

God calls each of us to faith and obedience and will reward us for it.

· God called Noah to build an ark. Noah obeyed and his family was protected during the flood.

· Abraham trusted and obeyed God even though it was difficult.

· God gives us the gift of faith to believe him and the grace to do what he says.

· Jesus, the Savior, is one of Abraham’s descendants.

· Abraham offered a sacrifice in thanksgiving.

· Sacrifice of the Mass

· Gift of faith

· Prayer and the sacraments

· Baptism

· Advent

· Preparation for the Savior

· Students will learn that through salvation history God teaches them about faith, love, and obedience.

· Students will know that this story and message are preserved and passed on in the Bible.

· Our Lady of Fatima

· Prayer: Simple Act of Faith, Prayer of Fatima

· Scripture: Abraham, Noah, Isaac

Moses

Ten Commandments

John the Baptist

God sent prophets to prepare the people for the coming of the Savior.

· The prophets were holy men who prepared people for the coming of the Savior.

· Moses was the first prophet and through him God gave us the Ten Commandments.

· John the Baptist was the last prophet and he prepared the people for the Savior.

· Advent wreath

· Prophecy

· Ten Commandments

· God’s special plan for each person

· Students will learn about the time of waiting for the Savior, and the role of the prophets, Moses, and the Ten Commandments during that time.

· Students will learn that Advent is a time of waiting and preparing for Jesus.

· Scripture: Moses, John the Baptist

Annunciation

Visitation

Rosary

The Blessed Virgin Mary is a model of obedience and she is also our mother.

· Mary was prepared by God to give birth to the Savior.

· Mary said, “Yes” to God and is a model for us to follow. God chose Saint Joseph to be the husband of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus.

· The Rosary is a special prayer that Mary wants us to pray.

· Immaculate Conception

· Advent

· Nativity scene

· Students will understand that Mary is the Mother of God and is “full of grace”.

· Students will deepen their understanding of the Immaculate Conception.

· Students will recognize the important role of Mary and the rosary in the life a Catholic.

· Our Lady of Lourdes

· Saint Elizabeth

· Saint Dominic

· Prayer: Hail Mary, Rosary, Joyful Mysteries

Nativity

True God and True Man

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, was born to save the world from sin and to open the gates of heaven.

· Jesus was born in a stable in great humility.

· Jesus is true God and true man, and was born to save the world from sin and to open the gates of heaven.

· Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

· Holy Family

· First Christmas

· Christmas traditions and symbols

· Students will learn that Jesus is the Son of God and that he became man out of love for them.

· Students will learn that by helping those in need they show their love for Jesus.

· Students will learn that Jesus taught his followers to be humble.

· Saint Francis

· Saint Nicholas

· Prayer: Joyful Mysteries

Wise Men

Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and was worshiped by the wise men. We also worship Jesus.

· Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament.

· Each person should offer his gifts to Jesus, doing his best for the King of Kings.

· Magi

· King

· Adoration

· Students will learn that they worship God through prayer, the Mass, and adoration.

· Students will learn that by helping others they are offering gifts to Jesus.

· Prayer: adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Morning Offering

· Scripture: the wise men

Childhood of Jesus

We should follow the example of Jesus’ simple, humble life. We can learn from him, love him, and teach others about him.

· Jesus led a simple, humble life in Nazareth.

· Everyone should follow the example of Jesus.

· Presentation of Jesus

· Saint Joseph

· Finding in the temple

· Fourth Commandment

· Holy Family

· Statues in church

· Students will learn that they should follow the example that Jesus gave us during his earthly life.

· Saint Joseph

· Prayer: Joyful Mysteries

· Scripture: hidden life of Jesus

Jesus’ Public Life

Apostles

Pope, Bishops, and Priests

Jesus teaches us how to live and how to carry on his mission in the Church.

· Jesus teaches by word and deed.

· The apostles lived with Jesus, learned from him, and then carried on his work on earth.

· The Pope and bishops are the successors of the apostles and carry on their work.

· Heavenly Father

· Twelve apostles

· Pope, bishops, priests

· Students will learn that they can follow Jesus by acting as he would, by knowing and loving him, and by teaching others about him.

· Students will learn that Jesus has a special love for children.

· Saint Dominic Savio

· Saint Maria Goretti

· Saint Matthias

· Twelve apostles

· Prayer: Our Father

· Scripture: Jesus’ public life

Good News

Bible

God wants everyone to live with him forever in heaven. This good news can be found in the Bible, which is God’s Word.

· God wants everyone to live with him forever in heaven.

· Jesus teaches the good news by word and deed.

· Everyone can learn the good news from the Bible.

· The Beatitudes

· Old Testament, New Testament

· Gospel

· The Great Commandment

· Authorship of the Bible

· God’s Word at Mass

· Students will know what the good news of the gospel is.

· Students will know that the Bible is God’s Word and that he speaks to them through the Bible to help them in their lives.

· Students will know that God asks them to help and pray for others.

· Scripture: Beatitudes, Great Commandment, Last Supper

Miracles of Jesus

Sacraments of Healing

Penance

Anointing of the Sick

Jesus performs miracles that show that he is the Son of God.

· Jesus performed miracles that show that he is the Son of God and that he loves all people.

· Jesus fed the hungry, calmed the storm, healed the sick, and heals us.

· Trinity

· Eucharist

· Students will learn that Jesus is the Son of God.

· Students will learn that Jesus can work miracles in their lives, and that he heals and forgives them through the Church in the sacraments of healing.

· Saint Anthony of Padua

· Scripture: miracles of Jesus, sacraments of healing

· Chalk Talk: The Trinity

Son of God and Savior

Healing

Faith

Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He heals many people out of love for them and so that all will have faith that he is the Son of God.

· Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

· Jesus heals many people.

· Jesus desires that we have faith in him.

· Faith

· Trust

· Humility

· Christology

· Students will deepen their faith and trust in Jesus.

· Students will recognize Jesus as the Son of God.

· Saint Martin de Porres

· Prayer: Act of Faith

· Scripture: Jesus’ miracles of healing

· Chalk Talk: Miracles of Jesus

Eucharist

Real Presence

Jesus fulfilled his promise to remain with the Church for all time by instituting the Eucharist. The

Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.

· Jesus promised to remain with the Church for all time.

· The apostles received from Christ the power to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.

· The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.

· We call Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist the Real Presence of Jesus.

· Bread of Life

· Tabernacle

· Last Supper

· Apostolic succession

· Communion

· Blessed Sacrament

· Genuflect

· Holy Thursday Mass

· Transubstantiation

· Students will understand that Jesus gave them the gift of himself, the Eucharist, so that he might be with the Church for all time.

· John, the beloved apostle

· Saint Gemma Galgani

· Saint Tarsicius

· Scripture: agony in the garden, the Passion, Bread of Life discourse

· Prayer: Sorrowful Mysteries

Passion of Christ

Mary Our Mother

New Adam

Jesus suffered and died for our sins so that we can have sanctifying grace in our souls.

· Jesus suffered and died for the sins of man.

· Mary suffered with Jesus and he gave her to us to be our mother.

· Jesus’ sacrifice made up for Adam’s sin and gave sanctifying grace back to mankind.

· Stations of the Cross

· Good Friday

· Crucifix

· New Adam

· Students will develop an understanding of self-giving love.

· Students will understand that Jesus gave Mary to them to be their mother, and that she is a model of fidelity to Christ.

· Students will be inspired to thank Jesus for loving them enough to die on the Cross for them.

· Saint Catherine of Siena

· Our Lady of Sorrows

· Prayer: Fifth Sorrowful Mystery, Act of Contrition

Resurrection

Assumption

By rising from the dead Jesus merited the gift of grace, so man can live forever with God in heaven.

Mary was taken to heaven, body and soul.

· Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.

· Mary was taken to heaven, body and soul. This is called the Assumption.

· Easter Vigil Mass

· Holy Communion

· Sacramental grace

· Parts of the Mass

· Charity

· Resurrection of the body

· Students will realize that Jesus gave them new life.

· Students will learn that at Mass the Church celebrates the Resurrection.

· Students will understand that the gift of grace helps their souls so they can be like Jesus and go to heaven.

· Saint John Bosco

· Prayer: Glorious Mysteries

· Scripture: The Resurrection

Church

Apostolic Succession Hierarchy

Jesus founded the Catholic Church to continue his work on earth. Jesus also established a hierarchy that

is continued by apostolic succession.

· Jesus wanted his work to continue on earth after his Ascension so he founded the Catholic Church to give us his grace.

· Jesus established a hierarchy that is continued by apostolic succession.

· Pope, bishops, priests

· Baptism and entry into Church

· Vatican

· Saint Peter

· Keys of the Kingdom

· Papal infallibility

· Ecumenical councils

· Scripture and tradition

· One, holy, catholic, apostolic

· Effectiveness of the sacraments

· Church and salvation

· Students will understand that Jesus started the Church to continue his work here on earth, and that the Church dispenses God’s grace.

· Students will understand that as part of Christ’s Church they are called to do what Jesus asks them to do.

· Blessed John XXIII

· Prayer: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

· Scripture: Establishment of the Church

The Great Commission Ascension

Jesus told his apostles to go forth and baptize all nations. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit and ascended into heaven.

· Jesus spent forty days with the apostles after his Resurrection.

· Jesus gave the great commission to his apostles to preach and baptize.

· Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit after he would return to the Father.

· Baptism

· Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

· Grace

· Good Shepherd

· Sacraments: matter, form, and minister

· Peter

· Promise to remain with the Church

· The Second Coming

· Students will understand that Jesus gave them the gift of his Church, which will help them get to heaven.

· Students will understand that when they are baptized they receive grace and become members of the Church.

· Students will understand that Jesus remains with the Church, has sent the Holy Spirit, and will come again.

· Saint Charles Borromeo

· Saint Robert Bellarmine

· Elijah

· Prayer: Our Father, Glorious Mysteries

· Scripture: Jesus with the apostles after the Resurrection, the Ascension

Pentecost

Holy Spirit

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and Mary, filled them with grace and love for God, and helped them to remember and understand all that Jesus taught them.

· The apostles and Mary prayed for nine days before the descent of the Holy Spirit.

· The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and Mary on the feast of Pentecost, filled them with grace, and helped the apostles to remember and understand all that Jesus taught them.

· The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the grace to do the work of God courageously.

· The Holy Spirit gives life to the Church today.

· Novena

· Conversion

· Gifts of the Holy Spirit

· Symbols and titles of the Holy Spirit

· Prayer

· Baptism of the three thousand

· Students will understand that the Holy Spirit is their friend and comforter who helps them to live good lives.

· Students will understand that the Holy Spirit enlivens the Church, guides her, brings grace, and safeguards the truth.

· Prayer: Third Glorious Mystery

· Scripture: descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter, Baptism of the three thousand

The Blessed Trinity

There are three Divine Persons in the one true God.

· God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

· One God, three Persons

· The family is an image of the Trinity

· Sign of the Cross

· Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier

· Praying to God, the Trinity

· One nature, substance, essence

· Three persons, hypostases

· Grace

· Indwelling of the Trinity

· Mystery

· Students will understand that the Trinity is a relationship of persons, just as a family is a relationship of persons.

· Students will learn how they pray to God, the Blessed Trinity, and that through grace the Trinity lives in them.

· Saint Patrick of Ireland

· Mary Spouse of the Holy Spirit

· Prayer: Sign of the Cross, Glory Be, Nicene Creed

· Scripture: Annunciation, the great commission, promise of Holy Spirit, Baptism of Jesus

· Chalk Talk: The Family as a Trinitarian Image

Baptism

We receive God’s life through the Sacrament of Baptism.

· Original sin means that we are born without sanctifying grace.

· Jesus died so that we could have sanctifying grace.

· Baptism restores the life of grace.

· Consequences of original sin

· Baptismal symbols, form, matter, and minister

· Effects of Baptism

· New Adam

· Gifts of the Holy Spirit

· Three types of Baptism

· Students will understand that Baptism gives them a new life of grace in which they become part of God’s loving family.

· Students will better understand the Rite and Sacrament of Baptism.

· Prayer: Glory Be

· Scripture: Genesis, Passion, Resurrection, great commission

Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist

God gave us the gift of himself. At Mass we receive him in the Word and in the Eucharist.

· God gives us gifts out of love. Our response to God should be thanksgiving and prayer.

· We especially respond to God in gratitude during the Mass.

· Grace

· Eucharist

· Gratitude, stewardship, charity

· Reverence

· Liturgy

· Liturgy of the Word

· Liturgy of the Eucharist

· Last Supper

· Consecration of the Eucharist

· True Presence

· Body and Blood of Jesus

· Bible

· Priestly power to consecrate

· Students will know that God is the giver of all good things and he gives out of love.

· Students will learn that Jesus gave them the gift of himself and that they are strengthened and comforted through Jesus.

· Students will learn that they are called to respond to Jesus’ gift of himself through thanksgiving, stewardship, and charity toward others.

· Saint Vincent de Paul

· Prayer: Simple Morning Offering

· Scripture: Last Supper, road to Emmaus, Bread of Life discourse

Mother of God

Immaculate Conception Queen of Heaven

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God and Jesus gave her to us to be our mother. Mary is a

model of faithful discipleship.

· The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God and Jesus gave her to us to be our mother.

· Mary is the Immaculate Conception and was assumed body and soul into heaven.

· Mary is a model of discipleship and an intercessor for us.

· Mary is the Queen of Heaven

· Jesus, the King of heaven and earth

· Fatima

· Baptism and becoming children of God

· Original sin

· Assumption

· Rosary

· Acts of sacrifice for reparation

· Coronation

· Brown scapular

· Apparitions as private revelation

· Students will learn that Mary is the mother of God and their mother. She is an intercessor and model for them.

· Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

· Saint Simon Stock

· Our Lady of Fatima

· Blessed Francisco and Blessed Jacinta

· Prayer: Glorious Mysteries, Litany to Mary, Hail Mary

· Scripture: Role of the king’s mother in the Old Testament (1 Kings), wedding feast of Cana, Jesus gives Mary to be our mother, Queen of Heaven

Discipleship

Prayer

Sacrifice

We follow Jesus, our model of perfection, by uniting our prayers and sacrificial love with him.

· Jesus is our model of perfection. We follow him to go to heaven.

· Prayer is the lifting of one’s heart and mind to God.

· Love is sacrificial.

· Sacrifice

· Forms of prayer

· Mass is the perfect prayer

· Love: self-giving

· Spiritual communion

· Indulgences

· Students will learn that they are called to be disciples to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. They will realize that it is not always easy to follow Jesus and that they should ask him for help.

· Students will recognize that following Jesus requires sacrificial love and prayer.

· Prayer: Our Father, Stations of the Cross, Morning Offering

· Scripture: call to be a disciple, Our Father

Communion of Saints

Last Things

God made us to know, love, and serve him. God’s plan for man is to be united with him forever in

heaven. At the end of the world our souls will be reunited with our bodies for all eternity.

· God made us to know, love, and serve him.

· God’s plan for man is to be united with him forever in heaven.

· At the end of the world our souls will be reunited with our bodies for all eternity.

· To go to heaven we must be in the state of grace when we die.

· Saints

· Eternal life

· Beatific vision

· Resurrection of the body

· Redemption

· Mystical Body of Christ

· Second Coming

· Body and soul

· Purgatory

· Students will learn that God’s plan is for them to be with him in heaven forever.

· Students will learn that their purpose in life is to know, love, and serve God on earth in order to be happy with him forever in heaven.

· Saint Joseph

· Prayer: Act of Faith, Act of Hope, Act of Love

· Scripture: Jesus prepares a place in his Father’s house

· Chalk Talk: The Three States of the Church, The Four Last Things