Friday, March 11, 2011

Third Grade-March 10th Class

This week we covered chapter 20, Lent, in our text book.  We discussed when Lent begins, how long it lasts, what the liturgical color for the season is, and what it leads up to.  We also talked about how Lent is a season where we fast, pray and give alms.  The children learned that Lent is a time to renew our baptismal promises, and that the sacraments of penance and Eucharist are important sacraments to receive during this season.

The students were given a Lenten calendar that works like a countdown to Easter.  Every day in Lent they can color one square purple (with the exception of the squares I had them color in advance with the correct liturgical color).

This weeks' homework was to complete the Project Disciple portion of the chapter, but we decided to complete the assignment in class much to the delight of the students.  Please have your child pray the Apostles' Creed each day.


Our rosary mystery for the week was the first glorious mystery, the Resurrection.

At the end of class we played a round of Lent and Easter trivia.  We will likely play this game throughout Lent.

If you are looking for a way to help your child learn more about Lent, please consider signing up for Holy Heroes Lenten Adventure.   It's free and your child will learn a lot about Lent.  I know I was surprised at how much my children learned from last year's Lenten Adventure.  Also, if your child signs up and completes the cross word or word search puzzles they count for extra credit stickers on their reward cards.

Hope you all have a great week.  See you next Thursday!

Kindergarten-March 6th Class

This week we covered two chapters in our text book, chapter 18, Jesus Teaches and Helps Us, and chapter 19, Jesus Wants Us to Love.  In chapter 18 the children learned that Jesus went many places and taught people about God and helped those in need.  In chapter 19 the children learned that Jesus wants us to show love to one another.   We talked about ways we can show others that we care about them.  We also discussed how we can pray to Jesus and ask Him to help those we love.

During circle time the children listened to the the chapter stories for both chapters.  First they listened to the story of the loaves and fishes and then they heard a story about St. John Bosco.  The children are doing very well with learning the Our Father and Hail Mary.  Please continue to work on these prayers with your child every day.

Our craft this week was a Jesus fish sun catcher.  The children were VERY quiet as they carefully strung the beads onto the pipe cleaner that became a Jesus fish.  When the job was done we had a classroom filled with very colorful Jesus fish sun catchers.

Since Lent began this week, the children were all given a cross with many different sections.  Each day they do a good deed during Lent, they can color in one section of the cross.  By Easter, the cross should look like a colorful stained glass window.

This week's homework is to pray the Hail Mary and Our Father every day.

I hope you all have a great week.  See you Sunday!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Third Grade-March 3rd Class

Tonight we covered chapter 16, Celebrating the Eucharist: The Mass, in our text book.  The students learned that Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper and that we remember this important feast at every Mass.  The children learned that the Mass is both a meal and a sacrifice.  We also talked about ways in which we can participate in the Mass each week.  Some of the students pointed out that they can't participate if they're not there.  Very true, indeed!  

Our key words for this week are Passover, Eucharist, Mass, sacrifice and assembly.  All of these terms and their definitions should be underlined or highlighted in your child's book.  The students are responsible for knowing these terms.

This week's mystery of the rosary is the fifth sorrowful mystery, the Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord.

This week's homework is to complete the Project Disciple portion of the chapter on pages 144 and 145.  I also asked the students to think about what they can sacrifice or give up for this Lent which starts on Wednesday.  Some of the children threw out suggestions like  younger siblings, school, religious education class and vegetables, but I told them that they should discuss what they want to give up with their parents.

I hope you all have a great week. Don't forget this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.  Lent is just around the corner.  See you next Thursday.