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CHAPTER 1: God Made All Things
In this chapter the children learn that God loves us and cares for us. They learn that he made the world.
Distribute the activity sheets. Have the children use one of their fingertips to trace the letters as you say each letter aloud. Then provide glitter or pieces of confetti. Help the children put glue on the letters and then sprinkle the glitter or confetti on the glue. Suggest that the children take their signs home to share with their families.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Linguistic
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CHAPTER 2: God Gives Us Light
In this chapter the children learn that God gave us the gift of light.
- Click here for the activity “God’s Gifts Together.”
Explain to the children that when light shines through water, it makes a rainbow. Distribute the activity sheets. Have volunteers identify each picture shown. Ask the children to share their experiences of seeing rainbows in the sky after a rainstorm. Have the children color the sun, the cloud, rain, and rainbow.
Answer: Sun plus rain equals rainbow
Multiple Intelligences: Naturalist, Visual-Spatial
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CHAPTER 3: God Gives Us Water
In this chapter the children learn that God gives us water to live. They learn that God wants us to use water with care.
Distribute the activity sheets. Read the directions and the promise on the card. Invite the children to print their initials on the card. When the children have finished coloring, ask them to stand and hold the promise cards. Invite them to sway as waves of water as you promise together to take care of God’s gift of water.
Multiple Intelligences: Intrapersonal, Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal, Naturalist, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 4: God Gives Us Land
In this chapter the children learn that God fills the land with many gifts.
- Click here for the activity “A Wreath of God’s Gifts.”
Distribute the activity sheets. Help the children identify God’s gifts shown on the wreath. Point out the acorns and point out that from these acorns grow large oak trees. Point out that we usually see these gifts on the wreath in the fall. Suggest that the children color the leaves red, orange, and yellow.
Then help the children cut out the wreath and glue it onto a white, red, orange, or yellow paper plate. Punch a hole at the top of each child’s plate and loop string or yarn through the hole to make a hanger.
When the children are finished, invite them to pretend to be falling leaves by fluttering their hands in the air. As they are doing this, pray aloud: “God, thank you for the gifts of the land.”
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 5: God Made the Animals
In this chapter the children learn that God made all kinds of animals. They learn that taking care of animals is one way to thank God for them.
- Click here for the activity “A Treat for the Birds.”
Have the children work in pairs. Give each pair an activity sheet and a small paper plate. Tell the pairs to write their names on the plates. Then set out the plates on a table or on the window sill. Put a half of a bagel on each plate. Let the bagels dry for a day.
Put a length of yarn or string through the bagel hole to make a loop. Then help the pairs complete Steps 4 and 5. If possible, invite a park official to come and speak about the animals that are in the park. Have the children give their bird-treat feeders to the park official to use throughout the park.
Multiple Intelligences: Interpersonal, Naturalist, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 6: The Church Year
In this chapter the children learn that we celebrate God’s love all during the Church year.
- Click here for the activity “A Celebration of Color Wheel.”
Distribute the activity sheets. Guide the children in using the code to color the sections of the wheel. As the children are coloring, explain that the Church uses these colors to celebrate God’s love. Help the children to cutout the wheels, and then insert a straw or a stir-stick through the center. Ask the children to gather in the prayer space. Direct them to spin their color wheels as you pray the words on page 65 of the children’s text.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal
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CHAPTER 7: Ordinary Time
In this chapter the children learn that during Ordinary Time we celebrate the lives of the saints.
- Click here for the activity“Celebrate the Saints Dance.”
Distribute the activity sheets. Have the children look at each picture as you read the accompanying verse. Demonstrate the steps and have the children practice. Then pray by dancing together. Encourage the children to take the activity sheets home to show their families the special dance they have learned.
Multiple Intelligences: Musical, Interpersonal, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 8: God Made All People
In this chapter the children learn that God made all people good. They also learn that people are different, but God wants us to appreciate our differences.
Distribute the activity sheets. Read the directions. Invite the children to draw and color the faces and cut them out. Help the children glue the faces to blue or green sheets of construction paper. Have black, brown, yellow, red, and white or gray construction- paper strips or yarn for the children to use as hair.
When the children have completed their project, ask them to clap for the differences among people. Then sing “God Made People” on page 83 of the child’s text.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal, Musical
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CHAPTER 9: God Made Us
In this chapter the children learn that God made and loves each of us.
Distribute the activity sheets. Have poster paint, a pan of water, and wipes available. Set up a paint station, and help each child to make a thumbprint in the circle on his or her prayer card. Allow about five minutes for the paint to dry. Then ask the children to color the hearts on the cards. Ask the children to show their papers to the group. Help the children to see and to appreciate that each person’s thumbprint is different.
Ask the children to stand and hold their hands over their hearts. Then read the prayer on the card.
Help the children to cut out their cards. Encourage the children to show the cards to their families.
Multiple Intelligences: Intrapersonal, Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 10: God Helps Us to Discover
In this chapter the children learn that we use God’s gift of our senses to discover our world.
Distribute the activity sheets. Have the children color the picture. Invite the children to imagine themselves in the scene. Then elicit what the children would experience through the use of each sense: sight (everything in the picture); hearing (music, the movement of the roller coaster, the man shouting); touch (cotton candy, stuffed animals); taste and smell (cotton candy).
Ask volunteers to act out a visit to an amusement park, telling what they discover by using their senses.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 11: We Learn About God with Our Families
for the activity "A Family Scrapbook.” Distribute the activity sheets. Point out the cuckoo clock, explaining how it operates. Have the children color and cut out the clocks. Give each child a sheet of construction paper and help him or her glue the clock on the paper.
Ask the children to invite their families to work together on a family scrapbook. Discuss with the children what pictures they would like to put in their books.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal
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CHAPTER 12: We Learn About God with Our Friends
- Click here for the activity “A Prayer for Friends.”
Distribute the activity sheets and read the directions. Explain to the children that the flower, puzzle piece, soccer ball, building blocks, art material, and music notes stand for things people like to do with friends.
When the children are finished coloring, have them make up actions for the prayer. Gather in the prayer space and pray together in word and action.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 13: Advent
for the activity "Going to Bethlehem.”Distribute the activity sheets. Help the children color, cut out, and attach the figures to craft sticks. Invite volunteers to use their figures to retell the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey. Encourage the children to use the figures to share the story with their families and friends.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 14: Christmas
for the activity "A Christmas Treat.”Distribute the activity sheets. Explain that the recipe on the card is for a special Christmas treat. Have volunteers explain how hay or straw looks and feels. If possible, have each available. Have the children color the picture of the baby Jesus in the hay. Help the children cut out the cards and glue them on construction paper. Encourage the children to make the treat with their families during Christmas time.
If possible, make the treat to share with the children. Before sharing, ask the children if anyone is allergic to any of the ingredients. Provide an alternative snack for them.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 15: God Chooses Mary
In Chapter 15 the children learn that God chose Mary to be the mother of his Son and that Mary always loved God very much.
Distribute the activity sheets and read the directions aloud. Provide children with crayons to color the picture of Mary praying. Display the completed pictures of Mary in the prayer space. Then, gather the children together in the prayer space. Pray the Hail Mary in honor of Mary using the gestures as described on page 141 of the We Believe Teacher Guide.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic
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CHAPTER 16: God the Father Gives Us Jesus
In Chapter 16 the children learn that God the Father gave us the greatest gift of all, his Son, Jesus.
Before beginning the activity, you may want to talk about ways that we can show thanks to someone. Ask volunteers to talk about times that they have received a thank-you card or have sent one to someone. If possible, display some examples of thank-you cards for the children.
Distribute the activity sheets and read the directions aloud. Read the words on the thank-you card aloud with the children. Ask: What do you think is needed on the line after the word Love? Provide children with crayons, colored pencils, or markers to color the thank-you cards. Remind the children to write their name on the line after the word Love.
Ask volunteers to share their thank-you cards to Jesus with the group. You may want to display the completed thank-you cards in the form of a bulletin board.
Multiple Intelligences: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Visual-Spatial
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CHAPTER 17: Jesus Grew Up in Nazareth
In Chapter 17 the children learn that Jesus grew up in Nazareth with his mother, Mary, and his foster father, Joseph.
Before beginning the activity, make a two-column chart (on poster board or on the chalkboard) with the following labels: The Holy Family and My Family.
Ask: Who is the Holy Family? What are some things that Jesus and his family did together? Have the children brainstorm a list of things and record their answers on the chart. Then, ask the children to brainstorm a list of things that they do with their own families, and record their answers on the chart. Compare the columns by reading aloud each item with the children.
Distribute the activity sheets and read the directions aloud. Suggest that children use pencil to draw a picture of their family and then color their pictures. Provide crayons, markers, or colored pencils to complete the activity. Ask volunteers to share their completed activity sheet by identifying the members of the Holy Family and the members of their own family.
Multiple Intelligences: Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Visual-Spatial
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CHAPTER 18: Jesus Teaches and Helps Us
In Chapter 18 the children learn that Jesus is their teacher and helper.
You may want to begin this activity after reading the "Loaves and Fish" story in the We Believe booklet. Distribute the activity sheets and read the directions aloud. Provide crayons, markers, or colored pencils to complete the activity. Ask volunteers to use their completed picture to retell the story of Jesus helping his followers. Then, play the song "Jesus Wants to Help Us" #14 on the Grade K CD, and ask the children to sing along.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Linguistic, Musical
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CHAPTER 19: Jesus Wants Us to Love
In Chapter 19 the children learn that Jesus wants us to love others in the same way that he loves us.
In advance, make a list of "ways to be kind to someone" for pairs to pantomime for the group. Invite volunteers to explain what is being pantomimed. If correct, they take a turn.
Continue as time permits. Then, distribute the activity sheet and read the directions aloud. Talk about ways to be kind to someone. Remind children to use a pencil to draw their picture and then use crayons to color their picture and the playground. Provide crayons, markers, or colored pencils to complete the activity. Display the pictures in the room or in the prayer space. Pray together: Jesus, help us to open our hearts and show others that we love them the same way that you love us.
Multiple Intelligences: Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Visual-Spatial
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CHAPTER 20: Lent
In Chapter 20 the children learn that Lent is a special time of prayer and loving God and others.
In advance, be sure that each child has a purple crayon to complete the activity. Then, distribute the activity sheets and read the directions aloud. Remind the children to use a purple crayon to color the spaces marked with a cross. Ask volunteers to share the word that is revealed in purple. Say: Lent is a special time of year when we try to live as Jesus did. During Lent we work especially hard at listening to the words of Jesus and trying to live as he showed us. As a group, talk about things we can do during Lent to live as Jesus did.
Answer: The special time of year when we try to live as Jesus did is called LENT.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal
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CHAPTER 21: The Three Days
In Chapter 21 the children learn that during the Three Days we celebrate how much Jesus loves us.
Before beginning the activity, gather the children together. Say each line of the following chant to the children and ask them to repeat. Include gestures such as using fingers to count 1, 2, 3, and to point indicating “you” and “ me.”
On days 1, 2, 3, Jesus gave his life for you and me.
On days 1, 2, 3, Jesus showed his love for you and me.
On days 1, 2, 3, oh how joyful we will be.
Then, distribute the activity sheets to the children. Read the text and directions aloud with the children. You may want to ask volunteers to “read” the rebus image in each line. Explain to children that the Three Days is a special time of celebration of God’s love. The number "3” tells how many days we celebrate this special time.
Provide children with crayons, colored pencils, or markers to color the picture.
Multiple Intelligences: Musical, Visual-Spatial
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CHAPTER 22: We Belong to the Church
In Chapter 22 the children learn that they are members of the Church, the family of God.
Before beginning the activity, ask the children to form a circle (the children can stand or sit). Ask each child in the circle to take a turn and share one thing that they enjoy doing with their family. After each child has had a chance to share, ask children to join hands. Say: The Church is the family of God. At Baptism we become members of the Church. We belong to the Church. Then, ask each child in the circle to take a turn and share one thing that they enjoy doing as a member of God’s family. After each child has had a chance to share something, distribute the activity sheets. Read the directions aloud. Demonstrate how to draw a line to match the picture with the appropriate sentence. Ask volunteers to share their answers. If possible, allow the children to color the pictures.
Answer: First picture—Water is the sign of life; second picture—The Church is the family of God; third picture—Pray the sign of the cross
Multiple Intelligences: Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Visual-Spatial
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CHAPTER 23: We Pray As Jesus Did
In Chapter 23 the children learn that God will always listen to their prayer and that Jesus showed them how to pray.
Before distributing the activity sheets, gather the children together in the prayer space. Ask: How did you learn how to pray? Provide time for volunteers to share answers, then say: Jesus showed us how to pray. He prayed with his family and friends, outdoors, at celebrations, and in holy places. Ask: Where do you pray? Provide time for volunteers to share answers. Have the children pray the Sign of the Cross and then pray the following prayer: Jesus, thank you for showing us how to pray.
Have the children return to their seats. Then, distribute the activity sheets to the children. Read the directions aloud. Say: Jesus prayed everywhere. Where do you think he is praying in the picture? Encourage volunteers to share their responses. Provide crayons, colored pencils, and/or markers for children to color the picture.
Multiple Intelligences: Intrapersonal, Visual-Spatial
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CHAPTER 24: We Celebrate Jesus' Gift of Himself
In Chapter 24 the children learn about Jesus’ gift of himself at the Last Supper and our celebration of the Mass.
In advance, compile images from Catholic periodicals or the Internet of the celebration of the Mass, include images of prayer, singing, and the preparation of the gifts. Before beginning the activity, display these images to the children. Talk about what is happening in each image. Then say: At the Last Supper Jesus shared a special meal with his friends. Jesus prayed with his friends. Together they thanked God. Jesus blessed bread and wine. This bread and wine became the Body and Blood of Jesus. At the Last Supper, Jesus shared the gift of himself.
Distribute the activity sheets. First, point to all of the images of the Mass that are displayed, and read aloud first line on the activity sheet, omitting the word Mass. Then, have the children read aloud the same line with you, this time, include the word Mass. Next, have the children use their pencil to trace over the word Mass. Do the same with the remaining lines of the activity sheet. Point to a Mass image that is appropriate for each line. Ask the children to color the chalice and paten on the activity sheet.
You may want to refer to the completed activity sheets before or after using Chapter 24’s We Believe Booklet.
Multiple Intelligences: Linguistic, Visual-Spatial
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CHAPTER 25: We Care About Others As Jesus Did
In Chapter 25 the children learn about ways that they can care for others as Jesus did.
Say: Jesus fed people who were hungry. Jesus helped people who were poor or sick. Jesus made those who were sad or lonely feel better. Jesus showed us how to care for everyone. What are some ways that you can show that you care for someone? Allow time for children to share responses. Then, distribute the activity sheets. Read the directions aloud. Provide children with crayons, colored pencils, or markers to use in their pictures. Encourage volunteers to share their pictures.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal
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CHAPTER 26: We Celebrate That Jesus is Our Friend
In Chapter 26 the children learn that Jesus is their friend who is always with them.
In advance, gather together paste, glue, or glue sticks and scissors for each child. Then distribute the activity sheets and read the directions aloud. Direct the children’s attention to the images in the squares at the bottom of the page. Talk about each image. (You may want the children to color these images before using the scissors.) Remind the children to cut and paste each image in the squares to complete each sentence. Allow time for children to complete the activity sheets. If possible, play “Jesus in the Morning” # 22 on the Grade K CD while children are working on the activity sheets. Encourage volunteers to share their responses. Then, transfer children’s completed activity sheets to colored construction paper by cutting the sentence in the form of sentence strips. Then, glue the strips to colored construction paper. Display the colorful sentence strips in the classroom or hallways.
Answer: Jesus had many friends (second picture). Jesus (third picture) shares his friendship with us. We celebrate (first picture) that Jesus is our friend.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Musical
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CHAPTER 27: Easter
In Chapter 27 the children learn that we celebrate Jesus’ new life at Easter.
In advance, gather together the following materials needed to make the Easter mobile: stapler or hole puncher, scissors, string or yarn, crayons, markers, or colored pencils, colored construction paper (pastel or Spring colors) in squares large enough to fit a shape of the mobile parts, and paste or glue. Distribute the activity sheets and read the directions aloud. Guide the children to color the parts of the mobile before using the scissors to cut out the parts of the mobile. Have the children select a different color of construction paper for each part of the mobile, and glue all of the mobile parts to the colored construction paper. Next, ask the children to use scissors to cut the colored construction paper in the form of the attached mobile part. Using a hole puncher or stapler, attach one end of each piece of string or yarn to the “dot” on the mobile parts “love”, “new life” and “Jesus.” Staple the other end of each string to the “Easter” part of the mobile. Display the completed Easter mobiles in the classroom.
Multiple Intelligences: Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic |
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CHAPTER:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
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