After what seemed like an endless string of interruptions (days off, practices for Seder Meal, Lenten and Holy Week prayer services, etc.) in our regular teaching schedule, I finally get to teach a lesson this coming Monday! With only 3 classes left for teaching, I am going to do one more session on the Bible this Monday before sending their Bibles home with them. Here’s my plan:
Scripture
Tonight’s Session: What’s Your Story? “This is MY Story!”
This evening is the last chance I have this year to review with my 6th graders so I’m going to make the most of it! Here’s my plan: Big Idea: What’s Your Story? (This is MY Story!) Preliminaries (15 mins) Collect permission forms for Ronald McDonald House Mercy Experience Go over details for the upcoming Mercy Experience Opening procession and prayer ritual Engage (20 mins) Do “What’s Your Story?” ice breaker in which you ask questions […]
Intermediate Grades
Preparing for Our Mercy Experience – Permission Forms, etc.
Tonight, before taking the kids to church for their monthly Mass, we will focus on our upcoming Mercy Experience (formerly known as service projects!). On April 21, we will be going to the Ronald McDonald House near Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL, to prepare and serve supper for about 30 people currently residing there. Kudos to my DRE, Deb, and to St. Cajetan for strongly suggesting that EVERY grade of religious education be […]
Intermediate Grades
Session Plan for March 4, 2014: The Prophets
Here is my lesson plan for tomorrow evening’s session, in which we will turn our attention to the Prophets of Israel. Big Idea: Prophets “get in the face” of the People of Israel. Preliminaries (30 mins) Welcome and attendance Opening prayer ritual/procession to set up prayer center Sacraments quiz Complete Lent discussion from previous week. Engage (10 mins) Put on baseball cap, whistle, and hold clip board and ask who I am imitating. (a coach) […]
“Using the footnotes, invite volunteers to explain what gopherwood is and what a cubit is.” I like that.
Christian, you’re a sucker for that biblical minutiae!
I’m also fired-up about the idea of having the kids get comfortable with looking at the footnotes. I suspect that most readers skip them, but they often provide such valuable commentary, cross references, etc. Good to start them early.
One girl figured out the footnote “technique” very quickly and excitedly described it to the rest of the class, showing them where to find out the definitions of cubit and gopherwood!
Hi Joe,
Wait…what? Practicing for a Seder Meal? I thought you weren’t doing that out of respect for our Jewish brothers and sisters. Did I miss a post?
God bless,
Connie
Hi Connie…it’s out of my control. The parish program does the Seder meal each year with the 6th graders and I just happen to teach 6th grade this year so my students were required to go to practice and then to perform the Seder Meal. Out of respect for my DRE, I kept mum on the subject although I have spoken out about it previously on my blog in general terms. I make a habit of not criticizing on my blog what my DRE does…that would be unfair to her and I admire greatly the work she does. I continue to hold to the notion that such a re-enactment is not the best way to learn about the Seder and that it is not respectful to our Jewish brothers and sisters. I was very uncomfortable watching the kids perform this with occasional giggles and smirks while going through the motions of a ritual that is sacred to the Jewish people. I would much rather have a guest speaker from the Jewish community come in and take us through the ritual.
Hi Joe,
Oh, I’m so sorry to shine more light on what was undoubtedly a difficult position for you to be in. But you are a great example of how to be respectful of Church authority even when one disagrees. Your handling of this situation is a true catechetical lesson–on how to humbly, respectfully disagree with others without publicly condemning or criticizing. Thank you and God bless you!
No problem…thanks for “keeping me honest!” Thanks also for your kind words.