Week 4

Late this week.  Here are the links.  Be sure to look over the session review (Chapter 5) for tomorrow
Here is a link to the online session review:
Study Guide Session 4
and the link to:
Living My Faith 

This section is for your parents but there is interesting stuff there for you too!
Raising Faith Filled Kids Week 4

If you want to try the Session Review game, the Link is here:
http://www.loyolapress.com/assets/fg-2013/games/grade6-session4-finding-god-session-review.swf
This is an interactive game and some computers might not be able to load it, if you have problems and want to take the review, e-mail me and I'll send you a pdf version.  I did the review and thought that it was fun- especially the hints and pop-ups with the correct answers whether or not you get it right.

At the end of the review, you can e-mail the results to me (mrmurrin@verizon.net)

If the whole class does the review and mails the results to me, we'll have a prize next week.

We'll play the vocabulary game tomorrow- the review usually does not take long- just make sure that you remember the main points from the first four lessons..You win coins for a correct answer (sometimes chocolate ones) and if you want, you can trade in the coins for prizes. 

See you tomorrow!

Review Weeks 2 and 3: God Creates the World- Sin and Salvation

You are really a great class.  I look forward to our sessions together every week.
Here is a link to the online session review for session 2
Study Guide Session 2 
and session 3
Study Guide Session 3

Here's the Living My Faith Page for Week 2:
Living My Faith Week 2

and for  Week 3:
Living My Faith Week 3

These are for your parents:
Raising Faith Filled Kids Week 2
Raising Faith Filled Kids Week 3

If you want to try the Session Review game, the Link for chapter 2 is here:
http://www.loyolapress.com/assets/fg-2013/games/grade6-session2-finding-god-session-review.swf
and the link for Chapter 3 is here:
http://www.loyolapress.com/assets/fg-2013/games/grade6-session3-finding-god-session-review.swf
This is an interactive game and some computers might not be able to load it, if you have problems and want to take the review, e-mail me and I'll send you a pdf version. 

At the end of the review, you can e-mail the results to me (mrmurrin@verizon.net)
If the whole class does the review and mails the results to me, we'll have a prize next week.

Here are the vocabulary words for the last two weeks (with definitions from your glossary)
culture= the collection of knowledge, belief, and behavior of a particular group of people. Culture expresses the shared attitudes, values, goals, and social practices of the group.  To take root in a culture, the Gospel must be adapted to live in that culture as well as transform it.

exile= the period in the history of Israel between the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC and the return to Jerusalem in 537 AD.  During this time may of the Jewish people were forced to live in Babylon, far from home.

racism=the opinion that race determines human traits and capacities and that a particular race has an inherent or inborn superiority.  Discrimination based on race is a violation of human dignity and a sin against justice.

sexism= a prejudice or discrimination based on sex, especially discrimination against women. Sexism leads to behaviors and attitudes that foster a view of social roles based only a sex.

Garden of Eden= a garden created by God, filled with trees and lush vegetation, where God first placed Adam and Eve and from which they were later expelled.

When we have about a dozen words and time left in a session, we'll start playing the vocabulary game.  It might not sound like fun but every class where we've done it, loves it.  You win coins for a correct answer (sometimes chocolate ones) and if you want, you can trade in the coins for prizes.  That is one reason that you want to read your chapter ahead of time-so there is time for the game!

For next week: Read Chapter 4.
If everyone reads the chapter and sends me the chapter review for Chapter 4 before class, we'll watch the Noah movie.

Have a great week and I'll see you on Tuesday night!

Preparation: Lesson 2

These are my links to aid in preparation for next week's class.  For catchists these are resources that might help.  For students, you get to see what we're going to do (won't be able to link to online session plan). Teachers- found the access code  for findinggod.org on page OV-7.

Scripture Background: Genesis Introduction, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Psalm 8: 5-7
Catechism of the Catholic Church Creation: 282-289
Link to Art Print: Adam and Eve Expelled From Paradise

Link to Online Session Plan for this lesson

Movie that I will use just before the prayer: God's Trombones
Article: Caring for God's Creation on findinggod.org (this is very short)

September 13: Daily Readings

I promised you that I would send you links to daily readings and tell you my thoughts on them.
Here is a link to the readings from today:
September 13, 2012 Readings

Here's the thing I never really noticed before- it's in the gospel:

"Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you."
Luke 6:37-42

It really hit me that what this was saying was that if you want God's gifts in abundance, then you have to give God's gifts in abundance.  And of course, we know that the greatest of all God's gifts is love.  Another thing that I was reading today was talking about how all that we crave as human beings is acceptance- and that total and complete acceptance that we all crave comes from God.  It also talks about The courage of self-acceptance because if we good enough for God, then we should be good enough for ourselves.  That was another message that hit home.  The line that really hit me there was 
"I cannot be more demanding than God, can I". 

 And of course, I think that I am- a lot!  We probably all are- because we can see all that we could be and aren't- but God sees that too and loves what we do- which is better than doing nothing at all.

So let us go out today, giving God's gifts in abundance- and remembering that the greatest gift is accepting others as they are, knowing that God is accepting us as we are- with all our faults and imperfections- and that the more that we accept others as they are- the more that we will be accepted as we are.

Week 1 Review:The Bible God's Story

I was so glad to have met with you!  It was a fun class for me and I hope it was for you.
Here is a link to the online session review:
Study Guide Session 1
and another link to a page on ways that you can carry this session forward into your every day life:
Living My Faith 

This section is for your parents but there is interesting stuff there for you too!
Raising Faith Filled Kids Week 1

If you want to try the Session Review game, the Link is here:
http://www.loyolapress.com/assets/fg-2013/games/grade6-session1-finding-god-session-review.swf
This is an interactive game and some computers might not be able to load it, if you have problems and want to take the review, e-mail me and I'll send you a pdf version.  I did the review and thought that it was fun- especially the hints and pop-ups with the correct answers whether or not you get it right.

At the end of the review, you can e-mail the results to me (mrmurrin@verizon.net)
I did the review and got 1150 out of 1200, so I can't expect you to be perfect.
If the whole class does the review and mails the results to me, we'll have a prize next week.

Here are the vocabulary words for this week (with definitions from your glossary)
Inspired=Influenced by the Holy Spirit (The human authors of Scripture were influenced by the Holy Spirit)  The creative inspiration of the Holy Spirit made sure that the Scripture was written according to the truth God wants us to know for our salvation.

Interpretation=an explanation of the words of Scripture, combining human wisdom and the teaching office of the church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Magisterium=the living, teaching office of the church.  This office, through the bishops and with the Pope, provides an interpretation of the Word of God.  It ensures faithfulness to the teachings of the apostles in matters of faith and morals.

Scriptorium=the room in a monastery in which books were copied by hand.  Often beautiful art was created on the page to illustrate the story.

Vulgate=the Latin translation of the Bible by St. Jerome from the Hebrew and Greek from which it was originally written. Most Christians of St. Jerome's day no longer spoke Greek or Hebrew.  The common language or vulgate was Latin.  (This was in the days of the Roman Empire)

When we have about a dozen words and time left in a session, we'll start playing the vocabulary game.  It might not sound like fun but every class where we've done it, loves it.  You win coins for a correct answer (sometimes chocolate ones) and if you want, you can trade in the coins for prizes.  That is one reason that you want to read your chapter ahead of time-so there is time for the game!

For next week: Read Chapter 2. 

Vatican Express: Links to Photos for Day 1

Here are some links to photos that could be used with the Day 1 theme of The Rock
Bible verse poster
Stained Glass
Statue of St Peter in Rome
Holy Father John Paul II
St. Joseph the Carpenter Mosaic

If you have more links, leave them in a comment and I'll add them here.

Connecting the Oct 2 Readings to Finding God, Grade 5, Chapter 3

Here is a link to the Loyola Press Sunday Connection
We're going to review the reading for Oct 2.
The Grade 4-6 connection does not tie that well into the theme of the lesson this week, but think that the Grade 1-3 lesson will do a great job- it's a little different and more active.
This lesson covers the Lord's Prayer, so I'm going to look at the Miracle Maker and see if there is either a connection to the Lord's Prayer, this gospel, or following God's revelation.  Nothing pops out right away.
Our classroom this year does not have a place for hanging posters- but when I was putting my posters away, I realized that the File 'N Save storage system that I bought at AOE last year would do a great job if it is propped up on the table at the front of the room- there would be room to hold two posters for each week.

This week, I will definitely use the first Order of the Mass poster- think that I will use these posters to help the children place the Liturgy link each week.