FOURTH GRADE CURRICULUM Fourth Grade
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page First Section: Preparation Materials............................................................................... ……… 3 Introduction to the Series.......................................................................................................…….. 3 Classroom setup & rules…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Themes and Subjects of Grades 1 – 5............................................................................................ 12 Characteristics of Fourth Grade Students................................................................. ………………… 14 Liturgical Calendar....................................................................................................…………………. 17 One Year Lesson and Servant Schedule.................................................................... ………………… 18 Theological and Spiritual Background………………………………………………………………………………………. 20 Second Section: Core Materials…........................................................................................... 21 Introduction to the Year....................................................................................................... ……… 22 Fourth Grade Theme and Objectives............................................................................................. 22 Unit I: God Fathers His family on earth – Through His Son ………………………….…………………............. 25 Lesson 1: Our Lord Cared for His Disciples ………………………………………………………………………….. 27 Lesson 2: Our Lord Jesus Christ called disciples to help Him in caring for His people…………… 30 Lesson 3: Our Lord Jesus Christ offer forgiveness………………………………………………………………… 34 Unit II: Our Lord Jesus Christ continues His work through the Church in the Mystery of Priesthood .....… 43 Lesson 4: Our Lord Jesus Christ calls some of us to Father His Children………………………………… 44 Lesson 5: Priests are Stewards and Shepherds………………………………………………………………………. 50 Lesson 6: Our Lord Jesus Christ continues to give new disciples the power to forgive …………. 53 Lesson 7: The Clothing of the Bishop, Priest, and Deacon…………………………………………………….. 55 Lesson 8 : Review………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 60 Unit III: The Old Testament fathers of God’s family …………………………………………………………………… 60 Lesson 9: Joseph and Jacob................................................................................................... 61 Lesson 10: Joseph is Called to Egypt……………………………………………………….............................. 66 Lesson 11:Joseph Interprets Dreams...................................................................................... 71 Lesson 12: Joseph receives His Brothers Two Times………....................................................... 78 Lesson 13: The Coming of Jacob’s Family to Egypt ................................................................. Lesson 14: Unit Review…………...........................…..........................................................……… 84 Unit IV: The Church is the Family of God........................................................................................ 95 Lesson 15: We believe in one Church...................................................................................... 99 Lesson 16: The Church is Holy.................................................................................................. 104 Lesson 17: The Church is Universal.......................................................................................... 108 Lesson 18: The Church is Apostolic........................................................................................... 111 Lesson 19: Unit Review.............................................................................................................. 113 Unit V: The Lenten Season Lesson 20: The weeks of Lent (seeking the Kingdom of God) Lesson 21: The Temptation of Christ Lesson 22: The Prodigal son Lesson 23: The Samaritan woman Lesson 24: Palm Sunday - prepare for the palm procession………………………………………………….. Unit VI: The Church the House of God Lesson 25: The Church symbols and icon Lesson 26: The Church building and items 2 Lesson 27: The Church Seasons and tunes Lesson 28: The Church Books Lesson 29: The Liturgy of the hours Lesson 30: The Icon of the Church Lesson 31: Unit Review Unit VI: Stories of some of the Coptic Patriarchs and Bishops…………………………………………………….. 114 Lesson 32: Story of St. Mark the founder of the coptic church our family of faith………………. 115 Lesson 33: Story of St. Peter the Seal of Martyrs sacrificed for the faith ……………………………. 117 Lesson 34: Story of St. Athanasius. defender of Orthodox faith…………………………………………… 119 Lesson 35: Story of Pope Petros El Gawli and the Holy Light……………………………………………….. 122 Lesson 36: Story of Pope Abram and the moving of the mountain……………………………………….. 125 Lesson 37: Story of St. Pope Kyrilloss the sixth: Life of Prayer……………………………………………… 127 Lesson 38: Story of st. Anba Abram the bishop of fayoum the friend of the poor Unit VII: Seasonal Lessons…..………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Lesson 41: The Feast of Nyrouz- Procession prep…………………………………………………………..... Lesson 42: The Feast of the Holy Cross - Procession Prep……………………………………………...... Lesson 43: The Month of Kiahk - Kiahk praises…………………………………………………………… Lesson 44: The Holy Nativity - The reward of Watchfulness………………………………………. Lesson 45: The Holy Theophany - Baptism is the door to the Church ………………………….. Lesson 46: The Holy Resurrection- John 20 (gift of the Holy Spirit)……………………………… Lesson 47: Pentecost: The Church is where we receive the Holy Spirit………………………… Lesson 48: The Fast and Feast of the Apostles……………………………………………………………… Lesson 49: The Feast of the Theotokos…………………………………………………………………………. Lesson 50: The Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord ………………………………………………. Third Section: Mini Reference: ..................................................................................................... Church Liturgical Calendar………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Prayers and Hymns…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Creative Activities Sheet…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… How to Tell a Story…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… First Section Preparation Materials 4 + 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES Although Sunday school is a relatively recent term in our Church, its existence is very old. The school of Alexandria is one of the most ancient Christian seminaries. Catechesis of new believers was the main function of the school. THE RITE OF BAPTISM IS THE MODEL From the rite of Baptism in the Coptic Church, we can identify three stages of “transformation” that must happen to the new converts before they are fully inaugurated as members of the body of Christ. The first is educational, where they get to know the Gospel and get “the Story” as told by the eyewitnesses, the story of Salvation as given to us in both the Old and the New Testament. St. Luke writes, “In as much as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eye witnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophorus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” The Gospel then is the right information, the good news. Whenever the Gospel is told, some would be moved to repentance to be “cut to the heart.” Some would be filled with joy and wonder, and speak in tongues. Some would be filled with fear and trembling. Others would be mocking. No one who hears the Gospel can be indifferent. In this first stage, the Church anoints the “catechumens” with the sermon’s oil to guard the mind against all the work of the enemy. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in breaking down all high walls and fortified strongholds that keep humans away from the light of the Gospel of Christ. The second stage is the stage of the movement of the heart, marked by the oil of Joy, “to be planted in the fruitful olive tree that is the Holy church of God.” The joy of Christ is what carries on with the Christians all their lives. No one can take that joy away from them. It is the joy of knowing Christ and being in Him. The joy that fills the heart more than oil and fat can satisfy the body. Our Lord becomes - to the believer in Him - the food and the drink of the spirit in the journey through the earthly life. Before the anointment with the oil of joy, the catechumen is asked to make the oath. The oath is renouncing Satan and accepting Christ. The baptized here is a spouse of Christ, pledging fidelity. It is verbalizing what he or she feels in the heart and knows in the mind. Here the Spirit brings life to the heart and satisfaction that no other can bring. The third stage is the consecration. It starts with the immersion in the water three times in the name of the Holy Trinity. In doing this, the believer is born again to God and becomes united with Christ. He or she is now a new creation, a clean vessel ready to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who should never leave, as long as, he or she lives. The next step would for the Holy Spirit to indwell in the Holy Chrism. 5 SUNDAY SCHOOL AS A SUPPORT AND CONTINUATION OF THE MOTHER’S WORK When a baby is going through the rite of Baptism, the mother takes the vows for the baby. In doing this, the church recognizes the mother as the first and most important catechetical school. When the mother renounces Satan for the baby, she pledges to stand