Grade 1 - Religious Education

Believing

Celebrating

Living a Moral Life

Living in Communion

Living in Solidarity

Praying

Demonstrate an understanding of the Bible (i.e. Word of God) as the inspired story of the Revelation of God (i.e. Plan of Loving Goodness) that unfolds in stages and finds its fullest expression in Christ Jesus. [CCC nos. 50-73; 456-682]

Examine a selection of Scripture passages to discover how God has gradually revealed his love for us: first to Adam and Eve, then through his Covenant with Noah, Abraham, Moses and the Prophets and finally through the gift of His own Son, Jesus through whom God’s full and definitive revelation is accomplished. [CCC nos. 50-73] 

Retell scripture passages that show how God formed a people who were his own (i.e. Israel) and demonstrate an understanding of the Old and New Testament as a collection of stories inspired by God and written by his people so that they can share their knowledge of God with others. [CCC nos. 50-73] 

Recognize in a selection of scripture passages that Jesus is the “Word of God become human” to communicate God’s love and forgiveness (Luke 1:26-38 – Annunciation; Luke 1:39-45 – Visitation; John 1:1-1 – and the Word became flesh; Jesus the good shepherd – John 10:11-18; the parable of the prodigal son – Lk. 15:11-32; the lost sheep – Lk. 15:3-7) and link this to an understanding of the Gospels as the inspired story of Christ Jesus. [CCC nos. 50-73; 456-682] 

Demonstrate how in the Scriptures, the people gradually came to know God as “Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth”. [CCC nos. 50-73; 101-104; 142-184; 198-354; 422-682]

Identify the various images of God the Father that Jesus presents in the Gospels and describe what those images tell us about God and how he shows his love for us (e.g. merciful/forgiving father – Lk. 15:11-32, the parable of the Prodigal Son; Luke 15:3-10, the lost sheep; God is Love/Charity – John 4:16; John 3:16; perfect – Matt. 5:48; Lord of Heaven and Earth – Matt. 11:35). [CCC nos. 50-73; 422-682]

Examine a selection of Old and New Testaments that reveal God as “Father” – Isaiah 9:6, 64:8; Matt. 5-16, 5:45, 6:6) “Almighty” (Ps. 33:11-13; 48:14; 50:6, 68:19-20; 84:11-12; Proverbs 30:5), and “Creator of Heaven and Earth” (Gen. 1) and use a variety of strategies to communicate their message (e.g. drama, retell, art). [CCC nos. 50-73; 198- 354] 

Describe the experience of how we come to know and recognize our parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, etc. (i.e. as children we gradually come to recognize their face, their voice, their acts of love) and relate this natural way of knowing to the process of how God has communicated to us gradually through Scripture his “face” (e.g. in stages – Creation, Covenants – Abraham and Moses, the Commandments, Prophets) and especially in the face of his Son - Jesus Christ. [CCC nos. 50-73; 101-104; 198-231; 422- 455] 

 Demonstrate an understanding of the Gospels as the inspired narrative accounts of Jesus Christ (i.e. paschal mystery - his life, his ministry, his death and resurrection) and retell narrative that tell the story of God’s love and plan of salvation for us. [CCC nos. 101- 130]

Demonstrate an understanding of the Church as a people who are formed into a believing community by God’s Word (i.e. Scripture – inspired story of Jesus Christ). [CCC nos. 101-141; 748-975]

Describe the various ways that Sacred Scripture is used in the Church to strengthen our faith, to form the common life and teaching of the Church (i.e. communal prayer and celebrations, teaching, etc.). [CCC nos. 131-141]

Compare how families and communities are formed and defined by their common history and stories (i.e. our family ethnicity, culture, language and important relatives who are deceased) to how the Christian Church is formed into a believing community and defined through the inspired stories of Sacred Scripture which reveal our relationship to God, Jesus and to one another. [CCC nos. 101-114]

Focus: Baptism Understand that the Church celebrates our life in Christ and the Church through sacraments. [CCC nos. 1211-1284] 

Recognize through the baptismal narratives of the Gospels the active presence of the Holy Spirit in the words and symbols of the Sacrament of Baptism and the gifts we receive i.e. new creation, forgiveness of sins, sanctifying grace, and virtues of faith, hope and love. (Possible Gospel passages: Baptism with water – Mt. 3:1-6, 11-12; Baptism of Jesus – Mt. 3:13-17; Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Matt. 28:18-20; repent and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:38.) [CCC nos. 1217- 1224, 1250-1255; 1262-1284] 

Demonstrate an understanding of how God speaks to us through the ritual actions and symbols of the sacraments and link each of the ritual actions and symbols of Baptism to their spiritual/theological meaning (i.e. water/purification and sharing in Christ’s life; white garment/putting on Christ – new life in Christ; Paschal candle/receiving the Light of Christ; Oil of the Catechumen/strengthen by the gifts of the Holy Spirit; Sacred Chrism Oil/we share in Christ’s priesthood by active participation in worshiping God through the sacraments, witnessing to God’s Word in word and deed, use the gifts of the Spirit to lead and serve). [CCC nos. 1229-1245; 1262-1284]

Describe Baptism as the Sacrament that welcomes us into the Church and connect the spiritual experience of being welcomed into the Church through the sacrament of Baptism to the human experience of being born into the world and welcomed into the community of one’s family.

Retell Gospel narratives that provide examples of Jesus inviting others to become part of a community and describe how they expressed their thanksgiving to God for the experience of His love (e.g. Luke 9:10-17; Matt. 9:9-13; Acts 2:1-21; John 4:1-15; Luke 5:27-32; Mt. 14:13-21, 15:32-39; Jn. 2:1-11). [CCC nos. 1334-1337] 

Understand that through the celebration of Mass (Sacrament of the Eucharist) we offer thanksgiving and praise to God the Father as a community of disciples who believe in and follow Jesus. [CCC 1345-1361]

Retell using a variety of strategies, the Scripture narrative related to each liturgical season (e.g. the Annunciation, the Birth of Jesus, the visit of the Magi, the death and resurrection of Jesus) and link them to the symbols that unfold their meaning.

Demonstrate an understanding of the liturgical seasons of the year as an annual unfolding of the mysteries of Christ celebrated in the liturgies of the Church through signs/symbols, rituals, words/actions. [CCC nos. 1135-1141, 1145-1162]

Listen to the words and the prayers of the Mass to identify why we as a community express our thanksgiving to God through Christ. [CCC nos. 1359-1361] 

Identify the various ways we express our thanksgiving to God through our participation in the liturgy of the mass (i.e. symbols, songs, words, ritual actions). [CCC nos. 1345-1355]

Identify the various ways people communicate with each other and express their thoughts and feelings (e.g. words, signs, symbols, expressions) and relate this to the use of symbols, gestures, rituals and words in the liturgies of the Church to unfold the mysteries of Christ and a sense of waiting and hope, new life and joy, wonder and thanksgiving throughout the seasons of the liturgical year. [CCC nos. 1145-1149]

Identify in a selection of covenant narratives from the Old Testament and the New Testament, signs of God’s plan to save the “chosen people” (OT) and the “Body of Christ,” (NT) and relate these scripture passages to the sacramental and ritual prayer celebrations of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost (e.g. Moses parts the waters, God sends manna in the desert, the Annunciation, the Birth of Jesus, the Baptism of Jesus, gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church). [CCC nos. 1150-1152; 1156-1162]

Demonstrate an understanding that we are created in the “image of God” and that this gift calls us to live in a way which reflects this truth. [CCC nos. 1699-1715] 

Retell gospel narratives that reveal how Jesus welcomes and cares for people by showing them they have dignity in the eyes of God i.e. made in the image of God. [CCC nos. 544, 1823-25] 

Explain why it was so important for Jesus to be born a human person like us in every way except sin (he shared in our human life and provided for us a perfect example of how we can live and treat others as the “image of God”). [CCC nos. 1701, 1708-09] 

Identify through Scripture (i.e. Genesis 1) that God has created the world we live in and made human beings to be unique (i.e. with a spiritual soul, intellect, free will, reason and an exalted vocation), and demonstrate how our human life is a gift to us and to others. [CCC nos. 1700-1705] 

Demonstrate an understanding that we are able to think (i.e. use our reason) about our actions and to know that they affect our relationship with God, other people, and ourselves. [CCC nos. 355-384; 1778-1779] 

Listen to Gospel narratives that reveal the consequences of choosing not to obey God’s will (e.g. Lk. 16:19-31 – Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus; Matt. 24:45-51 – Parable of the Faithful and Unfaithful Slave; Matt. 26:69-75 – Peter denies Jesus three times). [CCC no. 532] 

Identify situations that call us to choose between doing actions which are good or those actions which are harmful (e.g. not sharing, making fun of others, not telling the truth, etc.). [CCC nos. no. 1777-1782; 1786-1789] 

Identify the different actions that we are capable of doing as human beings (e.g. natural actions such as eating, sleeping, running, etc.) and those actions that we are able to think about (i.e. use our reason) before we act and that have consequences of being good or harmful to others and to ourselves. [CCC nos. 1777-1782] 

Demonstrate an understanding that as human beings God calls us to grow in holiness (i.e. to grow in charity and goodness). [CCC nos. 946-975; 1474-1477; 1812-1829; 2012- 2016]

Retell a selection of Gospel narratives in which Jesus teaching his disciples “to be holy, as your Heavenly Father is holy” and name ways that this was to be shown in our lives (i.e. fruits of charity – joy, peace, friendship and mercy). [CCC nos. 1812-1829; 2012-2016] 

Explain why the Church has chosen Mary and the saints as examples of holiness for us to also imitate in our lives. (Mary is the perfect example of obedience to the will of God, born and lived free from sin, co-operated with God’s plan of salvation by her obedience, faith, hope and charity, suffered with Jesus at the foot of the cross and ascended to heaven where she intercedes for us on earth; the saints are examples of how Christians should co-operate with God’s plan of salvation by living exemplary lives of prayer, hope and charity, constantly striving to be holy, faithful witnesses to the Truth of Jesus Christ.) [CCC nos. 946-975; 1474-1477; 2012-2016] 

Describe ways in which children can be examples of holiness (by imitating Jesus Christ’s love for others, being faithful, charitable and obedient to God’s will). [CCC nos. 2012-2016]

Understand that when we come to believe in God (Trinity of persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) we can experience God’s love in the community of the Church he formed. [CCC nos. 214-237; 758-760; 781-786] 

Listen to a selection of scripture passages and identify how those who gather around Jesus are fed and nourished both physically and spiritually as they come to know God. (Feeding of the 5000 – Matt.14:13-21, Mary and Martha – Luke 10:38-42, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet – John 13:1-20) 

Demonstrate an understanding of the “mysteries of faith” that we come to know of God through belonging to the Church (i.e. God is Truth, God is Love, God is One, Trinity- God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit). [CCC nos. 214-237] 

Compare the characteristics of a family with the characteristics of the Church (e.g. who can belong, how do people become members, who is the head and who guides the members, what rules govern behaviour, what is the role of the group, what is the end goal of each community?) and identify ways both can be places where we learn about God. (Note: in the Church all people can be members, membership by baptism and faith; joined to Christ and the Holy Spirit, dignity because the Spirit dwells in them, the law of love, mission to witness to Christ, their destiny is the Kingdom.) [CCC nos. 781-782] 

Demonstrate an understanding of the community of the Church as the experience of life as human and divine, visible and invisible; as a communion of saints. [CCC nos. 748- 780, 946-948, 328-336]

Identify within the Scriptures the images and symbols that reveal the relationship of Jesus to the Church (e.g. St. Paul – human body, Shepherd – sheepfold and lost sheep, Vineyard – Vine and branches, Feeding of the 5000, Holy Temple, etc.). [CCC nos. 751- 769] 

Describe what it means to belong to God’s family and the community of the Church (e.g. through baptism we are accepted into a sharing in the life of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). [CCC nos. 1655-58, 2232-33, 2201-8] 

Compare the experience of being part of a loving family (living members who are present to us, those living away from us, and deceased relatives) with the concept of the Communion of Saints (i.e. the visible and invisible Church, the Church as both human and divine) and demonstrate how we help each other through our prayers. [CCC nos. 954-959; 961-962; 2683]

Demonstrate an understanding of what it means to be made in God’s image both in our equality and diversity and explain why this is the source of our human dignity. [CCC nos. 356-384; 1928-1948] 

Demonstrate an understanding of what it means to be made in God’s image (i.e. out of love for us God has created the human persons as unique within all of Creation; capable of knowing and loving our Creator God; as a communion of body and soul; we share in God’s divine life and thus participate in the dignity of God; God has made himself known to us in Jesus who calls us into a loving relationship). [CCC nos. 356-384]

Provides examples of how God has made human beings equal yet different in their being (i.e. equally loved by God and offered faith equally for our salvation; different in the talents and responsibilities we have been given; different ethnic and racial backgrounds; different genders, ages, and different challenges and needs) and identify the benefits of diversity. [CCC nos. 356-384; 1928-1948] 

Examine selected Scripture passages to identify the significance and importance of God calling a person by name (e.g. Isaiah 43:1 – I have called you by name; Psalm 139:1- 18 – God formed us to be his own; Genesis 7:1-8 – God changes Abram’s name to Abraham) and compare this to the importance of calling others by their given name as a sign of respect. [CCC nos. 356-384; 1928-1948] 

Focus: Human Dignity Understand that as human beings made in God’s image we are social by nature and are called both as individuals and as a community to offer friendship and charity to all people.

Examine selected Gospel narratives to identify ways that Jesus promoted the dignity of the poor and the outcast by restoring and healing their social relationships (e.g. the healing narratives, the meal narratives) and link human dignity to being made in God’s image. [CCC nos. 1877-1896] 

Name ways that the Church participates in communal acts which reach out to families and individuals and suggest how these acts promote relationships and recognize the dignity of those in need (food drives, visits to the sick and elderly, summer camp for children). [CCC nos. 1877-1896] 

Provide examples of what it means to be ‘social by nature’ and how relationships can support and nourish our development as human beings. [CCC nos. 1877-1896]

Understand that prayer is essential to having a relationship with God, with Christ and with one another. [CCC 2559-2565; 2095-2098; 2697-2699; 2685-2688; 2664] 

Demonstrate an understanding of prayer as expressions of our relationship with God, Christ and others and learn to recite the common prayers of this living community (i.e. Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory to God). [CCC nos. 2623-2625; 2664]

Identify times when Christians pray individually and in communal gatherings, when they pray daily and weekly (i.e. at Mass, grace before meals, morning prayers and before going to sleep, at the beginning of each school day, in times of need e.g. Sickness). [CCC nos. 2697-2699; 2785-2688] 

Demonstrate different ways in which we express what is in our “mind and heart” and different ways our belief in God can be expressed in the activity of prayer (e.g. words, gestures, songs, movement and dance) as an expression of love and gratitude. [CCC nos. 2559-2565; 2095-2098] 

Understand that there are many ways to pray to deepen our relationship with God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and in communion with Mary and the saints. [CCC 2663- 2699]

Recognize the various places, symbols and images that create sacred space in our lives (e.g. Church, prayer corner, Advent wreath, candle, Jesse tree, Bible, art/statue/icons, Crucifix) and to identify ways these elements can deepen their experience of prayer to God, Jesus and Mary (silence, music, ritual action/movement). [CCC nos. 2673-2679; 2691-2699] 

Experience and demonstrate skill in being able to use a variety of prayer forms (e.g. spontaneous prayer, traditional prayer such as the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, petitions, etc.). [CCC nos. 2663-2699] 

Demonstrate an understanding of prayer as both a human and spiritual act which helps us to deepen our belief in God, Jesus, Mary and the saints and strengthen our relationship with them. [CCC nos. 2663-2699]