Grade 9 - Religious Education

Scripture

Profession of Faith

Christian Moral Development

Prayer and Sacramental Life

Family Life

Research and Inquiry Skills

Core Teachings: Demonstrate an understanding the relationship between Scripture and Divine Revelation; [CCC nos. 51-141; 1820]

explain the Catholic understanding of Sacred Scripture (contextualism) as divinely inspired literature and the Word of God expressed in human terms and compare and contrast the contextualist approach (Dei Verbum) with the Literalist approach to biblical interpretation [CCC nos. 51-141]

identify the canon of Sacred Scripture as defined by the Catholic Church as 27 books in the New Testament and 46 books in the Old Testament [CCC nos. 51-141]

identify, define and explain the various types of literature found in Scripture (e.g., poetry, drama, song, preaching, myth, saga, parables, fables, call stories, stories of heroism and villainy, historical narratives, collections of laws, wisdom literature, epistles, and Gospels) and how they connect with the notion of Truth in scripture [CCC nos. 51-141]

Understanding Sacred Texts: Retell key biblical narratives of the various Covenants (Covenant of Hope with Noah, Covenant of Circumcision with Abraham and Sarah, the Sinai covenant with Moses and Miriam, the Davidic Covenant with King David and the New Covenant with all people through Jesus) from Creation to Jesus (Beatitudes) that illustrate God's faithful covenant relationship with a chosen people and the community's response to this relationship; [CCC nos. 1716-19; 1726-28; 1820]

examine the theme of what it means that all persons possess human dignity (created and loved by God, made in the image of God, child of God) and what it means to be a people chosen by God as revealed in the Covenant narratives of the Hebrew people, and the extension of the Covenant relationship to all people through Jesus [CCC nos. 198; 355-356; 381; 514-515; 522; 610-611; 1961-1964; 2410-2411]

demonstrate knowledge of key elements of a covenant relationship as revealed in the Covenant stories of the Bible, differentiate between a covenant and a contract, and outline the rights and responsibilities of each of us as a covenant people as revealed in the covenant stories of the Bible (Catholic Social Teaching) [CCC nos. 839-840; 1539-1541; 1961-1964; 2410-2411]

summarize the duties and obligations presented in the Sinai Covenant (the Decalogue) and describe the nature of a Christian approach to life as revealed by Jesus (the Beatitudes) and the impact these have on our call to live as Catholic Christians in covenant relationships (Sacramental Vows and Promises) in the modern world [CCC nos. 1716-1724; 2056]

Sacred Texts and Contemporary Culture: Apply the experience and lessons of various biblical figures to contemporary experiences and events and connect the wisdom learned by biblical figures to contemporary life and current events. (e.g., how the story of slavery in Egypt and the Exodus experience teaches about the Divine call to human persons to live lives of love and freedom). [CCC nos. 1731-48; 849-856]

examine how the two Creation stories in the Book of Genesis teach us truths about the nature of God, our human dignity, our relationship with God, and our responsibilities to one another and the created world [CCC nos. 280; 338; 340-341; 2415-2418; 2456]

examine the Exodus event and identify the key elements of the story of God's covenantal faithfulness and desire for people to be free, and identify and define the Church's understanding of freedom and explain the importance of freedom in our relationship with God, others, and all of creation [CCC nos. 1731-1748]

analyze examples of slavery throughout history and in our contemporary context (physical, moral, psychological, spiritual slavery, bullying, exclusion, etc.) and identify what is needed for true freedom in our current context [CCC nos. 1731-1748]

Faith Foundations: Demonstrate an understanding of how the Paschal Mystery (Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus) demonstrate a continuation and fulfillment of God's Covenantal relationships (Messianic Expectations) with the Hebrew people (through Abraham and Moses) and all people through Jesus (The Last Supper); [CCC nos. 605-713]

connect the stories of Covenant, and the teachings of the prophets, to the understanding of Jesus and the Paschal Mystery presented in the Gospels [CCC nos. 587-713]

explain how the love of God for all people as revealed in the Bible requires justice (preferential option for the poor, ecological justice) and identify how the demands of justice can be challenging for followers of Jesus (sacrifice and offering) [CCC nos. 1805-1807; 2411; 2420-2425]

define hope as a virtue which keeps us searching for true happiness and which sustains us in times of abandonment, sacrifice and struggle in the light of the death and resurrection of Jesus [CCC nos. 605-618; 1812-1813; 1817-1821; 2090-2092]

Faith Seeking Understanding: Demonstrate and understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus as revealed in the stories of the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus recorded in the New Testament and the implication of such in contemporary society; [CCC nos. 425; 542; 645-647; 730; 1816]

analyze the key elements of the lives of Biblical figures, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and the first disciples and explain how their actions reflected a radical commitment to God and Jesus Christ [CCC nos. 773; 829; 963-972; 1813; 1817-1821; 2030]

examine the ritual and prayers of the Sacrament of Baptism and explain how they connect to the role of all Christians, as children of God (Christian Anthropology), as they live their faith (Priest, Prophet, King) [CCC nos. 405; 829; 903; 1113; 1210-1213; 1425-1426]

explain how the ritual and prayers of the Sacrament of Baptism connect to the role of the Catholic faith community, as the People of God, to support each person in the living of their faith, as children of God (prayer, sacraments, charity, justice, Church Teaching and Tradition, etc.) [CCC nos. 829; 903; 1113; 1210-1213; 1425-1426]

Faith Lived: Demonstrate an understanding of how Catholic Christians, as beloved children of God and disciples of Jesus, are called to live lives of holiness and wholeness expressed in love of self and neighbour, and all of Creation. [CCC nos. 1717; 2013-2015; 2030]

explain how Jesus affirms the dignity of every person (Beatitudes, Miracles, Parables) and examine how Faith fosters positive, healthy self-esteem physically, intellectually, spiritually and socially as part of recognizing the importance of a healthy positive acceptance of self, with strengths and weakness [CCC nos. 546-550; 1716-1717; 2052-2055]

analyze why it is important to understand how a wide range of emotions can influence personal decisions, actions, and relationships [CCC nos. 1868; 1951; 1957; 1975-1976]

recognize, compare and contrast the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships -- in light of our God-given dignity -- with peers, within families and communities, and our relationship with the earth (Social Justice, Ecological Justice and the Common Good) [CCC nos. 299; 340; 2013-2015; 1717; 2030]

Foundations: Demonstrate an understanding of how the Social Teachings of the Church are rooted in the Decalogue and the Beatitudes, and analyze how they can be applied to living a Catholic Christian moral life; [CCC nos. 1716-1724; 2056]

describe how Church teaching informs moral decision-making and explains how the Church enables and facilitates reconciliation [CCC nos. 2030-2040]

examine the nature of sin (personal and social), types of sin (original, venial, mortal; sins in thought, word, deed and omission) and the role of conscience in moral decision-making [CCC nos. 1776-1794; 1846-53]

define forgiveness, mercy and hope, explain their role in Christian moral living and identify areas in students' lives where they have experienced forgiveness, mercy, and hope both given and received [CCC nos. 1424; 2030-2040]

Seeking Understanding: Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of living a Catholic moral life and the role discernment has in the call to live a moral life of faith in the contemporary world; [CCC nos. 2030-2040; 2697]

retell stories of discernment and prayer in the life of Jesus (e.g., Temptation in the Desert), lives of the Saints, and contemporary models of holiness [CCC nos. 538-540; 566; 2030-2040; 2697]

review and apply decision-making models of see, judge, act, evaluate as a way of discerning appropriate actions whether between negative and positive (e.g., not to sin or sin), or discernment between two goods (e.g., whether to marry or pursue consecrated religious life) [CCC nos. 953; 1440; 1472; 1871-1872]

explain what makes authority legitimate [CCC nos. 1897-1904] and explore the role of Church teaching, law and conscience in moral decision making [CCC nos. 1776-1794]

The Moral Life: Use the key requirements of being a disciple of Jesus to analyze the opportunities and challenges arising from the values presented by contemporary culture in light of the teachings of the Church. [CCC nos. 1716-1724]

relate scripture stories of call and service to the value of voluntarism in our contemporary society [CCC nos. 1143; 2440; 2443-2449]

articulate how the cardinal, theological and moral virtues can inform a sense of responsibility toward those in need in our society (e.g., responsible use of social media and being good digital disciples) [CCC nos. 1812-1839]

Prayer: Demonstrate a knowledge of the connections between a life of prayer (personal and communal) and the challenge of the Christian call to be loving in contemporary culture sustained by God's Grace and the Holy Spirit; [CCC nos. 1113-1130; 1145-1152]

explain the importance of Sunday Mass and the participation in the sacramental life of the Church for a Christian life and receiving God's Grace through Jesus and the Holy Spirit [CCC nos. 737; 1210-11; 1324-30; 1392-94]

recognize the meaning and implications of the Lord's Prayer for daily living and describe the Our Father as a summary of the Gospel [CCC nos. 2759-2772]

defend the value of a variety of prayer forms (including traditional forms such as retreats, the Rosary, Litanies, Eucharistic Adoration, etc.) as opportunities to encounter God's grace that is necessary for living a life of faith in contemporary society [CCC nos. 2559-2565; 2623-2643]

Sacrament: Demonstrate an understanding of the Church's teaching on sacramentality and explain its connection with the sacredness of all creation as revealed in the Creation and Covenant stories of the Bible and celebrated in the Eucharist; [CCC nos. 1113-1130]

define and explain the roles of sign and symbol in sacramental expression as in the Church's celebration of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist [CCC nos. 1145-1152; 2175]

connect the structure of the Mass with the Hebrew experience in Exodus (Passover) and the story of Salvation presented in the Old Testament [CCC nos. 571-572; 731; 1067; 1164]

identify the source of, define, and explain the different elements of symbolism and prayer for each of the Liturgical Seasons of the Church [CCC nos. 1145-49; 1163-1173]

Living out Prayer and Sacrament: Demonstrate an understanding of the spiritual nature of the human person and the role of prayer as a way to both enrich and express personal and communal spirituality and the challenges to a Catholic Christian life of prayer in contemporary culture. [CCC nos. 2689; 2691; 2697-2699]

define the Catholic understanding of spirituality and the spiritual life, and identify and explain the elements of a healthy spirituality [CCC nos. 362-368]

examine the role of prayer in the life of Jesus and in the lives of holy people in the Christian tradition [CCC nos. 2697; 2732-2733]

articulate and defend the importance of prayer for the living of an authentic Christian life, and the obstacles or challenges to a life of prayer in contemporary society [CCC nos. 2697; 2732-2733; 2755]

Living in Relationship: Demonstrate an understanding of the Catholic Christian call to chastity as a virtue that is an expression of a healthy sense of self and capacity to live in healthy relationships with others; [CCC no. 1832]

define chastity as a virtue and express connections between the elements of healthy and unhealthy relationships described in biblical events and their own life experiences [CCC nos. 2337-2359]

describe how religious faith is shaped by human experience (i.e., one's family, one's culture, one's temperament) and analyze the role of family in society and in the Church as providing skills and strategies for healthy and holy (whole) relationships [CCC nos. 144-165; 2201-2233]

identify and explain the elements of healthy relationships in family, in communities and among peers (e.g., the social determinants of health – poverty, mental health and wellness, education; supports for understanding gender identity and sexual orientation) and the threats to healthy relationships (e.g., substance abuse, violence, abuse) and strategies to respond to these threats [CCC nos. 1762-1769; 1832; 2354-2356; 2357-2359; 2389]

Growing in Commitment: Demonstrate an understanding of the various types of love and connect each to the concept of fidelity as part of a covenantal relationship with God and others; [CCC nos. 1604; 1643; 1765-1766; 1824; 1828; 1849; 1855; 2658; 2011]

analyze covenant in Scripture and present an example of God's fidelity to humanity as part of a covenantal relationship [CCC nos. 30; 35; 62-64; 74; 205; 218-219; 307; 410; 422; 431; 2011; 2084-2085; 2782-2785]

explore the Christian concept of unconditional love, agape, as distinct from popular notions of love, and compare and contrast the meaning of the word 'love' in light of the Gospel meaning and its use in society [CCC nos. 1604; 1643; 1765-1766; 1824; 1828; 1849; 1855; 2658; 2011]

compare and contrast the elements of covenant and contract as they pertain to the relationship humans have with God, and relationships with one another [CCC nos. 30; 35; 62-64; 74; 205; 218-19; 307; 410; 422; 431; 2011; 2084-85; 2782-85; 2577]

Created Sexual: Demonstrate an understanding of the Church's Teaching regarding chastity and sexuality, and identity are rooted in the dignity and worth of each person and respect for the human body, in light of the sacredness of human life created by God. [CCC nos. 1832; 2258-2261; 2273; 2297]

identify and explain how a wide range of emotions influence personal decisions, actions, and relationships; furthermore, articulate the importance of a healthy positive acceptance of self, with strengths and weaknesses, in living our lives as sexual beings who use decision-making and assertiveness skills which protect and promote chastity [CCC nos. 1735; 1762-1767; 1769-75; 1832; 1860; 2552]

examine how the Church's teaching on the dignity of persons, and the consistent ethic of life informs sexual expression in the light of the virtue of chastity and the meaning of God's gift of sexuality [CCC nos. 1832; 2258-2261; 2273; 2297]

identify and explain the key elements of a healthy expression of sexuality and sexual health and examine the threats presented by the reality of pornography, pre-marital sex, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections (STI's) [CCC nos. 1832; 2258-2262; 2273; 2297, 2320-2330; 2351-2363; 2389]

discuss the Church's understanding of the dignity of the human person as a gift from God, and how it applies to all people and not limited by a person's age, race, ancestry, colour, citizenship, ethnic origin, creed, family status, marital status, sex, gender and sexual identity, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability or disability, socio-economic status, mental health reality, or life circumstances [CCC nos. 1700-1826]

Exploring: Explore topics related to Scripture and living the Catholic Faith in the contemporary world, and formulate questions to guide their research;

explore a variety of topics related to Scripture and living the Catholic faith in the contemporary world (e.g., moral issues in contemporary society, role of prayer and sacraments in the Catholic Christian life, Ecological Justice, Social Justice, etc.) to identify topics for research and inquiry

identify key concepts (e.g., through discussion, brainstorming, use of visual organizers) related to their selected topics

formulate effective questions to guide their research and inquiry

Investigating: Create research plans, and locate and select bible passages and other information relevant to their chosen topics, using appropriate research and inquiry methods;

create appropriate research plans to investigate their selected topics (e.g., outline purpose and method; identify sources of information), ensuring that their plans follow guidelines for ethical research

locate and select scripture narratives and references and other information (Church Teaching and Tradition, Social Science Studies, etc.) relevant to their investigations from a variety of primary sources (e.g., interviews; observations; surveys and questionnaires; original documents in print or other media such as film, photographs, songs, advertisements) and secondary sources (e.g., book reviews, magazine articles, literature reviews in academic journals)

formulate a hypothesis, thesis statement, or research question, and use it to focus their research, based on preliminary research, for each investigation

Processing Information: Assess, record, analyse, and synthesize information gathered through research and inquiry;

assess various aspects of information gathered from primary and secondary sources (e.g., accuracy, relevance, reliability, inherent values and bias, voice)

record and organize, analyze and interpret research information (e.g., compare results of surveys and interviews; determine whether common themes arise in different sources) and key ideas using a variety of formats (e.g., notes, graphic organizers, summaries, audio/digital records)

demonstrate academic honesty by documenting the sources of all information generated through research and synthesize findings and formulate conclusions (e.g., determine whether their results support or contradict their hypothesis; weigh and connect information to determine the answer to their research question)

Communicating and Reflecting: Communicate the results of their research and inquiry clearly and effectively, and reflect on and evaluate their research, inquiry, and communication skills.

use an appropriate format (e.g., oral presentation, written research report, poster, multimedia presentation, web page) to communicate the results of their research and inquiry effectively for a specific purpose and audience

use terms relating to the study of religion (e.g., scripture, morality, prayer and sacramentality, family life, etc.) and clearly communicate the results of their inquiries (e.g., write clearly, organize ideas logically, use language conventions properly), and follow APA conventions for acknowledging sources (e.g., generate a reference list in APA style, use in-text author-date citations)

demonstrate an understanding of the general research process by reflecting on and evaluating their own research, inquiry, and communication skills