Grade 5

Knowledge of the Faith To prepare Christians to know, understand and integrate the foundational beliefs of the Catholic faith through Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and teachings of the Magisterium

Liturgy and Sacraments To prepare Christians to understand and foster a full, active, and conscious participation in the celebration of the liturgy and Sacraments

Moral Formation in Jesus Christ To prepare Christians to grow in holiness and make good moral choices by being drawn into a deep personal relationship with Christ

Prayer To prepare Christians to come into communion with God by learning to pray with Christ

Community Life through Discipleship in the Church To prepare Christians to live in community and to participate actively in the life and mission of the church Third Grade Fourth Grade

Evangelization and Missionary Spirit To prepare Christians to participate in society as faith-filled disciples and to be able to witness their faith in word and deed

Safe Environment To help Christians realize that each person deserves to be loved and cared for and can help themselves stay safe

Recognize through revelation that God desires to be in relationship with us

Reflect on God’s revelation and thus come to understand our human desire for God

Explore, understand, and apply Scripture to life through the guidance of the Magisterium

Learn the history of the Catholic Church and its role in the world

Understand the core teachings of the Catholic Church

Understand that the Sacraments which are celebrated by the Church are outward signs of God’s love revealed through the Paschal Mystery of Christ

Know and value the importance of the Sacraments of initiation, including the dignity and responsibility of Baptism, the deepening of grace in Confirmation, and the centrality of the Eucharist

Know and value the importance of the Sacraments of healing – Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick

Know and value the importance of the Sacraments of service to the Church – Marriage and Holy Orders

Understand that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the life of the Church

Acquire the knowledge, spirituality, and skills which lead to full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgical life of the Church

Develop a moral foundation centered in a virtuous life and properly informed conscience through the teaching of the Catholic Church

Recognize the need for grace to live a moral life and to be faithful to Scriptural values

Recognize and honor the dignity of human life from natural conception to natural death 

Understand the nature of sin and personal responsibility

Develop a life-long relationship with God through prayer

Know and participate in Catholic prayers

Recognize the importance of the role of Scripture in our prayer life

Actively participate in the life and work of the local and global Church

Grow spiritually as a Church

Cultivate human values and Christian virtue

Recognize and respond to our baptismal call of service according to our vocation in life

Live as disciples of Christ through the knowledge and practice of Catholic social teaching

Give witness to Catholic principles and values in all aspects of daily life

Understand each human being is created in the image and likeness of God

Understand that choices have consequences 

Recognize experiences of good and had human relationships and friendships

Differentiate between holy and sinful behavior

Know and retell the story of Salvation History

Describe how Jesus best models the revelation of God’s love and care for us

Trace the stories of God’s loving covenant with Israel until the time of Jesus

Understand that we are created by God to be like him and one day be with him in heaven

Find the New Testament stories about the life and mission of Jesus

Name and locate the Pentateuch, Historical books, Psalms, and Prophets in the Old Testament

Name and locate the four Gospels, Acts, and Paul’s letters in the New Testament

Explain ways that the Holy Spirit guides the Church and is active in our daily lives

Compare and contrast the community life of the early Church from Acts and Paul’s letters and the Church today

Recite the Nicene Creed

Explain key passages of the Nicene Creed

Apply these key passages of the Nicene Creed to the child’s life

Tell stories of Catholic saints and demonstrate how to follow their example

Explain how the Sacraments are necessary for salvation

Understand that the Sacraments were given to the Church by Christ and are both “for the Church” and “by the Church” (CCC 1118)

Define initiation as it relates to the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist

Experience Reconciliation

Define healing as it relates to the Sacraments of Healing – Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick

Define service as it relates to the Sacraments of Service – Marriage and Holy Orders

Explain how Jesus loves us most perfectly in the celebration of the Eucharist

Explain how the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes help us live in good relationship with God and with others

Explain how the Blessed Virgin Mary is “full of grace”

Explain St. Paul’s statement in Gal 2:20 – “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”

Identify threats to the dignity of human life in our culture (abortion, capital punishment, murdering, wars, violence, etc.)

Name ways to defend those whose dignity or life is threatened

Describe the process for making good moral decisions

Teach a nightly examination of conscience

Describe how to use critical decision-making when encountering a moral problem

Be able to compose and vocalize spontaneous prayers: Adoration, Thanksgiving, Petition, Contrition, and Praise

 Pray the appropriate fifth grade prayer

Know and pray through various devotions: Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Litanies, other Marian devotions

Explain why the Mass is the Church’s most perfect form of prayer

Demonstrate and pray the Liturgy of the Hours as the prayer of the Church

Locate the Psalms in the Bible and identify their location and importance in the Mass and Liturgy of the Hour

Locate the Old and New Testament passages that demonstrate the necessity and power of prayer (Appendix A)

Explain how we are members of our local parish and members of the universal Church

Explain how the Church helps foster the Kingdom of God

Explain the necessity of the established Catholic Church

Participate in ministries of the parish

Demonstrate how sin hurts not only the sinner, but others

Explain how our good deeds help our families, schools, parishes, and communities

Explain the role and importance of forgiveness in our relationship with others and with God

Tell the story of some saints who lived a virtuous life and identify the virtues associated with each one

Explain the universal call to holiness – everyone’s first vocation is holiness. Describe tangible ways to be holy

Demonstrate the Catholic understanding and tradition of ownership and property

Illustrate how caring for others means meeting their needs with charity and sacrifice 

Name and give examples of the Seven Capital Sins (deadly) sins and corresponding virtues

Explain how the Beatitudes are ways to honor God and to treat others

Recognize the responsibility of the gift of free will

Describe strategies to get out of abusive or potentially abusive situations

Know how to get help for a friend who has been abused

Define appropriate gestures (hugging family, helping someone) and non-appropriate gestures (kicking, punching, hitting, being immodest or allowing someone to see those body parts that are meant only for you and God)