Grade 1

Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ

The Grade 1 Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ program follows the flow of the liturgical year, respecting the different seasons with all the moods and colours found in them. Drawing on various stories from Scripture, children will learn the mood and meaning of all of the Church seasons.

Each season has its own theological emphases, guiding us through the story of our salvation. The content of the units informs and forms our students. Using their gifts and witness of faith, teachers evangelize as they hand on the faith. The Grade 1 Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ program fits nicely within the Church’s evangelizing mission as it highlights and references the liturgical celebrations in the parish for each of the liturgical seasons and connects to the faith and cultural celebrations in the home.

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Themes

The Grade 1 Resource is comprised of the following five units. The length of the unit is based on the number of weeks in the liturgical season.

 

Unit 1: I Am a Child of God is based in Ordinary Time and introduces students to God as Creator and Father. Within the unit, they will learn about God’s covenant with Noah and Abraham. They will read about the call of Moses, and God’s love for His Chosen People. They will learn about God’s call to personal holiness by exploring the stories of some saints. 

Lesson 1: Welcome: Who’s Who in Our Class
Lesson 2: Our Classroom is a Family
Lesson 3: Jesus
Lesson 4: God Made Us
Lesson 5: God Gave Us Our World
Lesson 6: Stories of God’s People
Lesson 7: The Ten Commandments
Lesson 8: All the Saints in Heaven
Lesson 9: All the Saints in Heaven
Lesson 10: Jesus is Our King
Lesson 11: Our Liturgical Calendar

Saints: St. Dominic Savio, St. Bernadette

Bible Stories: “Let the little children come to me,” Creation Story, God’s Promise to Abraham & Sarah

 

Unit 2: The Road to Bethlehem presents the seasons of Advent and Christmas through story and Scripture. Students will focus on Advent as a time of waiting and anticipation of the birth of the Son of God. Through Scripture, they will learn that Mary became a willing participant in the story of salvation and, as an obedient servant of God, becomes a model for us. The story of the Nativity is related as God’s perfect gift to humankind. 

Lesson 1: A New Beginning
Lesson 2: Full of Grace
Lesson 3: Lighting the Road to Bethlehem
Lesson 4: Jesus is Love
Lesson 5: Kings Worship the King

Saints: St. Nicholas

Bible Stories: Gabriel Visits Mary, Three Wise Men

 

Unit 3: My Life in Jesus is based in Ordinary Time and focuses on Baptism as a call to life in the Church. Students will read about the ministry and life of Jesus through such stories as the wedding at Cana, Jesus feeding the 5000, and Jesus and the leper. They will explore the lives of saints who endeavoured to live their lives as Jesus taught. 

Lesson 1: John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus
Lesson 2: Baptism
Lesson 3: We Are Family
Lesson 4: Our Parish Family
Lesson 5: Stories of Jesus
Lesson 6: Saints among Us

Saints: St. Vincent de Paul, St. Damien

Bible Stories: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand,

 

Unit 4: The Story of Lent and Easter roots the passion and death of Jesus in the liturgical celebrations of Lent and Easter. Grounded in Scripture, these lessons will help students to begin to understand the story of our salvation. 

Lesson 1: Lent and Ash Wednesday
Lesson 2: Forgiveness
Lesson 3: Entering Jerusalem
Lesson 4: Holy Week
Lesson 5: Jesus Is Risen

Saints: St. Peter

Bible Stories: Easter Week

 

Unit 5: Jesus Is Always with Us is based in Ordinary Time and focuses on the call to live our lives as Jesus taught. Through the stories of the risen Christ, students will come to know that Jesus has promised to maintain and strengthen us through the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit. Students will once again see Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as the Mother of all and a model of perfect holiness.

Lesson 1: Jesus Asks Me to Follow Him
Lesson 2: We Live Like Jesus
Lesson 3: Pentecost
Lesson 4: Mary, Our Heavenly Mother
Lesson 5: The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lesson 6: Inspired to Do Good
Lesson 7: God Is Our Father
Lesson 8: Stories about Jesus

Saints: Mary, St. Marguerite d’Youville,

Bible Stories: “I am the vine, you are the branches”, Jesus calls Levi

 

Students will also be learning the prayers:

The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
a world without end.
Amen.

 

If you have any questions about the content of this program, please contact LeeAnn Arsenault, Faith Permeation Lead Teacher for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools at leeann.arsenault@rdcrs.ca.