Grade 2

The Grade 2 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 2 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

Themes

The Grade 2 Resource is comprised in the following five units. The length of the unit is based on the number of weeks in the liturgical season.

Unit 1: We Belong to God’s Family is based in Ordinary Time. In this unit students will be introduced to The Apostles’ Creed and begin to understand the four parts of the Mass. They will be introduced to the Beatitudes, which help us to know how to live like Jesus. They will learn about the sacrament of Reconciliation and how God reaches out with mercy and forgiveness. 

Lesson 1: We Belong to a Family at School
Lesson 2: We Are the Family of God
Lesson 3: Introduction to the Apostles' Creed
Lesson 4: The Story of Peter
Lesson 5: Gathering as the Family of God
Lesson 6: The Beatitudes
Lesson 7: Living the Beatitudes
Lesson 8: The Saints Teach Us How to Live Like Jesus
Lesson 9: The Sacraments—Gifts of Love
Lesson 10: Forgiveness and Compassion
Lesson 11: The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saints: St. John Bosco, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys

Bible Stories: Adam and Eve, The Story of Peter, Jesus Forgives Zacchaeus, The 10 Commandments, The Beatitudes

Unit 2: The Road to Bethlehem presents the seasons of Advent and Christmas through story and Scripture. Students will explore the meaning of Advent by recalling the Annunciation and revisiting the Hail Mary, focusing on its meaning and how we receive the grace of God. They will learn about the joy of the coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of the promise of salvation through the birth of Jesus as the perfect gift of love from God. 

Lesson 1: Preparing for Advent
Lesson 2: We Care for Others
Lesson 3: Sharing God’s Joy
Lesson 4: Having Faith
Lesson 5: Spreading the Good News

Saints: Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Lucy, St. Joseph, St. Juan Diego

Bible Stories: The Annunciation, The Nativity Story

Unit 3: Jesus Guides Us is based in Ordinary Time and focuses on events in the life of Jesus. Students will read some healing stories of Jesus and understand that He continues to heal and protect people today though the sacraments. They will learn that in the celebration of the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Students will learn about the Blessed Trinity, the central doctrine of Catholicism and a mystery we accept in faith. 

Lesson 1: Jesus as a Boy
Lesson 2: The Healing Powers of Jesus
Lesson 3: Love One Another
Lesson 4: Understanding the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity
Lesson 5: The Sacrament of the Eucharist
Lesson 6: Saints and Our Faith

Saints: St. Patrick, St. Gemma, St. Therese of Lisieux

Bible Stories: The Paralyzed Man, Jesus in the Temple, The Official’s Son (John 4:43-54)

Unit 4: The Story of Lent and Easter roots the passion and death of Jesus in the liturgical celebrations of Lent and Easter. Students will begin to learn about the role of the Blessed Trinity in God’s plan for Salvation. They will learn about the customs, rituals, symbols, and traditions of our faith that come from Scripture. They will begin to understand how the Last Supper relates to the Eucharist and the Mass. Students will learn about the events of Holy Week and the saving story of the Resurrection. 

Lesson 1: We Begin Our Lenten Journey
Lesson 2: We Come to the Lord’s Altar
Lesson 3: The Path to Easter
Lesson 4: The Eucharist
Lesson 5: We Are Easter People

Saints: St. Tarciius

Bible Stories: The First Passover, Feeding the Five Thousand, Jesus Washes the Feet of the Disciples, Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene, The Temptation of Jesus, The Story of Lazarus, The Last Supper, Stations of the Cross

Unit 5: We Are Blessed in Faith is based in Ordinary Time and focuses on the call to live our lives as Jesus taught. Through the story of the Road to Emmaus, students will learn that we are sent to share the Good News. The unit will help students to understand that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is our Mother too, and to learn how the church honours Mary, the Mother of God.

Lesson 1: Living with God’s Grace
Lesson 2: Coming to Know Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Lesson 3: Celebrating Mass
Lesson 4: Jesus Is with Us Always
Lesson 5: The Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Lesson 6: The Holy Trinity
Lesson 7: We Are Called to Be Missionaries
Lesson 8: Celebrate Our Blessings

Saints: St. Norbert, St. Andrew, Paul and Timothy, St. Boniface, St. Catherine of Siena

Bible Stories: Pentecost, Paul and Timothy, John Baptizes Jesus, On the Road to Emmaus, Doubting Thomas, The Ascension, Jesus and the Little Children

Students will also be learning the prayers:

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by
the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again
from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

Prayer to My Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side
to light, to guard, to rule, to guide.
Amen.

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Amen.

Lord, I Am Not Worthy

Lord, I am not worthy that you
should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
Amen.

Lamb of God

Lamb of God,

you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,

you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,

you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.
Amen.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am sorry for having sinned.
I love you with all my heart.
With your help, I will try not to sin again.
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.