Grade Six Curriculum

  Theme:

  God's saving actions are found throughout history.  The Bible,
  written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, records God's
  plan of salvation.

  Objective:

  To understand the Old Testament as the revelation of God in the
  history of a people, a revelation fulfilled in the New Testament.

  Basic Teachings Core Content -

  Sacred Scripture, also called the Bible, is the written Revelation
  of God.  It is the Old Testament and the New Testament.

  The Church encourages our prayerful study of Sacred Scripture so
  that we can:
  - learn about God,
  - develop a loving relationship with God,
  - hear God's message of love and forgiveness,
  - live the way God desires us to live.

  The Word of God in Sacred Scripture is proclaimed at Mass for
  our spiritual nourishment.  This is called the Liturgy of
  the Word.

  Sacred Scripture is the inspired Word of God.
  Inspiration means that the authors were guided by God in
  their writing.

  These authors used many different literary forms to convey
  God's message.  Some of these are historical accounts,
  parables, poetry, letters, allegories and proverbs.

  The Old Testament begins with the Book of Genesis. Some
  important stories in this book are:
  - the story of creation, which emphasizes that from nothing
    God made all things good, to reveal God's goodness and
    to form a single web of life.  The story of creation also
    shows that man and woman were formed in God's image and
    likeness.
  - the story of the fall of Adam and Eve, which conveys the
    truth of our sinfulness and recounts God's promise of
    redemption.
  - the story of Noah and the flood, which illustrates the
    destructiveness of sin and God's determination to save us.

  The Old Testament is the account of God's saving actions in
  the history of the Jewish people whom God chose as his own.

  Some major figures in the development of God's relationship
  with the Chosen People are:
  - Abraham
  - Isaac
  - Jacob
  - Joseph
  - Moses
  - David

  God made a covenant with the Chosen People.  The covenant
  relationship meant that God would be with them, making
  them his own.  The Chosen People were to respond by
  following the way of life to which God called them.

  The central saving event of the Old Testament is the Exodus.
  It was by the Exodus that God revealed to the Israelites
  that they were his Chosen People and he was their God.

  God spoke to the people through judges and kings, priests and
  prophets, sages and poets.

  Prophets are people who hear God's call in their historical
  situation, proclaim God's Word with power from God, often
  in the face of opposition, and call people to conversion.

  Some of the prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah.

  The New Testament provides an account of the saving actions
  of Jesus Christ, his life, death and resurrection.

  Jesus fulfills the Old Covenant by making a New Covenant
  with us.

  He fulfills the Old Testament roles of priest, prophet
  and king.

  The Church is a sign of God's presence in the world today
  through the saving actions of Jesus.  These are expressed
  both in the sacraments and in the faith and good works
  of the community, the Body of Christ.

  The Church is identified by four marks:

  one - because the Church has one source: the Trinity,
        one founder: Christ, and one 'soul': the Holy Spirit,

  holy - because in union with Christ, the Church offers its
         members sanctification,

  catholic - because Christ is present in the Church, and the Church
             is for all peoples of the world,

  apostolic - because the Church is founded on the apostles in
              three ways:
    1. by remaining in communion with the apostles and sharing
       the mission given to them by Christ,
    2. by keeping and handing on the apostles' teaching with
       the help of the Holy Spirit, and
    3. by being taught, sanctified and guided by the successors
       to the apostles: the bishops, assisted by the priests, and
       in union with the Pope.

  We understand ourselves to be Catholic Christians.

  At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in all its
  fullness.

  Profession of Faith:

  Review the Apostles's Creed

  Words to be taught:

  Bible, Canticle, Chosen People, Community, Exodus, Incarnation,
  Inspiration, Lector, Manna, Magnificat, Paschal mystery,
  Passover, Prophet, Psalm, Revelation, Worship.

  Liturgical symbols and gestures to be taught:

  Give Sacred Scripture a special place in the classroom.
  Encourage a reverent and prayerful attitude in the place of worship.
  Foster the children's participation in the prayer and worship
  of the parish community.

  Prayers to be taught:

  Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary

  Prayers to be encouraged:

  Act of Hope

  Review Prayers of the Previous Grades:

    Sign of the Cross
    Our Father
    Hail Mary
    Glory to the Father
    Act of Contrition
    Simple responses at Mass
    Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
    Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
    Morning and evening prayer
    Grace at meals
    Spontaneous prayer
    Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
    Act of Faith
    Act of Love
    Stations of the Cross
    Sanctus
    Gloria

END of Grade Six