Creed & Prayer

Chapter 1
In this chapter, the children learn about our innate search for God. Use the collage making activity below to help the children recognize where they find God in their lives.

Click here to download "Finding God"

Chapter 2
In this chapter, the children learn about the Bible. Use the activity below to introduce them to the variety of translations of the Bible.

Click here to download "Comparing Translations of the Bible"

Chapter 3
In this chapter, the children learn about the scripture story, the Man Born Blind. Use the activity below to discuss with the children how they can help others see with the eyes of faith.

Click here to download "Taking a Trust Walk"

Chapter 4
In this chapter, the children learn about God, the Creator. Use the activity below to help the children compare the two creation stories in Genesis.

Click here to download "Comparing Creation Stories"

Chapter 5
In this chapter, you introduce the children to both the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed. Using the Nicene Creed, have the children solve creed puzzles.

Click here to download "Making Creed Puzzles"

Chapter 6
In this chapter, the children read and reflect on the story of the Transfiguration. You might like to lead the whole group through a guided meditation on this story. Follow the directions below.

Click here to download "Leading a Guided Meditation on Matthew 17:1-13"

Chapter 7
In this chapter, the children learn about Christian symbols. Invite the children to make their own Christian symbols.

Click here to download "Making Christian Symbols"

Chapter 8
In this chapter, the children read about prophets. Follow the directions below to encourage the children to speak as prophets.

Click here to download "Making Prophetic Speeches"

Chapter 9
In this chapter, the children learn about Jesus' passion and death. This is an appropriate time to help them become more familiar with the Stations of the Cross. Follow the directions below.

Click here to download "Praying the Stations with Teens"

Chapter 10
In this chapter, the children learn about the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. This is an appropriate time to help the children become more familiar with all four gospel accounts of the resurrection. Follow the directions for the activity below.

Click here to download "Gospel Accounts of the Resurrection"

Chapter 11
In this chapter, the children learn about the resurrection stories. To help the children become more familiar with these stories, invite them to act them out. Follow the directions below.

Click here to download "Acting Out the Appearance Stories"

Chapter 12
In this chapter, the children learned about the Holy Spirit. Have the children follow the directions for the activity below to further develop their understanding of the Spirit.

Click here to download "Writing Cinquain Poems about the Spirit"

Chapter 13
In this chapter, the children learn about the Church as the new People of God. On page 160, they learn about the vocation of lay people. This is an appropriate time to invite a few lay ministers to share with the children about their ministry experiences.

Click here to download "Holding a Lay Ministry Panel"

Chapter 14
In this chapter, the children learn about the Church as the Body of Christ. To help the children understand this image, make Body of Christ jigsaw puzzles. Follow the directions below.

Click here to download "Making Body of Christ Jigsaw Puzzles"

Chapter 15
In this chapter the children learn about Paul. On page 278 of the guide, they read about Paul's conversion. This is a very exciting story for children and it makes a great play. Follow the directions below and give the children the opportunity to make up a role-play of Paul's conversion.

Click here to download "Dramatizing Paul's Conversion"

Chapter 16
In this chapter, the children learn about the communion of saints. They learn that the communion of saints includes both those who are living among us as well as those who have died. To encourage the children to see themselves, each other, and people they know as saints, invite them to interview a living saint.

Click here to download "Interviewing Living Saints"

Chapter 17
In this chapter, the children learn about psalms. On page 313 of the Guide, the children read about three types of psalms. Follow the directions below to have the children write their own psalms.

Click here to download "Writing Psalms"

Chapter 18
In this chapter, the children learn about the importance of prayer. They come to understand that prayer is talking with God. Follow the directions below to have the children perform skits about people of the Bible and their conversations with God.

Click here to download "Preparing Skits"

Chapter 19
In this chapter, the children read about the importance of music in communal prayer. This is an appropriate time to invite a music minister from your parish to talk with the children about music ministry. Follow the suggestions below.

Click here to download "Inviting a Guest"

Chapter 20
In this chapter, the children read about the difference between needs and wants. Follow the directions below to help the children name the needs and wants in their own lives.

Click here to download "Recognizing Needs and Wants"

Chapter 21
The student text introduces the Council of Nicene to the children on page 259. Follow the directions below to make creed puzzles that will help the children become more familiar with the Nicene Creed.

Click here to download "Making Creed Puzzles"

Chapter 22
In this chapter, the children learn bout the National Council of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference (NCCB/USCC). Follow the directions below to have the children write to their local bishop.

Click here to download "Writing to the Bishop"

Chapter 23
On page 410 of the your guide there is a picture of a fresco that was painted by an Italian artist, Taddeo Zucarro. You and the children can view a number of frescoes on the Vatican web site at www.vatican.va. Go to "Special Focus: The Sistine Chapel." Next, go to "The Frescoes of the Life Cycle of Moses and Christ." Follow the directions below to help the children understand both the importance of art in our religious history and the significance of understanding the historical context of religious art.

Click here to download "Reflecting on Religious Art"

Chapter 24
Page 426 of your guide suggests inviting a guest to talk to the children about the changes that have evolved from Vatican II. Since so many changes came about, consider setting up a panel so that the children will hear even more stories. Follow the directions below.

Click here to download "Setting Up a Vatican II Panel"