CHAPTER 1 – "I AM A CHILD OF GOD"
Most five-year-olds love school and all that it encompasses—their teacher, new friends and even homework! Tap into this enthusiasm and make this special time truly "special." Before the first day of school, set up a special area of your classroom as a "prayer corner." Have a small table covered with a colorful cloth. This table can hold your classroom Bible and any other objects, pictures or books that will remind the children of God's gift of creation or of the Holy Family.
On your first day of school, along with all the other things you want to remember, try to keep in mind the objective of this first chapter: taking care of someone or something is a sign that that person or thing is special to us.
Take the time to introduce your class to various centers in your classroom. Save the prayer corner till last and plan to pray your first group prayer in this area.
Click here to download "A Special Blessing"
CHAPTER 2 – "GOD GIVES ME FIVE SENSES"
Five-year-olds are born explorers and though some may be hesitant at first, they will love to feel, sniff, squeeze, examine and delve into everything. Helping your kindergartners to use their five senses to explore God's world will provide fun for them and for you.
Click here to download "Fun With My Senses"
CHAPTER 3 – "GOD GIVES US THE EARTH"
God has created everything in this world for us—the land, the water, the sun, the moon, and the stars. Children and the outdoors make a perfect match! If inclement weather or your geographic location makes outside play impossible, bring the outdoors to your classroom.
Click here to download "Great Gifts"
CHAPTER 4 – "GOD GIVES US ANIMALS AND PLANTS"
Teaching young children is so energizing. Five-year-olds are so creative and their imaginations are boundless. Tap into this God-given gift and let their spirits soar. Remind the children that God shows his love for us in many ways. This week we are celebrating the gift of animals and plants.
Click here to download "Fur, Leaves, and Petals"
CHAPTER 5 – "GOD CREATES ALL PEOPLE"
Young children (really, all of us) need to feel special and to feel like a part of something special. Show by your daily example that you accept and reverence each child. Even if your experience with a child the day before was not positive—today is a new day! Remember, God makes all people good.
Click here to download "You + Me = Us"
CHAPTER 6 – "GOD'S SPECIAL PROMISE"
As you go through the year and teach each Faith First chapter, you have the opportunity to carry into each week the previously taught lessons. It is so important to emphasize the importance of caring and respecting each other just as God loves and respects us. Remind your children daily that God always takes care of us.
Click here to download "Celebrate God's Promise"
CHAPTER 7 – "THE BIBLE TELL SU ABOUT GOD'S LOVE"
Most young children love to hear Bible stories from the Old Testament—how God created the world; Noah and his ark; David and Goliath; and the story of Moses. New Testament accounts of the Birth of Christ; Jesus and the children; and the various miracles of Jesus hold their attention as well.
Click here to download "Great Stories"
CHAPTER 8 – "MY FAMILY"
There are so many families represented in your classroom and just as many varieties! Each and every family of every imaginable configuration is special. It is important that children accept their family as special for them.
Click here to download "Families—All Gifts from God!"
CHAPTER 9 – "MY CHURCH FAMILY"
This chapter introduces the Church as our home in God's family. Just as Ernesto did in this week's story, your children may interpret this as having two families—a family at home (some may have "two home" families) and a Church family. Tap into this feeling of belonging and introduce the children to their role in the Church family. This will help the kindergartners to feel part of something special.
Click here to download "That's My Church!"
CHAPTER 10 – "JESUS LIVED IN A FAMILY"
All of us need to feel cared for—especially young children. Kindergarten-age children are deep thinkers. They ponder what they hear and what they think they hear.
For every child that you see before you who appears to come from a stable family, there are many more who don't. As the children share ways their family cares for them, it is important that we as educators point out ways that they are cared for but they may not notice. Then we can point out the people that God has given to them—grandparents, after school care providers, teachers...
Click here to download "When I Grow Up!"
CHAPTER 11 – "ZACCHAEUS LISTENS TO JESUS"
Jesus' visit to Zacchaeus' house taps into the children's love of visiting each other's homes. After sharing the story of Zacchaeus and discussing page 73 in your Faith First book with your class, help them to remember the key words and actions of the story.
Click here to download "A Special Visit"
CHAPTER 12 – "JESUS IS MY TEACHER"
As teachers we are in a position to be positive role models for our students. Very often we see ourselves—- our sense of humor, our walk, our way of doing things—- mirrored in our children. Jesus, the teacher, is truly our role model and his children look to us for all their answers.
Click here to download "Just Like Jesus"
CHAPTER 13 – "JESUS IS ALIVE"
The reality that Jesus is always with us and willing to help us is a fact that bears repetition. This activity will help to strengthen this truth.
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CHAPTER 14 – "JESUS BLESSES THE CHILDREN"
Wonderful things happen when children share a common bond. Knowing that we are all friends of Jesus is the best bond ever!
Click here to download "My Best Friend"
CHAPTER 15 – "WE BELONG TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH"
Jesus invites everyone to be his friends. Through Baptism we become special friends of Jesus and members of the Church. This lesson's activity will reinforce this belief.
Click here to download "A Special Family of Friends"
CHAPTER 16 – "THANK YOU, GOD!"
At Mass we celebrate in a special way and we say, "Thank you" to God. We can never say too many "thank yous" to God for all His gifts to us. Encourage the children to say, "Thank you, God" not just on Thanksgiving but everyday and especially at Mass.
Click here to download "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!"
CHAPTER 17 – "GOOD LISTENERS"
So many times we say to the children: "Listen." "Be good listeners." As you gather your class for today's activity, remind the children to listen—to listen to God speaking to us. It may be that you will hear God speak in a different way today.
Click here to download "Listen!"
CHAPTER 18 – "A VERY SPECIAL HELPER"
What a gift we have in the Holy Spirit—always there—always ready to listen—always ready to help us. As you review the objectives of Chapter 18, list the key words on the chalkboard. Use the Word Bank as your guide.
Click here to download "A Special Helper"
CHAPTER 19 – "WE MAKE CHOICES"
We all love to be affirmed. Children are no exception. They will do whatever it takes to get our attention. Let's focus on the good choices they make. This chapter's activity will also encourage the children to focus on good choices.
Click here to download "Good Choices"
CHAPTER 20 – "WE SHOW OUR LOVE FOR GOD"
We are busy people! And because we are busy our children are busy, too. We need quiet time and so do our children. This chapter's activity will encourage children to take special time to talk to God, not only at Mass, but also in their room.
Click here to download "Shh! I'm Talking to God"
CHAPTER 21 – "THE GOOD NEIGHBOR"
Children love to help. Sometimes it's easier to do the job yourself, but it's important to instill in the children that we all need each other. When children see us be "good neighbors" to them and to our colleagues, helping others will soon become part of their life, too. So, when clean up after free play seems overwhelming, view it as a teachable moment. "Katie, it looks as if you have more beads on the floor than in the basket. Let me help you." Before you know it others will also want to help Katie. "Thanks, Devin. It looks like Tyler needs help, too." Encourage your children to be "good neighbors" to all their classmates even when no one is watching!
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CHAPTER 22 – "WE LOVE OURSELVES"
Life is a gift from God. There are many ways that we can thank God for our lives. The best way is to take care of ourselves. Forming healthy habits is a great way to say, "Thank you, God—thank you for the gift of life."
This chapter's activity will help children to practice healthy habits and to keep track of all that they do that says, "Thank you God for making me."
Click here to download "Thanks for Me!"
CHAPTER 23 – "WE SHOW THAT WE FEEL SORRY"
We have all been hurt at one time or another and we have also caused others to have their feelings hurt. We want others to forgive us and we need to be able to forgive others. Knowing that God always knows how we feel and is ready to forgive us is a great comfort. This week's activity will review these concepts.
Click here to download "Forgiven and Loved!"
CHAPTER 24 – "JESUS TEACHES US TO PRAY: A BIBLE STORY"
We continue to model for the children that we can pray to God anytime and anywhere. Ours is a loving God who always listens to us. Guide the children to complete this chapter's activity.
Click here to download "My Father—Your Father—Our Father!"