Hi! I am new....and looking for a little help

[Sheri500]

Hello!

Just looking for a little help in my search for information on the Sacraments. I am a Catechist…and am taking on teaching the fifth grade class this year…we are studying the Sacraments and would like to take a different approach to teaching were the kids actually enjoy religion class and participate in it. Most of the information I have is geared more to adults which I am going to use as information to send home to their parents for their knowledge…but I want something fresh and jazzy without falling off the accurate path if you know what I mean. And if it can be in English that fifth graders understand…well that is an important thing. Thanks for all your help!

Any leads to great websites would be welcomed! Thanks again!

God Bless!

 

[dhgray]

GOD BLESS YOU.
I cut my CCD Teaching teeth on the 5th grade. (I had only been a Catholic about a year. - God’s sense of humor).

Have fun. Show, really show, Jesus in the Sacraments.

 

[anthony81OR]

Hello there,

   I don't know about teaching 5th graders but, how about this? Ask for your priest or the person who's in charge of religious classes for some advice. Maybe a game just to start things off. Just go with the flow. Always pray about it because, God has made you a teacher, he has other great plans for you. He trusts you in teaching these great young 5th graders. Always start with a prayer before and after teaching a class. Let them know about the sacraments. Start with the sacrament of Baptism. Let them know how God make us his children. Tell them that, God has made us his special beings by baptizing us. Also tell them that, without baptism, we would not know of how God's love for us is so infinite. Anyway, that's my 411, or at least, that's the best I could do. Take care and I know you'll do great. I will pray for you.
                                                           Anthony

 

[parishminister]

Greetings and welcome!

The best way to teach the sacraments (and liturgy) in my experience is to let the young people experience the sacraments! Use the rites to “teach” and check with your pastor to see if there will be opportunities for your class to witness all of the sacraments in action! This might take a little creative scheduling on your part (marriages on saturdays, baptisms on sundays, field trip for holy orders)… have them participate in all Triduum services, particularly the Easter vigil. Go to Mass as a group, incorporate Lectionary-based resources into your curriculum.

Try to develop fun ways to get the message across: using old magazines to cut out pictures and make a collage about each sacrament…do a sacrament scavenger hunt…develop a game like sacrament bingo,
concentration, or jeopardy. Have them compete with the 6th graders (who learned it the year before), like an It’s Academic type game…

Hope this helps, let us know how your ministry is going!
And as a DRE, thank you for answering His call to the catechetical ministry!

God bless you!

Peace…

 

[jordan]

Sheri500:

Just looking for a little help in my search for information on the Sacraments. I am a Catechist…and am taking on teaching the fifth grade class this year…we are studying the Sacraments and would like to take a different approach to teaching were the kids actually enjoy religion class and participate in it.

Any leads to great websites would be welcomed! Thanks again!

Sheri:

This may help:

catecheticalresources.com/Teacher_Resources.htm

jordan

 

[asquared]

thank you for sharing your faith with these kids, this is real evangelization. you are a blessing. Check out your DRE’s office, storage closet and parish library, there are probably a lot of resources, books, games, crafts, skits, etc. that can help you, that nobody knows about. Poke around and see what you can find. Number one tip with 5th graders, they must be with their friends, they will not come in a room if they don’t know anybody. Spend time building community and a welcoming environment.

Most important for a catechist teaching the sacraments is to live the Eucharist, and live in the Eucharist, from which all the sacraments derive their essence. Spend time everyday with Jesus in front of the Blessed Sacrament, even if you can’t get to daily Mass. At least try to find time for a weekly holy hour outside of Mass. Check www.masstimes.com for list of adoration chapels near you if your church is closed.

You cannot just teach head knowledge and doctrine, to be convincing you must be convinced. Let Jesus be your master catechist.

 

[stbruno]

Something that works really well at our parish, is provide a church tour, include the sacristy, the choir loft, the confessionals, you name it…the basement…the kids then appreciate all the facets of just the building. Include the shrines in and around, and discuss the windows if they are stained, the names of the altar vessels. You may have to do some homework. But it also is a great way to recruit altar servers.

 

[Faustina]

You might want to have them act out the Sacraments. For example, when John the Baptist baptizes Jesus.

 

[Gratias_Grace]

Sheri500:

Just looking for a little help in my search for information on the Sacraments. I am a Catechist…and am taking on teaching the fifth grade class this year…

Here are a few links, May be not what you requested, but hopefully they can be of some help for creative thinking:

catholicism.about.com/od/parenting/a/helpholychil04.htm

worship.ca/docs/godkids2.html

catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Homiletic/2000-8-9/taphorn.html

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (Mat 18:3-5).

God Bless!

G.G.

 

[Toni]

A few ideas I am using are felt banners, the second through 5th grade are working on conscience cards for confession to help them with examining their own conscience, having our priest talk to them. We will do a baptism wall with all their baptism pictures. Hope that helps.