Resources on the Eucharist for 5th graders

[ABsitively]

Hi,

I am looking for some good resources for my 5th grade CCD class that explains the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. I gave them a test today and only one student got this answer right so I would like something that explained this to them on their level.

 

[farmbabe1]

I’m not sure that this is exactly what you need, but there’s what I did…A couple of weeks ago, I taught a lesson on the Eucharist to my CCD class. Before class, I set a table as if for a “celebration”…tablecloth, lit candles, beautiful china, decorations, soft music, baskets of small loaves of bread, a Bible placed on either end…I started out the lesson in a different room talking about the meaning of the word “Eucharist” (Thanksgiving) and had arranged beforehand for a student to knock on our door with an “invitation” to come to a celebration. Being all dorky and excited about the celebration, I had the kids make their way down the hall, stopped to wash hands and then were met at the big room with two other students as greeters (“Welcome to our party!” Thanks for coming!"). The students sat down at the table and we started talking about what they had seen/heard/noticed at our celebration. Then, acting dumb, I asked, “Where else do we see these things? Candles, water, music, decorations, people greeting us, etc.” and luckily, the kids got it - then, equated the Liturgy of the Word with the stories we hear at family gatherings and then I started on the Liturgy of the Eucharist…I read the story of the Last Supper (Luke 22: 14-20), emphasizing the “This IS my body” part. He didn’t say, “This REPRESENTS my body”, but “This IS my body.” I then read to them John 6: 35 “I am the bread of life…” - making the connection between sharing bread as in the Last Supper and the fact the Jesus IS the “bread”. Followed that with more in John 6, verses 53 - 56 (Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life). I kept returning to the connection between Jesus and bread and that we must take the body of Christ (under the appearance of bread) in order to be spiritually nourished, just as we need food to be physically nourished. I also talked about our belief in transubstantiation being a mystery and a miracle…that we don’t have to actually “see” something with our eyes to believe it’s really there. (Do we have to “see” the wind to know it’s there?) I got really excited as I was teaching this lesson and I’m sure that the students think I’m a huge dork, but if it plants the seed in them for believing, I’m okay with that!

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

 

[kage_ar]

What cirriculum is approved for use in your Diocise? (Your DRE should have the list). Knowing what you are using will help…

I’ve taught 5th Grade CCD from Faith First (past) and Faith and Life (using this now for the second year). Our 5th grade year focuses on “The Apostle’s Creed”, with one chapter on each of the sacrements. Perhaps check the cirriculium your parish is using for 2nd grade and adapt that up for the 5th graders? With 1st Communion Prep, 2nd Grade texts would have detailed teaching on the Eucharist.

 

[puzzleannie]

the 5th grade text in most RE programs is about sacraments, and if the textbook series you are using does not teach the Real Presence and the fullness of the Eucharist properly it is time to change textbooks. there are also excellent videos that may help. I was There-the Mass is one good one, from EWTN. Even better is working step by step through the parts of the Mass–have them bring in the missals they received as 1st communion gifts and probably have not used since then. Your DRE probably has a set of “props” you can use. Also take them into the church for Adoration from time to time, explaining what you are doing, why, how to behave etc.

 

[ABsitively]

Thank you so much for your responses!

I definitely did read them John 6 and reemphasized the real presence in the Eucharist. The series we are using Christ our Life series which I find to be pretty good. We had just begun to touch upon the Eucharist before the test so I am worried that I may not have put enough emphasis on it.

The resources I was thinking of were books, pamphlets or videos geared toward this age group. i remember seeing a book about this the year after my son received his first Communion. I wish I had picked it up then. It discussed the Last Supper, the early Church and Eucharistic miracles. I would love to find this book again but I don’t know what it was called.

So something like that.

Also, I like the idea that farmgirl had of having the celebration and comparing it to the Eucharist. However, we are not allowed to give any food because of allergies so i think it may fall flat.

The reason I was surprised by their answers was because they have all received First Communion and I would have thought they would have learned this then. Oh well, we can always refresh our memories.

 

[puzzleannie]

your textbook publisher, Loyola, who produces Christ our Life has an on-line resource for catechists with a lot of great stuff, ask your DRE how to access.

 

[kage_ar]

To follow on what puzzleannie said above, checking with your DRE is always a good idea. I’ve been teaching CCD for 3 years now, and we have a hard and fast rule - if we want to use a resource that is is not our text, the Bible or the CCC, it must be approved by the DRE before use.