Teaching 2nd graders Pro-Life

[NanaGigi]

I am preparing my 2nd grade CCD class for First Penance. Yesterday we discussed the Ten Commandments and what they mean. When discussing the 5th commandment I told them that killing babies before they were born was a grievous sin against the 5th commandment. I wanted to use the word “abortion” but was careful not to. Some asked how the babies were killed. I said we were not going to go into that. (I just wanted to plant the seed early - that killing babies in the womb is mortally sinful). I was wearing my “feet” pin and told them the feet were the size of a 10 week old baby in the womb.

My question is this - is there a really good way to speak to 2nd graders on this subject? (Especially when you don’t know what they have heard in the home!). I did ask them first if anyone had ever heard the term “pro-life” and none had. I was going to give them all a “feet” pin but decided I would rather put it in the envelope where they receive their First Penance certificate - that way they will have their parents with them to read the information on the pin card.

So, any ideas on how to teach this?

Gigi

 

[Dr.Colossus]

One thing I’ve discovered is that, unless indoctrinated by pro-choice propaganda, children innately know that abortion is wrong. They innately know that children are alive and human while still in the womb. Just reinforce that idea. If you want to explain a little more about abortion, perhaps say something like “Well, some people and doctors think that a baby isn’t really alive until it’s been born, and so they think it’s ok to kill them. It’s really very sad, and they need our prayers.”

 

[space_ghost]

NanaGigi:

I am preparing my 2nd grade CCD class for First Penance. Yesterday we discussed the Ten Commandments and what they mean. When discussing the 5th commandment I told them that killing babies before they were born was a grievous sin against the 5th commandment. I wanted to use the word “abortion” but was careful not to. Some asked how the babies were killed. I said we were not going to go into that. (I just wanted to plant the seed early - that killing babies in the womb is mortally sinful). I was wearing my “feet” pin and told them the feet were the size of a 10 week old baby in the womb.

My question is this - is there a really good way to speak to 2nd graders on this subject? (Especially when you don’t know what they have heard in the home!). I did ask them first if anyone had ever heard the term “pro-life” and none had. I was going to give them all a “feet” pin but decided I would rather put it in the envelope where they receive their First Penance certificate - that way they will have their parents with them to read the information on the pin card.

So, any ideas on how to teach this?

Gigi

just curious… did you discuss adultrey, that parents divorcing one and remarying another without declaration of Nulity, that they are guilty of a most grevious sin?

 

[TheKid]

space ghost:

just curious… did you discuss adultrey, that parents divorcing one and remarying another without declaration of Nulity, that they are guilty of a most grevious sin?

Even though 2nd graders may understand a lot I don think they can really comprehend adultry, catholic annulments,( a lot of adult catholics have a hard time with that one)

When teaching 2nd graders teach them at an age appropriate level. 2nd graders need to concentrate on obeying mom and dad.

Let’s be reasonable!

 

[NanaGigi]

“When teaching 2nd graders teach them at an age appropriate level. 2nd graders need to concentrate on obeying mom and dad.”

Yes, I agree with this. I do not teach “adultry.” I teach them the 6th commandment means they must be pure in thought and deed and we talk about movies and TV they should not watch and how they must respect their bodies.

I was concerned about how others teach this to 7 year olds because they asked me questions about how the babies are killed in the womb and I didn’t think it was correct for me to talk about that. I don’t want to take too much license - I just wanted to firmly plant the seed in their little skulls full of mush that killing babies before they are born is a grievous sin against the 5th commandment!

And, yes, I agree that they instinctively know this is wrong - it’s the natural law!

Thanks to all of you for your comments.

Gigi

 

[midlandchemic]

When I taught CCD, I used to teach about Cardinal Bernadin and the idea of a “Seamless Garment of Human Life”. You can teach them that God gives life to all human beings and no one has the right to take it away for any reason. You can tell them about how parents have a duty to their children, from the day they’re conceived, to be the best parents they can be…and how we’ve got a duty to people with disabilities and who are too old or disabled to take care of themselves. Remind them that feeding and caring for people who need help is what Jesus had in mind in the Book of Matthew when He says that whatever we do to the least of our brothers, we do also unto Him.

Finally, I used to use Fr. Jabusch’s beautiful song “Whatsoever you do” for them to understand all the times in our lives that we are asked to care for other people and to respect the lives of people who can’t defend themselves.