level 3: grades 3 & 4 Living and Growing in Lent

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1 Background Notes for Teacher Reflection and Preparation STRAND VALUES AND PURPOSES ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS. CHURCH: Body of Christ, Community of Disciples, Witness to Unity Being a person of mission Participating in the liturgical and sacramental life of the faith community Growing as a creative and spiritual person Students are given the opportunity to discover ways to use their gifts and talents to serve others during Lent as a preparation for Easter. Students will explore the Church s traditions of Lent and how these practices, rituals and symbols help Christians to grow in their service of others. Strand Core Doctrinal Concepts Catechism Reference Jesus Christ 1. Jesus is the Son of God and shows us the way God wants us to live. 561 Church Scripture 1. The Church celebrates Jesus life, death and resurrection in the many feasts and seasons of the liturgical year. 1. The Scriptures are intended to make us think about and reflect on our lives. 2. The Gospels teach us about the life and love of Jesus. 1. In our prayer and worship we listen to the Scriptures , , 2654 Christian Life 1. Jesus invites us to follow his teachings and example. 520 Christian Prayer 1. People celebrate and pray together at different times and in different ways. 1. God s faithfulness and goodness are recalled and celebrated in many ways throughout the liturgical seasons. 2660, 2691, ,

2 LINKING WITH OTHER RESOURCE BANKS Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Growing Through Prayer in Lent Holy Week and Easter How Do We Prepare for Easter? Lent: The Call To Change The Risen Christ 2 STUDENT CONTEXT From Kindergarten, students have gradually become increasingly familiar with the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. They have already participated in various class and school liturgies and prayer services celebrating aspects of the paschal mystery. Some students may have celebrated the Easter Vigil with their families. Although their ability to understand different levels of meaning is developing it is important to remember that some students are still very literal in their thinking. Students may have experienced a sense of loss in their lives. They may have experienced the death of a pet, relative, family friend or even a member of the class or school community. They may have some relatives or friends who may have moved to another country or state and may feel the loss of their presence in their lives. THEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND FOR TEACHERS The name of the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, comes from the old custom of blessing ashes and marking the forehead of the people with ashes on this day. The ashes are prepared by burning palms from the preceding Palm Sunday. The idea comes from the Old Testament times, when mourners or penitents clothed themselves in sackcloth and sprinkled their hands and faces with dust or ashes. As a season Lent was originally a period of preparation for Easter baptism. During this time of instruction the catechumens fasted and prayed. The climax came in an all-night vigil of Easter Evening with Baptism and Confirmation and the celebration of Christ s Resurrection. The duration of Lent has varied greatly during the Church s history. Lent now begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for forty days. The forty weekdays of Lent represent the period that Jesus spent in the wilderness during his temptation. During Lent we are called to confront ourselves honestly, to remind ourselves as humans we are fragile and that we are not the source of our own salvation. To receive the blessing and liberation that God constantly offers us, we need to accept our human condition with the humility and trust of Jesus in the desert. Thus Lent s liturgical colour, purple, symbolises awareness of sin and readiness of conversion. Today, less emphasis is placed on fasting and more on penance involving prayer and charitable works. Holy Week begins on Passion Sunday (6th Sunday in Lent) and comprises the last seven days before Easter. On this Sunday, the Passion, that is the story of Jesus suffering is read. The Gospel includes the agony in Gethsemane, the betrayal and arrest, the hearings before the high priest and Herod, the trial under Pontius Pilate, the scourging and mocking of Jesus by the soldiers, carrying the cross to Calvary, and the execution and death of Jesus.

3 3 The Last Supper on Holy Thursday evening was a special meal. Whether originally a Passover meal or perhaps a farewell meal, it was celebrated with a view to the coming of the Kingdom of God. By giving the bread and wine as his flesh and blood, Jesus gave his disciples a share in the power of his death to make atonement and to establish a new Covenant. The Good Friday liturgy recalls the death of the suffering messiah. The celebration of the Passion in the afternoon at about three o clock has remained substantially unchanged for more than a thousand years. The Liturgy of the Word includes the reading of the Passion (from the Gospel of John) and the General Intercessions. This is followed by the adoration of the Cross, and the celebration concludes with Holy Communion. The Easter Vigil is the high point of the liturgical year. The three ceremonies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil form the Easter Triduum and are to be seen together as one liturgical celebration. Eastertide includes the whole period of fifty days starting with the Easter Vigil and concluding at Pentecost. It commemorates Jesus Resurrection, the Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Christian faith in Christ s death and resurrection gives a rich meaning to the experiences of our life. Our faith provides the lens through which we view creation and human experience. That lens is the person, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. At every Mass the community of believers commemorates and celebrates Jesus Passover from death to new life. The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ s Passover, the making present and the sacramental offering of his unique sacrifice, in the liturgy of the Church which is his Body. In all the Eucharistic prayers we find after the words of institution a prayer called the anamnesis or memorial (CCC #1362), for example Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life, this new life is above all justification that reinstates us in God s grace, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (CCC #654) SCRIPTURE Matthew 25: The Parable of the Talents The kingdom is also like what happened when a man went away and put his three servants in charge of all he owned. 15The man knew what each servant could do. So he handed five thousand coins to the first servant, two thousand to the second, and one thousand to the third. Then he left the country. As soon as the man had gone, the servant with the five thousand coins used them to earn five thousand more. The servant who had two thousand coins did the same with his money and earned two thousand more. But the servant with one thousand coins dug a hole and hid his master s money in the ground. Some time later the master of those servants returned. He called them in and asked what they had done with his money. The servant who had been given five thousand coins brought them in with the five thousand that he had earned. He said, Sir, you gave me five thousand coins, and I have earned five thousand more. Wonderful! his master replied. You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness! Next, the servant who had been given two thousand coins came in and said, Sir, you gave me two thousand coins, and I have earned two thousand more. Wonderful! his master replied. You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness! The servant who had been given one thousand coins then came in and said, Sir, I know that you are hard to get along with. You harvest what you don t plant and gather crops where you haven t scattered seed. I was frightened and went out and hid your money in the ground. Here is every single coin! The master of the servant told him, You are lazy and good-for-nothing! You know that I harvest what I don t plant and gather crops where I haven t scattered seed. You could have at least put my money in the bank, so that I could have earned interest on it. Then the master said, Now your money will be taken away and given to the servant with ten thousand coins! Everyone who has something will be given more, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken from those who don t have anything. In Lent the Church encourages people to practise almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Theses next three Scripture passages outline these for us.

4 4 Matthew 6: 1-4 Giving When you do good deeds, don t try to show off. If you do, you won t get a reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to the poor, don t blow a loud horn. That s what show-offs do in the meeting places and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward. When you give to the poor, don t let anyone know about it. Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you. Matthew 6: 5-15 Prayer When you pray, don t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you. When you pray, don t talk on and on as people do who don t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask. You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name. Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven. Give us our food for today. Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil. If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6: Worshipping God by going without eating When you go without eating, don t try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward. Instead, comb your hair and wash your face. Then others won t know that you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you. John 13:5-9 - Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing. But when he came to Simon Peter, that disciple asked, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus answered, You don t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand. You will never wash my feet! Peter replied. If I don t wash you, Jesus told him, you don t really belong to me. Peter said, Lord, don t wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head. Planning a Learning Sequence Level Focus The Liturgy of the Church expresses our loving relationship with God and helps Christians live like Jesus. Overarching Goal Example: That students will understand the Church s Lenten practices. Focus Question Example: What does the Church do during Lent to help people to live and grow as followers of Jesus? Understanding Goals Jesus life shows that he willingly shared the gift of himself in many ways. Jesus gave an example of service at the last Supper by washing the feet of the disciples. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and is a preparation time for Easter. In Lent the Church encourages prayer and sharing generously with others.

5 5 Possible Indicators of Learning Demonstrated when students, 1. Articulate their understanding of events in Jesus life that show his generosity and love. 2. Show the significance of the season of Lent within the Church s liturgical year. 3. Name the traditional Lenten practices that encourage Christians to serve others. 4. Demonstrate an understanding of the Church s traditional Lenten practices of fasting, almsgiving and prayer. Suggested Assessment Tasks Make a liturgical calendar highlighting the season of Lent. Name the traditional Lenten practices of fasting, giving to those in need and making sacrifices. Match possible activities associated with these. (Blackline Master 5.3a: To Know, Worship and Love Teaching Companion, Level 3b) Make class zig-zag books relating to Lenten practices. On the front cover label them In Lent we Pray... In Lent we fast...in Lent we give to those in need... Inside let the students create a picture or write about the different ways we can practice these during Lent. Create a Lenten tree in the classroom. Find a bare tree. Allow students to put a leaf on anonymously ever time they do something for Lent. Watch the tree grow by acts of service during Lent. (To Know, Worship and Love Teaching Companion, Level 3b, p.76) Suggested Learning and Teaching Experiences Focussing Activity: View the video The Selfish Giant or read the book. Consider the journey of Lent and discuss attitudes and behaviours that stand in the way of our becoming more loving people. Learning Activities: Introduce a liturgical calendar and find the Season of Lent. Ask students to identify the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday. In groups design and create their own calendar of the Liturgical year. Refer to Expressions 2 (Maurice Ryan 2003 p. 64) Lent and Easter and work through suggested teaching and Learning activities e.g. Lenten Calendar, Holy Week Diary etc. Prepare students to celebrate Ash Wednesday by discussing the ashes and their meaning. Outline and explain the traditional Lenten practices of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Brainstorm some actions that might demonstrate these. Categorise them and encourage students to choose some to practice during Lent. Students learn and sing Mangan, M. Out of Ashes and Turn Back To God, from Renew and Rejoice Participate in the Ash Wednesday school celebration. Refer to Mangan, M., Renew and Rejoice: Prayer, Celebration and Resource Book, p6. Read the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-29) what is Jesus telling us about our talents and what we should do with them? View Monica Brown video Frozen statues groups of students portray a section of the parable as it is re-read by the teacher. Students collect newspaper clippings and magazine stories that illustrate people reaching out and serving others in the community. Using the digital camera create a photo gallery with appropriate text depicting scenes in the playground of people using the giftedness in the service of others. Cut out a gift tag for each student. Ask them to write their name on one side of the tag and one special talent or service they will offer someone during the week. Working in groups, students complete posters that express how they can use their gifts to reach out to others in friendship and service during Lent. Retell the story of the Passover from the Book of Exodus (Ex 13:1-28). Lead the students to understand that the Passover is a spring festival in which the Jewish people remember the love of God. Students list the instructions that the people were given. Explore the symbolism eg blood on the doorposts, unleavened bread etc. Read John 13: 5-9 Jesus washes the disciples feet. Hot Seat activity. Students have a couple of minutes to write down a question and then proceed to interview the person in the Hot Seat, for example How did you feel when..., Why did you... (Teaching Strategies Book p**) Explore the concept of Jesus as the model of service. Make links between Jesus words we remember at the Consecration This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19) and the sacrifice he would make by giving his life for others. After reading John 13: 5-9 students form Liquid Pictures or perform an Echo Prayer (Wintour, R. 2002, Just imagine 2 pp ) to deepen their understanding of Jesus actions.

6 Resources Highly Recommended Archdiocese of Melbourne (2003) To Know Worship and Love, 2nd Ed. Years 2 & 4 Books Chapter 5, Melbourne: James Goold House. Ryan, M. (2001) Teaching the Bible: A manual of teaching activities, commentary and blackline masters. Tuggerah, NSW: Social Science Press. Ryan, M. (2003). Expressions: A religion series for Catholic primary schools. Tuggerah, NSW : Social Science Press. Wintour, R. (1998). Sacred celebrations: Liturgies for children. Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises. Wintour, R. (1999). Sacred celebrations for Lent. Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises. Wintour, R. (2000). Just Imagine: Creative ways of presenting Scripture. Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises. Wintour, R. (2002). Just imagine 2: More creative ways of presenting scripture. Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises. White D, O Brien, K, & Todd S (2003) Into the deep: Rich teaching strategies for the religious education classroom. Marayong, NSW: KD Publications Community Resources Parish Priest 6 Teacher Resources Bahr, M.(2000). If Nathan were here. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans; Biffi, I. (1997). The Way of the Cross: Holy Week, the Stations of the Cross and the Resurrection. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans. Brown, J., Gibbs, E., Rees, E. & Travers, N. (1997). The family celebrates Easter. Great Wakering, Essex: McCrimmon s. Cotter, T. (1994). Christ is risen: Celebrating Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Cincinnati, Ohio: St Anthony Messenger Press. Currie, N. & Thomson, J. (1992). Seasons, saints and sticky tape: Ideas and activities for celebrating Christian festivals. London: National Society / Church House Publishing. Freeman, E. (1979). The Holy Week book. San Jose, Calif.: Resources Publications. Gardner, J., & Leonard, C. (2000). The road to Easter: An action packed Lent and Easter activity programme for 5-10s. Oxford: Bible Reading Fellowship. Hari, A. & Singer, C. (1993). Experience Jesus today: Understanding the Gospel. Strasbourg: Editions Du Signe Hunt, J. (1996). Holy bells and wonderful smells: Year-round activities for classrooms and families. Cincinnati, Ohio: St Anthony s Messenger Press. Kelemen, J. (1987). Lent is for children. Liguori, Mo.: Liguori Publications. Kielly, S. & Geraghty, S. (1996). Advent and Lent activities for children: Camels, carols, crosses and crowns. Mystic, Conn.: Twenty-Third Publications. Lewis, K. & McConnell, J. (1995). Seasons and sacraments. Lower primary: A complete set of blackline masters for Catholic primary schools. Melbourne: Innovative Curriculum Support Material. Lewis, K. & McConnell, J. (1996). Seasons and sacraments. Middle primary: A complete set of blackline masters for Catholic primary schools. Melbourne: Innovative Curriculum Support Material. Lewis, K. & McConnell, J. (1996). Seasons and sacraments. Senior primary: A complete set of blackline masters for Catholic primary schools. Melbourne: Innovative Curriculum Support Material. Mathson, P. (1995). Seasons of celebrations: Prayers, plays and projects for the church year. Notre Dame, Ind.: Ave Maria. Wintour, R. (1998). Sacred celebrations: Liturgies for children. Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises. Wintour, R. (1999). Sacred celebrations for Lent. Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises. Wintour, R. (2000). Just imagine: Creative ways of presenting scripture. Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises.moved Wintour, R. (2002). Just imagine 2: More creative ways of presenting scripture. Brisbane: Mountjoy Enterprises. moved Yenne, B. (1994). The story of the first Easter. Nashville Tenn.: Nelson.

7 Student Resources Batchelor, M. (1994). The Lion Book of Children s Prayer. Oxford: Lion. Lucado, M. (1997). You are special. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway. McCallen, A. J. (1991). Praise! London: Harper Collins Religious Publications. McCallen, A. J. (1991). Listen! London: Harper Collins Religious Publications. Sauvain, P. (1997). Easter. Hove, UK: Wayland. Taylor, V. (2002). Religious events and celebrations. Port Melbourne, Vic: Echidna Books. 7 Literature Alex, M & Benny, A. (1983). Grandpa & me. London : Lion. Ganeri, A. (2003). Big book of Easter. London: Evans Bros. Hartman, B. & Jonke, T. (2000). The Easter angels. Oxford: Lion. Miller, C. (1998). My Lord and my God: Thomas incredible account of Jesus resurrection. Colorado Springs: Chariot Victor. Parker, V. (2000). The resurrection of Jesus and other New Testament stories. London: Lorenz. Wangerin, W. & Ladwig, T. (2000). Peter s first Easter. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. Wild, M. & Vivas, J. (1989). The very best of friends. Sydney: Margaret Hamilton. Wildsmith, B. (1993). The Easter story. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Music Brown, M. (Composer). (1991). Emmaus song [Compact disc]. In Praise and blessings. Thornleigh: Emmaus Productions. Mangan, M. (Composer). (1993). Children of the light [Cassette recording]. In Renew and rejoice. Albany Creek: Litmus Publications. Mangan, M. (Composer). (1993). Song for change [Cassette recording]. In Renew and rejoice. Albany Creek: Litmus Publications. Mangan, M. (Composer). (1993). Turn back to God [Cassette recording]. In Renew and rejoice. Albany Creek: Litmus Publications. Audio-visual/video Resources NOT ALL FILMS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE - may have to hire from video outlet Barbera, J. & Hanna, W. (Producers). (1980). Charlotte s Web [Video tape]. Melbourne: Video Classics Catholic Audio-Visual Centre. (1996). Grandpa and Jimmy & The dragonfly [Video tape]. Leichhardt, NSW: Producer. Ikonographics. (1998). Meals of Jesus [Video tape]. Croton-on-Hudson: Producer. Lucado, M. (Producer). (2000). You are special: The animated story [Video tape]. St Louis Obispo, Calif.: Impact. Twenty-Third Publications. (n.d.). The fig tree [Video tape]. Mystic, Conn.: Producer. Wilde, O (Writer). (1967). The selfish giant. [Video tape]. Mystic, Conn.: Twenty-Third. World Wide Web / Internet Liturgy; Liturgy Planning NRSV Prayer; Lord Teach us to Pray The Vatican: Includes a detailed index for the Catechism of the Catholic Church Treasures, New and Old