Sunday, August 26, 2018 Age 8 / 3 rd Grade Welcome to PSR 21 st Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel Reading: John 6: 60-69 Provided for you (see below) Classroom Bins all supplies will be kept in these weekly. You will share your bin with the class before or after yours. Copy of First Day Lesson Plans Class Roster Class Attendance Sheet PSR Family Welcome letter Cardstock for desk nameplates God s Plan for Me worksheet Classroom Contract sheets LITURGICAL YEAR / FEAST DAYS CATHOLIC TRADITION Weekly readings and discussion: http://www.loyolapress.com/sundayconnection.htm FEAST DAYS & CELEBRATIONS August 23 St. Rose of Lima Learn more about the Saints: http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/b yname.asp Session Notes: Please read the session plan and timeline on the following pages. We will provide a printed version for you that will be in your catechist mailbox on the first day of class. This is a welcome session with introductions to the session routines. The Pflaum published curriculum will begin on September 30, 2018. You will receive your hard copy teaching materials for the period from September 23 rd to November 11 th this weekend.
Session Plan and Suggested Timeline for August 26, 2018 8:45am 9:00am / 10:30am 10:45am: Catechist check-in Before going to your classroom, please check your mailbox (a file folder container located on table in the hallway). The following materials will be in your mailbox: o Class roster - This will be a computer generated sheet with general parent information and any special information for each child. Please make sure you verify the parent s cell phone number that is the one they will answer if they need to be reached during PSR. Please also confirm any allergies (how severe these are) or special needs and any emergency procedures if needed. o Attendance Sheet Please have an adult catechist take attendance by writing a P next to the child s name if they are present and an A to mark child absent. These attendance sheets MUST be returned to your mailbox each week as we input these electronically every week. Coordinate with your co-teacher(s) and aides so you can take your own children to meet their teachers. 9:00am 9:15am / 10:45am 11:00am: Parents and children arrive in the classrooms Make sure each family receives a welcome letter that has our PSR schedule printed on the backside. Confirm that the child is on your roster. o If a child is not on your roster, please send the family to the coordinator table. o Please direct any parents who have not registered their children to Rosemary. Please do not make any promises on placing their child in your class. Kindly let them know that you cannot make any decisions on placement. Remind parents that there is no pick-up carpool. On Sundays, students can be dropped off at the back entrances of Blessed Trinity or walk in through the front 2 entrances at the main doors or near the chapel. However, parents will need to pick up their child in the classroom at the end of the session. The horseshoe at the front entrance of Blessed Trinity is closed to car traffic on Sundays. Remind parents that class will finish this week and every week at 10:15am / 12:00pm.
Lesson Plan for First Class 9:00 9:25 Welcome and Introduction Activity 10:45 11:10 Parents check rosters to verify contact & allergy information. They are then free to leave. Students arrive and create name cards (see instructions below) while catechists are going over important information with parents. We will also have an additional coloring page if the children complete their nametags quickly. Introductions: Using Construction Paper have the kids make tent card name plates. o Write their name in the middle of the card o Follow the template to draw or write in each corner: o Catechists introduce themselves to the children and tell them why they have chosen to be catechist this year. o Let the kids introduce themselves and what they have on their nameplate. They can also school. o Depending on time, you can continue the discussion by asking for : Ice cream flavor Movie character Movie Sports team Color 9:25 9:35 Classroom Rules 10:10 11:20 Classroom rules should be discussed as a group in class today. Brainstorm a few rules, an write them on the board. Have the children write these as well on their contract sheets. (See attached sheet) and have each student sign it. We will place these in a folder for you to display each week on the chalk rail.
9:35 9:50 Create and Introduce Prayer Table 11:20 11:35 It is important to have a prayer space present for the children at each class. Basic prayer table supplies will be included in your classroom supply bin. These will be shared between both PSR sessions. We ask that you take a moment to visit this website and watch the brief video about the importance of the prayer table: https://www.thereligionteacher.com/prayer-table-ideas/ The prayer table is the focal point of a classroom prayer space. It is a place where the Bible is given reverence, where children can interact, in a meaningful and positive way, with their faith. Each week, the children will have various tasks that help to set up the prayer table. Please wait until class begins to set up the prayer space in order to include the children in this activity. The purpose for this is to allow them to become accustomed to all the materials that belong in a prayer table and to their purpose. For this lesson, we suggest to start simply. There are wonderful items mentioned in the video and certainly can enhance the lessons to come. The following items listed below will be in your basic prayer table kits for PSR this year. As we move through the year we will have other items (saint cards, objects, sacramental, etc) that will help to support the focus of the lesson. As always please let us know if you would like anything additional on a regular basis for your table and we will be happy to provide it. BASIC PRAYER TABLE KIT Tablecloth When we have special meals in our home, we often use a tablecloth. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, an altar cloth adorns the altar. We will cover our prayer space with a tablecloth to identify it as a special place in our classroom where we offer reverence for our Lord. Liturgical Ribbons (Green, White, Red and Purple) These ribbons will signify the liturgical colors each Sunday ORDINARY TIME Green ADVENT & LENT Purple CHRISTMAS & EASTER White TRIDUUM & PENTECOST - Red Bible Given a place of honor on the table because it is the inspired Word of God. Candle electric tea light Light is the fitting symbol of God, the All Pure, the Source of all grace and enlightenment. It represents our Blessed Savior and His mission. Lighting the prayer table candle before prayer helps to settle students and create an atmosphere of sacredness and respect for prayer time. Crucifix This is a visual reminder of Jesus sacrifice for us. It is a sign of hope and salvation.
Rosary This is a visual sign of our devotion to prayer. We use the rosary to help us focus on the life of Jesus, through praying the Hail Mary and the Our Father Prayer Table Elements According to Season Different items will be added to our prayer spaces to reflect the different seasons as they come and go. When these items are added, a short explanation will be given to all catechists to use in their classes. Each week, your session will include a gathering at the prayer table. 9:50 9:55 Practice Fire Drill 11:40 11:40 Fire drill o Every year, each PSR class is required to have a fire drill. The evacuation route is posted in each classroom. Each class will conduct their own fire drill. Today would be a great day to familiarize your class with this route along with several other locations in the building like the bathrooms, chapel, entrances and exits. 9:55 10:15 Ordinary Time God s Plan for Us 11:40 12:00 Children can remain in seats Ask the children if they can recall some of the seasons in the church. Briefly allow discussion about the special seasons, then ask (if it has not already been brought up) about Ordinary Time (resource found on the following pages) o What is Ordinary Time o What is the purpose of Ordinary Time? o What do we hear in the Gospels about Ordinary Time? Ordinary Time allows us to think about God s Plan for Us in our everyday lives. We use the lessons he taught us in the parables about forgiveness and faith to help us each day. Time permitting, distribute the God s Plan for Me activity and allow the children time to complete. Ask for some children to share their thoughts. Gather around the prayer table for a simple closing prayer (See following pages). 10:15 End of Class 12:00 All children should be picked up by a parent before you leave your classroom today. Please put all class materials into the classroom bins and move the bins back to the location where you found them at the beginning of class. Make sure all trash is cleaned up and put in the classroom trash cans. All classroom furniture should be put back into the original locations before you leave. If you have any extra materials from class, please place those back in your mailbox at the coordinator s table along with the attendance sheet from your class.
Classroom Contract These are our goals: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Signature