eguidebook

eguidebook
NOVEMBER
Classroom Teachers
grades 4-5
Find your lesson to send home
the “Love the Church”
Mission Pack!
Find your lesson to teach the
virtue of Love for the Church
in the classroom!
Bulletin Board Ideas, Holy Hero
of the month, and more!
Find the latest
information from K4J!
MISSION OF THE MONTH:
Love the Church!
K4J VIRTUE:
Love for the Church!
WE LOVE THE CHURCH WHEN WE DO OUR PART!
All contents copyright © Creative Catholics 2012
Nihil Obstat: Rev. Theodore R. Book, S.L.L. 16 July, 2009 Imprimatur: † Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, S.L.D., Archbishop of Atlanta, 17 July, 2009
The Nihil obstat and Imprimatur are a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free from doctrinal or moral error. It is not
implied that those who have granted the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
NOVEMBER “LOVE THE CHURCH” MISSION
Objectives:
• Teach the kids about the November virtue, “Love for the Church.”
• Teach how to do the November “Love the Church” Mission of the Month to be lived within the family at home.
• Motivate the kids to tell their parents about the “Love the Church” Mission and how they will live it at home.
• Help the children develop a sense of pride in their parish.
Ready...
Say...…
You will need:
No matter what country you are from or what language
you speak, we celebrate the same Mass and live and
teach the same faith in the Catholic Church.
• November Apostles Send-It-Home packs
• Copy of Mr. Tabernacle & Lamplighter
• Religious objects: prayer books, a picture of the Pope, medals, holy water, holy
cards, World Youth Day materials... (It
would be great if any of these items are
from different countries and/or show different languages)
• CD player and the November K4J Mission
song, “I Love Jesus’ Church!”
Show the kids the picture of Mr. Tabernacle and Lamplighter. Tell them: There is a tabernacle in every Catholic
church around the world. Jesus in the Eucharist lives
in the tabernacle. It is the same Jesus that walked the
earth over 2000 years ago!
We also all have the same leader, the pope. His name
is Pope Benedict XVI. He is our spiritual father. We are
the Church -- we are one family! Give examples of the
unity in the Church: we have the same sacraments, sacramentals, liturgy, Mass, Catechism, etc.
Try to make a visit to the church and
point out the picture of the Holy
Father at the entrance to the church.
Lead the kids to the tabernacle.
Have them kneel and say a prayer to
Jesus in the Eucharist.
Go K4J!
1. Explain this month’s “Love the Church” Mission of the Month. Show the kids what
it says on the November Mission clip-on card, and explain that they can practice
LOVE FOR THE CHURCH in many ways. They can ask their parents for an extra way to
serve their families at home to earn money for the collection at Mass, and fill a K4J
offertory envelope to put in the basket each Sunday. If the kids “choose to accept
this mission,” have them sign their mission cards!
NOVEMBER “LOVE THE CHURCH” MISSION
Ct’d
2. “Do My Part” Relay: Have the kids line up in teams of six. Place a broom, dust rag, Bible, musical
instrument, apron and bowl with spoon to cook and can of food at the front of the room. Put a collection
basket in another place in the room. Show the kids each item and ask them how they could do their part
to help the Church by using them. Play the November Mission song, I Love Jesus’ Church. As the music
plays, have the first person on the team run, pick up an item and use it to role play “doing my part to help
the Church” (sweeping, dusting, collecting food...) while running to the other side of the room and back.
Once the child has “done their part,” they may grab a K4J Buck (tape them to a wall or stack them on a table) and run and put it in the collection basket. The team with all their bucks in the collection basket WINS!
3. Play “I Love Jesus’ Church” again and do the hand motions to the song.
I Love Jesus’ Church!
November Mission Song
I love Jesus’ Church, (Look up while pointing to self with thumb, then point to
various people)
When I do my part. (Pretend you are raking or any other chore)
I love Jesus’ Church, (Look up while pointing to self with thumb, then point to
various people)
With my body, soul, mind and heart! (Point both thumbs toward self, cross arms
in front, point to head, then point to heart.)
4. Ask the kids to give the Parents’ Perspective letter to their parents. At the end of the month ask them:
How did they live their mission well? Parents can also sign their kids up for K4J Family and complete the
Mission of the Month online! (www.k4jfamily.com)
NOVEMBER “LOVE THE CHURCH” MISSION
Objectives:
Ready...…
• If you have not done so
already, name your classroom
K4J Team (i.e. Mission-Booster
Apostles; Electric Apostles; Mission
Sparkers; Ever-Ready Rockets, etc.)
• Make a copy of the pattern,
Mr. Tabernacle & Lamplighter
TEACH TEAMWORK!
• Teach Teamwork: When we do our part, we can lead others to
do their BEST.
• Motivate the kids to live the virtue of “Love for the Church” by
doing their part for the others in class.
• We can visit Jesus in the Eucharist. He will help us LEAD OTHERS
TO BE THEIR BEST!
In the section Motivate 101,
the “St. Lawrence, Guardian
of the Treasure of the Church”
story teaches that the Church
is God’s beloved family. The
Church is God’s team!
Say...…
We know that God has a plan for each of us to do something BIG to show our love for the Church.
This is not just for adults, this is for you too and we have to start now. We can go to Jesus in the
Eucharist and ask him what we can do to work together for him.
Tell the kids the story of St. Lawrence. St. Lawrence loved the Church by doing his part to treasure
the poor. He helped others see that everyone is a welcome member of God’s family, the Church,
and that if each one is invited to do their part, together we can do BIG things. Even though it
happened hundreds of years ago, we still tell the story about the poor walking with St. Lawrence
to the Governor and showing him that they were God’s true treasure in the Church. This took
real bravery. Their teamwork made a difference and is still remembered today.
I am going to divide you into teams so you can practice doing your part to “Make a Difference, for
Jesus!” If everyone does their part, you will have a winning team!
NOVEMBER “LOVE THE CHURCH” MISSION
CT’D
11
12
1
2
10
Go K4J!
9
3
8
4
a.m.
7
6
5
Say the Apostles’ Pledge & Morning Prayer.
Take time for class members to form one or two teams, and
allow the kids to come up with their own team names).
Let the kids make team posters. Say: We can make a
difference if we learn to work as a team -- for
Christ and the Church!
12
11
1
2
10
9
3
4
P.M.
8
7
6
5
Each time you need teamwork from the kids (you are about to start a project
or go to the lunchroom, etc.), remind the kids of the goals or the behavior you
would like to see. Say, “Remember that when you do your part, you help
everyone to be their best for Jesus.”
Teacher: Ready, [name of team]? DO YOUR PART! (Point to the kids & they say...)
11
12
Kids: MAKE A DIFFERENCE...
...FOR CHRIST & THE CHURCH! (Raise one fist in the air.)
1
2
10
9
3
4
P.M.
8
7
6
5
After your closing prayer, thank the kids for doing their part to work as a team!
Teacher to all teams: TEAMWORK MAKES A DIFFERENCE…
Kids: FOR CHRIST & THE CHURCH... (one fist in the air)
GO K-4-J! (clap on K-4-J)
NOVEMBER “LOVE THE CHURCH” MISSION
Captains Campaign
“Treasure of the Church” Campaign
November is a very special month in the Church. We celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. Jesus is the King
of the Church and we need to Love the Church. Dedicate this month to Love the Church by giving to the poor.
Choose a particular recipient of the money raised for the entire school, or each class may choose its own. The
Thanksgiving holiday also makes this a natural fit. Each class needs to come up with a way to raise money to
give to the poor. They can make something to sell, visit relatives and collect funds by making a presentation
about the people/organization you will serve through the funds. The class that raises the most money, wins.
(Remember… this can also be done as a can or used clothing drive.) Captains need to motivate the school by
announcing the totals each week and posting the class’s ideas and progress in a prominent place. Near the
Feast of Christ the King, have the Captains host a simple prayer service in the church and offer the material
good raised as gifts brought to Jesus to Love the Church.
Bulletin Board
Love the Church!
Cover half the board with gold paper and half the board with white. (Gold and white are the colors of the Vatican flag.) Post the picture of Pope Benedict XVI in the center. At the top of the board write, “Love the Church!”
Now put a map of the world on the board. Write these statistics on the board.
Statistics in the United States: United States Council of Catholic Bishops website: http://www.usccb.org/
about/bishops-and-dioceses/index.cfm
World Statistics: http://cara.georgetown.edu/CARAServices/requestedchurchstats.html
K4J Surprise!
“Clear your desks, kids. It is time for a K4J Surprise!” Sometime in the middle of the month, the teacher, a parent or K4J
Captain gives the kids a boost of motivation with a K4J Surprise.
Sistine Style
Imitate the experience of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Show the kids a picture of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Tell
the students how church leaders of the Renaissance hired artists and assigned them stories from the Bible to paint
in their churches. Assign or have the students choose well-known Bible stories to draw. Then tape paper to the undersides of tables, desks, or chairs, and have the children lie on their backs and paint (or draw) their story. Try using
colored chalk or oil pastels. Imagine what it would be like to paint that way for days or months!
One, Two, Three, Along the Streets of Rome! (played like Red Light, Green Light)
1. One player chosen to be “it” stands facing a wall.
2. All the other players stand in a line side by side, several paces behind “it.”
3. “It” says, “1-2-3- along the streets in Rome!”-- in Italian, please. (Uno, due, tre, per le vie di Roma!)
While “it” is chanting , the other players move toward him.
4. When “it” stops chanting, he turns quickly around to try to catch someone moving.
5. If he catches someone moving, this player will go back to the start, or become “it.”
NOVEMBER “LOVE THE CHURCH” MISSION
Papal Chain
Make paper chains with yellow and white construction paper. Gold and white are the colors of the
Vatican City flag. Explain to the team that a chain can be a symbol of unity. The Pope is the leader of the
Church on earth who helps unite Catholics (and all people) throughout the world. Decorate your classroom with the chains, or have the children take them home and hang them in their rooms to remind
them of the November virtue, Love for the Church! Find the story of the life of Pope Benedict XVI as a
child at http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/pope-benedict-xvi/index.cfm
Holy Hero
St. Lawrence, Guardian of the Treasure of the Church
Deacon Lawrence worked with the pope in Rome hundreds of years ago. Deacon Lawrence
loved the poor very much. He gave them everything he had.
A greedy Roman governor loved money and thought that the Church might be hiding a great
treasure, so he ordered Deacon Lawrence to bring it to him. Deacon Lawrence asked for three
days to collect it all.
Three days later Deacon Lawrence came before the
Roman governor with a great crowd of people –
all the poor, hungry, sick and suffering people he was
able to find. Deacon Lawrence said, “Here, sir, is the
great treasure of the Church!”
The Roman governor was furious and ordered Deacon
Lawrence to be taken away. He had wanted gold
and jewels, not poor people! Deacon Lawrence
LOVED the Church and he was not afraid. Jesus was
very pleased with Deacon Lawrence’s bravery and
love. Jesus welcomed Deacon Lawrence into
heaven where he was now...SAINT Lawrence!
Jesus, help me to love all people as the treasure of the Church!
NOVEMBER “LOVE THE CHURCH” MISSION
Scripture Scholars
“Father, those who will believe in me are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with
me...” (John 17:24a)
Have the kids draw a picture of themselves and paste it to a gift box with the scripture verse written on
it. Take the gift to your chapel and place it near the tabernacle. Have the kids sit down and read them the
scripture. Now say: Jesus thanked his Father for you. He said that you are a special gift to him and
that he likes to be near you. Jesus lives in the tabernacle. We are near him now. Place the gift below
the tabernacle. Have the kids sing a simple Eucharist song that they are familiar with. Remind them of
their mission to “Love the Church” and sing, I Love Jesus’ Church!
5th Grade Challenge!
Proud to be Catholic Radio/TV Newscast
The 5th graders have a chance to help everyone consider why they love their faith. K4J Apostle News
Reporters hit the “streets” of the school and ask participants to finish this statement: “I love my Catholic
Faith because...” and other types of questions such as: “Do you know the seven sacraments?” “Do you
have a favorite saint? Who? How do you try to imitate them?” Have the kids gather all the answers
and then put together a mini newscast announcing some of the responses they have received. They
can get creative. Will one reporter do a rap? Will one offer the Catholic report from Rome, another
interview historical figures such as St. Peter? Video tape your newscast and send to the various classes
or use the intercom to do your newscast on “Vatican Radio” on (Name your school “station”). However
you do it, send it to us at K4J. We would love to see or hear it! [email protected]
NOVEMBER “LOVE THE CHURCH” MISSION
November
Dear K4J Educators,
Some years ago I was in Denver for World Youth Day with Pope John Paul II. What an experience!
Every nationality was represented; every language could be heard. The excitement was like nothing I had ever experienced. We were all cheering and singing together when the Holy Father came
in by helicopter. It was during this experience that I felt for the first time that I was part of a universal
Church, a Church that encompasses the entire world.
Ever since I have tried to live that experience in my daily life. At each Eucharist I try to remember the
whole Church, since it is in the Eucharist that we are united. Christ teaches that each of us is an important part of his mystical body. St. Paul says that when one part of this body suffers, we all suffer. When
one member of this body rejoices, we all rejoice. We have to be aware of each other’s needs and serve
this body, the Church, accordingly. We are family.
The first way to teach children to love the Church is to help them appreciate and care for their own
families at home. They need to learn that what they do for the family really makes a difference. Next,
they learn that their good initiatives can have real effects on the whole world. Each time we help members take part in apostolic team projects, they better understand that the “family” also exists outside
their own homes. They reach out to others and bring their brothers and sisters the news that we are all
related by imitating the love Jesus has for them.
This month members practice one way to “do their part” to serve the Church through the “Love the
Church” Mission. Kids ask parents for an extra chore they can do for the family, and put money they
earn from doing it in the collection basket at Mass each week this month. As K4J Guides, let’s help kids
realize that home is the best place to first practice what Jesus will ask us to do to serve his Church in
the world!
In Christ,
Kathleen Conklin
Owner of K4J
K4J Unity Prayer
Jesus, thank you for calling me to your work in Catholic education.
Thank you for calling others to work with me.
Unite us in your will, Lord.
Let our prayers storm heaven with one voice.
Let our efforts be filled with your grace.
Let our school work as one.
Unite us in charity, Lord.
Help me look beyond my feelings and love those who criticize.
Help me forgive the moment I am hurt.
Help my words reflect your thoughts.
Unite us in our mission to serve these children, Lord.
Give us a love for souls.
Give us a zeal for souls.
Give us the gifts that attract souls to you.
Unite us in helping children hear your call, Lord.
Call the children of our school to a greater love for you.
I want to help them hear that call.
Call more young people to the priesthood and religious life.
I want to help them hear that call.
Call our kids to live the mission you’ve planned for each one.
I want to help them hear that call.
And when things get tough and I want to pretend you didn’t call me, call me again.
You are the reason my life is worth living.
Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for us! Amen.
Sistine Chapel
Amen
Give me the courage to live as
an apostle and do all I can to
bring others to you.
Help me obey my parents,
be a good friend to everyone
and forgive those who hurt me.
Let my words and all I do
remind others about you.
Thank you for being with
me and helping me
throughout the day.
Jesus, I offer you my whole self.
Morning Prayer
I will accomplish great things
for the Church
as an APOSTLE in K4J.
Mary will show me the way.
I’m a loyal and honest example.
I work to show others the way.
I use my gifts and talents
to serve in Jesus’ name.
I thank God for choosing me.
I can change the world
as an APOSTLE in K4J.
As a true Apostle of Jesus
I pray, love and serve each day.
Pledge
Mr. Tabernacle & Lamplighter