4th Grade Curriculum

Focus

The focus of the fourth grade religion program will be to integrate the existing curriculum and to incorporate the study of a centered prayer life and character education.   The following paragraphs describe the seven points that will be studied this year.

I. Revelation

Grade Four students learn about revelation through a study of the story of creation and through the parables and life of Jesus. They learn that we are created in God’s image and that life is precious. Students develop an appreciation for God's revelation in Church tradition, e.g.: the sacraments, rituals, prayer, and the liturgical seasons. God's self revelation is seen in the lives and stories of Mary and the "saints," ordinary persons who grew in freedom, understanding and love.

II. History of Salvation

Salvation is discussed in Grade Four as God’s gift to all humankind. All creation is interdependent and humanity is the summit of all creation. God's covenant relationship with the Hebrew people is introduced and Jesus' relationship with God the Father is explored. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are also discussed, and students learn to define faith as grace and a gift of God. Students identify sin as an obstacle to salvation, and a refusal to love God, self, others, and the environment. They recognize the need for reconciliation not only for themselves, but within the greater community.

III. Jesus

Students at this level identify Jesus as the One whose whole earthly life most fully reveals who God is. Students learn the mission and identity of Jesus, and key events in His life, e.g., the Christmas mystery, the baptism of Jesus as the beginning of His public life and ministry, the calling of the disciples, the Last Supper, His suffering and death, and the story of the Resurrection. Students discuss the meaning of Jesus' parables and their purpose, learn to define miracles as signs worked by Jesus that reveal God's love and power at work, and that love is alive in our world today.

IV. Church

At this level, students are given a basic understanding of the meaning and mission of the Church. They explore the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church, identify images of the Church, and recall important events in Church history. They learn about the Catholic church's relationship to other churches and other faith traditions we share here at The Summit. Students learn that the Church is all the people of God, called to proclaim the "good news" of Jesus to everyone. The role of school, parish, and local and world communities is examined and students learn about the necessity for Christ-like respect for all people, regardless of belief.

V. Sacraments

Students recall the basic sacramental facts and learn the symbols and rites of sacraments how they effect their lives. They learn to describe the sacraments as signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church. Students develop the ability to plan and participate in sacramental celebrations. They learn that sacramental symbols are a way of communicating spiritual realities through physical signs.

VI. Prayer/Worship

Students learn to appreciate prayer as essential to Christian life, and explore the different forms of prayer. They define prayer as a way of deepening their relationship with God. They examine the meaning of liturgical gestures, and learn the songs, prayers, and common responses of the assembly at Mass. Students participate in spontaneous prayer experiences and learn to plan a prayer around a specific theme. They acquire the skills to begin to choose music and prayers for the Eucharistic Liturgy (the Mass). They are able to describe the relationship between the seasons of the Liturgical Year and the four seasons.

VII. Life in Christ

Students study Christian morality and learn the norms of good Christian behavior. Students learn the importance of developing a sense of personal integrity, and explore Christian vocations and stewardship. Students are taught to appreciate the social dimension of Christian life - service to others and love of neighbor. They learn that God's invitation to life calls for a free response, making good moral decisions, and selecting priorities while clarifying one's values. Students identify the "Beatitudes," "God's Law of Love," and "The Ten Commandments" as the norms for good Christian behavior. Students are taught to expresses awe and gratitude to God for life, to demonstrates an attitude of humility and patience with one's own and others' weaknesses, and to understand oneself and others as persons accountable for choices and their consequences. Students learn to describes stewardship as: caring for and sharing one's time, talents, money, possessions, etc., making the best use of God's gifts in creation, and being Christ for others in our everyday lives.

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