1st Grade Week 2: Chapter 2- God’s Gifts for Us
Catechist Preparation:
Unit: Revelation
Alive in Christ Catechist edition - Chapter 2: God’s Gift for Us Catechist Edition pp. 57A-66
Bible Verses: Psalm 8:2
Genesis 1:11-31
Genesis 1:6-25
Prepare prayer-table cloth with Shepherd & choose a sheep-related scripture verse for your theme.
Objectives
 God the Father is the Creator. He created the world & everything in it to show His love.
 Everything God made is good.
 The greatest gift God gave to us is His Son, Jesus.
 Understand that thanksgiving is showing God we are grateful for all He has given us.
Catholic Faith
Words:
Son of God,
Jesus, praise
Lesson Plan: Sheep for Prayer cloth, Creation, Parable of the Lost Sheep
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth” sheet
Welcome
Invite
Prayer Space
Discover
Song of Praise:
Open the Eyes
of My Heart,
Lord
Live
The Lord’s Prayer Or Let Us Pray p. 57
God’s Word Genesis 1:11-31
What Do You Wonder?
A name is an important gift that is given to a person by his or her family.
Play a name game.
Have the children move out of the prayer space and back to their seats.
Opening Prayer: Invite the children to stand with you in your Gathering Space. Each student will create
their own unique sheep for the class prayer table cloth.
Materials provided: sheep with matching name tag, bells on ribbon, flowers & bows, glue
The objective is for each student to be able to recognize their sheep from all the other sheep.
Allow the students to get started as they arrive, but break when it is time to begin class and let them
know they will have time to finish their sheep in a few minutes. Lead them in the sign of the cross,
making each movement distinctly and saying each word clearly.
With hands folded have them repeat the Lord’s Prayer after you say each line.
Have children complete their sheep, letting them know that they are creating something unique,
because God made each of them. Remind the children that they should be able to recognize their sheep
and pick it out from all the others and that it will go on the class prayer cloth.
While they work on their sheep, read the parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14), Luke 15:3-10.
Explain that a parable is a story Jesus told to teach something about God.
Play The Lost Sheep Game.
Show the children a box with a bow (put a picture of Jesus or a small crucifix inside before class). Ask
“What is God’s greatest gift to us?” Ask children to guess what is in the box. After they have guessed,
open the box and show them what is inside. Repeat several times: “We praise God in thanksgiving for
all he has given us, especially his son, Jesus.”
Jesus, is God’s greatest gift. Ask your students, one at a time, “Who made you?” Let them realize that
the answer for each of them is, “God made me.” Tell your students,
When God created the world and people, He said, "It is good!"
Read to the children about Saint Nicholas. Give each child a coin to remind them of the gifts he gave. If
time, have children tell about a favorite gift they received.
People of Faith
Sending Forth Closing Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer- same technique as with opening prayer to reinforce learning.
Materials: Green = provided by CRE / Blue = on website / Purple = Optional, catechists provide
Opening prayer:
Invite the children to stand with you in your Gathering Space. Lead them in the sign of the
cross, making each movement distinctly and saying each word clearly:
Everyone hold up your right hand- check that it is their right hand.
Have them follow your motionsIn the name of the Father (I touch my forehead)
And of the Son (I touch my heart)
And of the Holy (I reach all the way “across” & touch my shoulder)
Spirit (I touch my other shoulder)
Amen (I bring my hands together, fingers pointing up to Heaven)…
Prayer Option 1: The Lord’s Prayer- repeat the Lord’s Prayer after you say each line Echo chant
(A teacher leads the prayer, one phrase at a time in different tones, volumes and speeds and
the children echo the phrases & tone of voice)
Prayer Option 2: Read aloud the Psalm verse from a Bible. Prompt the children’s response.
Suggested Name -learning Game
Say your name and “do something” (so the twist, clap your hands, jump 3 times, or a
combination of motions) then instruct the entire class to say, “Hello (your name)” & repeat the
motion, too. Go around the room so each student and teacher has a turn, no repeats on
motions. Or - a game of your choice.
Creation Activity SuggestionsRead the first words of Genesis and the story of creation or summarize it for them. Choose
activities to reinforce the reading.
 What has God given us? Take a walk around the room, or go outside, and find things
God has made. Write them down or draw a picture.
 Read the story a second time, asking the children to raise their hands every time they
hear the name of one of God's gifts.
 Using the Creation Coloring sheet: Ask them to point to the pictures on their activity
sheet that correlates to each of the days as you read through the story. - OR  Put the large format pictures on the chalk tray in random order and have the students
arrange them in correct order as you read the story.
 Play a game with them. Tell them that you will point to your eyes, ears, or hands. They
should think of something good they can experience in God's world through that sense.
For example, as you point to your eyes, a child may say: "clouds."
Emphasize that the whole world and everything in it is God's gift to us. Describe ways people
use God’s gifts in the world to make things we need. All of creation is God’s gift to us.
The Lost Sheep Game
Read the parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14), Luke 15:3-10 {I prefer Luke}.
Talk about what happened in the story. I am big on reading from the bible whenever possible
to help the children understand that all these stories are in it.
Collect each of the students’ sheep. Explain that they are to cover their eyes (put their heads
down- whatever) & the teachers will hide the sheep in the classroom. The sheep will not be in
any cupboards or closets or under any of the draped classroom equipment. Once all the sheep
are “lost,” the children will be told it is time to go and find their lost sheep.
“When you find your own sheep and only your own sheep (I know mine and mine know me),
you are to carry it back to the Gathering Space and celebrate (jump up & down and cheer).
Then quietly sit down with your sheep and watch your classmates find their own sheep.”
Inevitably, there will be a last searching child. At this time, the teacher will instruct the other
“shepherds” to leave “the other 99” (their own) sheep on the carpet and go in search of the
last, “lost sheep.” When the last sheep is found, all the shepherds rejoice.
This game is actually best if played a second time.