Introduction
This is the grade 3-4 session of a program designed to provide the L.I.F.E. program for
parishes and schools that are unable to assure the presence of the children’s parents.
The original lesson plan of the Learning about L.I.F.E. program is adjusted so that the
catechist/teacher presents the non-sensitive material in the regular classroom setting and the
parents receive a packet of material that guides them in teaching at home the sensitive
material on sexuality and sex abuse.
An optional feedback form is also sent to the parents, with instructions to return it to the
classroom teacher.
Session Overview
The teacher introduces the concept of Respect, and helps the children to see that just as
children are taught to respect adults, so adults are supposed to respect children.
The concept of Abuse is then presented as the opposite of respect. The children are told that
there are three types of abuse, and that these will be explained to them by their parents when
they get home. (The handout Types of Abuse, is included in the take-home packet with
directions for the parents.)
Because bullying is a kind of abuse that children of this age are familiar with, the teacher
guides the children in a discussion about bullying. The session ends with a prayer.
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Goals
The Goals of the LIFE Classroom program are:
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To establish the importance of respect for one’s self and respect for others
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To introduce the children to the concept of abuse, and help them to understand
various ways that a child can be abused.
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To help children understand that bullying is a kind of abuse.
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To give parents the materials needed to review the lesson taught in class and to
discuss the other sensitive concepts with their children.
Materials
The materials required for the session are:
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Equipment to display a PowerPoint presentation.
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Cards (8 1/2 x 11) with the letters that spell RESPECT
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Materials for RESPECT teeter-totter
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Half sheets for Feedback activity
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Large envelopes (9x12) for Parent Packets
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Preparations
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Arrange to have one adult leader for every 4 or 5 children.
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Copy the Lesson Plan; study it thoroughly; prepare to teach it in your own words.
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Download the Activity Sheets; use these to duplicate handouts as designated.
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Provide a small table in front of the children. Provide chairs that can be moved to the
front and later put in small groups.
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Download the PowerPoint.
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Create a set of cards, 8 1/2 x 11, that spell the word RESPECT, putting one letter on
each card.
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Create the RESPECT teeter-totter.
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Cut a strip of poster foam board 20” x 3”.
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Fulcrum: Cut a second piece 12” x 3”. Score at 4” and 8”. Fold and tape to create
a triangle.
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Prepare words. Duplicate on card stock: LOVE MYSELF, LOVE OTHERS, AS,
RESPECT.
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Lesson Plan
A. Opening -- Respect Activity
Gather the children in the front of the room. Place the seven letters that spell RESPECT
upside down in a line in front of them. Ask for seven volunteers to be cheerleaders. The
cheerleaders will stand facing the class, one child behind each letter. Gather the cheerleaders
in a little huddle and quietly give them these instructions. “Squat down behind your letter.
When I call out it out, jump up and raise the letter above your head. Stay standing till all the
letters are called.”
Stand to the side of the cheerleaders and call out (cheerleader style): “Give me an R.”
Everyone calls out “R” and the cheerleader jumps up and holds up the letter. Repeat with
each letter. (Two children will stand when you call for the E.) Then call: “What does it
spell?” All call: RESPECT! Repeat: “What does it spell?” RESPECT!
Thank the cheerleaders and have them rejoin the group. Ask the following questions, having
several children answer each question.
How do children show respect to their parents?
How do children show disrespect to their parents?
How do children show respect to teachers? disrespect?
--to their brothers and sisters?
--to their friends? to classmates? to kids they don’t like?
Then say:
Children aren’t the only ones who are supposed to be respectful. God also wants adults to
show respect to children. (Dialogue with the children using questions like those below.)
How do parents show respect to their children? disrespect?
How do teachers show respect to children? disrespect?
How do store owners and salespersons show respect? disrespect?
Because every person in the world is a child of God, God wants us to show respect to all of
his people.
How do adults and children show respect to the elderly?
--to people in the shopping mall?
--to people at the movies?
--to people in church?
--to handicapped people?
--to people who have bad scars or disfigurement?
--to people who do favors for us?
B. The Great Commandments
Put a small table in front of the class, with the teaching charts needed below and the materials
for building the teeter-totter. Ask the children if anyone knows the two Great
Commandments. (Show Great Commandments on PowerPoint and call on anyone who can
recite the First.)
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DISPLAY the First Great Commandment (PowerPoint) and read it together.
Then DISPLAY the Second Commandment and say:
Today we are going to talk about the Second Great Commandment: “You shall love your
neighbor as you love yourself.” In some ways the smallest word in this commandment is the
most important. The little word “as” reminds us that God wants us to love others and to love
ourselves, and he wants us to keep a BALANCE between the two loves. The Second Great
Commandment is like a teeter-totter. (Create the teeter-totter on the table in front of the
children. Balance the words LOVE MYSELF and LOVE OTHERS on each end. Put the
word AS in front of the fulcrum.) The foundation of the balance between loving myself and
loving others is what we have been calling RESPECT. (Cover the AS with the word
RESPECT.)
Divide the children into small groups of 4 or 5, with one adult in each group.
Say: What does it mean to respect someone? When we respect someone, we tell them with
our words and actions and tone of voice: (show PowerPoint as you speak)
I care about you. I appreciate who you are and what you do.
I listen to you and want to know what you are thinking.
I pay attention to you. I look at you and let you know I care.
I understand you and know how you feel.
I want what is best for you (even when I don’t do exactly what you want.)
Say: Children, your parents are always showing respect to you in all of these ways. Pick one
of the ways and tell your group leader when your parents show that kind of respect to you.
(Allow time)
Now tell your leader how you are learning to show respect to your parents in some of these
ways. (Allow time)
Say: Children, RESPECT is one of the big life lessons that your parents are always trying to
teach you. (Read from the PowerPoint) Learning about respect means:
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Knowing how to respect others (parents, other adults, brothers and sisters, friends,
other children)
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Knowing how to respect yourself
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Knowing what to do if someone doesn’t respect you.
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C. Adults with special Respect Roles
Say: There are some very important adults who have a special responsibility to make sure
that children are respected, and to protect children who might not be respected. Tell your
group leader who some of these special adults are.
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PARENTS
RELATIVES
TEACHERS
POLICEMEN
DOCTORS
PRIESTS and SISTERS
ALL ADULTS
After the children have responded, show the answers on the PowerPoint. Name each one and
ask the children to raise their hands if they mentioned that person to their leader.
Say:
Unfortunately, there are some adults who do not respect and protect children. Some adults do
mean and harmful things to children. This kind of serious disrespect shown to a child is
called abuse. (Show PowerPoint) There are three different ways children may be abused by
adults: physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. Because it is so important that
each of you knows about abuse, and knows what to do if you or someone you know is being
abused, we are sending a special lesson home (show the take-home packet) that asks your
parents to talk to you about the three kinds of abuse.
Today we will learn the three big rules that tell us what to do if an adult is trying to abuse
us in any way. Does anyone know the three rules? (Accept a few answers, then show the
PowerPoint and practice it with the children.)
SAY NO
GET AWAY
TELL SOMEONE YOU TRUST
(Keep telling until someone listens.)
D. Bullying
INVITE the children to come forward again and stand near you. Show the first bullying slide
and say:
Usually when we think of child abuse, we think of the bad things some adults do to
children. But sometimes a child upsets the balance between love of self and love of
others. (Show balance slide.) Sometimes children only think about ME and what I want.
They don’t care how their words or actions might hurt another child. What do we call that
kind of behavior? (Show BULLYING slide after the children give the answer). Bullying
is a word for the kind of abuse that some children do to other children. Children act like
bullies when they deliberately do mean things to other children. The child who is being
bullied is hurt, or frightened, or threatened by another child who is usually bigger, or
stronger, or smarter, or older than the child who is being bullied.
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I am going to read a list of some bullying and mean actions that children your age might do to
other children. Raise your hand if you ever see that happening in your school or
neighborhood. Raise your hand high if you see it often. (Demonstrate) Raise your hand low if
you only see it a few times. (Demonstrate) Do a thumbs-down sign if you never see it at all.
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A child pushes others out the way to be first in line.
A child tattles on someone just to get them in trouble.
Children laugh at someone who makes a mistake.
A group of children gang up on someone and beats them up.
Children say “you can’t play” to someone they don’t like.
Children make fun of how a child looks or what a child is wearing to school.
One child calls another child mean names like “sissy, chicken, baby.”
Children mimic or make fun of a child who has a bad speech defect or some
noticeable physical difference.
One child purposely trips another child.
One child won’t let another child have a fair turn at a game.
A child uses a cell phone or computer to send a mean text message to or about
another child.
Now SIT BACK DOWN with your group leaders and talk to them about bullying. (show
slide)
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What does it feel like to be bullied?
What if a child is being bullied every day, how would he/she feel?
What should a child do who is being bullied by someone?
What should you do if you see another child being bullied?
ALLOW TIME for the discussion, then say:
Children, now I am going to ask you a very serious question: Do you ever act like a
bully? You know that God, your parents, and your teachers want you to treat other
children with respect and kindness, but do you ever do or say mean and hurtful things
to others? I’m going to read the list of bullying actions again. This time I am asking
you to do something hard – to think about whether you ever do this kind of bullying.
Close your eyes. Remember that Jesus is living in your heart right now. As I read the
list, in your mind tell Jesus if you do this often, sometimes, or not at all. (Read the list
above, saying “Do you ever push…” , “Do you ever tattle…” etc.)
Close the bullying session with this PRAYER. Say:
Let’s take a moment now to talk to Jesus in our hearts about the meanness and
bullying that is present in our lives and in the lives of other children. Children, close
your eyes, fold your hands, and pray in your hearts the words that I will say out loud:
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Dear Jesus, please forgive me for the times I have been mean to others. Teach me to
be kind and respectful to other children, even those who are not kind and respectful to
me. Please take special care of the children who always seem to be bullied and picked
on. Help the children who act like bullies to learn how to respect others and be kind to
them. Help all children to know that you love them and want them to learn how to
love others. Guide us all, adults and children, in helping you, dear Jesus, to make our
world a place where everyone feels safe and loved. Amen.
E. Feedback
Give each group leader a half-sheet of paper. Ask them to briefly record the children’s
answers to the following.
Say:
Children, think back over today’s lesson. What important things did you learn? Tell your
group leader something you learned about:
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respect
the Second Great Commandment
abuse
bullying
Jesus
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