8 Things to Help You Participate in Mass Handout

Help Children Focus on the Mass with Eight Easy Reminders
This printable sheet is a very easy way to help build a better understanding of the Mass through preparation and participation for this most important event. The eight simple reminders presented are applicable for Catholics of all ages, although they have been written especially for children.

This is a solid teaching tool for first-time communicants and a great review sheet for those who may find it a bit challenging to remain focused during the Holy Mass.

Five New Montessori Faith Card Sets

5 New Catholic Montessori Card Sets help bring more meaning to the Holy Mass and the Catholic Faith to young hearts.

As the learning year begins to wind down for my CCD class and we really begin preparing for the reception of their first sacraments, I really try to incorporate many different ways of reviewing the core lessons of the year.  Some ways that I have found to easily accomplish this task is to use game playing or hands-on learning tasks.  Although I have not yet created the second set of matching games for the classroom yet, I have decided to use Montessori Cards for class use as well as to give families the opportunity to print out their own sets for home use and review.

You will find that I have updated the Montessori Faith cards to now include eight sets of Catholic Montessori cards which feature all kinds of different church articles and furnishings, parts of the church, Sacred vessels and other sacramentals.  Some of the older sets have been updated to include bigger fonts, full and proper terms, and clearer pictures.  These can prove to be very useful including:

• Pulling cards from a pile and having children tell as much as they can about the picture.
• Asking questions and having the children find the proper card to answer your request.  Examples of this include:  Which things would the priest use during Mass?  Which things can be found in the every church?  What things does the congregation use?  and so forth.
• Assigning each child a card and allow them to use their book or other source to find out as much as they can about the picture on the front.
• Divide the cards out into groups to match the number of children and then have the groups of children try and stump each other by asking questions to describe the card they are holding in their hand.
• Create a fish bowl style of all cards on the floor.  While seated on the floor in a  circle have the children discuss their favourite cards.  Be sure to prompt with the questions:  What is it?  Why do you like it?  What purpose does it serve in our church or Faith?
• Print out two sets to play Go Fish and Concentration style games.

Click HERE to see our Montessori Faith card collection now.

I hope that you find these cards useful in your little homeschool or CCD classroom.

Blessings,

Kalei - That Resource Team

Special F3 Folder for Catechism Lessons

Fun F3 Folders help solidify learning and keep things organized.

Some of you have decided to join me for my weekly Catechism Lessons or would like to do these activities in your own CCD classroom or homeschool.  I have previously made reference to my special F3 Folder that I use each year. Today I share with you my unique and fun approach to goal oriented learning, tracking student progress and lesson planning all in one.

I start off with the most important 25 concepts that I intend to cover for the year.  Planned on a 35 week year it takes into account Christmas and spring breaks, snow days, and the flexibility to spend an extra week here and there covering topics that need reviewing.  I generally do not give tests but rather do most all assessments with assignments, activities, and game play.

Using a two page system, I grid out 25 squares.  I put each of the topics we will cover in a square on the page.  I allow one week per topic knowing that a few topics will take a few classes to cover.  These squares represent the topics covered not necessarily recalled to perfection.  For example, we have the whole year to memorize the Ten Commandments in order but I will spend one night specifically on how the Ten Commandments are the basis for the examination of our conscience. I place a wonderful picture as the grid background of Jesus and the children with the topics still visible.  Download this two page (grey scale & colour) resource Here.

I trim the grid to fit the F3 folder.  I then glue a grey scale version of the grid on the front of the folder.  As we cover different topics, I give a coloured piece of the grid to the children to affix in their F3 Folder (See pic. above).  At a glance, I can tell who has been in class when and who has covered what material.  The children love seeing the colour picture unfold and it makes a great little keepsake at the end of the year.



I also include a few other things in my binder to start the year off in the right direction.  They include Prayers I Should Know and More Prayers I Should Know which can be found here on our resource site.  I place them in clear plastic page protectors so that they are durable. 

I also give out Mass Journal sheets and I require one a month to be turned in after children attend weekly Mass.  They can be printed out and hole punched and put in folders or they can be cut and glued onto and into an F3 Folder.  I have used both ways successfully before.  You can see both versions of my Mass Journal Notebooking Sheets or even other notebooking sheets perfect for a learning journal here.  In the past I have also required Learning Journals in years where attendance has been a problem.  Thankfully it is not all that often. :)

I hope this helps or inspires your learning year in some small way.

Blessings,

Kalei - That Resource Team

Feel free to contact me via our website if you have questions.

CCD Lessons - Church Tour and Sacramentals Resources For Fun and Learning



Side Altar Honouring our Blessed Mother

Get to know God, by learning about His house and Mass tools.

As I kick off a new CCD teaching/learning year, I thought that I would take you along on our weekly journey.  I will share lessons, resources, and ideas as much as I can in the hopes of helping other catechists or parents who choose to prepare their children for the sacrament of Reconciliation and First Eucharist outside a formal parish program.  As our CCD program meets weekly for 75 minutes, we are limited in what we can accomplish with the children.  Once a month we meet in the church instead of our classrooms for special prayer time and presentations.  For October we will be having our annual church tour.

The church tour is very special for the children as each class not only goes through the church building itself, including all the nooks and crannies, but they also get a special tour of preparation for Mass including in introduction to vestments, a bit of church history, a chance to touch the Chalice, altar linens, and thurible, smells the oils and incense, examine the tabernacle, learn the history of our church relics and so much more.  It is such a wonderful evening and one of my favourite nights of the year.

To help my children stay a bit focused, I made a fun and simple Mass Tour worksheet that I attach to a clipboard and have them take on the tour.  I put a medium sized pencil on a string and tie it onto the clipboard as well.  As we go around the church, the children fill out the sheet.  Our sacristan, who presents all of the information for the Sanctuary and serving tools, teaches to the sheet which is very helpful.  Children are allowed to ask questions and many oooohhs and aaahhs are always heard.

From every class period then on, I use the following resources to keep the tour information fresh in their hearts and minds.  Of course I always encourage Mass attendance to see how each of the tools is directly related and used to celebrate our Catholic Faith.

Church Tools and Article Games can be printed here in both colour and b/w.  These use pictures of articles directly from our parish.  These are great for class play and review.  I have used these for years and once laminated they can be used year after year.  I prefer to use 3mil, heat laminated covers for these game pieces.  Parents may even want to make sets for home use.  It is hands on, Montessori style learning that ALWAYS brings smiles and fun.  parents can learn lots from playing these games with their children too.  To play, simply mix up and match word to picture in concentration or go fish style, call out words and have class teams find the picture.  You may set up a few matches with one that contains an incorrect pair as an alternative method of play as well.  Sometimes teams will try and trick each other too.  Kids will come up with great ways to play games if you are just open minded.



Some pictures used in our matching games are also available as Montessori sets here.  They are easy enough for families to make at home or teachers to print off for children to use in class activities.  You will also find other sets for Catholic instruction including Sacramentals, Stations of the Cross, and more.  Using heavier bond paper or laminating plain paper adds to the longevity and durability of the cards, especially if you have a larger class.

  

Sacramental Themed Calendar pieces



Reinforce church articles using our specially themed over sized monthly wall calendar.  Create the board, laminate the pieces and use mack-tack or even Velcro for ease.  Once this project is laminated, it could be used month after month, year after year.  I like to use the 5mil, heat laminated style products for this project.  See this and other themed calendars here.  These are always a hit with children. 



Another nice thing I use is a beautiful little video we made this past year using pictures of our church and music from a gifted musician from our parish named Keith Philips.  He wrote the song and lyrics to this song inspired by the work of Blessed Mother Theresa.  It is just perfect for children.  You can learn more about Keith here and listen to his entire album at no cost.  The video is great to reinforce different parts of the church and sacramentals found in it. 



 

If you have never considered having a church tour as part of your CCD year, I highly recommend it.  If you already do one, consider continuing the learning for review and fun using some of the resources mentioned above.  Have a blessed learning year.

Feel free to contact me with questions or comments via our website here.

Blessings,

Kalei - That Resource Team