New Resources to Help Children Learn About St. Patrick's Feast Day

New fun printable resources to help children learn about St. Patrick of Ireland.

Saint study is such a great way to study geography, history, facts of the Faith and so much more.  It is also a nice way to add spice to your learning day with some different fun but educational activities.  We are happy to share some brand new resources we have just created to help the kiddos learn all about St. Patrick of Ireland.  These colourful, fun printables are sure to appeal to even the most fickle learners as there is a nice selection of freebies from which to choose.  Here are just a few of the resources we have to share:

A new twelve page notebooking page set can be used by learners of all ages to help focus either on St. Patrick himself or his lesson on the Holy Trinity.  There are three different layouts and four line spacing options.

Our very popular printable saint trading card collection now includes this famous saint (pictured above).  As usual, there are four cards per page which make them perfect for individual, family, or classroom use.  And if you are looking for a game suitable for up to 15 people that includes St. Patrick, then download our Catholic Bingo game which teaches many basics of the Faith while having lots of fun.  This is a great game for a St. Patrick's Day party, if you are having one.

Looking for a quick mini-book to add to your project, current folder project or notebook?  Try our My Book Mini-book on St. Patrick complete with writing prompts.  You can also find a mini-book for the Holy Trinity both with and without writing prompts. 

  

And speaking of the Holy Trinity, don't forget our F3 lesson all about the Holy Trinity which we posted from our own CCD class earlier in the school year.  There is also quite a bit of other copywork and printables about the Holy Trinity right on the lesson page as well.  If you are looking for a science link, try our F3 lesson on the Trinity using the three states of water.  This too was an earlier post this year.  These two lessons are always fun to do with the children.

To make everything easy and convenient for busy homeschoolers and catechists, we have put all of our St. Patrick resources on one page.  Don't forget that St. Joseph's feast day is this week too! 

Click HERE to see all of our resources about St. Patrick.
Click HERE to see all of our resources about St. Joseph.


Blessings,

That Resource Team

Catechism Lesson on The Trinity - Includes F3 Pieces, Copywork, Mini-books and More

Help children begin to understand the Trinity with simple and fun resources.

 

In our last lesson we discussed and tried to help our children understand the Perfections of God.  In this lesson we begin to think and talk about the Holy Trinity.  The Trinity is very difficult for children to understand fully.  Why?  Because it is a hard concept for adults to understand fully as well.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC: 202) explains the Trinity in this way:

Jesus himself affirms that God is "the one Lord" whom you must love "with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength". At the same time Jesus gives us to understand that he himself is "the Lord". To confess that Jesus is Lord is distinctive of Christian faith. This is not contrary to belief in the One God. Nor does believing in the Holy Spirit as "Lord and giver of life" introduce any division into the One God:
We firmly believe and confess without reservation that there is only one true God, eternal infinite (immensus) and unchangeable, incomprehensible, almighty and ineffable, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; three persons indeed, but one essence, substance or nature entirely simple.

 

Having used this and the Bible scripture passage Genesis 1:26-27 as the inspiration, I have put together this lesson using a variety of fun resources.  I will share them below and leave the dialogue to you and your children.  The instructions for the F3 Activity are included in the file.  All other resources are listed below.

 

Supplies
.PDF Files below
Scissors
Glue
Stapler
pencil
Art mediums, if desired for illustrating your mini-book

 

Suggested Files
Click Here for F3 Trinity Activity (3p)
Click Here for My Book Mini-book The Trinity - prompted (2p)
Click Here for My Book Mini-book The Trinity - plain (2p)
Click Here for 10 Words About the Trinity - Trace copywork in print (1p)
Click Here for 10 Words About the Trinity - Trace copywork in cursive (1p)
Click Here for Sign of the Cross Prayer - Trace copywork in print (2p)

Click Here for Sign of the Cross Prayer - Trace copywork in cursive (2p)

 

Step One

Print out F3 piece.  Directions are included on the sheet.  Cut out pieces on dotted lines.  Fold flaps toward the centre on black lines.  Glue appropriate description to the corresponding flap.  Glue to F3 activity sheet called: The Holy Trinity, included in the file.  Share and discuss the piece. 

 

Step Two
Read the Bible passage from the F3 Activity sheet and discuss together as it applies to the Trinity. 

 

Step Three
Have the learners complete the My Book Mini-book - The Trinity.  This is available in two styles.  There is a blank book for older learners and a prompted style book for younger learners.  Simply have children complete the pages, cut apart on the lines, stack and staple.  It is easy and a fun way to narrate back information or show proof of learning.  This little book asks students to complete the following tasks or questions: 

Who or what is the Trinity?

Write or draw about the first person of the Trinity. 

Write or draw about the second person of the Trinity. 

Write or draw about the third person of the Trinity. 

Write out the sign of the cross prayer. 

Draw a symbol of the Trinity.

 

In a formal class setting, this could be started in class and finished for homework if time is an issue.  When completed, have children glue this onto their F3 Activity sheet in the appropriate spot.  I use card stock for the activity sheets to support the flaps and pieces better but that is up to you.

 

Step Four
You may want to have younger learners use some of our copywork sheets to solidify the uniqueness of the Trinity.  We offer these worksheet resources:

 10 Words About the Trinity.  These trace copywork sheets are available in both print and cursive styles.

 The Sign of the Cross Prayer.  These trace sheets help children learn one of the most basic prayers of the Catholic faith.

  

Step Five
You may want to finish up your lesson on the Trinity with our science experiment on the 3 states of water as they could be related to the Trinity.  We have previously posted about that here. 

 

**As a little note, we understand that what we have shared is not a perfect example of God, nor is a shamrock, three lit candles, or a triangle a perfect illustration as nothing is perfect but God.  But these symbols help children to begin to understand the concept of one God in three distinct and separate persons.

 

We hope this helps the religious education of your children in some way. :)

 

Blessings,

That Resource Team

F3 Piece on the 3 States of Water and...the Holy Trinity??

F3 piece helps teach about 3 states of Water and ...the Holy Trinity?

Yesterday we had a neat little set of 4 cards on the states of matter shared by Michelle.  (Thanks, again.) I wanted to share my F3 piece that was supposed to be a go-along for it.  Upon closer examination, I saw that it was for the 3 states of water.  I know it's not exactly the same, but still quite neat.  I made it awhile ago for my youngest daughter but never got around to cleaning it up and putting on the directions and such.

Now for the Trinity.  The 3 states of water is one of the easiest and clearest ways to teach about the Trinity that I have come across.  I have seen lots of other examples like members of a family, parts of a plant and so forth, but by far this is the easiest and most tangible way to illustrate this most important facet of our faith.  I have successfully used this year after year in my CCD class. 

*I like to incorporate science experiments into the classroom as much as possible.  Since God is the Truth and science seeks to bring about the Truth, I am never afraid to use science as a teaching tool.

A simple illustration of this lesson starts with:

• a water bottle of water,
• a small Ziploc bag filled with ice cubes,
• a small saucepan with a lid,
• a clear glass bowl,
• a hot pad - put your hot pot on so the children can view the changes 
• a stove 

I might begin by asking what is in the bottle.  The kids usually say water or H2O, sometimes.  I take a sip from the bottle to show that it is just water and then I pour the contents into the pot and put it on a burner on high to boil. While the water comes to a boil, I usually talk about the concept of one God in three distinct natures - the three points of the Trinity.  I mention that Trinity is connected to the number 3 from the Latin word trinitas.  I give examples tricycle, triangle, trident etc.  Then I say God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The next step is that I ask them how can we see or experience water?  They say - ice, snow, liquid.  Almost always someone will forget to say steam.  We talk about how they all have things in common (chemical make-up of H2O) but also how they are different.  At this point, I encourage the children to watch how the water in the pot is changing.  At it's peak boiling point, I take the lid off showing the steam and then I place the bowl over the boiling water to have it condense and fall back out as water again.  Lastly I put the ice cubes in the pot and boil it up before their eyes and follow with more steam catching.  They see how the three states are really connected.

The Trinity is connected as well I tell them.  The steam is like God the Father, we can't see Him but we can feel His presence and see the results of His creation.  God the Son is like ice because we can hold it touch it, see it, it is tangible just like when our Lord was flesh and walked on the earth or is present in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.  The Holy Spirit is the water of Baptism.  See...3 states of water and the Holy Trinity.  Simple, eh?  It takes about 15 mins to complete and it really helps solidify it in their minds and hearts.  You could even finish out using the F3 piece for science or Trinity review.

To use this resource, simply print out, cut apart, fill-in, and glue.  The instructions are included on the sheet.  This is a one page activity.  You can used the finished product as a stand alone piece, glue it into a science notebook, or add it into an existing project or unit study.

I hope you enjoyed our little lesson. :)  My plan is to convert each week's CCD class lesson into a printable form and share it with you all online complete with printables, F3 Lessons, notes, and experiments.  It will take some doing but I think it will be worth it.  I even thought about doing videos to go with the experiments but we'll see..lol..lol.  Only so many hours in a day, eh?

Click Here to download this F3 piece on the 3 states of water.


Blessings,

Kalei - That Resource Team