Download Grade 4

Grade 4
Dear Parent/Guardian,
We welcome your child to our Faith Formation Program.
Your child’s text is part of the We Believe series published by Sadlier. Each week your child will
bring home the pages that were covered in class that day. Please review them with your child and
consider doing the activity on the “Take Home” section of the Project Disciple page at the end of
each chapter. Visit the web site, www.WeBelieveweb.com, for lots of additional information,
resources, and activities for the entire family. The following is an overview of what your child
will be learning this year.
Book Title: God’s Law Guides Us
What Your Child Will Learn in Unit 1
The first unit of Grade 4 invites the children to focus on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ,
who is the center of our faith. The children come to understand that Jesus is both human and
divine, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity who became one of us. They comprehend the
need for Jesus as our Savior and become more aware of their life of grace begun at Baptism and
strengthened by the Holy Spirit. All this leads to a presentation of becoming a disciple of Jesus.
The children are helped to understand the true meaning of the Beatitudes. Next, the reality of sin
is presented. This is followed by a thorough discussion of our conscience, our guide in making
decisions that keep us close to Christ. As the unit ends, the children learn the need for
reconciliation as celebrated in the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
What Your Child Will Learn in Unit 2
Unit 2 presents the beginning of the discussion of the Ten Commandments. Each commandment
is given a full chapter so that the children can learn not only the commandment but also what it
means to live out this commandment. The children are introduced to the Great Commandment
and its call to love God and to respect the human rights of all people. The children grow in their
understanding of the first commandment by learning to keep God first. The second
commandment is presented with many of God's beautiful titles and blessings of God introduced.
The third commandment is the basis for discussions about our Sunday obligation, holy days of
obligation, the need to rest on the Lord's Day, and the opportunity the Lord's Day gives us to
love and serve others. The unit concludes with a chapter that outlines the four parts of the Mass.
The children are encouraged to participate at Mass and to find strength and comfort in the
Eucharist.
What Your Child Will Learn in Unit 3
Unit 3 continues the presentation of the Ten Commandments with the fourth through the eighth
commandments. In this unit, the children learn the need for being a responsible member of their
family and society in general. Family responsibilities and respect for authority are highlighted as
is the sacredness of all human life. Children are encouraged to commit themselves to protecting
life, respecting their bodies, and working for the dignity of all human beings. The children are
called to appreciate that they are made in God's own image. The meaning of virtue and
specifically the meaning of chastity and what it entails are next explained. The joys of friendship,
married love, and faithfulness in all relationships are also highlighted. The meaning of justice
and respect for the property of others is stressed. Respect for creation, caring for the poor, and
appreciating the Works of Mercy are included here. The unit concludes with an emphasis on God
as the source of all truth, the importance of giving witness to the truth, telling the truth, and
respecting the truth.
What Your Child Will Learn in Unit 4
This last unit of the Grade 4 We Believe program is meant to inspire the children to live out the
Ten Commandments in their daily lives. It begins with a presentation of the ninth commandment
as the children become more aware that they are growing up and experiencing all kinds of
feelings. God creates all of us to share love and relationships. This discussion leads to the
benefits of purity of heart and the virtue of modesty. The tenth commandment is presented in the
context that trust in God counters greed and envy while promoting generosity of heart. The Ten
Commandments are summarized as the children are called to grow in holiness, to be the Church,
and to be disciples of Jesus. As members of the Church, they are called to respect the laws, or
precepts, of the Church as well as Church leaders who guide and help them. The children end
their Grade 4 textbook with an inspiring call to discipleship. Here, the Blessed Virgin Mary is
presented as our model of discipleship.
Litrugical Lessons: The Church Year, Ordinary Time, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Triduum,
Easter
Web Site: www.WeBelieveweb.com
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, and suggestions.
Jonathan Galo
Director of Faith Formation
Phone: 508-548-3515
Email: [email protected]
Glossary of Terms:
Absolution: God's forgiveness of sins through the words of the priest
assembly: the community of people gathered to worship in the name of Jesus Christ
Beatitudes: teachings of Jesus that describe the way to live as his disciples
bishops: leaders of the Church who continue the work of the apostles
bless: to dedicate someone or something to God or to make holy in God's name
Blessed Trinity: the three Persons in one God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit
cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance
chastity: the virtue by which we use our human sexuality in a responsible and faithful way
Church: the community of people who are baptized and follow Jesus Christ
conscience: the ability to know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong
consecration: the part of the eucharistic prayer when, by the power of the Holy Spirit and
through the words and actions of the priest, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of
Christ
Corporal Works of Mercy: things that we do to care for the physical needs of others
covenant: a special agreement between God and his people
covet: to wrongly desire something that is someone else's
deacon: serves the parish by preaching, baptizing, and assisting the pastor
diocese: a local area of the Church led by a bishop
disciples: those who said yes to Jesus' call to follow him
domestic church: the church in the home, which every Christian family is called to be
envy: a feeling of sadness when someone else has the things we want for ourselves
eucharistic prayer: the Church's greatest prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God
examination of conscience: the act of determining whether the choices we have made showed
love for God, ourselves, and others
free will: the freedom to decide when and how to act
fruits of the Holy Spirit: the good things people can see in us when we respond to the gifts of
the Holy Spirit
gifts of the Holy Spirit: the seven gifts which help us to follow God's law and live as Jesus did
grace: the gift of God's life in us
greed: an excessive desire to have or own things
holy day of obligation: a day that is set apart to celebrate a special event in the life of Jesus,
Mary, or the saints
homily: a talk given by the priest or deacon that helps us to understand the readings and to grow
as faithful followers of Jesus
human dignity: the value and worth each person has from being created in God's image
human rights: the basic rights that all people have
idolatry: giving worship to a creature or thing instead of God
Incarnation: the truth that the Son of God became man
justice: respecting the rights of others and giving them what is rightfully theirs
Kingdom of God: the power of God's love active in the world
liturgy: the official public prayer of the Church
Liturgy of the Eucharist: the part of the Mass in which the death and Resurrection of Christ are
made present again; our gifts of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, which we
receive in Holy Communion
Liturgy of the Word: the part of the Mass when we listen and respond to God's word
martyrs: people who die rather than give up their belief in the risen Jesus
Mass: the celebration of the Eucharist
mission: the work of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and spreading the Kingdom of God
modesty: the virtue by which we think, speak, act, and dress in ways that show respect for
ourselves and others
mortal sin: very serious sin that breaks a person's friendship with God
original sin: the first sin committed by the first human beings
parish: a community of believers who worship and work together
pastor: the priest who leads the parish in worship, prayer, and teaching
peace: the freedom that comes from loving and trusting God and respecting all people
penitent: the person seeking God's forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation
poor in spirit: those who depend on God completely
pope: the bishop of Rome, who leads the whole Catholic Church
prayer: listening and talking to God with our minds and hearts
precepts of the Church: laws to help us know and fulfill our responsibilities as members of the
Church
psalm: a song of praise to honor the Lord
reverence: honor, love, and respect
Sabbath: the day of rest set apart to honor God in a special way
sacrament: a special sign given to us by Jesus through which we share in God's life
sacred: another word for holy
Savior: a title given to Jesus because he died and rose to save us from sin
sin: a thought, word, action, or omission against God's law
Spiritual Works of Mercy: things that we do to care for the minds, hearts, and souls of others
stewards of creation: those who take care of everything God has given them
synagogue: the gathering place where Jewish people pray and learn about God
temptation: an attraction to choose sin
Ten Commandments: the laws of God's covenant given to Moses on Mount Sinai
theological virtues: faith, hope, love
venial sin: less serious sin that hurts a person's friendship with God
virtue: a good habit that helps us to act according to God's love for us
witnesses: people who speak and act based upon what they know and believe about Jesus
worship: giving God thanks and praise