Starting this fall, the Teaching Guides for the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies feature a number of enhancements, including full-color, three-step plans; pacing guides for 60- and 90-minute sessions and five-day classes; Catholic identity projects; and cross-curriculum connections to bring the Gospel message into every academic area, from social studies to science. View the new guides for the fall lessons and get a jump on catechist and teacher training.
Full-color plans Each lesson plan follows the same color-coded, three-step plan that includes:
- Share Experiences, a gathering activity that introduces the Sunday Gospel theme
- Connecting Gospel and Doctrine, a presentation of the Gospel and related Church teaching
- Live the Gospel, a real-world activity that reinforces the message and connects it to a child’s life.
Pacing guides Some classes meet every week, others meet every day. The Teaching Guides offer pacing plans to fit almost every way schools and parishes use the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies. If you don’t have time to cover everything offered in the lessons, the editors provide take-home options. Supplemental projects and activities are suggested for longer sessions, and all of the pacing plans include music selections from the new CD collections.
Catholic identity projects A brand-new feature this year, the Catholic Identity Project of the Week connects children to the larger Church, reinforces the Gospel message, and encourages active participation. Some projects are small—a nature walk to celebrate Saint Francis of Assisi. Others are more involved and will encourage cooperation, such as a food or clothing collection to reinforce the Works of Mercy.
Curriculum connections Cross-curricular projects give teachers opportunities to bring the Sunday Gospel into all subject areas, from social studies to science. They also meet curriculum standards. Examples include a lesson on measurements inspired by the Parable of the Foolish Maidens and a session on telling time based on the Parable of the Workers. These unexpected applications can inspire children to understand the Gospel in new ways.
