Page 5 - Pflaum Sacrament Preparation - Spring 2023

STUDENT LESSONS
Offering stories from Scripture, Catholic Faith Words and definitions, engaging games and activities, opportunities for prayer, and steps for each sacrament.
TEACHING GUIDE
Provides an objective for each lesson, as well as options for teaching younger children as well as children with special needs.
The Teaching Guide also includes scripts, activities, and handouts for parent meetings and retreats, making this a cohesive, ready-to-use program!
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WE’RE ON Our way!
From the Bible
Pacing Guide
◆ (25 minutes) Opening Activity: Name Icebreaker Game and Luggage Tags
◆ (20 minutes) Scripture Story: The Call of Samuel (page 3-4)
◆ (2 minutes)
Song: “Belonging Through Baptism” (Burland)
◆ (10 minutes) God Calls You! (page 5)
◆ (3 minutes) Closing Prayer (page 5)
Objective: Children will discover the journey that they will travel together toward First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.
“Hi, I’m Benjamin. My first name also comes from the Bible. It means ‘to be recognized as someone important to God.’”
“We are going to spend a lot of time together! Sarah and I will accompany you throughout your journey to your First Communion. Think of us as your guides!”
“What’s your name?” Ask each child to say their names to the rest of
the group. Then, invite children to write their name on the line at the bottom of page 2.
Gathering
◆ Say: “Welcome everyone! My name is __.We have been invited to go on an adventure to journey closer to Christ.”
◆ Have children open their workbooks to page 1. The catechist introduces the image of the First Communion Bus. Say: “Let’s take the First Communion Bus together! Why are we taking this road trip? We are on this journey to accept Jesus’ invitation to receive the gift of the Eucharist. We will learn
Option for Older Children: Zip Zap
and grow together so that you will be ready to encounter Christ at your First Reconciliation and your First Eucharist. Let’s meet Sarah and Benjamin, who will be our guides along the way.”
Activity: Name Icebreaker Game
◆ Say: “When we go on an
The participants stand in a circle, around the catechist. The catechist designates a player by pointing to the young person and saying “Zip”; then, the designated player must give the first name of his neighbor on the right. If the companion says “Zap”, the player must give the first name of his neighbor on the left. When he says “Zip Zap”, all players switch places to form a new circle.
◆ Introduce Sarah and Benjamin on page 2 of the workbook.
“Hello, my name is Sarah. My first name has Jewish roots, and it means ‘Princess.’”
adventure together, it is important that we know each other’s names. Let’s play a game to get to know one another.”
14 l Invited by Christ: Step 1: Lesson 1
2
Let’s Take the First Communion Bus Together!
Option for Younger Children: Say Hello
The children stand facing each other, in two rows of the same number of children. They move two by two, and go to meet one another (starting diagonally first from the ends, then from the center). The children shake hands, say “My name is...”, and go back to their seats. Play again using the same configuration, but this time, the children shake hands and say, “Your name is...” and then return to their places.
◆ Depending on the age and size of the group, choose one of the provided icebreaker games.
For and added challenge: if the catechist says “Zip Zip”, the player must designate the second player to his right; if he says “Zap Zap Zap”, the player chooses the third player to his left, etc.
Called by God STEP 1
STEP 1
Called by God
First Communion Bus
who need visual supports: use the “Pictogram” sheet to invite the young person, along with their aide or caregiver, to say his or her first name.
◆ Finish by saying: “Our luggage tags are ready. We are getting to know each other a little better by learning each other’s first names.”
◆ Ask the children to turn to page 3
in their workbooks. Say: “Together, we will read this story from the Bible called The Call of Samuel.” Read aloud 1 Sam 3:1-10, 19-21 as a groupin the student workbook.
Invite two children to volunteer to come up front to hold the cut-outs of Sarah and Benjamin. Then, you or the two children can role play and say: Sarah: Do you remember preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, Benjamin?
Benjamin: Yes, I still remember! We
had a great group, and we have come a long way together.
Sarah: Yeah, I had some good friends, too. Now we get to accompany all of you on your journey to receive the Lord’s forgiveness and encounter Jesus in the Eucharist!
Benjamin: The bus is ready—let’s go!
◆ Say: “Everyone is invited to get on the bus. If you’re ready, let’s first prepare for this trip by making a
◆ Have the children to turn to page 4. Read the sentence in the orange box at the top of the page.
luggage tag.”
friends use your first name whenever they want to talk to you. Your first name makes you unique. God calls you, too, by your first name, just as he called a young boy, Samuel, a long time ago. Let’s hear the story of The Call of Samuel.”
THE CALL OF SAMUEL
When the young Samuel was the servant of the Lord under Eli, the word of the LORD was rare and visions weren’t common. One day, Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” Samuel did not yet recognize the LORD, since the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and stood there, calling out as before: “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him and made everything that Samuel said come true. And all of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba came to know that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, revealing himself to Samuel at Shiloh through his word. Samuel’s word spread throughout Israel.
Option for Children with Special Needs
◆ For children with autism or for those
◆ Offer “a luggage tag” to each young person and invite them to write their first name on it. Punch a hole in the tag and tie a string to it. Have children wear it during their sessions.
Option for Younger Children
1 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-21
Option for Children with Special Needs
◆ Write the name of the child on the
◆ In pairs or small groups, have the children retell the story of Samuel in their own words. The catechist can monitor the groups and assist children in retelling the story using simple questions, like: “Who are the characters? What are they doing? How does the story end?”
luggage tag. You can include a photo of the child as well, if you wish.
Scripture Story: The Call of Samuel
◆ Have children find the orange box at the bottom of the page. Invite a volunteer to read.
Objective: Children will recognize that God is calling them personally.
◆ Introduction: “Your parents and your
◆ Leave a short time for reflection. Help young people to identify anyone who has guided them on their faith journey, such as friends, family, godparents, priests, catechists, parishioners, etc.
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Step 1: Lesson 1: Invited by Christ l 15
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EMPHASIZES
THE REAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST