Junior Infants Grow in Love Term 1

Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goals Story/Poem

1.My 1: God is Understanding: That the children would also: Another New Beginning
Family with us Explain that God is with us at all times Appreciate the love and care of people around
Communicating and Participating: them, which helps them to know the love of God Poem: God is With Me
Summarise Psalm 139 in their own Grow in trust that God is with them, always
words,according to their own ability and everywhere God is everywhere (adapted
Help to construct a classroom prayer Develop a sense of being loved and cared for Psalm 139)
space, offering their own ideas for items by God
that would be appropriate to include in it
1.My 2: I have a Understanding: That the children would also: Saturday
Family family Identify and name the people who care for Appreciate the love and care of people around them
them which helps them to know the love of God
Explain that the love of God comes to them Give thanks to God for their families
through their families and the people who
care for them
Communicating and Participating:
Pray to God using an inside voice
1.My 3: I can Understanding: That the children would also: Brothers
Family share love Discuss the ingredients that go into Ask God to help them to share love with their
with my creating a loving family families Poem:
family Identify one way in which they can share love A Cupful of Kindness
with their own family
Communicating and Participating:
Make a gift for a person in their family as a
way of sharing love with them
1.My 4: We are Understanding: That the children would also: Brendan
Family all in one Explain that all the people in the world are Appreciate their responsibility to live in community
family part of one human family with others, as members of the one human family
Explore the ways in which we can share love
with other members of the
human family
Communicating and Participating:
Pray the Morning Prayer
Participate in a prayer service on the theme
of My Family
Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goals Story/Poem
Seasonal Autumn Understanding: That the children would also: Rusty Squirrels First Autumn
Lesson Participate in a nature walk and recognise Deepen their sense of appreciation for autumn
the changes that occur in the natural world Become aware of Gods care for the natural world
during autumn at all times
Explain that God cares for the natural
world in autumn, and at all times
Communicating and Participating:
Describe the ways in which leaves change
in autumn
2.Our 1: God Understanding: That the children would also: Creation Story (adapted, Gen
World created the Identify God as the creator of the world Become more aware of the wonder and beauty 1:1-25))
world Communicating and Participating: of the natural world
Tell the Creation story in their own words, Begin to appreciate the love of God and care
according to their own ability (providence) for all his creatures
Describe their favourite part of Creation Thank God for the gift of Creation
2.Our 2: God Understanding: That the children would also: Creation Story-Part IV
World created us Identify the human person as the high Develop a sense of what human beings have in (adapted, Gen 1:27-31))
we are point common and what makes each person unique
special! of Gods Creation Appreciate their dignity and worth as created Stretch
Communicating and Participating: and loved by God
Tell the story of the Creation of the human Appreciate that God is involved in the Creation
person in their own words, according to of each new life
their own ability
Show others the things that they can do
with their bodies
Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goals Story/Poem
2.Our 3: We can Understanding: That the children would also: St Francis Cared for
World care for the Identify one way in which they can care Begin to develop an awareness of their duty Gods World
world for the world, following the example of St to care for Creation
Francis
Communicating and Participating:
Pray the Glory be to the Father with
appropriate gestures and actions
Engage in a drama activity exploring the
 feelings and motivations of St Francis
Participate in a prayer service on the theme
of Creation

Seasonal In Understanding: That the children would also: Remembering Grandad

Lesson November, Identify November as the month in which Be aware of the importance of remembering
we we remember in a special way those who and praying for those who have died
remember have died
Explain that those who die go home to
God
Communicating and Participating:
Share with others the names of those
they know who have died
Participate in a prayer service on the
theme of remembering

Junior Infants Grow in Love Term 2

Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goal Story/Poem

4. The 1. The Understanding: That the children would also: Daniel and the Lions
Holy Holy
Identify Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the Holy Recognise Gods presence in their own families (adapted Dn 6)
Family Family Family of Nazareth
lived in Compare their home with the house that Ask God to bless their families
Nazareth Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived in
Communicating and Participating:

Describe some of the things that the Holy

Family did together
4. The 2. The Understanding: That the children would also: The Boy Jesus in the Temple
Holy Holy
Explore the story The Boy Jesus in the Relate to the person of Jesus in Bible stories (adapted from Luke 2:41-50)
Family Family Temple
lived in Imagine how Mary and Joseph felt when Develop a love for Bible stories
they found Jesus
 Jerusalem Communicating and Participating:

Tell the story The Boy Jesus in the Temple

in their own words, according to their own
ability

Pray the Night Prayer

Participate in a prayer service in honour of
the Holy Family
Seasonal Lent Understanding: That the children would also: Poem: A Cupful of Kindness
Lesson
Name Lent as a time to make a special effort Enter into the spirit of Lent as a time to try in a
to share with others particular way to live as Jesus wants us to
Identify one way in which they can share Perfect Peacock
with others during Lent
Communicating and Participating:

Participate in a prayer service on the theme Poem: Lent

of Lent

Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goal Story/Poem

5.Jesus 1. Jesus Understanding: That the children would also: A Visitor comes to Town
and the
Identify that Jesus loves children in a Appreciate that Jesus loves them in a special way
children
special way
Communicating and Participating: Talk to Jesus in their own words, and so begin to Jesus and the Children (adapted
develop a relationship with Jesus Mk 10:13-16; Mt 19:13-15 and
Tell the story of Jesus and the Children in Lk 18:15-17))
their own words, according to their own
ability
Imagine and share their ideas about the
Poem: Jesus Blessed the
motivation of each of the characters in the
story the families, Jesus friends and Children
Jesus himself
5.Jesus 2. Jesus is Understanding: That the children would also: Jesus is the Good Shepherd
the Good (adapted
List the characteristics of a good shepherd Become more aware of Jesus care for each one of
 Shepherd Identify Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who them Jn 10:2-5, 11-16)
cares for them
Communicating and Participating:

Discuss the ways in which Jesus is a Good

Shepherd to them
5. Jesus 3. Jesus Understanding: That the children would also: Jesus Teaches Us (adapted
teaches Mt 22:34-40;
Explain how they show love for God and Give thanks to God for the people who show
us
for others at home and at school Mk 12:28-34;
Communicating and Participating: love to them
Lk 10:25-8)
Pray Matthew 22:37-39 with appropriate
gestures and actions

Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goal Story/Poem

5.Jesus 4. We can Understanding: That the children would also: Can I Play Too?
live as
Name situations where people are Begin to develop an awareness of Jesus call to live
Jesus
excluded in community with others
taught us Apply Jesus practice of inclusion to their
own lives
Communicating and Participating:

Take part in and discuss role play scenarios

that focus on showing love for others
Participate in a prayer service in honour of
Jesus
Seasonal St Patrick Understanding: That the children would also: St Patrick
Lesson
Explain why St Patricks Day is celebrated Begin to appreciate the importance of St
in Ireland today
Explore the story of St Patrick Patrick in the faith story of the Irish people
Communicating and Participating:

Tell the story of St Patrick in their own

words, according to their own ability
Participate in a prayer service in honour of
St Patrick
6.Holy 1.The Last Understanding That the children would also: The Last Supper (adapted Mt
Week & Supper 26:26-29,
Discuss the experience of sharing meals Value the experience of sharing meals with
Easter
with other people Mk 14:12-17, 22-24,
Communicating and Participating: others
Lk 22:7-19)
Tell the story The Last Supper in their own
words, according to their own ability
Say or sing Grace Before Meals and Grace
After Meals Poem: The Last Supper

Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goal Story/Poem

6.Holy 2.Jesus Understanding: That the children would also: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Week & dies on (adapted Mk 15:25-37, 42-
Explain how it came about that Jesus Enter into the cycle and rhythms of the
Easter the Cross 47,
died on the cross
Recall that Lent is a time to try in a liturgical year
Jn 19:18, 25, 30)
particular way to live as Jesus wants us
to.
Communicating and Participating:

Engage in a drama activity exploring how

Mary felt when Jesus died
 Remember and pray for people who have
died

6.Holy 3.An Understanding: That the children would also: An Easter Surprise (adapted
Week & Easter
Sequence the story of the passion and Develop their faith in the risen Jesus Lk 24:1-12)
Easter Surprise
death of Jesus
Role Play the experience of Mary
Magdalene and the other women in
sharing
the news of Jesus Resurrection with his

other friends

Communicating and Participating:

Tell the story of the Resurrection in their

own words, according to their own ability
Participate in a prayer service on the
theme of Holy Week and Easter

Junior Infants Grow in Love Term 3

Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goal Story/Poem

7.The 1.Places to Understanding: That the children would also:

Church pray
Identify the spaces and objects that help Become aware of the church as a sacred place of
them to pray prayer
Explain that the church is a special place
where people go to pray and talk to God Value the importance of praying
Communicating and Participating:

Discuss three features of the church: the

 church bell, kneelers and candles

7.The 2.The Understanding: That the children would also:

Church
church- Identify the altar, the crucifix and Develop an attitude of reverence for the
stained glass windows as objects in the
a special church church building
place to Communicating and Participating:
Have the opportunity to take part in a prayer
pray
Discuss appropriate ways to behave in
the church, and the reasons for service in the church
behaving in this
way

Name their favourite thing in the

church, and give a reason for their
answer
Seasonal Mary Understanding: That the children would also: Ave Maria
Lesson
Identify May as a special month in which Relate to Mary as someone in whom they can
to remember Mary, and suggest a variety confide
of ways to do this God chose Mary to be the
Communicating and Participating: Mother of Jesus (adapted, Lk
Create paper flowers for the May altar in 1:26-38)
school or at home
Participate in a prayer service in honour of
Mary
Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goal Story/Poem

8.Water Water is Understanding: That the children would also: Mesi Goes for Water
wonderful!
Identify some of the ways in which we Develop a sense of gratitude to God for water
use water on a daily basis, and so
become
 aware of its centrality in our lives

Recognise that there are parts of the

world where clean water is not freely
available
Communicating and Participating:

Describe some of the ways in which
they can conserve water
Give thanks to God for the gift of
water
8.Water 2.Welcomed Understanding: That the children would also: Welcomed with Water
with water
Explain that in Baptism, holy water is Appreciate that they belong to Gods family
poured on the persons head
Communicating and Participating: through Baptism

Describe how holy water is used in

peoples homes, in schools and in the
church
Bless themselves with holy water
Participate in a prayer service on the
theme
of water

Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goal Story/Poem

9. We 1.Thank you Understanding: That the children would also: Monday Morning in Malawi
Give God for
Identify some of the similarities and Develop a sense of gratitude to God for food
Thanks food
differences between what they eat Be aware of the need to share food
and what children like Enestina and Mesis Evening
Mesi eat each day
 Compare and contrast a typical day in
their lives with a typical day in the life
of Enestina or Mesi
Communicating and Participating:

Discuss the importance of food in our

lives

9.We Give 1. At Mass Understanding: That the children would also: Thank You God for..
Thanks we give
thanks Identify the aspects of their lives for Develop a sense of belonging to the local
which they are thankful
Name Sunday as the day on which the Church community God Created the World
parish community gathers together to
give
thanks to God
Daniel in the Lions Den
Communicating and Participating:

Pray Thanks be to God as a response

to reading from the Bible
Participate in a prayer service on the
theme of Thanksgiving

Theme Lesson Learning Objective Faith Formation Goal Story/Poem

Seasonal Summer Understanding: That the children would also:
Lesson
Participate in a nature walk and recognise Deepen their sense of appreciation for
the changes that occur in the natural
world during summer summer
Recognise those things that are particular
to the world of nature in summertime Give praise to God for Creation in summertime
Communicating and Participating:

Discuss their favourite part of Gods

Creation
Seasonal Grow in Understanding: That the children would also:
Lesson Love!
Recall some Bible stories they read during Recognise Gods presence and action in their lives
the year this year.
Identify their favourite story from the
Bible
Communicating and Participating:

Discuss their favourite way to pray based

on their experience of prayer this year
Participate in a prayer service to mark the
end of the school year