A Fertile Heart - Year 0 Reception/Kindergarten (S) by fertileheart.org.uk

Key Stage 1 Reception

A Fertile Heart Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Love is creative. To have a fertile heart is to love, grow and make a positive difference.

A Fertile Heart Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Children have a natural desire to love. They have a longing to make a difference. They love growing. A Fertile Heart helps them understand that these desires are all connected. God’s first words to us were, “Be fertile!” And the whole of the Bible teaches us that we are fertile through healthy, loving relationships – with God and each other. Learning to authentically and appropriately receive and give love leads to us having fertile hearts. Using the concept ‘fertile’ helps the children see the similarity between plants growing through fertile soil, sun and water, and us growing through a caring environment, love and truth.

Key Stage 1: Reception

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love Panda Press Publishing would like to thank the following contributors to A Fertile Heart: Kathryn Lycett, John Cook, Mary Dickenson, Maryanne Dowle, Bernadette Eakin, Christopher Hancox, Louise Kirk, Gavin McAleer and Rebecca Surman Thanks also to Dr Charlie O’Donnell, Joe Smiles, Michael H. Barton, Mary Flynn, Rev Dr Stephen Morgan and Fr Wayne Coughlin for their kind support. ISBN: 978-0-9930555-7-7 A Fertile Heart KS1 - Reception Scripture quotations taken from various authorised translations. Every effort has been made to locate copyright holders and to obtain permission to reproduce sources. For those sources where it has been difficult to trace the originator of the work, we would welcome further information. If any copyright holder would like us to make an amendment, please inform us and we will update our information during the next reprint. All images and illustrations used under licence. Design © 2021 Panda Press Publishing Limited Illustrations and Images: Shutterstock All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher who can be contacted at hello@fertileheart.org.uk British Library Catalogue Publication Data. A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. Printed and bound in the UK and published under licence by Panda Press Publishing Ltd, 1 Newcastle Street, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 8JU Company Number 11786188 Printed, bound and distributed in Australia by Createl Publishing, 98 Logistics Street, Keilor Park, Victoria 3042, t: 03 9336 0800, f: 03 9336 0900, www.createl.com.au Keep in touch Facebook @afertileheart Linkedin.com/company/a-fertile-heart Twitter @afertileheart visit A Fertile Heart at www.fertileheart.org.uk Version 7, September 2021

Imprimatur:

Nihil Obstat for KS2, 3 & 4: Reverend Jonathan Veasey. Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, 30th November 2020.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

04/07/2018

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Foreword His Grace George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel “The Glory of God is humanity fully alive”. Thus wrote St. Irenaeus in the 3rd century. His words remain true to this day. They mean that God is the creator of the gift of life. In that gift, each human person receives a share in His own creative love. His revelation in life and love, as well as through creation, is pure gift. This is the ‘grace’ of which we speak, in order that “we may have life and have it to the full” (Gospel of St. John 10:10). This truth lies at the heart of the Gospel. It is what it means to be truly human. The gift of life is bestowed by God in order that we may flourish and thrive. We do this in the first place simply by living with gratitude. We do it by responding to His love in a life of joyful communion with Him. We express it by actively engaging in the good of others so that mutual ‘flourishing’ may take place. The more we give, the more we receive. The ‘Gospel of Life’ outlined above is, indeed, ‘Good News’. It is revealed in every aspect of human nature and creation itself. This is the life-giving teaching we seek to hand on to our children who are “the messages we send to tomorrow”. The Rite of Baptism reminds us that parents are the first and best teachers of their children. The Catholic school exists primarily to educate children to receive and respond to God’s love for each one of them and for all. Our schools are designed to help parents fulfil their God given task of caring for their children in the school of love. The Catholic school is not just a place for professional education – existing for improvement in learning - important though that is. It is a place of formation, a place in which ‘lessons for life’ are imparted, received and shared. The whole school community teaches and learns these lessons in a truly Catholic environment. Human relationships are obviously at the heart of life and flourishing. We are made to relate to each other, body, mind and spirit. The physical, emotional and spiritual reality of our being are part and parcel of the ‘holy trinity’ of each one of us. Thus affective sexuality education is a crucial part of human formation. A Fertile Heart is the culmination of several years work of dedicated individuals [teachers, theologians, education advisers and parents] from within the dioceses of Birmingham, Cardiff, Clifton, Arundel and Brighton and Shrewsbury. They have worked tirelessly to create a resource which puts the human person and the flourishing of our pupils at the heart of the Catholic school. It is offered as an important aid to pupils, parents, teachers, governors and clergy to remind us all that “We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning God had meant us to live it” (Ephesians 2:10).

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A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Introduction Welcome! It’s such a privilege to help a young child grow in understanding anything; doubly so when it means them understanding themselves. We are all created in love, to live and grow - but maybe that’s particularly obvious though the wonder of a child’s eyes. Content Reception focuses on the real beauty of life and growth. Ultimately, we can’t truly understand ourselves, and therefore health and relationship, except in the light of Genesis chapters 1-3, so A Fertile Heart starts with these two creation stories (Chapter 3 and the story of Adam and Eve and the Fall is dealt with in Y2). These teach the children that we are deliberately made by God out of love, made for a reason, made in the image of God: as man and woman we are made in the image of God. We are made for relationship with God and each other, and with creation. It is because of this that although all creation is good, we are very good. We belong to God as his family - and he calls us to be ‘loving gardeners’ - of creation, but also of each other. The rest of the year helps the children understand that, in a way, we are like plants and flowers - including mustard seeds: we are called to life and to growth. It is God who gives us life, and God who guides our growth. This allows us to enjoy the journey of growth without fear. The feeding of the 5,000 teaches us that God feeds us so as to live and grow. Maybe the hardest concept we teach the children in Reception is that God feeds our body, mind and heart - so that we can grow physically, and in truth and in love. This is a foundational concept for them and helps them, as the years develop, to understand that what is true of food is also true about truth and love: that our spiritual growth reflects our physical growth. We are God’s helpers - and so we are called to happily receive God’s love and to cooperate in our growth, in each other’s, and in creation’s. This point is reinforced by practical activities of helping each other, and creation, in little ways. Finally, the Story of Noah helps the children learn that God is always loving things into life, that our choices can either help or hinder this - and that God is always happy with us, but especially when we do listen to him and help him. The great strength of A Fertile Heart is that it communicates - in a joyful, life-giving way - the truth behind healthy living and good relationships and firmly links it all to our faith, so that the children don’t only learn the externals of good practice, but gradually understand and own the reasons behind it. Structure and Methodology The general structure of the year is 6 modules - perhaps one every half term - each with three lessons. Each module focuses on a Bible story, with (except for Rf) a modern story to help us understand its truth. Please, as a school, buy these contemporary books - the course is impoverished without them, and the authors etc. have a right to just remuneration. Each lesson has an Introduction, a Respond and Teach time, activities and a mission. There is a lot of music used - normally two songs per lesson, often repeated - that helps immerse the children in the beauty and joy of the message. Many lessons suggest Circle Time for more reflective discussions. All lessons can easily be delivered in smaller chunks to suit your class and timetable. After a lot of reflection and discussion, we decided to write down nearly every word of the lessons. There are several reasons for this: to save you the spade work; because we found it easier to write down a set of questions and answers than try and explain in abstract what they are trying to achieve; and because doing it this way really allows the important strands of A Fertile Heart to be gradually built up. We are obviously not expecting the Q and A sessions described to go anything like as smoothly as it literally suggests! But we hope the fuller text gives you confidence in the lessons, and allows you to focus on what you do best - teach the children! We are firm believers that you are the best resource you have in the classroom and we want our course and colourful powerpoints to help you as much as possible. Truth and Love We are in a culture where many of our children do not experience the traditional family structure. This is important to acknowledge, while still presenting Jesus’ vision of what family is called to be. As well as this, many of our children sadly carry wounds that need great sensitivity. We have tried to allow these truths to shape how we communicate Christ’s life-giving message of love, without it preventing us talking of God as Father, family life, forgiveness, trust, etc. - in a spirit of equality, tolerance, compassion and dignity. We can only help you in this with our words and prayers; you are the one who will best know how to deal with anything that arises. Sensitive issues need to be dealt with sensitively, not ignored. The RHE themes at the start of each module relate to England and Wales CES’s given themes, based on Department for Education guidance and agreed with them. A Fertile Heart is so called, because we all long to be fertile in the deepest sense - to grow, to help others grow, to make a difference: and ultimately it is love that achieves this. So we invite you to add your fertile heart to ours, and to Jesus’ and Mary’s - so that we can all help our children’s fertile hearts grow too.

Modern Texts Julia Donaldson - Monkey Puzzle Publisher - Macmillan Publishers ISBN 13 - 9781509812493 Sally Lloyd-Jones - Just Because You’re Mine Publisher- Harper Collins ISBN 13 - 9780062014764 Eric Carle - The Tiny Seed Publisher - Little Simon ISBN 13 - 9781416979173 Sally Lloyd - Jones Baby Wren and the Great Gift Publisher - Zonderkidz ISBN 13 - 9780310733898 Eric Carle - The Very Hungry Caterpillar Publisher - Hamish Hamilton ISBN 13 - 9780140569322

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Reception Modules 1-6

Contents: Reception Reception, Y1 & 2 all have six modules comprising of three lessons. Each module focuses on a Bible story, and also uses a contemporary children’s story to help with learning - aided by songs and various activities. The first lesson in each module focuses on learning the relevant Bible story, and the other two lessons draw out what we can learn from it about who I am, and about relationships. 1 & 2) Genesis 1 and 2 - the stories of creation: These provide us with a whole wealth of truth in understanding who we are, and our relationship with God, each other and the world. They teach the children that we are made by God, out of love and for a purpose; that all creation is good and that we make it very good; that we are uniquely made in the image of God, as man and woman in close relationship; that we are stewards of creation and that we all belong to the human family; that relationship and friendship are important to us; that God wants us to be happy, thankful and kind. All this helps each child to appreciate ‘the wonder of my being’ (Psalm 139), and the importance of belonging and being thankful for all our blessings. These lead us to be kind to each other. The lessons in these stories last us a lifetime, and are an excellent way to introduce these important themes to our children. 3) The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32): This simple parable helps the children understand that they are growing - and that growing makes us happy. We are all like tiny seeds that are called to grow into something beautiful. The Bible often uses plants and trees in helping us understand ourselves and our growth - and this will be a regular theme up to Year 3, so much so that we encourage the children to plant some seeds, nurture them and watch them grow. This will teach them that, as they are helped to grow, so they should help creation and each other grow. When we help each other grow in love we are living as God’s family, as his loving gardeners, as the kingdom of heaven. 4) Jesus speaks of the birds and the lilies (Matthew 6:25-34): Jesus teaches us to not be afraid, but to trust in God. He looks after the lilies and the birds, and each of us is much more important than them. This personal love of God for each of us help us admit our worries, and be reassured in love. Part of his love for us is that he gives us the very gifts we need to grow into the persons we were created to be. So, we do not need to compare ourselves to others. I am unique and my gifts are unique - and suit perfectly who I am: and it is the same for you. 5) The feeding of the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21): In this module the children will hear how Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people. In the last module, they learnt how we can trust God with our lives; in this story they learn how we can trust him each today - he will give us ‘our daily bread’. We should always be thankful for this and ask him to bless our food. All this leads us to think about eating sensibly so we can grow big and strong and healthy. We will then look at how God also feeds us with truth and love, so that our minds and hearts can grow big and strong and healthy too. Other people help us in all these - and we can help ourselves too. 6) Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6-9): In this module the children are taught about God saving us and that our good and bad choices have consequences. This includes the truth that our good choices make God, others and ourselves happier, and our bad choices make everyone sadder. Everyone else was behaving badly, but Noah was a good man: he listened to God, he cared for people and for creation. He and his family became a new start for the world. The olive branch, the dove and the rainbow are all signs that God wants us to be happy and live in peace - and if we live like Noah and his family, we can - and we help others to do the same. Noah is a reflection of Jesus, but what Noah does for his family, Jesus does for the whole world. The waters of the flood reflect the waters of Baptism which don’t destroy people, but destroy evil. This leads us to a simple exploration of Baptism, life, happiness and peace as God’s family.

I am created out of God’s love Lesson Objectives Lesson 1: To know the Story of Creation in Genesis 1. Lesson 2: To know that we are each loved by God our Father and Creator. Lesson 3: To know that we are each part of a loving family.

Teacher Notes In this module the children will hear the story of creation. They will learn that God created everything, out of love; that all creation is ‘good’ and that human beings are ‘very good’ - and together all of creation is ‘very good’ too. They will begin to understand that every one of us is special and loved by God. They will hear that we are different from all other creatures because we are made in God’s image. They will appreciate that we belong to a family; God’s family as well as our own family at home. They will consider how this should make us happy and grateful to God and be kind to each other.

RHE themes Theme 1: Created and loved by God 1.1.2.1, 1.1.2.2, 1.1.3.1, 1.1.3.2 Theme 2: Created to love others 1.2.1.1, 1.2.1.2, 1.2.1.3, 1.2.2.1, 1.2.3.4 Theme 3: Created to live in community 1.3.3.3

Bible Text Genesis 1 – The Story of Creation The children will hear the story of Creation. They will begin to understand that we are all God’s children; that we are made by God and are special.

Modern Text Julia Donaldson – Monkey Puzzle Baby monkey is worried and lost: he can’t seem to find his mummy anywhere! This story provides an opportunity to reflect on the uniqueness of our relationship with God our Father, who creates us out of Love and is always waiting with open arms for us to return to Him.

Ra1

To know the Story of Creation in Genesis 1

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PBpCA2nxG8 The Beginner’s Bible Curriculum - Lesson 1 up to 2:15. Ask: • What was it like in the beginning? Everywhere was dark. Nothing was there. • What did God create on each day? (Replay the video and pause to see what happened on each day.) 1) Day and night; 2) sky and sea; 3) dry land and plants; 4) sun, moon and stars; 5) fish and birds; 6) animals and man. • What did God do on the seventh day? He rested. • Why do you think he did this? It was because he was happy with what he had created, not because he was tired!

“God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

God entrusts us with creation.

Caring for God’s creation. Respond and teach Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOITGi3uHOQ The Days of Creation Bible Song (1:23). Explain: We can read this story in the Bible, the special book that tells us all about God and how much he loves us. (Show a copy of a children’s Bible.) God tells us that everything he created is ‘good’ and human beings - people - are ‘very good’. Ask: • What does ‘good’ mean? Lovely, loving, beautiful. • So what do you think ‘very good’ means? Very lovely, very loving, very beautiful. Yes, God is good and loving, so what he makes is good too.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

But he especially made us - he thought about each one of us, and made us out of love. This means that every person is made by God and is special. And that includes you! And it includes everyone else too! Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PBpCA2nxG8&t=136s The Beginner’s Bible Curriculum - Lesson 2 (2:15 - 3:00). This actually moves into Genesis 2, which we deal with in Module b, but we wanted to make the point now that God made man and woman in his own image. Explain: God made man and woman in his image. We are made in the Image of God. Ask: Do you look like your Mummy at all? Or like your Daddy? Explain: Children often do, because we come from our parents. We could say that we are made in the image of our parents. God is our Father, and so we are made in his image. But in a different way. He is loving, and we reflect him when we love. (Maybe make the link between ‘image’ and ‘reflect’.)

Example Activities 1. Using numbered pictures (downloadable), sequence the days of creation. 2. Do paintings or drawings to show what happened on each day of creation. 3. Explore created things in the school/local area: e.g. scavenger hunt, collecting leaves and flowers etc., and create a creation treasure box of collected items from God’s creation, and/or try to find any ‘mini-beasts’. (School could even organise visits to animal parks; in-school sessions with animal experts etc. - or remember to make the link to this module if they happen later.)

“It is striking that the ‘image of God’ here refers to the couple, male and female.” Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia, n. 10.

We reflect our parents. Teacher note: ‘Image of God’ is a difficult concept, but one that is so important that it needs introducing, even if the children don’t yet fully understand it.

Mission Do one thing today that shows you care for God’s Creation.

Ask: Do you look like your brothers and sisters? Explain: Children often do, because they are from the same family. We are all part of God’s family, so we all reflect our Father. Ask: God gave us his creation to look after - how do you think God feels about us? He loves us and trusts us to look after each other and creation. Explain: Every single one of us is a child of God and God loves every one of us so much! Ask: What is your favourite part of God’s Creation? Why? Learn the song: ‘God made me’ | BF KIDS | Action Bible Songs (1:30)

Ra2 To know that we are each loved by God our Father and Creator

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Recap: Sing ‘God made me’ learnt in lesson 1. With actions! You can obviously replay The Beginners’ Bible - Lessons 1 & 2 if this helps, too. Explain: We’re going to think for a few minutes about the words of the song: God made me; God loves me; God helps me; God keeps me; God created me (which means the same as made, but links with the word ‘creation’ too). Ask: How do those words make you feel? What do they make you think about God? Guide the discussion so that the children begin to understand that God is their loving Father. He created them out of love; all of them are his children, loved by him and precious to him. He is always there to help them and to look after them. We are all members of God’s family because he made us all.

“You have made him little less than a god; with glory and honour you crowned him, gave him power over the works of your hand, put all things under his feet.” Psalm 8: 5, 6 ‘him’ refers to ‘man’ or ‘humanity’

The Resurrection is the eighth day!

God loves us. Respond and teach Circle Time: Create atmosphere by playing relaxing music, and make a prayer focus/table using objects such as a globe. Welcome God into the space in which you sit. (Take time to listen and respond after each question – model being calm.) Recap: What do we mean by ‘good’? What do you think we mean by ‘very good’? • What do you think makes you ‘very good’? This question and the next are very hard. What we are trying to help them see is that they are very good because they can grow as children of God in ways the rest of creation can’t. • What makes human beings different to all other living things in creation? We can know and love God and each other • How does it make you feel to know that God your Father loves you so much? Great! Special!

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Reflecting God’s love.

Example Activities 1. Make and decorate a paper chain as a symbol of God’s family on earth: each individual member is unique and special and loved by the Father. Get every child to decorate a strip, then link them all up in a chain: we are all loved by God, we are all ‘part of his chain’. Each of us is loved in a unique way, by God, each of us is unique and special. Like the chain, together, we are even more beautiful. Reflecting on being loved. • How do you treat your best friend? How do they know that you love them/you know that they love you? Be kind, share, spend time, and play together, etc.

2. Create or colour ‘God made me/God loves me’ banners for display. 3. Use clay to mould something special in creation.

• God is your very best friend. How do you know? He is kind to you, helps you, loves you. • How can you show him that he’s your very best friend? Be kind, pray, share with him. • How can you thank God for loving you? (e.g. draw upon the idea of small acts of kindness that help, and that please him and please others.) Ask: If we are all God’s family, how should we treat each other? Be kind, be helpful, share our toys etc. Explain: Mummy loves it when you and your brothers and sisters play nicely, are helpful and kind to each other. God is the same - but we are all part of his family. Being kind to each other is a really good way of showing God that we love him. Let’s make our classroom a really happy place by being kind to each other and making God happy.

“To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love.” Thomas a Kempis

Mission Make a difference to someone in our class today by doing one kind thing for them.

Ra3 To know that we are each part of a loving family

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Read the story Monkey Puzzle, by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Discuss the story to draw out the meaning and check the children’s understanding. Use the following questions to guide the discussion: • Why is monkey feeling a bit sad and lonely? Because he has lost his mum. • Who helps him try to find her? Butterfly. • What animals does butterfly take monkey to see? Elephant, snake, spider, parrot, frog, bat, and elephant again! • What did monkey know about his mum that helped them? She looked like him. • Who did they first find, though? Dad monkey. He looked like monkey too! • Who did dad take monkey home to? Mum. • How do monkey’s mum and dad show their love for him? Hug him.

“The truth about creation is so important for all of human life that God in his tenderness wanted to reveal to his People everything that is salutary to know on the subject.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 287.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4br3vquG1Yc The Monkey Puzzle Song signed with Makaton (2:18). This isn’t so important to the lesson, but it reinforces the story, shows the children some Makaton sign language - and introduces the author of the story and her husband.

Monkey love!

Part of God’s family. Respond and teach Circle Time: as in lesson 2 - use relaxing music to create the right atmosphere. Ask: Why are the people who look after you special to you? What kind of things do they do for you? How does that make you feel? How do you show that you love them in return? Allow time for the children to give their responses to the questions.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Hugging is loving.

Example Activities 1. Draw or paint pictures of special family members. 2. Make thank you cards for parents/ carers. 3. Make and pray prayers of thanksgiving for family life/parents.

People special to me. Guide the discussion so that they begin to understand what we mean by ‘belonging’.

“The family is the image of God, who is a communion of persons.” Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia, n. 71.

Consider using these key concepts, as a sort of summary of a lot of the module – ask the children to close their eyes and listen: • Love is unending and unchanging: it doesn’t matter how long Mum and Dad had to wait for their baby monkey – the love was still there; God’s Love for us never ends. • We are loved within our families, just like the monkey.

Mission Tell the people that you care for the most that you love them.

• We are all unique and so is the love we share for our family • We are different from all other living creatures, because we are created by God and he trusts us to look after each other and his creation. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgAy-jydfN8 We are Children of GodMonica Scott (2:22). After activities watch and join in with: ‘God made me’ (1:30). At the end of the day, get the children to say to four other children, “You are made by God.” And to four other children, “You are special.” Then, as they leave, say to each one individually as they pass you, “You are made by God.” And get them to repeat to you, “You are made by God.” Or adapt accordingly!

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A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

I belong to God Lesson Objectives Lesson 1: To know the Story of Creation in Genesis 2. Lesson 2: To know that God created us all wonderful and all one family. Lesson 3: To understand that it is important to be loved and to belong.

Teacher Notes In this module the children will continue to hear the story of creation. They will learn how God gives Eve to Adam, who because of this, then moves towards her. They will begin to understand that this is a special relationship. They will understand that God wanted Adam and Eve to look after all the things he had created and that is why we should care for creation too. They will also deepen their understanding that nothing can separate us from God’s love, that we belong to him. He knows us better than anyone else could ever know us, and he loves us completely. He made each of us wonderful, and so we should try and be good to each other, but we don’t stop being wonderful, even when we sometimes fail to be good. The children will begin to appreciate the importance of belonging; to God, in our families and in our school.

RHE themes Theme 1: Created and loved by God 1.1.2.1, 1.1.2.2, 1.1.2.3, 1.1.3.1, 1.1.3.2 Theme 2: Created to love others 1.2.1.1, 1.2.1.2, 1.2.1.3, 1.2.1.5, 1.2.2.3, 1.2.3.4 Theme 3: Created to live in community 1.3.3.1, 1.3.3.3

Bible Text Genesis 2 – The Story of Creation The children will continue to hear the story of Creation. They will learn about the first man and the first woman, and their relationship with God and each other. Psalm 139 (138) They will reflect on ‘I thank you for the wonder of my being’.

Modern Text Sally Lloyd-Jones – Just Because You’re Mine The little red squirrel desperately wants to know why his daddy loves him so much. Initially convinced that he is loved because of the things he is good at, little red squirrel is surprised to learn that he is simply loved for the wonder of who he is.

Rb1

To know the Story of Creation in Genesis 2

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh-sBWjIdHE In The Image of God (to 3:36). This recaps firstly on Genesis 1, especially that we are made in the image of God. It then moves on to Genesis 2. Explain: Where Adam and Eve lived was called the Garden of Eden. Teacher note: this story is what the Church calls an historic myth - it communicates real truth but using imagery. So, we are asked to believe in Adam and Eve (which in no way contradicts science), but are not asked to believe that Adam was really made of clay and then came to life through God physically breathing into him - rather, this communicates that we are physical and spiritual, and that our spirit comes directly from God, sharing in his spirit (the Hebrew for ‘breath’ and ‘spirit’ is the same).

“Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us, we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his flock. ” Psalm 100 (99):3

Adam and Eve - happy gardeners.

Adam and Eve with all the animals. Respond and teach It is quite a long video, so maybe go through the questions, and then watch the video again - and pause as each question is answered. Ask: • What was the garden of Eden like? Beautiful and good. • What did God make Adam out of? Dust and God’s breath. (Meaning we receive life directly from God, and we share in his spirit.) • What was Adam’s first job there? To name all the animals. • Why wasn’t Adam completely happy? All the animals had partners but Adam couldn’t find a special friend. He was a bit lonely. • So what did God do? He made a woman to be Adam’s special friend. • What was the name of the woman? Eve. • How did Adam feel about Eve? He was pleased! Teacher note: This story was written over 3,000 years ago - not long after alphabets were invented! The ancient Jewish commentators said that the image of Eve being made from Adam’s rib was threefold: it was taken from his side, because that is her rightful place; it was taken from under his arm because he should always protect her; and it was taken from near his heart, because that is where she should always be. How beautiful. This is the basis for our understanding of complementarity.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Recycling is caring.

Example Activities 1. Make paper plate animal masks. 2. Draw a picture of Adam and Eve helping to look after the Garden of Eden. 3. Go around school grounds, appreciating the beauty of nature, spotting any litter and discerning with them what litter can be picked up and binned, and what can be recycled.

‘I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonder of all creation.’ Explain: Adam and Eve were happy being together and working together. The animals were happy. We should be happy too, that we are made by God, and loved by him and we are all part of his family - his human family and the family of all creation. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEYz4i2SL2k Thank You Lord for Making Me (2:27) Encourage the children to join in! Explain: Adam and Eve loved each other and they were happy. God asked them to look after his garden - the Garden of Eden. They wanted to do this, because it was a way of thanking God for all he had made - and because they enjoyed working together. They worked together well and they were perfect helpers for each other and so the garden grew and became even more beautiful. Just like Adam and Eve, who looked after God’s creation, we should help look after it too. God gives us certain rules to follow, and we must listen to Him to make sure we properly look after his creation and one another. All his rules help us all grow. Ask: Can we think of ways in which we can look after God’s creation? Examples include: putting litter in the bin; recycling; not wasting water or food; not always wanting new things. Explore what these mean to ensure understanding by all.

“Thus the Creator made man and woman share in the work of his creation and, at the same time, made them instruments of his love, entrusting to them the responsibility for the future of mankind, through the transmission of human life.” Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia, n. 81

Mission Thank God at the end of the day for something that made you happy.

Rb2 To know that God created us all wonderful and all one family

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Recap: God made us. He is our Father. We belong to him. That makes us happy. Let’s sing our song about God making us, loving us and helping us. Watch: ‘God made me’ (1:30), from Module a. Read: the following from Psalm 139:14 “I thank you for the wonder of who I am.” Ask the children who are we saying thank you to? Why? Explain: We know that God created us because He loves us. This tells us that we are wonderful in his eyes. Watch: Psalm 139:14 (only watch to 0:52).

“It was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation.” Psalm 139 (138): 13-14

Ask: • What makes you wonderful to God? (This should include everything in the next two answers, and so maybe can be returned to after they’ve been answered.) • What makes you wonderful to your family? • What makes you wonderful to your friends? Allow the children time to share some of their ideas. Now think about your friends and family: • What makes them wonderful to you? • What makes our friends wonderful to us? Again, allow time to share ideas. Explain: So you are wonderful, your family is wonderful, our class is wonderful, your teacher is wonderful: we are all wonderful!! And God definitely thinks we are all wonderful!! One family belonging to God.

We’re wonderful together. Respond and teach Circle Time: begin with relaxing music to help set the scene. Adam and Eve were wonderfully made by God. They worked well together. You are wonderful. Your brother and/or sister is wonderful: do you always get on together? No! Why not? (Hopefully something along the lines of sometimes they are silly, and sometimes their brother/sister is.) 20

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Guess the child!

Example Activities 1. Draw or paint self-portraits to make a display of our wonderful class family. (Maybe, you as the teacher, could draw a great big God, with big arms, for their self-portraits to fit in his embrace. Then you can refer to the ‘collage’ every morning and all commit to being a wonderful family today.) 2. Get children to agree that, throughout the day, if anyone misbehaves, they have to say to the person they have hurt, “Sorry, you are wonderful!” Telling them they’re special.

You are wonderful. The other children in class are wonderful: do you always get on with everyone? No! Why not? (Hopefully something along the lines of sometimes they are silly, and sometimes the other child is.) So, even though we are all wonderful - sometimes we can be silly, and so not get on well. This doesn’t make us not wonderful, but it’s not good either. And God made us good. He made us very good. God wants us to work together nicely, like Adam and Eve did. (For teacher: before the Fall, at least!) And when we don’t he wants us to remember we are all wonderful, and start again. Explain: We can stay wonderful, and keep trying to be good, because we are in God’s hands, and he’s a great big God! Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBiYgzDs_54 Our God is a Great Big God Family Worship (2:55). Join in the actions if you can!

“And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every man and see deep down within him what religion calls ‘the image of God’, you begin to love him in spite of [everything]. No matter what he does, you see God’s image there.” Dr Martin Luther King

Mission Tell your friends that they are special to you.

Rb3 To understand that it is important to be loved and to belong

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Read the story Just Because You’re Mine, by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Frank Endersby. Discuss the story to draw out the meaning and check the children’s understanding. Use the following questions to guide the discussion: • Where were little red squirrel and his dad playing? In the wood. • Does little red squirrel enjoy playing with his dad? Yes. • Does daddy love him because he can run so fast? No. • … because he can spin so fast? No. • … because of his secret stash of berries? No. • … because of his strength and his high climbing? No. • … because of his brave balancing? No • … because he is completely handsome? No. • … because he was so friendly? No. • Then why does daddy love him? Because “you’re mine.” • What does daddy squirrel mean when he says, “I love you just because you’re mine”? He doesn’t love him because of what he can do or what he has, but simply because of who he is - his child.

“What the Church is on a large scale, the family is on a small scale: an image of God’s love in human fellowship.” YouCat, 271.

•

Ask: • What are you really good at? Allow time for the children to name something that they are good at. • Do your mummy and daddy love you just because of those things? No. • Why do you think they love you? Allow time for the children to give their answers. We call this love unconditional - because there are no conditions attached to it - it’s free! (Check understanding.)

Squirrel hug!

Respond and Teach Think: • What groups do we belong to? Family, school, parish, clubs. • What does it feel like to belong to these groups? We love to belong! Explain: • We belong to the people who love us and look after us. • We belong to our families. • We belong here, in our class and in our school. Sometimes things may go wrong and we may feel sad for a little while, but it doesn’t mean we don’t belong. • We belong to the family of the Church the priest and all the people as one big family. • Best of all, we belong to God and he always loves us and is always there. • His love is unconditional – despite all of the things we do that are good/bad; nothing can stop God’s love for us. A great thing about all being children of God is that we all belong to the same family! We can all care for each other, and look after our home - the earth! Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgAy-jydfN8 We are Children of GodMonica Scott (2:22) - maybe join in this time round.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

To be loved; to belong.

Example Activities 1. Make a collage of the little red squirrel using downloadable template and your own craft materials. 2. Draw or paint a picture showing the child playing with mum/dad/family member. 3. Hold a class prayer service to give thanks for those whom we love – use some of the children’s own prayers in this.

Belonging to one church family.

You could finish Module b in the same way we finished Module a... Watch and join in with: ‘God made me’ (1:30). At the end of the day, get the children to say to four other children, “You are made by God.” And to four other children, “You are special.” Then, as they leave, say to each one individually as they pass you, “You are made by God.” And get them to repeat to you, “You are made by God.” Or adapt accordingly!

“Man was made in the image of God, and nothing will satisfy man but God, in whose image he was made.” Charles Spurgeon, Baptist preacher

Mission Look out for someone who may feel alone – help them to feel like they belong.

Showing you care.

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A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

God helps me to grow Lesson Objectives Lesson 1: To understand the parable of the Mustard Seed. Lesson 2: To understand that we grow in our bodies and in love. Lesson 3: To understand that God helps us to grow and change.

Teacher Notes In this module the children learn that they are like tiny seeds that God creates out of his love, and helps to grow. This helps us to be at peace about who we are, how we grow, and any differences we have, because we know God is guiding our growth. Once more, we see a similarity between us and the rest of creation, but we also see a difference: we don’t just grow in our bodies, we grow in love, too. This is what the kingdom of heaven is about - helping each other grow in love. From this the children will understand that all people and all living things should be loved and cared for, right from the very beginning, just like the tiny seed. Then we will be living as God’s family, as his loving gardeners, as the kingdom of heaven.

RHE themes Theme 1: Created and Loved by God 1.1.1.3, 1.1.2.3, 1.1.3.1, 1.1.3.2, 1.1.3.6, 1.1.4.5 Theme 2: Created to love others 1.2.1.1, 1.2.1.2, 1.2.1.3, 1.2.1.4, 1.2.1.6, 1.2.2.1, 1.2.2.2, 1.2.2.5, 1.2.3.1 1.2.3.2 Theme 3: Created to live in community 1.3.1.1, 1.3.1.2, 1.3.3.2, 1.3.3.3

Bible Text Matthew 13:31-32 – The Parable of the Mustard Seed The children will hear Jesus’ Parable of the Mustard Seed. They will discover the beauty of their lives from the very moment that God created them. They will learn what it means to grow and change as children of God, and that they each belong to God’s family.

Modern Text Eric Carle - The Tiny Seed Follow the journey of the tiny seed as it makes its way in the world. Where did it come from? How does it grow? Where will it end up? We are just like the tiny seed, created out of the Father’s love for us, and made for a very special purpose.

Rc1 To understand the Parable of the Mustard Seed

The activity is within the Respond & Teach section, and would probably work better Lesson in the hall. Objectives Introduction Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifKH0-y7O_I The Parable of the Mustard Seed (1:11). This is a very simple, short parable. It introduces ‘kingdom of heaven’ which we will explore, but obviously, firstly we focus on thinking through how a mustard seed grows.

“Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.” St Thérèse of Lisieux.

Read Mt. 13:31-32. If you have got a seed - even better a mustard seed - to show the children, it would be good. Discuss the story to draw out the meaning and check the children’s understanding. Use the following questions to guide the discussion: • How big is this seed/the seed in the story? Tiny. • What happens to the tiny mustard seed over time? It grows really big. • What/who helps the tiny mustard seed to grow? God helps it to grow by sending the sun and the rain. • Why do you think the birds come to perch in the tree? It was a nice place to rest and shelter. • What might happen if the seed or plant stops growing? It might die. • Isn’t it amazing that something so small can turn into something so big and helpful?! Yes! • Does it matter that the seed is so tiny at the beginning? No. Little things often grow into big things - it’s the growing that is important. The parable of the mustard seed.

A tiny mustard seed. Respond and teach Explain: Jesus used the story to help us understand how ‘the kingdom of heaven’ grows. The kingdom of heaven is all of us growing to be like Jesus so that we can, one day, all be happy forever in heaven. But it starts with you and me growing - just like the mustard seed did - just like every living thing does! Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTQuEZNp5Ds Grow Little Seed, Grow! (3:26).

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

A tiny baby.

Stretching and growing. Activity (probably best in the hall): Obviously adapt as you see fit, but the central part of the activity is for the children to curl up into a ball, making themselves as tiny as possible - and then gradually for them to uncurl, stand up, and stretch out. We ask them to do this twice: firstly pretending to be a mustard seed growing into a tree, and then as themselves growing from being ‘a seed’ to a 4/5 year old, to an adult. It might help to have one or two children demonstrate the uncurling first. The music is picked because it starts off slowly and gradually builds to a crescendo - try and get the children to coordinate with this! It might be fun to finish off the whole activity with the children pretending to be the ‘birds of the air’ flying around the hall, flapping their wings!

“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Mt:13:31-32

Mission Thank God at the end of the day for something that made you happy.

Suggested music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKlX2NgM3Ro Morning from Peer Gynt by Grieg (stop it at 1:58). Class discussion about how we reflect the mustard seed growing. Explain: Earlier we answered questions about how a mustard seed grows. Let’s ask those same questions about ourselves: Ask: • How big were we as babies? Tiny. • What happens to us over time? We all grow - into children, and then into grown-ups (that’s why we call them ‘grown - ups’ - because they have grown up, like the mustard plants!). • What/who helps us to grow? God - and lots of people - by giving us all we need. • How are we like the tree that helped the birds find rest and shelter? The more we grow, the more helpful we will be, too. • Do we like growing? Yes, we feel happy when we can see we are growing - in lots of ways. • What might happen if we stopped growing? We would become sad if we stopped growing at all. (But slowly growing is very different from not growing!) • Isn’t it amazing that someone as small as a baby can turn into a big helpful grownup?! Yes! • Does it matter that we are so tiny in the beginning? No. Little things often grow into big things - it’s the growing that is important. Teacher note: in the following lessons we will look a little at the different ways the children grow, and some more on how the kingdom of heaven grows. 27

Rc2 To understand that we grow in our bodies and in love

The activity here - planting seeds - is again in the middle of the lesson.

Lesson Objectives Introduction

Recap on the last lesson - of how the mustard seed is the tiniest seed but grows into a big shrub, which is helpful to the birds. Explain: we are now going to hear a similar story of a tiny seed. Read the story of The Tiny Seed, by Eric Carle.

“He created everything so that it might continue to exist, and everything he created is wholesome and good.” Wisdom 1:14

Discuss the story to draw out the meaning and check the children’s understanding. Use the following questions to guide the discussion: • What makes the seed different to all of the other seeds in the story? It was the tiniest. • Can you remember what happened to the bigger seeds? See below. • Does it matter that one seed was tinier than the rest? No, they are all special.

Planting seeds. Growing up! Respond and teach Explain: One of the seeds is burned up by the hot sun; one stuck on an icy mountain; one drowns in the ocean; one gets dried up in the desert; one pecked up by a bird; one eaten up by a mouse. This tells us that seeds need to be protected, and helped, to grow. But rather than just hearing about that, why don’t we do it ourselves, and see? Activity: Planting plant seeds. Maybe one table group at a time for the actual planting? Show the children a packet of seeds. Show them how tiny they are. Have ‘pots’ of soil ready. Explain: We are going to plant these seeds and take care of them. It will be very exciting to watch them grow, but we’ll have to be patient because it might take quite a long time! Ask: what will we have to make sure the seeds get, for them to grow and be healthy? Water and sunlight (They also needed good soil to grow in). Explain: It is the same for us. The seed being planted is like us being born. But then we need help in growing and being healthy. Ask: What do we need to help us grow and be healthy? We need food and water to help our bodies grow.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Food and love.

“For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 27.

Mission Caring for nature.

Care for all living things for God gave us the responsibility to do so.

Explain: we also need to look after parts of our bodies that grow differently: we need to have our hair cut, because it grows; we need to clean our teeth, so they stay healthy, we need to cut our nails because they grow too! Explain: All living things are the same - in that they need care in helping them grow and be healthy. God cares for everything he has made, but remember, we are special to him, because we are made in the image of God. Watch and join in with ‘God made me’ (1:30), with which the children are now familiar. Explain: so we are the same as plants and animals in our bodies growing. But we have something extra special. God wants us to grow ‘inside’ as well, in ways we can’t see - he wants us to grow in love, to grow to be as loving as Jesus! Then we can help others grow too! Ask (These may need extra help): • How do we grow to be like Jesus? We grow in love. • For our bodies to grow we need food and water: what do we need to help us grow in love? We need to know what is right, and we need help to do it! (we call these ‘truth’ and ‘love’). • We also grow by practising! What can we do, to practise love, and grow? Be kind, be helpful, say sorry, forgive, be polite, etc. Explain: The best bit is that, the more we learn to love, the more we grow and the more we help each other grow. This is what Jesus meant when he talked about the kingdom of God. (Note to teacher: which we will look at next lesson.) Explain: So, all life grows, and gives life. Love gives life. God is love - and his love gives life to everything. And so many people love us too, helping us grow in our bodies, and in love. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hohD7WSRxIs Grow | Mooseclumps (2:45).

Rc3

To understand that God helps us to grow

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Recap: it will be good, to start with, to recap a lot of the first two lessons. Watch: The Parable of the Mustard Seed (1:11) from lesson 1. Revisit lesson 1 activity (maybe in the hall again, or a more simple version in the classroom):

“Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home.” Pope Francis, Laudato si’ n. 13.

Get the children to curl up into a ball, making themselves as tiny as possible - and then gradually uncurl, stand up, and stretch out - firstly pretending to be a mustard seed growing into a tree, and then as themselves growing from being ‘a seed’ to a 4/5 year old, to an adult. Recap: Remember, we have learnt that all life grows, and gives life. Love gives life. God is love - and his love gives life to everything. And so many people love us too, helping us grow in our bodies, and in love. Watch: Grow | Mooseclumps (2:45) from lesson 2. Respond and teach Circle Time: Create atmosphere by playing relaxing music, and make a prayer focus/ table using objects such as a globe. Welcome God into the space in which you sit. (Take time to listen and respond after each question – model being calm.)

Jesus’ love makes me grow.

Ask: • Let’s remind ourselves: what do plants need to grow? Sunlight and water (and good soil). • Can the plants water themselves? No! • So who provides sunlight for the plants? God. • And who provides water for the plants? God - through the rain - or us - through watering the soil. • But who made us? God! So God provides the water - either from the clouds or through us. When we help God, we are being gardeners, like Adam and Eve. God loves it when we help him in making things grow. He likes working as a team with us. Explain: Let’s think about us now. Ask: • Can anyone remember the two ways that we grow? In our bodies and in love. • What do we need, to grow in our bodies? Food and water, and lots of other things! • Do we provide these for ourselves? No. Just like the plants we need help to grow. • Who helps us with food and water? God, mum, dad, school cooks, farmers, delivery drivers, shop assistants, etc. - lots and lots of people! All these people are like ‘God’s gardeners’ - helping you to grow. • What do we need, to grow in love? We need to know what is right, and we need help to do it. • Who helps us to grow in love? God, mum, dad, family, teachers, priest, friends, etc. - lots of people. All these people are like God’s gardeners - helping you grow in love. • But you have to help in your growth. How can you help grow in your bodies? Eat healthy food, drink water, not just fizzy pop, exercise, clean your teeth, go to bed when you should to rest, don’t watch too much TV, etc.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Being God’s loving gardeners together.

“Jesus said, “Unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. Matthew 18:3

United to God and creation. And you have to help in your growing in love. How can you help in this? Listening and learning how to love, trying your best, saying sorry, being thankful for all the help you get, not wanting your way. Explain: So, God, others and you are a team in helping you to grow. And you are part of the team in helping everyone else to grow. Let’s all be God’s loving gardeners! Going back to Jesus’ parable - or story - he told us the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Ask: So, what is the kingdom of heaven? It’s when we all love like Jesus - together as one family with God as our Father. Explain: So, when we are being God’s loving gardeners for each other and for creation, we are building up the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of the Lord. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q3E0OQUBCU Building Up The Kingdom Sing-Along (3:10 - though stop when you feel you need to!) This song is lively, and is immediately followed by quiet prayer. You might play some calming music after this video, to help the transition!

Helping each other grow.

Mission To be God’s loving gardeners - to each other and to creation - including the seeds we planted.

Activity: prayer. Make the Sign of the Cross. Let’s be still, and thank God who lives in the hearts of us all. Let’s quietly think of ways God helps us grow - and thank him. (Pause.) Now, let’s quietly think of ways other people work with God to help us grow - and thank him for them. (Pause.) Now, let’s think of ways we can be God’s loving gardeners to each other… and to creation - and ask him to help us be good gardeners. Ask the children to repeat every line of the prayer: God our Father you have made us out of love and you help us to grow out of love. Thank you for loving us thank you for making us grow and thank you for all the people who help us grow. Please help us to join in our own growth and to help each other grow. Through Jesus our Lord. Amen. Finish with the Sign of the Cross. 31

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God guides my growing Lesson Objectives Lesson 1: To understand that God is always caring for us. Lesson 2: To trust that God gives us the gifts that we need to grow. Lesson 3: To know that God has given all of us special gifts.

Teacher Notes In this module the children will begin to understand that there is no need to worry about their lives, or what will happen in the future. God loves us, and we see his love in his creating us and his guiding our growth. He will provide all that we need, so we can trust him completely. His timing is perfect - even if it doesn’t always feel like it! Part of his love for us is that he gives us the very gifts we need to grow into the persons we were created to be. So, we do not need to compare ourselves to other people. I am unique and my gifts are unique - and suit perfectly who I am: and it is the same for you. Understanding this will help the children be thankful for their gifts and the gifts of others.

RHE themes Theme 1: Created and loved by God 1.1.1.1, 1.1.1.2, 1.1.1.3, 1.1.1.4, 1.1.2.1, 1.1.2.2, 1.1.2.3, 1.1.3.1, 1.1.3.2 Theme 2: Created to love others 1.2.1.2, 1.2.1.3, 1.2.1.4, 1.2.1.5, 1.2.2.1, 1.2.2.4, 1.2.2.5, 1.2.3.2, 1.2.4.6 Theme 3: Created to live in community 1.3.3.1, 1.3.3.2, 1.3.3.3

Bible Text Matthew 6:25-34 “Look at the birds of the air…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow…” Building on modules Ra and Rb, the children will see that the God who creates them is the God who also guides them. This will help them understand that there is no need to worry; God will provide, and He gives us the gifts we need to flourish - just like the birds and the lilies.

Modern Text Sally Lloyd-Jones - Baby Wren and the Great Gift Baby Wren enters into the big, wide world and wonders why all of the other creatures can do so many wonderful things that she can’t do. Baby Wren marvels at the greatness of the gifts of every other living creature, and concerns herself with what her gift might be. One day, her great gift just happens to take her by surprise and brings so much joy to all.

Rd1 To understand that God is always caring for us

Teacher note: A suggested activity - a walk outside - is midway through the lesson.

Lesson Objectives Introduction

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVPPXj0L8ck Jesus Cares! Don’t Worry! – Matthew 6:25-34 (1:48). Read out (stopping to discuss and ensure understanding): Jesus said, “Look at the birds in the air. They are not gardeners or farmers. But your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are worth much more than the birds.

“God cares for all, from the least things to the great events of the world and its history.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 303.

Look at the flowers in the field. See how they grow. They don’t work or make clothes. But even King Solomon was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. So you can be sure that God will clothe you, too. Trust in God your Father, and don’t worry about food, or clothes or growing, or the future. Your Father in heaven knows what you need, even more than you do. The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants” (based on Mt. 6:24-33). Class discussion: Ask (these might be more of a summary, if you have been asking questions as you read the passage): • What does Jesus say about the birds of the air? They are provided with the food they need. • What does he say about the flowers that grow? They look beautiful, without making clothes. • What does he tell us not to do? Worry. • What does he tell us to do? Trust in God our Father.

God is always caring for us.

Activity: Go on a walk around school grounds/local area. See how many types of birds and flowers you can spot. Do they look worried!? This is simply to reinforce what we have just heard Jesus tell us. Respond and teach Circle Time: Use relaxing music to help create the right atmosphere. Explain: The birds and the flowers don’t worry about anything. God looks after them. Ask: • Do you worry about things sometimes? • What things do you worry about? • How do we feel when we worry? Sad. • Do we feel special when we worry? No. • Do we feel bigger or smaller when we worry? Smaller. • Yes, when we worry, we tend to feel sad, not special, and small - unimportant. Who or what helps you not to worry? A hug. Someone we trust with us - telling us we will be okay. Yes, worry makes us feel sad, not special, small and unimportant. Love makes us feel happy, special, big and important. Love is the best cure for worry! Ask: • What should we do when we are worried? Tell someone we trust. You can always tell me, as your teacher. • What will that person do? Whatever is needed to help us not worry.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

God looks after the birds and flowers.

“Your heavenly Father knows all your needs. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on God’s saving justice, and all these other things will be given you as well.” Matthew 6:33

God tames our worries.

• Does it matter who tells us not to worry? Yes. Because we also need to trust that they are right! • Imagine a lion leapt into the classroom now. How would you feel? Scared! Worried! Afraid! • Yes, and you’d be right to be! How would you feel if your friend next to you said not to worry or be afraid? Maybe a bit better, but still scared! Because your friend can’t really stop the lion gobbling you up! • How would you feel if I told you not to be afraid about the lion? Much better, because I could protect you a bit from the lion. • How would you feel if a lion tamer was here and told you not to worry? Much, much better - because you know they can protect you. Explain: God loves you so much that he never wants you to worry, and because he is God, he can always protect you. He is our heavenly Father and he loves us, cares for us and is all powerful. God knows everything that we need, so we can trust him and stop worrying! Do you remember the song we learnt? Let’s sing it again - remembering the words: God made me; God loves me; God helps me; God keeps me. Today we have been learning about how he helps and keeps me.

Sharing is caring!

Mission Look out for anyone in class who is worried.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeVGI4jXaSs God made me Action Bible Songs (1:30). Activity: Create a ‘worry’ box for the classroom. Children to write or draw a worry they sometimes have on some paper, and then place all of their worries into the box and give them over to God in a symbolic way (e.g. through a class prayer service, leaving the box at the foot of the Cross. Maybe finish the service with an Our Father - to the father who promises to care for them.) The box can be kept in class, and if a child is ever worried about something, can be encouraged to write or draw it and place it in the box after they have spoken to you about it.

Rd2 To trust that God gives us the gifts that we need to grow

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Recap - watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iiz_5LA_uz8 Jesus said ‘Do not worry’ - Matthew 6:25-33 (1:16). This is a different version of lesson 1’s video. Feel free to re-read the passage based on Mt. 6:24-33 in lesson 1. Remind the children that Jesus has told us that we never have to worry about anything, because God loves us so much and will give us everything that we need, to keep us safe and help us grow. Explain: We are going to learn today that part of what God gives us to help us grow is our gifts. And through them, we can help others grow too. If you can have various wrapped presents of different sizes, then this would work even better - but if not simply refer to the slide on the powerpoint. Ask: • What do you see here? Lots of presents! • If you could have one of these presents, which would you choose? They might choose the largest - they might just be uncertain. We don’t really know - the big one might be a drill, or an iron, or a toaster - and most of you wouldn’t be excited about that. Another one might be a doll or a train set which some of you would like, and some of you wouldn’t. • So, how do we know which present - or gift - would be best for you? (They might need the next two questions to help them with this one.) • What do presents often have on them? Wrapping paper, yes, but often a name tag as well. • Why do the gifts have a name tag on them? So we know who they are for. • So, which present - or gift - would be best for you? The one that was chosen for me. Yes, we don’t know which present is best for us - but we can trust the person who has got us the gift that they will pick one that’s right for us. Explain: It’s the same with God. He has given us all special gifts (or presents). They help us to grow. And they help us to help each other. Your gifts can help me. And my gifts can help you. When someone who loves us chooses a gift for us, they will normally know to get one that is good for us. But sometimes they might not - sometimes they might think it is what we need, but it isn’t. They might get you some clothes that didn’t fit you! Or a jigsaw that was too hard for you. But God knows us completely, so he always gives us gifts that are just right for us. He doesn’t get it wrong.

“There are many different gifts, but it is always the same Spirit. There are many different ways of serving, but it is always the same Lord. There are many different forms of activity, but in everybody it is the same God who is at work in them all. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Opening our gifts to God.

We are each unique and special. You are unique and special. I am unique and special. And we are all given unique and special gifts - especially for us! Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL36Pq3Ra4o I Am Special – Yes I Am (1:51). Ask: • Did you hear some of those words in the song? One line was ‘hair is curly, hair is straight’: • Who has curly hair?.... Who has straight hair?.... Is straight hair better than curly hair? No. Is straight hair better than curly? No. No - they’re just different. • Would it look nicer if we all had straight hair? No. Would it look nicer if we all had curly hair? No. No, it’s actually nicer that we’re different. • Another line was ‘different colour, eyes and skin’: Who has blue eyes?... Who has green eyes? Who has brown eyes? Does anyone have eyes of a different colour to these?... Gifts are for giving.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Example Activities 1. Create a ‘My Special Gifts’ jar to be filled with all of the wonderful things each child can do. 2.Write gift tags with the name of the other person and a picture of a gift they have - and present to each other.

United in giving. Would it be better if we all had blue eyes? No. Or green eyes? No. Or brown eyes? No. No, it’s actually nicer that we have different colour eyes. • Who has brown skin?... Who has white skin?... Who has black skin?... (Teacher Note: The skin of people with different Asian ethnicities is often described as having a yellow to red tone, but there still is controversy over how best to describe it, so it might be better to ask any Asian child in your class what colour their skin is, and work from there.) • Would it be better if we were all the same colour? No. No, it’s actually nicer that we have different coloured skin. Respond and teach Teacher Note: You could continue with class discussion, or move to Circle Time, beginning with relaxing music to help set the scene. Explain: Another line we heard in the song was: ‘we can all do different things’. • What things are you particularly good at doing? • What special gift(s) do you think you have?

“A charism is more than a talent or personal quality. It is a grace, a gift that God gives through the Holy Spirit. Not because someone is better than the others, but rather so that they can put it at the service of others with the same gratitude and love with which they first received it.” Pope Francis

Ask the children to choose someone else in the class. • What do you think their special gift is? • What makes them special to you (i.e. as a friend)?

Mission

Teacher Note: You can do this for a few children, and then you pick a child or two, also.

Use a gift given to you by God to make Him and others happy.

Ask: What would you like to do/be good at when you grow up? Explain: Remember, God gives us the gifts we need to grow and to help others. He gives us our special gifts and he will show us what they are as we learn and grow. So you don’t know all your gifts yet - but you do know that you’ve got the right gifts for being you! That means we don’t have to worry. You have gifts. You have the right gifts for you. Others have gifts. They have the right gifts for them. Isn’t God clever? He helps us to all grow and be happy.

Rd3 To know that God has given us all special gifts

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Read the story of Baby Wren and the Great Gift, by Sally Lloyd-Jones. Discuss the story to draw out the meaning and check the children’s understanding, using the following questions to guide the discussion: • What wonderful things did Baby Wren see in the world? Butterflies (monarchs!), the grass, the river. Mind map the wonderful things Baby Wren sees, then add from the following question. • Why does Baby Wren think the other animals are wonderful? The kingfisher can fish, the ring-tailed cats can do cartwheels, the sunfish can splash and the eagles can soar. • Do you think Baby Wren wants to do all of the things that the other animals do? Yes. • Why can’t Baby Wren do the same things as the other animals in the story? Because she’s not made that way! Ask: • When morning breaks, and the sun comes out, what gift does Baby Wren discover she has? She can sing. Add Baby Wren singing to the mind map. • What does Baby Wren sing about? All the wonderful things she’s seen. • Why does she say ‘thank you’? Because she thinks the gifts of the other animals are wonderful. • Who do you think she is saying thank you to? God. • Why do the other animals think that Baby Wren’s gift is so wonderful? Because even though she is so little, her song is bigger than the whole canyon! • Do you agree?

“As it is, these remain: faith, hope and love, the three of them; and the greatest of them is love.” 1 Cor 13:13

God gives you a special gift.

Respond and teach Circle Time: Use relaxing music to help create the right atmosphere. Explain: Baby Wren sang about the wonderful gifts of the other animals. And they all were thankful for her gift of singing that was bigger than the whole canyon. What can we learn from this? Our gifts work together. Ask: Did it matter that Baby Wren was small? No. And it doesn’t matter how small we are either! Do you remember how we said we felt when we were worried? Sad, not special, and small - unimportant. When we trust in God we don’t feel small, so we find it easier to use our gifts. Remember, from the red squirrel and his Dad in Just because you’re Mine - you are special and important because you are loved; you are not loved because you are special. So, the best way to be happy and to trust is to thank God for your gifts.

Baby wren singing.

Explain: God wants us all to grow together. If the other animals hadn’t got gifts, Baby Wren wouldn’t have been able to sing about them. If Baby Wren hadn’t sung about them, no one else would know about the other animals’ gifts. When we use our gifts well, we work as a team and everyone grows! Explain: We all have gifts! There are gifts of love and other gifts. Our gifts of love are more important: because loving is the most important thing of all. Ask: what gifts of love have we got? I’ll start us off: being kind, smiling. How many more can we think of? Giving thanks to God. 38

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Example Activities 1. Create character masks and act out the gifts of each animal in the story, talking about what makes each animal special. 2. Can the children guess which animal and which gift is which (e.g. charadesstyle game)?

We each have super gifts.

E.g. Saying ‘please’; being polite; letting someone in class play with you; saying ‘sorry’; letting someone use your toy; being helpful; looking after someone who has hurt themselves etc. It would be good to make a parallel mind map to the Baby Wren. Highlight that the different gifts of the animals complemented each other; and the different ‘gifts of love’ mean we all can share too. Ask: Now, let’s go back to the last lesson: can we remember what other gifts we have? (This was in Respond & Teach: obviously go back to what was said, but they might include singing, running, counting, drawing, swimming, painting, etc.) Make a third mind map of these gifts as well. Help the children see the similarity between this one and the animal one from the story - and that if we all use our ‘gifts of love’ then our talents are always gifts to each other too. Explain: we have learnt a lot about God helping us grow, and giving us gifts. Let’s finish by listening to Jesus again about trusting in God, and not worrying - including not worrying what our gifts are. Watch: Jesus Cares! Don’t Worry! – Matthew 6:25-34 (1:48) from lesson 1. Explain: And, the best way to grow in our ‘gifts of love’ and all our other gifts - is to always offer them back to God in thanks.

As an alternative, you could use the hymn If I were a butterfly and make masks of the animals mentioned. Then get the children to join in as the animals as they all sing using the words of the hymn to help the children discern what gift each animal has.

“Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you! Do not be afraid to dream of great things!” Pope Francis, twitter

Mission Be thankful to God for the gifts that make you ever more unique and special.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_g76phMf5E A Gift to You (Everything I Am) with lyrics (2:51). The children can join in - especially the ‘echo’ parts.

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A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

God feeds us every day Lesson Objectives Lesson 1: To know the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. Lesson 2: To understand that we all need healthy food to live and grow. Lesson 3: To know that God feeds my body, mind and heart.

Teacher Notes In this module the children will hear how Jesus miraculously fed 5000 people. In the last module, they learnt how we can trust God with our lives; in this story they learn how we can trust him each day - he will give us ‘our daily bread’. We should always be thankful for this and ask him to bless our food. All this will lead us to think about eating sensibly so we can grow big and strong and healthy. Even our little offerings to God can make a difference. We will then look at how God also feeds us with truth and love, so that our minds and hearts can grow big and strong and healthy as well. Other people help us in all these - and we can help ourselves too.

RHE themes Theme 1: Created and loved by God 1.1.1.1, 1.1.1.2, 1.1.1.4, 1.1.2.1, 1.1.3.6, 1.1.5.1 Theme 2: Created to love others 1.2.1.6, 1.2.2.4, 1.2.2.5, 1.2.3.2, 1.2.3.4 Theme 3: Created to live in community1.3.1.3, 1.3.2.2, 1.3.3.1

Bible Text Matthew 14:13-21 - The Feeding of the Five Thousand The children will hear how Jesus miraculously uses a boy’s lunch to feed a huge crowd of people. They will begin to understand that we can trust God to provide for our needs.

Modern Text Eric Carle – The Very Hungry Caterpillar The story follows the journey of the Very Hungry Caterpillar as he discovers the consequences of making unhealthy choices. One day, he finds the perfect, green, healthy leaf that makes all the difference and enables him to transform into the most beautiful of butterflies.

Re1 To know the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCA4oivfSYk The Beginner’s Bible Collector’s Edition - Jesus Feeds Thousands (1:33). Read the story of the feeding of the 5,000 from your Children’s Bible or use the following, based on Mt. 14:13-21. ‘One day, Jesus and his disciples were very tired and so went, by boat, to a quiet place to rest. But when they got there, there were over 5,000 people waiting to see Jesus. He healed the sick and taught them all about the kingdom of heaven. Soon it was time to eat. The disciples went to Jesus and said, “It is getting late and everyone is hungry.” Jesus said, “You feed them.”“Feed them?” they replied, “How can we feed them?”They found a small boy who had five loaves and two fish. Jesus took the loaves and fish, blessed them and looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He asked the disciples to give the food to the people. Everyone ate until they were full! After they had eaten, the disciples gathered up twelve baskets full of leftovers. What an amazing miracle of love!’

“Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowds.” Mt. 14:19

Discuss the story to draw out the meaning and check the children’s understanding. Use the following questions to guide the discussion: • What did Jesus see when he got out of the boat with his disciples? Over 5,000 people waiting for him. • Why did they come to see him? To listen to him tell them about God, and for the poorly to be made better. • Why do you think that the disciples asked Jesus to tell the crowds to go away? Because it was late, and everyone was hungry - and it takes a lot of food to feed 5,000 people! • Why didn’t Jesus tell the crowds to go home? Because he cared for them, and knew he could feed them. • Where did he get the five loaves and two fishes from? From a small boy who was willing to help. • What did Jesus do with the five loaves and the two fish? He blessed them, and looked up to heaven to give thanks for them. • How many full baskets were left over at the end of the meal? 12!

Jesus feeds the 5,000.

Optional activity: re-enact the story through role-play/drama, using freeze frames to focus and reflect on the thoughts and feelings of the characters. Respond and teach Circle Time: Use relaxing music to help create the right atmosphere.

The boy gave Jesus 5 loaves and 2 fish.

Explain: Jesus blessed the food. When God blesses something he helps it do what it was meant to do! So, when he blesses you and me, that helps us be good and grow. When he blesses a home, he helps it be a place of love and peace. And when he blesses food, he helps it feed us properly. This time, when Jesus blessed it he more than helped it feed the boy - he helped it feed 5,000 people! This was what we call a miracle - when God helps us grow in a very special way - even more than in our ordinary life. He also remembered to thank God for the food. Ask: How do you think the disciples and the crowd felt when Jesus did this miracle? Explain: They would have been very happy and grateful because they were very hungry and Jesus provided food for them to eat. 42

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Family grace before meals.

Example Activity 1. In groups, with T/TA support, write a prayer to thank God for our food, and ask him to bless it. Alternatively, learn the prayer song from earlier. Share the prayer with the rest of the school at lunchtime.

Jesus always leads us.

We too should be thankful for the food we have every day, and remember those who don’t always have enough to eat. We should also always ask God to bless our meals before we eat them. Watch & Pray: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOXJ-Ua9f5A Thank You for our Food, Prayers for Kids (0:38). This is a very simple prayer, thanking God for the food we have, for the people who help provide it, and that we have enough food - and praying for any children who don’t. This could obviously be played again before lunch, if applicable. Explain: Remember how we heard Jesus tell us about the birds and the flowers? That God looks after each bird and each flower - and that we are each worth much more than them? He taught us that God loves us so much - that every one of us is important to him -and so we don’t have to worry. (We now even have our worry box to help us let go of our worries, onto him.) Jesus promises to look after us - not just all through life, but here and now, today. He knows what we need to grow strong and healthy; he knows what we need to be happy and he will provide all that we need. In the story, he provides the food the people need; later we will also think of how he ‘feeds’ us in different ways. Always giving us what we need isn’t the same as getting everything that we want, like new toys or expensive presents! We might like those things, but we don’t actually need them to be happy and healthy. We also need to be patient when we don’t get what we want.

“Every blessing praises God and prays for his gifts. In Christ, Christians are blessed by God the Father “with every spiritual blessing” (Eph. 1:3). This is why the Church imparts blessings by invoking the name of Jesus, usually while making the holy sign of the cross of Christ.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1671.

Mission Say the prayer we have learnt, before your meals this week, at home and at school.

Ask: Who likes being hungry? Not me. But we enjoy our food more when we are hungry - so it’s not always good to get what we want, when we want it. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3X6OZRgUZI Twos: Jesus Feeds 5000 (Song - 1:33). Perhaps get them to clap in time when the clapping hands are visible. Well, at least try!

Re2 To understand that we all need healthy food to live and grow

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Read the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

“Give us each day our daily bread…”

Discuss the story to draw out the meaning and check the children’s understanding.

Lk. 11:2 (also see the Our Father)

Use the following questions to guide the discussion: • What do we know about the caterpillar? He was always hungry! • What did he do every day? Eat! More and more! • What did he eat on Saturday? Can you remember? One piece of chocolate cake, one icecream cone, one pickle, one slice of swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cup cake and one slice of watermelon. • How did he feel that night? He had a stomach ache! Not surprisingly! • Should he have eaten all of that food? No. Why not? He didn’t need it all, and there was a lot of unhealthy food. (He did need a lot because he was growing, but perhaps not that much!) • What food did he eat on Sunday? One nice green leaf. • How did he feel after eating this healthy food? Much better. • What happens to the caterpillar after this? How does he grow and change? He built a small house, called a cocoon, and after two weeks inside it, he emerged as a beautiful butterfly!

Healthy foods help us grow.

Happy and healthy.

Transformed into a beautiful butterfly. Respond and teach Maybe as Circle Time: use relaxing music to help create the right atmosphere. Explain: Isn’t it amazing how caterpillars can turn into beautiful butterflies! Not all animals change in such a surprising way, but they all grow from maybe being inside an egg, to being a baby, to being small, to being a grown-up animal. We don’t change in such a surprising way either - but each of you is going to grow into ‘God’s amazing butterfly’, in your own special way. The caterpillar definitely needed food, to help him live and grow. But he needed healthy food - and not too little, not too much. We are the same. We need food to live and grow. But we need healthy food - not too little, not too much.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Mind map: How many healthy foods can we think of?

Example Activities 1. Design a healthy dinner plate, showing that we can make good food choices. 2. Make a caterpillar. See https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=sX1BCvNqBpo (0:46) or similar. 3. Sequence the days of the week, showing what the caterpillar ate each day. 4. Create symmetrical butterfly paintings using folded paper and paint.

Ask: What is your favourite food? Is it healthy? Why should we try to eat healthy foods most of the time?

“We should take good care of our bodies, but also our souls. What is essential is health, complete, body and soul.” Pope Francis

Explain: It’s okay to have a treat, like chocolate or chips or ice cream, from time to time. But for us to be strong and healthy we need to make good choices, and eat fruit and vegetables. Ask: Are you always thankful when food is given you? Do you sulk sometimes if you don’t get what you wanted? If we are thankful to God for our food, we will be grateful for the food that others give us, rather than sulk that I wanted something else and so won’t try anything different. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JldSBUQB34 The Healthy Eating Song (1:35). The children can join in the ‘1-2-3’ and will probably join in more if you play it twice.

Mission At lunch today, remind each other that the healthy food you eat is making you grow just as God wants you to.

Explain: Jesus fed the 5,000 people. But he needed a little help from the boy, who had the five loaves and two fish. God provides us with so much food, and gives us so many people who provide us with the food, but in the same way, he needs a little help from us - choosing food that is good for us, and always being thankful for what we are given.

Re3 To know that God feeds my body, mind and heart

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Recap - watch: The Beginner’s Bible Collector’s Edition - Jesus Feeds Thousands (from lesson 1 - 1:33 - the first 16s aren’t needed). Recap on the Feeding of the 5,000. Jesus taught the people, and made the poorly ones better - and then fed them all with an amazing miracle.

Jesus said,“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Jn. 14:6

He wanted to rest, but loved the people so much, he didn’t rest, but instead he taught them about God’s love. Then he wanted to feed them, but there wasn’t much food but that didn’t stop him. Nothing can stop him loving us and giving us what we need. Jesus teaches us that God will provide everything we need and that he will always take care of us. We should always be grateful to God for feeding us. Explain: When we were thinking about plants growing, we also learnt that we were like plants, but we grow on the outside, and on the inside - in ways you can see, and ways you can’t (lesson Rc2). We are also like animals, but again, we grow on the outside and on the inside - in ways that you can see and ways that you can’t. All growth needs feeding. Jesus wants us to grow in three ways - so he feeds us in three ways! (Get the children to put both hands on tummy, head and heart as you explain the following three lines.)

I grow outside and inside.

He wants us to grow in our bodies - so he gives us food for our tummies. He also wants us to grow in our minds - he wants us to learn lots of things - so he gives food for our minds. He also wants us to grow in love - so he gives food for our hearts. Respond and teach (Maybe as Circle Time.) Let’s think a little bit more about the three ways God feeds us. Ask: how does God feed our bodies? Through food. Yes, now let’s think of as many people we can who help feed us: mummy, daddy, family, dinner ladies (lunchtime supervisors), farmers, delivery drivers, shop keepers, etc. Explain: It’s not God or these people who feed us; God feeds us through them - they help him feed us.

God feeds my body, mind and heart.

Ask: how does he feed our minds? Where do we learn new things? Home, school - and in church we especially learn about Jesus. Yes, what meals are to our tummies, lessons are to our minds. So, who helps feed our minds? Mummy and Daddy, me and other teachers, the priest, etc. Explain: We say that Jesus is the Truth (Jn. 14:6) because he teaches us. Again, it’s not God or these people who feed our minds: God feeds us through them - they help him to feed our minds. Ask: how does God feed our hearts? Through love. Yes, what meals are to our tummies, love is to our hearts, helping them grow.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

I need healthy ‘food’ for my mind and heart.

Example Activity 1. Draw a picture of yourself helping feed your tummy; helping feed your mind; and helping feed your heart. Downloadable template available online.

Truth feeds my mind. So, who helps feed our hearts? Mummy and Daddy, family, me and other teachers, our priest, friends, everyone who loves us, etc. Explain: We say Jesus is our Life (Jn. 14:6) because his love makes our hearts grow into ‘beautiful butterflies’.

“The Lord Jesus, who became for us the food of truth and love, speaks of the gift of his life and assures us that “if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever” Pope Benedict XVI

Say together: Jesus feeds our body, mind and heart (putting hands on tummy, head and heart as they say it). Once again, it’s not God or these people who feed our hearts: God feeds us through them - they help him to feed our hearts. When our bodies, minds and hearts are fed by Jesus we grow, and grow and grow - so we say he is our Way (Jn. 14:6) - because he leads us to life. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e8LJq9Nemo Jesus is The Way, The Shepherd, The Vine (2:27). Maybe a little bit hard to follow - and join in with! - but it reinforces Jesus helping us grow etc. When you are older, Jesus will feed you in a very special way - with his own Body and Blood in the Holy Mass - but that is something for us to think about another day. Explain: We can help God help us grow! When we choose healthy food we are making a good choice, that helps me to grow. Ask: • How can I help feed my mind? I can listen in class, I can always do my best, I can read at home, etc. • How can I help feed my heart? My heart grows when it is loved and when it loves, so I help feed my heart by loving. Let’s think of some ways: sharing my toys; helping to tidy things away; going to bed without a fuss; playing nicely with my brother or sister; saying thank you to mummy, etc.

Love feeds my heart.

Mission Ask someone at home to help feed your mind by reading with you.

Explain: So when I eat healthily, do my best in class and love others I’m being like the boy who gave Jesus the five loaves and two fish - I’m helping, and Jesus turns my little efforts into something big! Watch: Twos: Jesus Feeds 5000 (Song, from lesson 1 - 1:33).

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A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

God saves us Lesson Objectives Lesson 1: To know the story of Noah’s Ark. Lesson 2: To understand the importance of making good choices. Lesson 3: To know that listening and loving make God happy.

Teacher Notes In this module the children are taught about God saving us and that our good and bad choices have consequences. This includes the truth that our good choices make God, others and ourselves happier, and our bad choices make everyone sadder. The story of Noah’s Ark helps the children see what would happen if everyone was bad. Noah was a good man: he listened to God, he cared for people and for creation. He and his family became a new start for the world. The olive branch, the dove and the rainbow are all signs that God wants us to be happy and live in peace - and if we live like Noah and his family, we can - and we help others to do the same. Noah is a reflection of Jesus, but what Noah does for his family, Jesus does for the whole world. The waters of the flood reflect the waters of Baptism which doesn’t destroy people, but destroys evil - which leads us to a simple exploration of Baptism, life, happiness and peace as God’s family.

RHE themes Theme 1: Created and Loved by God 1.1.1.2, 1.1.1.3, 1.1.1.4, 1.1.2.2, 1.1.2.4, 1.1.4.5 Theme 2: Created to love others 1.2.1.1, 1.2.1.3, 1.2.1.4, 1.2.2.1, 1.2.2.2, 1.2.2.3, 1.2.3.5, 1.2.3.6, 1.2.3.7, 1.2.4.2 Theme 3: Created to live in community 1.3.1.1, 1.3.2.1, 1.3.2.2, 1.3.3.2, 1.3.3.3, 1.3.3.4

Bible Text Genesis 6:11-9:19 – Noah’s Ark The children will hear the amazing story of Noah’s Ark - from how God asks Noah to build an ark so as to save his family and all the animals, through the flood itself, on to the new start that God gives the earth after the waters go. This is a longer story - and full of meaning and fun - so there is no modern story needed to complement it in this module.

Rf1

To know the story of Noah’s Ark

Introduction

Lesson Objectives Explain: We learnt about God creating Adam and Eve in the beautiful Garden of Eden. He asked them to be his loving gardeners. He asks us to be ‘loving gardeners’ - helping ourselves and each other grow. (The story was covered in Module b; the development to us being ‘loving gardeners’ is in Module c.) We also learnt about Jesus feeding the 5,000. From this we learnt that making good, healthy choices helps us and others grow in our bodies, minds and hearts. (This was in Module e.) Let’s think about some of the choices we sometimes make. Ask: what good choices can you make in the classroom? Helping your teacher; doing your best; being kind to each other, etc. How do you feel when you have been good? Happy. How do I feel when you have been good? Happy. How do all the other children feel when you have been good? Happy. And how does God, your Father, feel when you have been good? Happy - like a proud dad! So, when we are good, everyone is happier!

God said,“...the earth is full of lawlessness because of human beings. So I am now going to destroy them and the earth. Make yourself an ark out of resinous wood. … with you, I shall establish my covenant.” Genesis 6: 14, 18.

What bad choices can you make in the classroom? Shouting out; pushing each other out of the way; being mean to each other, leaving things messy, etc. But how do you feel when you have been bad? Sad. Yes - being bad doesn’t actually make us happy! How do I feel when you have been bad? Sad. How do all the other children feel when you have been bad? Sad. And how does God, your Father, feel when you have been bad? Sad - he still loves you, but hates seeing you hurting others. So, when we are bad, everyone is sadder! But we still do it! Explain: When one of you is bad, and the others are good, the classroom still ‘works’ because only one person is being naughty. Ask: • What would happen if all of you were bad at the same time? Chaos! We would all be sad. • What would happen if all of you were bad all the time? Complete chaos! We would all be sad, and no one would ever learn anything. • What would happen if everyone in the world was bad all the time? Yuck, what a horrible place God’s beautiful earth would become. Explain: We are now going to learn a story about Noah. He was a good man in a world where everyone else was behaving very badly. The story is about how God asked Noah to help him make things better. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Wbfp7fzhj4YNoah (2:12).

Noah’s Ark and the rainbow.

Back up the video by reading Noah’s story from your Children’ Bible. We’ve started with a simple version, and in lesson 2 we will look at a longer one; you reading the story will help immerse them in it, and prepare them for the fuller video version. Check understanding: the following questions may help: • How were people behaving, at the beginning of the story? Badly - all of them. They had stopped listening to God. • Who was the only person who was listening to God and making good choices? Noah. • What did God ask Noah to do? Build an ark - a big boat. • Who did Noah build the ark for? His family and all the animals. • How did the animals enter the ark? Two by two. • What happened next? There was a big flood. • How long did it rain for? 40 days and 40 nights. • After that, what did Noah send out three times? A dove. • What did the dove bring back the second time? An olive branch.

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Choosing to be helpful.

He then knew it was safe for his family and the animals to get out of the ark, onto dry land. • Why did God want to save Noah and his family, and two of every kind of living creature? To start again - like Adam and Eve and all the animals had done. God even gave Noah and his family the same instructions as Adam and Eve. • What did Noah do when everyone was safe? He thanked God in prayer (sacrificed to him - which is now the Mass). • Was God pleased with Noah? Yes, he was very happy with Noah. God promised never to destroy the earth again, and made the rainbow a sign of this promise, and of peace. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht-5bMHrJog Mister Noah Built An Ark (1:21).

Example Activities 1. Create an ark collage using craft sticks glued on to paper or card. 2. Paper plate design; half rainbow, half ark. See https://www.daniellesplace.com/ html/bible_themes_noah.html for both of these activities.

Respond and teach (Maybe as Circle Time.) Ask: • How do you think Noah felt about the job he had been asked to do? He might have been scared of trying to build such a big boat; thought he was going to look stupid building it when there was no rain; worried about the flood; glad to be able to protect his family; pleased that God had chosen him for the job. • What would have been hard about spending 40 days in the ark? Not being able to ‘go outside’ properly, all the animals!, not much to do (a bit like lockdown really). • What would have been good about spending 40 days in the ark? Spending time with the family, having this ‘adventure’ with them, lots of animals to ‘explore’. • How do you think Noah and his family felt when they could finally leave the Ark? Thankful, happy, relieved, excited at a new start, etc. • Why did Noah and his family thank God? Because he had saved them. • How did they show they were thankful? Noah offered a prayer of sacrifice - this was the old version of going to Mass, now. • How did God feel about Noah and his family? He was very happy. They had listened to him and helped each other, and protected the animals.

“This covenant (with Noah) represents a model, a symbol, a figure of the New Covenant which God made with all humanity in Jesus Christ, through his death on the Cross and his Resurrection.” Pope John Paul II

Do you remember what we said at the beginning of the lesson about being good or naughty in class? At the beginning of the story, nearly everyone was being naughty - and everyone was sad. At the end, God, Noah, and his family, were all happy: they had listened to God the Father who only ever wants his children to be happy. Ask: • Do you think I enjoy telling you off in class when you have done something naughty? No. • So, why do I do it? So that you can stop being naughty, say sorry, and the whole class can be happy again. • Do you think God enjoyed sending the flood? No! • So why did he do it? So that humans would stop being naughty, say sorry, and the whole world could be happy again. God, parents, and teachers don’t like punishing those we love - but sometimes we have to, to help you be good and happy. Explain: The story of Noah’s Ark is a story of God’s love for us and all creation even if it includes a big flood. He wanted everyone to be good and happy - and even though he could only find one person willing to listen to him, he could still save the whole world because of that. Next time you see a rainbow, remember it is a sign of God’s peace and his wanting to save us. (It is also now a reminder of all the health workers who worked so hard to keep us safe and happy during the Covid illness.)

Listening to God and making good choices.

Mission Listen to God and make good choices.

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To understand the importance of making good choices

Teacher Note: The video that we focus on today is a longer version of the story Lesson Objectives of Noah. It develops what the children have learnt in last lesson’s video, and the story being read out. It is a longer video than usual, so we have divided it into three. It also contains several more difficult words, including righteousness, convince, abandon, assemble. We ask you to be aware of this - but hope that the whole context of the words will help comprehension in itself. This lesson looks at the first two thirds of the video - developing the children’s understanding of their relationship with God, and then with those around them - particularly the call to still be kind even when others are not being kind to us, or doing things that are wrong. Next lesson includes the third part of the video. Introduction Last lesson we learnt about Noah and his building the Ark. Recap to see what the children remember. To help, watch: Mister Noah Built An Ark (1:21) from lesson 1. Explain: Today we are going to look at the story more closely and learn from Noah and his family how good choices in our relationships with God and each other makes a real difference - in the story it made all the difference in the world! Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vjjhMWJ2wE Noah’s Ark Bible Story For Kids (only up to 2:56).

“You will go aboard the ark, yourself, your sons, your wife, and your sons’wives along with you. From all living creatures, from all living things, you must take two of each kind aboard the ark, to save their lives with yours; they must be a male and a female.” Genesis 6:18-19

Circle Time: begin with relaxing music to help set the scene. Explain: In this video we heard God talking to Noah, so we are going to think about God’s relationship with Noah and what it tells us about God’s relationship with each of us. Ask: • Does God love us all? Yes. Does God love us all the same? Yes. (Though not in the same way!) • What was God going to do to all the other people? He was going to let them die in the flood. • What was God going to do to Noah and his family? He was going to save them from the flood - by getting Noah to build an Ark. • What were the people doing to make God so angry with them? They didn’t love him, or pray to him; they were selfish and only cared about themselves. • What did God ask Noah to tell the other people? To turn back to God; to be kind; to stop being selfish; to be caring. So, God didn’t want to punish them - he wanted them to be good so that everyone could be happy. So, he was loving Noah by protecting him, and loving the others by telling them he was going to punish them if they didn’t say sorry, and be good. God gets angry with our naughtiness, but he never stops loving us, never stops wanting what is best for us. • When mummy or daddy or I have to tell you off, how do you feel? Sad; maybe ‘it’s not fair’; maybe that mummy is being mean to me! • But who is making things sad? The one who is telling you off, or you for being naughty in the first place? The one being naughty. • Yes, just as you make things happy when you are good.

Noah listens to God.

Noah pleads with his friend.

Explain: We might have felt the same about God at the start of the story - it might have sounded like God was being mean and uncaring. But he just wanted the people to stop doing wrong. He always loves us too, and if he tells us off, it is to help us always be good. Two last questions: • How did Noah feel when God asked him to build a big ark? A bit scared - he didn’t know how to!

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Friendly with everyone in class.

• How did God stop him worrying? God told him that if he followed his instructions, all would be well. Explain: We can feel like Noah, when God asks us to do things for him. We can feel very small, when the world is so big. But he tells us the same thing he told Noah: if we trust him and follow his instructions we can do great things! Maybe God will ask you to do something, like he did Noah - because you are a good person. Explain: In all this we see that our choices make a difference! When we choose to be naughty, we make people sad. When we choose to be good, we make people happy. When we choose to trust God and listen to him, we can do great things. But one thing our choices don’t change is how much God loves you. Nothing you can do will make God love you more, or make him love you less. He. Loves. You. Forever. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T4aR5grxy8 God loves you so much (2:53). Respond and teach (This lesson is more ‘two halves’ - so there is less of a distinction between Introduction and Respond & Teach.) Explain: We are now going to look at how Noah had to make choices when the other people didn’t believe him. Watch: Noah’s Ark Bible Story For Kids (from 2:56 to 6:06). Ask: • What did Noah call the men asking him what he was doing? Friend. • What did they ask him? They asked Noah what he was doing. • What did he tell them? That he was building an ark, because God had asked him to, because a flood was coming. • Did they believe him? No. • What did Noah ask them to do? To stop being uncaring, to turn back to God, to say sorry - and to join him on the ark so that they could be saved. • What words did they use about Noah? They said he was mad, that he was talking nonsense, that he was a fool, and that his ark was stupid. • Was this nice of them? No. • What could have happened if they had just said sorry? Everything could have been mended. • What did Noah still call them? His friends.

Example Activities 1. Using available percussion instruments, make rainstorm music. 2. Make face masks of animals - two of whatever animals you choose. 3. Add the two together! Get some children to wear the masks and walk onto the ark in twos, while others are playing rainstorm music!

‘Although“the wickedness of man was great in the earth” (Gen 6:5) and the Lord “was sorry that he had made man on the earth” (Gen 6:6), nonetheless, through Noah, who remained innocent and just, God decided to open a path of salvation. In this way he gave humanity the chance of a new beginning. All it takes is one good person to restore hope!’

Let’s now think about us and our friends: • Should we be friendly with everyone in class and at home? Yes. • What should we do if they start calling us names like the people did to Noah? Walk away, and not be nasty back. • What should we do if our friends try to make us do something that is naughty? Still listen to God, not them. • Is this easy? No, sometimes it can be hard. • What happens if we are always kind and always listen to God? We grow to be big and happy and healthy - and we help our friends to be the same. • What can happen if we do wrong but then say sorry? Everything can be mended.

Mission

Explain: God and Noah kept loving and loving the other people but sadly they still didn’t listen.

Be like Noah: still be kind to someone if they call you names.

Pope Francis, Laudato si’ n. 71

Let’s be more like Noah and God, and not like the other people in the story. Sometimes this means we have to be brave and still be kind, even when we don’t get what we want straight away. To finish off on a lighter note watch: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=C5uVhsXqyc0 Who built the Ark (4:02).

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To know that listening and loving make God happy.

Teacher Note: This lesson focuses on the final third of our video clip, and the Lesson Objectives happy ending of the story - the dove, the rainbow, God’s promise to never send another flood to destroy all the earth, how happy God, Noah, his family and all the animals were because they lived in harmony - and how they soon filled the earth! It then links this in a little with Jesus, Baptism, and all being part of God’s family. Introduction We have learnt a lot about Noah and his building the Ark, and about how he listened to God and was kind to the other people, even when they weren’t. Recap to see what the children remember. To help, watch: Mister Noah Built An Ark (1:21), from lesson 1. Watch: Noah’s Ark Bible Story For Kids (6:07 to the end). Ask: • When it had finally stopped raining, what did Noah send out to look for land? A dove. (This version doesn’t mention the raven.) • What did the dove come back with, the first time? Nothing - this showed Noah that there was still no dry land. • What did the dove come back with, the second time? An olive branch - this showed that there were trees growing somewhere! (It is also why an olive branch has always been a symbol of peace.) • What happened when Noah sent the dove out the third time? It didn’t come back which showed that it had found a place to live. • When it was all safe what did God tell Noah? To let his family and all the animals out of the ark. • Who was now happy? Everyone! Noah and his family were safe. The animals could run around again! God was very happy that Noah had helped him save his family and the animals, and that everyone was good. Peace is when everyone and everything is getting on as they should. So, peace makes everyone happy. • What sign did God give Noah of his happiness and his peace? A rainbow. • What does a rainbow look like? Lots of colours in the sky - in a curve. They are beautiful, aren’t they! A rainbow speaks of peace because all the colours are ‘getting on together’. • When have we seen rainbows in people’s windows and on signs recently? As a thank you to all the nurses, doctors and health workers who protected us during Covid. (Obviously, only ask this question if it is relevant to them.) •Yes, again, it spoke of everyone ‘getting on together’ to keep us safe - and us being thankful for them. Explain: God used the water, the dove and the rainbow to help him make things new, but what he most needed was one person who was willing to listen to him, and to help him make things better. That person was Noah. (Three cheers for Noah hip hip… Ok, you can miss this bit out if you want.)

(After the flood) God blessed Noah and his sons ...and said,“He who sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God was man created. Be fruitful and multiply, teem over the earth and subdue it!” Genesis 9:1, 6-7

We make God happy.

Saving us for God.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFXqsuMg3vA Noah, God’s Friend (2:57). Respond and teach Circle Time: begin with relaxing music to help set the scene. Explain: the song we listened to said Noah was God’s friend, and that God was able to make a brand new start because of him, and because of his faith in God and his love for God. Waters of Baptism.

A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

Ask: • Who was Noah able to save? His family. • Why would Noah want to save his family? Because they were important to him. • Why did Noah try and save the other families too? Because all families are important - no matter how different to ours. • What were they saved from? All the bad things that were happening in the world. Yes, they were able to build a new earth - of peace and happiness. But things still go wrong! People are still bad sometimes. We don’t always listen to God or trust him. • But we have an even bigger Saviour! Who is that? Jesus. Explain: Yes, Jesus came to bring us lasting peace and happiness. He doesn’t just save us from the bad things other people do. He saves us from doing bad things ourselves. Noah helps us to understand Jesus more. Even more than Noah, Jesus trusted God, listened to him, and so saved his people. Noah sent out a dove of peace; Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit of peace - who appears as a dove. For Noah, the waters saved him by flooding the earth; in Jesus water saves us through Baptism, when we become children of God. If you want to make an extra link with Module c about building the kingdom of heaven: Noah was able to ‘rebuild’ a new earth; Jesus calls us to help build the kingdom of heaven. Remember the first question? - Who was Noah able to save? His family. Jesus is the same - he saves his family. But Noah only had 8 people in his family. Jesus has everyone who believes in him, in his! Wow. We’re a very big family! Ask: does anyone remember their Baptism? Has anyone been to a Baptism? (If you have learnt more about Baptism in RE, then refer back to this too.) Explain: In Baptism/Christening we become children of God, who is our Father. We become brothers and sisters of Jesus. And so we become brothers and sisters of each other! One big family. And if we are like Noah and Jesus, and we listen to God, we get better and better at being kind to each other.

Example Activities 1. Make a paper plate dove, see https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9okDup2dBNI (3:28) if necessary. 2. Create a rainbow collage from tissue paper. (A good way of teaching colours too!)

The Church has seen in Noah’s ark a prefiguring of salvation by Baptism, for by it“a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water”: The waters of the great flood you made a sign of the waters of Baptism, that make an end of sin and a new beginning of goodness. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1219 (quoting from Easter Vigil blessing of the water).

Jesus teaches us that there is God the Father, that Jesus is God the Son, and that there is God the Holy Spirit: one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Ask: What do we say when we make the Sign of the Cross? Lead the class in making the Sign of the Cross: ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.’ Yes, and we sometimes use holy water to remind us of baptism - just like the flood does! Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeKbXO7Wmj4 Infant Baptism (0:37) for a very short visual aid of a Baptism. Explain: Jesus is happy with you. He can show that happiness more when we listen to him. Jesus doesn’t want to enter an ark. He wants to enter your heart! Let’s let him in so that we can have hearts full of love: for God, for each other, and for all creation. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SIhhVVP7yM&t=1971s Into my heart (it lasts 3:09) - to round off the lesson and the year’s modules.

A happy ending.

Mission Listen to what God wants you to do -and change the whole world!

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A Fertile Heart | Receiving & Giving Creative Love

A Fertile Heart Receiving & Giving Creative Love

It’s a great privilege to help a young child grow in understanding anything; doubly so when it means them understanding themselves. We are all created in love, to live and grow - but maybe that’s particularly obvious though the wonder of a child’s eyes. A Fertile Heart seeks to help you communicate - in a joyful, life-giving way - the truth behind healthy living and good relationships. It firmly links it all to our faith, and then to reason, so that over the course of their school life, the children don’t only learn the externals of good practice, but gradually understand and own the reasons behind it. We provide detailed lesson plans and colourful, interactive powerpoints so that as much of the ‘spadework’ as possible is done for you - allowing you to focus on the actual teaching and discussion. The Reception year focuses on the real beauty of life and growth. Ultimately, we can’t truly understand ourselves, and therefore health and relationship, except in the light of Genesis chapters 1-3, so A Fertile Heart starts with the Bible’s two creation stories. These teach the children that we are deliberately made by God out of love, in his image: as man and woman we are made in the image of God. We are made for relationship with God and each other, and with creation. Especially through Jesus, we belong to God as his family - and he calls us to be ‘loving gardeners’ - of creation, but also of ourselves and each other. Through the parable of the mustard seed, the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus telling us to trust in the Father’s care for us, and the story of Noah, the children will learn that it is God who guides our growth - both ‘’outside’ and ‘inside’ body and soul - by feeding our body, mind and heart: with food, truth and love. He also calls us to help in all this. This message is backed up by contemporary stories, songs, prayer and diverse activities. A Fertile Heart is so called, because we all long to be fertile in the deepest sense - to grow, to help others grow, to make a difference: and ultimately it is love that achieves this. So we invite you to add your fertile hearts, as parents and teachers, to ours, and to Jesus’ and Mary’s - so that we can all help our children’s fertile hearts grow too. RRP £9.99 ISBN 978-1-7397628-0-3

9 781739 762803

Version 7 | September 2021