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What is My Child Learning?: Sixth Grade
Unit 1
Chapter 1 The Bible
The Bible is an important part of the everyday life, prayer, and worship of Christians. Your child is learning more about the Bible as the living Word of God, written by humans and inspired by the Holy Spirit. This year your child is being invited to explore the Sacred Scripture, along with the Sacred Tradition of the Church, as the source of their faith. Sacred Scripture is intended to convey religious truth about God and about our relationship with God, rather than scientific or historical information. Its truths speak to us on a deeper level than mere facts. How has Sacred Scripture been a source of faith for you? In what ways is the Bible a part of your life?
Chapter 2 Let There Be...!
One of the most fundamental truths the Catholic Church teaches is the doctrine of creation: the universe and all its wonders are the intentional work of a loving God, and human beings, the crowns of God's creative work, bear the image of God and share his life. Your child is learning that the two creation stories in the Bible stress God's power and the dignity of humans. God created all things good and we are called to treat all people with respect because we are all created in God's image. Where do you see the dignity of God's creation most clearly? What do you do to help care for the gifts of God's creation?
Chapter 3 What Went Wrong?
Your child is very aware that life is "not fair," and that sin and evil exist in the world. But God's grace abides and is even stronger. Your child is focusing on the evidence that God's love and mercy overcome sin. Sin, suffering, death, and evil entered into God's good creation through the disobedience of the first humans. Humans are still tempted to choose what is wrong. We know this as original sin. Your child is learning that, as Christians, we rely on God's grace, mercy and love to restore us to friendship with God, communion with one another, and harmony with creation. Where do you turn for hope and strength to face the effects of sin and evil?
Chapter 4 The Covenant
Your child is learning that Abraham and Sarah, whose story is found in the Book of Genesis, are called "our ancestors in faith" because they responded to God's call with faith and trust. Mary, the mother of Jesus, also shows us how to respond to God's call with faith and trust. Your child is reflecting on these stories of promise and trust to show how faith calls upon us to let go and to trust God more than we believe we are capable of trusting. The Bible's simple message is "Be not afraid. Trust." The God who calls us on the most remarkable and unexpected adventures will surely not allow us to walk the road alone. What promises of God are you aware of in your own life? In which parts of your life do you find it most difficult to practice trust?
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Unit 2
Chapter 5 Jacob and Joseph
Your child is learning that God remains faithful to his covenants. Your child will read stories that demonstrate that God's power and wisdom are shown in the actions of people. In the story of Jacob, God shows his patience and faithfulness by giving Jacob the new name Israel and making him the father of the Israelites. In the story of Joseph your child sees how he rises above the ill treatment he receives from his brothers and becomes a prudent administrator, a generous provider, and greathearted reconciler. Both stories demonstrate God's love and forbearance. Share a story with your child of a time you experienced good coming from bad.
Chapter 6 Slavery and Freedom
Your child is learning about the Israelites flight from slavery to freedom. He or she is learning about the suffering of the Hebrews, the harsh rule of the Egyptians, and the role of Moses as he asked the Pharaoh for the freedom of the slaves. Your child is learning that the Passover story of physical freedom from slavery mirrors our freedom from sin. Your child is also learning that God's People are still called to make choices worthy of that freedom. How can you help your child to make decisions that free them from today's methods of slavery?
Chapter 7 The Law
Your child is continuing to learn about the journey of the Israelites into the desert. He or she will learn how God watches over the Hebrews and gives them his laws, the Ten Commandments. Your child will learn about the Sinai covenant and examine the differences between God's laws that are perfect and human laws that can be flawed. Your child will learn that laws are God's way of guiding people into right relationships with him and one another. Have you taken time recently to look at your personal faith journey?
Chapter 8 Getting Settled
Your child is discovering the rich early history of the Hebrew people. Your child will read about the heroes of the day, Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Samson and Samuel. These men and women were flawed but through the power of God they perform heroic deeds. It is clear that God called these people to be his leaders. These leaders realize that if they are faithful to God there are victories; however, if they were unfaithful, there are losses and regret. Your child will realize that he or she has the same call to be faithful to God today. How can you show your child that you are responding to God's call in your life?
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Unit 3
Chapter 9 The Kingdom
Your child will be learning about the continuing story of God’s unlikely choices for leaders among the Israelites. Although the first king, Saul, lost his kingship, David became an exemplary ruler. Your child will see that David possessed physical courage in battle and moral courage in the inner struggle against his flaws and sins. Your child will readily see that David is the superhero "action figure" for Israel. What is your attitude toward rulers and leaders today?
Chapter 10 The Temple
Sixth graders readily identify churches and temples as holy places. This awareness will help your child appreciate the meaning and importance of the Temple built during the reign of Solomon. With help, your child will be able to trace the seeds of destruction of the kingdom of Solomon to be a problem of idolatry, that is, disloyalty to God. What are some aspects of your life that call for the gift of wisdom?
Chapter 11 Early Prophets
Understanding the circumstances in which the prophets preached will help your child connect this chapter with the history of Israel. For more than a century after the kingdom of David and Solomon split into two kingdoms, both kingdoms enjoyed prosperity and relative security, because they were not threatened with the expansion of any great empires in the Middle East. Then Israel and Judah were invaded and conquered. The prophets saw in these disastrous events God’s judgment upon the religious infidelity and moral corruption of the people and their leaders. What message do you hear in the prophetic books today?
Chapter 12 The Conscience of Israel
The circle of those around your child probably includes people whose values conflict with the values your child has acquired from his or her family or appropriated on his or her own. Your child will learn that a well-formed conscience is both a guide and a cause for conflict. The strong call for holiness and moral goodness persists and invites your child to act lovingly and justly. By listening to the words of the prophets your child can learn to become better able to discern the voice of conscience within him or herself from the competing voices around them.?By witnessing their courage, your child is strengthened to follow the commands of God more fully. How are you an example of moral courage in your family?
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Unit 4
Chapter 13 Return to God
Sixth graders clearly understand the importance of conscience as a guide for living a moral life. The children want to be their best, and look to authority figures for help. This chapter speaks of the prophetic task of communicating messages of hope. Your child will see the power of God's renewing action and the necessity for active participation in the work of renewal and reform. How do your experience God as source of forgiveness and hope?
Chapter 14 Seek Wisdom
In this chapter your child will get a wholly different kind of scriptural writing from the complex history of God's People. Those wisdom books that are composed of collections of sayings are amenable to being dipped into, much as one dips into a book of quotations. There are exceptions as some explore deeply mature themes, and sixth graders lack the insight to address these books adequately. However, the books will be waiting for them when they have the maturity necessary to grasp their messages. Which wisdom books would you like to open with prayer and study?
Chapter 15 Fight for Freedom
Your child will learn about the Books of Maccabees. It is the story of the Chosen People's successful battle against the destruction of their faith. These books will be presented in a Christian framework. Your child will learn that there are powerful enemies of faith in the world today: materialism, secularism, nationalism, or ethnic hatred, peer pressure, or targeted advertising. The good news is that God gives us the courage for the struggle. What words and images represent God's protection when your religious values are assaulted?
Chapter 16 Psalms
In this chapter, your child will become more aware of the psalms many of which they may recognize from hearing them at Sunday Mass. Your child will learn to appreciate the wide range of emotion expressed in the Psalms and with encouragement, can readily accept and begin to value them as a pillar of support in their own prayer lives. What Psalms do you cherish and use?
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Unit 5
Chapter 17 Jesus and the Gospels
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the heart of the scriptures. They record the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Your child is being invited to reflect on the Gospels in new ways, as a statement of the faith of the community that surrounded each apostle. Do you know how the Gospels differ from one another?
Chapter 18 The Way
This chapter focuses on the eight Beatitudes of Matthew’s Gospel. Your child is taking a closer look at these Beatitudes and learning how they show Jesus’ way. They show how to live by values that are the way to a blessed and happy life. How do your Christian values set you apart from the values you see in the world around you?
Chapter 19 Passover and Eucharist
In this chapter your child is learning about how the celebration of the Eucharist as a sacrificial meal grew out of Jesus’ celebration of the Jewish Passover meal. Your child is studying this Old Testament background as a foundation of the Christian faith. How does the celebration of the Eucharist help you to find meaning in your life?
Chapter 20 Journey to the Cross
This chapter is about Jesus’ journey to the cross. Your child is discovering in new ways how Jesus is the model for his or her life, and the pattern to follow for a life of self-giving love. How does your life reflect the self-giving love of Christ?
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Unit 6
Chapter 21 Christ is Risen
This chapter takes a look at the various ways the four Gospel tell the story of the resurrection. This chapter is helping your child see that although the accounts differ, the reality is the same: Jesus is risen, and we find new life in him. How does your faith in the resurrection influence the way you live?
Chapter 22 Paul and the Early Church
Your child is learning to find his or her way through the Bible. The scripture passages your child is studying in this chapter document the shape and vision of St. Paul and the early Church. Your child is continuing to discover how he or she is a part of the mission of Jesus by being a faithful follower. How do you see yourself as participating in the continuing mission of Jesus today?
Chapter 23 Down Through History
Saints and holy people witness to Jesus’ presence in the world. In this chapter your child is learning more about witnesses to the faith from Christian history. He or she is learning that both prayer and action are necessary to a life of faith. Who is your favorite saint or holy person?
Chapter 24 Now It's Up to You
In this final chapter your child is learning about the need to develop a life of prayer and an abiding faith and trust in the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Service is expressed in caring for the needs of others in Christ’s name. Your child is being encouraged to respond to the call to serve others. How do you serve others in Christ’s name?
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