Sunday November 4th was our ninth session together. This week we covered Unit 2, Chapter 6 "We Celebrate God's Forgiveness". In preparing for the session, I established the focus as ways we seek and obtain forgiveness. The lesson plan for the session includes the topics discussion, the activities worksheet, and craft activity.
Packing Light: If you just want the activity sheet for this session, you can find it here. It has a story activity, coloring, and word search activity.
When we met in the common area for the whole group activity, we learned that once again we have so many 2nd graders with perfect attendance for the prior month: Courtly Polar Bear, Effusive Jaguar, Sweet Pea Elephant, and Rocking Horse! Way to go 2nd graders! Today we had everyone join us!
Today we were fidgety. So fidgety. Could the wake of Halloween have left us all in the doldrums? Will we go mad waiting for a favoring wind? No! We can't wait for a fair wind, we have to make our own locomotion out of this place! And so I rowed through the session...
We talked about our discussion on choices from a couple of weeks ago, so we could remember what we talked about. We remembered that when we make a bad choice, we have to admit it and say we are sorry. Effusive Jaguar said it best: "And you have to mean it and try not to do it again, you can't just say it. I did something and so I told my mom I was sorry but then I just went and I did it again and then we talked about it and that is how I learned my lesson!"
Ok, so one thing for forgiveness is to admit we were wrong and ask for it from others.
Then we talked about how at Mass we also have a chance to ask for forgiveness. We read the Penetential Rite together. We looked through the Missalette to see where we find it during Mass and discovered it is right after the Priest welcomes us. (The children were very concerned that I had a copy of the Missalette from Church and had I asked if I could borrow it first?!!). We all promised that we would try to remember to say this out loud at Mass whenever we go. It gives us a chance to think about our week, say we are sorry, and start "fresh" again!
Back to topic...row, row, row...
Ok, so now we have 2 ways we've talked about for obtaining forgiveness: say you are sorry to whoever you hurt, and ask for it at Mass during Penitential Rite.
What is a 3rd way? What is that sacrament we keep hearing about sometimes?
So we talked just a bit about the sacrament and how we talk with the priest and he helps us get forgiveness for our sins.
Row, row, row... taking on water, sir!
OK, we have 3 ways covered: say we are sorry to others, say we are sorry at Mass, and say we are sorry at Reconciliation. Let's just talk about one more: we have to forgive others. Jesus says that we have to be forgiven if we want to have our sins forgiven.
The conversation didn't last long, we were too fidgety. It was early yet, but I brought out the craft activity: a card game called "4given".
Alright, we talked about 4 ways we can seek forgiveness, so now we have a card game called "4given" to help us learn and remember those 4 ways. ("Oh, I get it! 4 ways, forgiven!" said Fair Cheetah).
Now we're seeing that familiar eagerness! The children pounced on the decks of cards with gusto.
After speedily decorating the boxes, they immediately settled into groups of two to play the game! A quick question of ways to play - I mentioned "like matching or concentration" and they were off! I hadn't thought of a concentration-ish-version for 2-players, but they played several rounds. Two of the girls tried a "go fish" version. I wasn't sure how that would work, since there are only 16 cards in the deck, but they seemed to enjoy it nonetheless. The children happily obliged my requests to read out loud the card whenever they found a match. They all continued to play in various versions of the game for the remainder of the session.
This material is an important concept for us to master. I encouraged the children to be sure to read the BlestAreWe workbook pages and the regular activities worksheet and do the activities on them (which, as usual, Pragmatic Tiger had nearly completed already!). I suggested they read and play the 4given card games together, and maybe learn how to look up and read the Bible verses referenced.
I handed out the Family Time pages for Unit 2, Chapter 7.
Side Trips: if you want more information, activities, and games...
- If you just have a bit of time, definitely go for the online activity for this chapter at Blest Are We
- If you have two-bits of time, check out the forgiveness activity at forgiveness activity.
- For more in-depth activities, check out some of the links in the lesson plan there are many articles and activities on Prodigal Son and Good Shepherd.
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