Saint Michael College

Cantilan, Surigao del Sur

CHRISTIAN FORMATION OFFICE

BASIC CONTENT OF CATECHESIS FOR PUPILS

IN THE ELEMENTARY GRADES
INTRODUCTION

Catechesis is more than religious instruction, more than transmitting ideas or

information. Its goal is formation and transformation leading the catechized to a
personal response to the Person of Jesus Christ and His teachings. Therefore, the
challenge for Religion teachers is how to present / communicate the essential Truths of
our Christian Faith in such a way that they touch the very core of the pupils’ lives –
enlightening and challenging them in their ordinary life and activities.

These lessons plans are intended to help catechists respond to this challenge of
catechesis today. Each lesson is developed according to the format suggested by the
National Catechetical Directory of the Philippines (NCDP).

Each lesson plan has two parts:

1. The Ground Plan

2. Lesson Development

A. GROUND PLAN – is composed of three columns:

a. Christian Message

It covers the three basic dimensions of the Christian Faith: doctrine,

morals and worship.

Doctrine: the indicative expression of the truth of the Faith commonly

expressed in creedal statements, e.g. “God is Creator” or
“Jesus is the Son of God.”

Morals: the imperative expression of the moral precepts and values

of the Christian Faith, e.g. “Love one another as I have loved
you.”

Worship: the vocative expression of the worship / prayer dimension of

the Faith, e.g. “My Lord and my God.”
 b. Sources and Means

Sources refers to the primary source of catechesis which is Sacred

Scripture and Sacred Tradition taken together, making up a single sacred
deposit of the Word of God entrusted to the Church. From this source, the
Church’s doctrines, morals and worship are derived.

Means includes all the activities or ways which are utilized by the teacher
in order to effectively communicate the Christian Message. This is where
the creativity of the teacher is challenged – how to communicate Christ in
a truly relevant and inspiring way, by persistent and persevering efforts to
discover or create ever better, sharper, more inculturated means ad which
involve the students’ participation more fully.

c. Objectives

Objectives express what the lesson is designed to achieve in the students.

Keeping an eye on these objectives as the goal or “point of arrival” can
help the teacher regulate the movement of the activities during the
learning session. Thus, in any course of lesson planning the objectives are
indeed very necessary. They provide real help and direction to the
catechist / teacher.

Unlike the Christian Message which is stated in objective terms, the

objectives are expressed in a more subjective form: the believing, doing,
and trusting of the pupils to which the lesson aims at leading them.

The objective of the doctrinal dimension is to help the students come to a

deeper and correct understanding of the particular truth of the lesson. The
objective of the moral dimension is to educate the students in the specific
principle or moral virtue which the lesson intends to inculcate. Finally, the
objective of the worship dimension is to develop the students’ ability to
pray and to actively participate in the sacramental or liturgical function
studied.

Below the section of these three columns is the human experience, which is
divided into two stages: before and after the lesson.

The human experience in the ground plan refers to the students’ life
experiences, basic attitudes and values, significant questions, personal
and social happenings, and contemporary issues affecting them and the
whole world – all these must be seen as important and integral part of
catechesis. Indeed, for the Christian faith to be alive and real it must
speak meaningfully to the students’ concrete life-experiences.
 The human experience before refers to “where the students are at”
regarding the topics as the class starts. This includes their daily
experiences, attitudes and values, their level of thinking, their
misconceptions regarding the particular subject matter. The knowledge of
where the students are at is especially important in order for the teacher to
be able to respond creatively to the needs of the students.

The human experience after expresses the desired outcome of the lesson
in the lives of the students. This includes new insights and understanding,
sharper moral attitudes and motivations for behavior, and deeper prayer /
worship experience.

B. LESSON DEVELOPMENT

1. Opening

The new lesson is introduced. Some scriptural texts or meaningful

quotation, or even an activity can be used to introduce the lesson.

2. Context

This refers to concrete Philippine situation, especially of the students

concerning the topic of the lesson before the beginning of the class. This
includes common doubts, inadequate understanding and even
misconceptions of the topic. Through good leading questions, this
situation and even personal experiences can be drawn out by the teacher
to help the students recognize the actual context of the lesson.

3. Exposition

This part of the lesson constitutes the major part and therefore must be
given the biggest time-block. During the exposition, the scriptural text/s,
events, and relevant Church teachings are brought out and interrelated
with the concrete experiences of the students. In practice, this means the
teacher normally begins with the students – their experiences,
understanding and misconceptions regarding the topic to be discussed.
From here, the teacher then proceeds to explain the authentic meaning of
the topic in the light of Scripture and Church teaching. Such process is
needed to ground the students’ knowledge and understanding, the living
out and the celebration of the Christian faith.

4. Integration

The primary focus of the lesson whether doctrine, morals, or worship is

integrated or interrelated with the other two dimensions of the Christian
faith. This is done particularly to develop the content of the primary focus
 of the lesson holistically and to bring out its existential implications in the
dimensions of life. Usually, there are many possible implications, but the
lesson should indicate only one or other major relationship, one that is
perhaps most relevant to the students. This inter-relation between the
three dimensions of our faith may be drawn from the students themselves,
or indicated to them.

5. Assimilation

The main points of the lesson may be summarized briefly to highlight the
key points. Then to end the session, the students may be given points for
reflection. This can be done either through guide questions or any
appropriate activity which may help them interiorize the Christian
Message.
 LEARNING PLAN

CATECHESIS FOR GRADE I

Creation and Holy Trinity

GOALS:

The pupils will be able to:

Worship: Learn and pray by heart the basic Catholic prayers in order to appreciate
and develop love for prayer.

Doctrine: Understand God as our Father, Jesus as our Savior and Brother, and the
Holy Spirit as our guide and strength.

Morals: Grow as sons and daughters of the Father, brothers and sisters of Jesus
and as guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

OUTLINE OF LESSONS:

Time Frame Lesson / Topic

July Basic Prayers
August
1 God Makes Us Special
2 God Gives Us Special Gifts
3 God Gives Us Special People
4 God Gives Us Jesus
September
1 Jesus Grew Up in a Family
2 Mary is A Mother to Us
3 Jesus Cares for Us
4 Jesus Taught Us How to Pray
October
1 The Holy Rosary
2 Jesus Teaches Us to Care
3-4 We Are Christians
November
1 We Become Christians at Baptism
2 We Come Together for Mass
3-4 Jesus Gives Us the Holy Spirit
December
1 Our Church Celebrates Advent
2 The Birth of Jesus
January
2 The Holy Spirit Gives Us Strength
 3-4 The Holy Spirit Gives Us Peace
February
1 The Holy Spirit Gives Us Joy
2-3 We Are Catholics
4 We Come Together for Mass
March
1 Our Church Celebrates Lent
2 Stations of the Cross
3 Jesus Suffers for Us
 LEARNING PLAN

CATECHESIS FOR GRADE II

GOALS:

The pupils will be able to:

Worship: Celebrate the Sacraments as encounters with Christ in faith now.

Doctrine: See Jesus as the greatest gift of love from the Father.

Morals: Live life as sons and daughters of God empowered by the Sacraments
received with faith.

OUTLINE OF LESSONS:

Time Frame Lesson / Topic

July Review of Basic Prayers
August
1 Jesus Helps Us to Know the Father
2 Jesus Is With Us When We Pray
3 Jesus is Present in Holy Places
4 Jesus is Present with Us through Sacred Signs and
Symbols
September
1 Jesus Helps Us Belong to God’s Family
2 Jesus Makes Us His Brothers and Sisters
3 Jesus Lives in Us
4 Jesus Makes Us Pleasing to the Father
October
1 How to Pray the Holy Rosary
2 Jesus Calls Us to be a Light to Others
3-4 Jesus Leads Us Back to the Father
November
1 Jesus Helps Us Know Our Sins
2 Jesus Helps Us to Confess Our Sins
3 Jesus Teaches Us to Say “I’m Sorry”
4 Jesus Brings Us God’s Forgiveness
December
1 Welcoming Jesus
2 The Birth of Jesus
January
2 Jesus Teaches Us to Forgive One Another
3 Jesus is Always with Us
4 Jesus is with Us! Celebrate!
February
1 Jesus Draws Me Close to Him in the Eucharist
2-3 Jesus Gives Me Strength to Do Good in the Eucharist
4 Jesus Gathers Us as One Family in the Eucharist
March
1 Our Church Celebrates Lent
2 Stations of the Cross
3 Jesus Suffers for Us
 LEARNING PLAN

CATECHESIS FOR GRADE III

Preparing to Meet Christ in the Eucharist

GOALS:

The pupils will be able to:

Worship: Joyfully and actively participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist
and experience the Real Presence of Christ.

Doctrine: Know and understand that we encounter Christ in the Sacrament of the
Eucharist.

Morals: Grow in friendship with others and with Jesus, the Bread of Life.

OUTLINE OF LESSONS:

Time Frame Lesson / Topic

July Review of Basic Prayers
August
1 God, Our Loving Father
2 We are all God’s Children
3 Mary, Mother of Jesus
4 Jesus, God’s Gift to Us
September
1 Jesus, Our Lord and King
2 Jesus Teaches Us to Pray and Call God our Father
3 Jesus Shows Us How to Love
4 How to Pray the Holy Rosary
October
1 The Holy Eucharist
2 Jesus, Bread of Life
3-4 The Holy Mass
November
1 The Introductory Rites of the Mass
2 The Liturgy of the Word
3-4 The Liturgy of the Eucharist
December
1 Welcoming Jesus
2 The Birth of Jesus
January
2 The Presentation of Gifts / Offertory
 3-4 The Concluding Rites of the Mass
February
1 The Sacrament of Reconciliation
2-3 Sin Separates Us from God
4 Repentance and Forgiveness
March
1 Jesus Forgives Our Sins through the Priest
2 Preparing for a Good Confession
3 Liturgy of First Holy Communion
 LEARNING PLAN

CATECHESIS FOR GRADE IV

Encountering Christ

GOALS:

The pupils will be able to:

Doctrine: Know and acknowledge Jesus as our Savior.

Morals: Grow and live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Worship: Celebrate, give thanks and praise God the Father for giving us Jesus.

OUTLINE OF LESSONS:

Time Frame Lesson / Topic

July Review of Basic Prayers
August
1 Jesus is the Source of Our Life
2 The Parable of the Good Samaritan
3 Jesus Teaches Us to Love One Another
4 Jesus Teaches Us to Share our Knowledge
September
1 Jesus Teaches Us that God is a Merciful Father
2 Jesus Forgives Us in a Special Way
3 Jesus Invites Us to Follow Him in Doing Good and in Loving
Our Neighbor
4 Jesus, Word of God, Teaches us the Truth
October
1 God Chooses Mary to be the Mother of Jesus (Rosary)
2 Jesus Teaches Us to Pray “Our Father”
3 Jesus Really Cares for Us
4 Jesus, Healer of the Sick
November
1 The Saints, True Friends of Jesus (All Saints)
2 Jesus Loves the Little Children
3 Jesus, Our True Friend
4 Come, Lord Jesus (Advent)
December
1 Jesus, Son of the Father
2 Jesus is Born (Christmas)
January
 1 Jesus, Our Brother
2 The Infant Jesus, Obedient One
3 Jesus Honors the House of the Father
4 Jesus Says: The Father Loves Us
February
1 Jesus, Obedient to the Father
2 Journey with Jesus to the Cross (Lent)
3 Jesus, Our Victory (Easter)
 LEARNING PLAN

CATECHESIS FOR GRADE V

The Sacraments

GOALS:

The pupils will be able to:

Worship: Grow in their relationship with Jesus through prayer and the Sacraments.

Doctrine: Recognize God’s love as manifested in the Sacraments.

Morals: Live according to the virtues of Jesus.

OUTLINE OF LESSONS:

Time Frame Lesson / Topic

July Review of Basic Prayers
August
1-2 Introduction to the Sacraments
3 The Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism
4 Baptism Makes Us Children of God
September
1 The Holy Spirit Makes Us Christians through Baptism
2 Mary, Mother of Jesus, Our Mother
3 The Holy Spirit Empowers Us to
4 The Holy Spirit Helps Us to Love Our Neighbor
Supplementary Evening Prayer Service
October
1 The Holy Spirit Makes Us Co-Creators
2 The Holy Spirit Helps Us to Serve
3 What is Sin?
4 The Sacrament of Reconciliation
November
1 Jesus Forgives Us in a Special Way
2 God is a Merciful Father
3 Advent (Prayer Service)
December
1 The Mass
2 The Birth of Jesus
January
2 The Eucharist, A Meal
3 The Eucharist, A Sacrifice
 4 Christ Given to Us in the Eucharist
February
1 The Anointing of the Sick
2 The Rite of Anointing
3 Jesus, Healer
4 Jesus, Our Leader
March
1 The Leaders of the Church
2 Lenten Paraliturgy
 LEARNING PLAN

CATECHESIS FOR GRADE VI

The Commandments

GOALS:

The pupils will be able to:

Morals: Live a moral life guided by God’s Ten Commandments and Jesus’
Beatitudes.

Doctrine: Know and understand God’s law of love and Christ’s moral teachings.

Worship: Celebrate the Sacraments and be a person of prayer in order to be

strengthened in one’s moral life.

OUTLINE OF LESSONS:

Time Frame Lesson / Topic

July Review of Basic Prayers
August
1 The Source of Christian Life
2 Living the Christian Way of Life
3-4 Moses and the Ten Commandments
September
1 Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lesson about Mary)
2 I am the Lord, your God: First Commandment
3 God’s Name is Holy: The Second Commandment
4 Keeping Holy the Lord’s Day: The Third Commandment
October
1 How to Pray the Rosary
2 Our Parents, God’s Gifts to Us: The Fourth Commandment
3 Honoring those in Authority
4 Life is a Gift: The Fifth Commandment
November
1 Lesson about the Saints
2 My Body is Sacred: The Sixth Commandment
3-4 The Seventh Commandment: You Shall Not Steal
December
1 Advent
2 Christmas
January
2 Epiphany
3 Sto. Nino
4 Truthfulness: The Eighth Commandment
February
1 The Ninth and Tenth Commandments
2-3 The Two Great Commandments
4 The Beatitudes
March
1 Lent
2 Resurrection