Introduction
Sign of the cross
Dear children, does anyone knows who am I?
Give children some time to reply
My name is…. And do you know what is my role in your school? I shall be visiting your school once a week, and all together also with your teachers and educators we continue to learn about God’s love for us and he would like us to be his children. Together we shall be carrying out pleasant activities. Shall we play a game together?
Game
The teacher shall prepare beforehand a jar filled with popsicles and write the children’s names on the popsicle sticks. The animator picks up the names one at a time. He/she calls the name on the popsicle, and the children come out one by one near the animator. When he/she calls all the names, the animator guesses the names again one by one while the children return back in their places. If the animator guesses the name right, everyone claps, if the name is wrong, everyone makes a sad face.
Activity for Years 1 and 2
The animator asks the children:
How are you, children? How are you feeling today? Why?
Shows the children an emoji of a happy face, and then one of a sad face.
Children, those who would like to, can share how they are feeling.
Happy Face
Sad Face
Song – Joy in My Heart
Introduction
The animator makes the sign of the cross
Dear students, how are you? Am really glad to see you all again. During this scholastic year, we shall continue meeting once a week to learn how to grow into better persons united with nature, the other human being, ourselves, and thus with Jesus Christ.
Now introduce yourself and your role in the school, and that you are part of the school staff.
Game – Getting to Know You
Let us get to know each other, so together we share the message that peace is possible.
The teacher, educators classrooms and yourself participate in the game too.
Hold a copy of these questions. Every question is numbered. Students choose a number and you ask the question, and they reply:
- What is your name?
- Which is your favourite book?
- Where do you live?
- Which is your favourite subject at school?
- What is the name of your parents, or those who take care of you?
- What type of breakfast, do you like to eat?
- Which is your favourite toy or game?
- Which film do you like to watch mostly?
- What is your teacher’s name, and the educators in your class?
- What do you like to do during your free time?
- Do you have siblings? What is their name?
- Do you know how to play a musical instrument? Which one?
- What are your hobbies?
- Which is your favourite colour?
- Which type of clothes do you prefer to wear?
- Which food do you like to eat?
- Which football team do you support?
- Do you have a pet? What is it?
- Who is your best friend?
- Which is your favourite day of the week? Why?
- Do you practice or follow a favourite sport? What is it?
- When is your Birthday?
- What would you like to be when you grow up?
- Which type of weather do you prefer?
- Which is your favourite animal?
- Mention the best experience you had in your life.
- Describe a typical day of yours.
- Who is your favourite singer?
- Which body part do you like most in yourself?
- Which is the place you like most when you go out?
Reflection
Through this game, due to the fact that everyone was sincere, we learned a lot from each other, the good in each and every one of us, we recognized what are the needs of the others, and thus we help each other. No one can create peace and harmony among us, except ourselves. How can peace be possible? First of all, by keeping in our minds that Jesus/God is always with us and is watching over us all the time, he knows whatever we are doing. In this manner, it is very important to think before we act and ask each other. “Does, this bring peace among us?” This is Jesus’ spirit, and we are called to continue sharing it among each other to give evidence that peace is possible.
Song – We Are Unity
Aim
The students explore the topic of peace and discuss how it is possible to gain inner peace by being at peace with yourself and with God through self-acceptance.
Learning Outcomes
- The students understand that before you love others you must love and accept yourself.
- The students understand that we are beautiful in God’s eyes because we are created in His image and He sacrificed His Son Jesus to save us.
Time
30 minutes
Resources
PowerPoint presenation, interactive whiteboard
Introduction
(Slide 1-2) The animator starts by asking the students what they hope for at the beginning of the scholastic year. He says that we all hope for a year that is more successful and peaceful than the last. But is peace possible in this world full of conflict and trouble? Can I be at peace with myself and with others?
Lesson development
Step 1
(Slide 3) The animator invites the students to watch a short video clip. He tells the students to observe the physical appearance of the participants and what they are feeling, doing, and saying.
- Show footage from 00:00 – 1:47 only
Step 2
(Slide 4)The animator can use the questions below to elicit answers, observations, reactions, and discussion from the students:
- What is the video about?
- Did you notice anything about the physical appearance of the participants?
- What do you observe about the tone in which the participants speak to each other?
- How do the participants react to each other?
- Do you agree with the way they speak to each other?
- Did anyone ever speak to you like this?
- Do you ever speak like this to yourself or to others?
Step 3
(slide 5) The animator says that the video shows us how sometimes we are harsh and over-critical of ourselves and of others.
The animator says that the video shows us how sometimes we are harsh and over-critical of ourselves and of others. Ask the students:
Discuss with the students.
Do you think body imaging influences the way we see ourselves and others?
How does body imaging change our perception of people who are different?
Notes for the animator on how to develop these arguments
- It could also be the influence of body imaging stereotypes on social media. These images influence the way we see, think and accept ourselves and others.
- Stereotypes are mistaken ideas that pressure many youths and even adults to meet strict, unrealistic, and harmful ideas about beauty, body weight, and shape.
- Stereotypes make us think that people who are not ‘perfect’ in the way we expect them to be, lack dignity (e.g. disabled, elderly, people of different races or sexuality).
- This is a lack of peace that comes from within us and affects our relationship with others as well. How can we accept others if we do not accept ourselves?
Step 5
(Slide 6-7) The animator uses quotations from the Bible to explain that we are God’s creation, we are created in God’s image and likeness and this means that I become aware and accept that we are precious to God as His child.
Prayer
(Slide 8)
Dear God,
Help me to look at myself in the same way you do.
Give me the insight to realize that I am so precious in your eyes that you chose me and carved me in the palm of your hand. You sacrificed your Beloved Son Jesus to save me from sin. Help me to love myself, you, and others as you love me. Amen.
Aim
The students explore the topic of peace and discuss how it is possible to gain inner peace by being at peace with yourself and with God through self-acceptance.
Learning Outcomes
- The students understand that before you love others you must love and accept yourself.
- The students understand that we are beautiful in God’s eyes because we are created in His image and He sacrificed His Son Jesus to save us.
Time
30 minutes
Resources
PowerPoint presentation, interactive whiteboard
Introduction
(Slide 1-2) The animator starts by asking the students what they hope for at the beginning of the scholastic year. He says that we all hope for a year that is more successful and peaceful than the last. But is peace possible in this world full of conflict and trouble? Can I be at peace with myself and with others?
Lesson development
Step 1
(Slide 3) The animator invites the students to watch a short video clip. He tells the students to observe the physical appearance of the participants and what they are feeling, doing, and saying.
- Show footage from 00:00 – 1:47 only
Step 2
(Slide 4)The animator can use the questions below to elicit answers, observations, reactions, and discussion from the students:
- What is the video about?
- Did you notice anything about the physical appearance of the participants?
- What do you observe about the tone in which the participants speak to each other?
- How do the participants react to each other?
- Do you agree with the way they speak to each other?
- Did anyone ever speak to you like this?
- Do you ever speak like this to yourself or to others?
Step 3
(slide 5) The animator says that the video shows us how sometimes we are harsh and over-critical of ourselves and of others.
The animator says that the video shows us how sometimes we are harsh and over-critical of ourselves and of others. Ask the students:
Discuss with the students.
Do you think body imaging influences the way we see ourselves and others?
How does body imaging change our perception of people who are different?
Notes for the animator on how to develop these arguments
- It could also be the influence of body imaging stereotypes on social media. These images influence the way we see, think and accept ourselves and others.
- Stereotypes are mistaken ideas that pressure many youths and even adults to meet strict, unrealistic, and harmful ideas about beauty, body weight, and shape.
- Stereotypes make us think that people who are not ‘perfect’ in the way we expect them to be, lack dignity (e.g. disabled, elderly, people of different races or sexuality).
- This is a lack of peace that comes from within us and affects our relationship with others as well. How can we accept others if we do not accept ourselves?
Step 5
(Slide 6-7) The animator uses quotations from the Bible to explain that we are God’s creation, we are created in God’s image and likeness and this means that I become aware and accept that we are precious to God as His child.
Prayer
(Slide 8)
Dear God,
Help me to look at myself in the same way you do.
Give me the insight to realize that I am so precious in your eyes that you chose me and carved me in the palm of your hand. You sacrificed your Beloved Son Jesus to save me from sin. Help me to love myself, you, and others as you love me. Amen.