Overview
Key
Understanding:
Everyone has faith. Faith is
our capacity to believe with our minds and our hearts and to
trust. Faith is often associated with beliefs about the
Divine. Throughout the world, people of all cultures have
beliefs about the order in the universe and how it is
unfolding. It is important that we respect one another's
cherished beliefs in this area. We can see evidence of the
gift of faith in all people in other ways too. For example,
we have faith that the Earth is moving around the sun. We
have faith that the sun will rise tomorrow. Every day we
take actions and make choices that are influenced by what we
believe and what we trust. Like all the gifts, faith is
very powerful. The circle is a symbol of faith because the
circle holds all the things in which we place faith.
Objectives:
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To recognize that each of
us is born with this gift.
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To identify ways we use
this gift.
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To understand at least a
small aspect of this gift experientially.
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To see how applying this
gift can enrich our lives.
Supplies:
Pre-K – Grade 1:
A copy of The Twelve
Gifts of Birth
Treasure Chests and Treasure Cards from
Lesson 1, crayons Paper
Grades 2 – 3:
A copy of The Twelve
Gifts of Birth
Treasure Chests and Treasure Cards from
Lesson 1, crayons or colored pencils
One glow stick for each student
Grades 4 – 6:
A copy of The Twelve
Gifts of Birth
Student journals from Lesson 1
One glow stick for each student
OPEN LESSON
Set stage
for respect, trust, and discovery. Use cue.
ENGAGE THE LEARNER
Have students look at the
4-page section on faith in The Twelve Gifts of
Birth. Read the text, “The twelfth gift is
Faith. May you believe.”
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Pre K – Grade 1
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Grades 2 – 3
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Grades 4 – 6
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Explain that today we
are learning about the gift of faith. Focus on the
photo of the baby’s hand holding on to the adult’s
finger. Explain that as babies we all begin to
trust. We begin to use faith. Focus on the photo of
the girl leaning against the tree trunk with
sunlight on her face and her eyes closed. Explain
that she has faith and that we all have faith
because we all believe and trust in people and
things. |
Ask
children to look at the picture of the baby’s hand
grasping the adult’s finger. Ask: “In what way does
this picture demonstrate faith?” Point out that as
soon as we are born, we begin to trust and use
faith. Have they ever had a baby hold on to their
finger? Have they ever held a baby or a young child?
Is there a crossing guard now when they come to and
go from school, someone who children can trust to
lead and guide them? Explain that these are examples
of trust and faith. |
Invite students to offer thoughts and feelings about
how the photo of the baby’s hand grasping the
adult’s finger and the photo of the girl sitting in
sunlight under the tree illustrate faith. Discuss
how we naturally trust and begin to use faith as
babies. Identify ways we begin to use faith as young
children. For example, how we reached out to hold
the hand of an adult as we crossed the street. Name
other ways we learn to trust, e.g., trusting certain
people to keep secrets, tell the truth, be loyal
friends, listen and try to understand us. Ask: “What
are some things we all trust in nature and about the
world?” For example, we trust that the sun will
rise each day.
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DEVELOP
THE IDEAS
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Pre K – Grade 1
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Grades 2 – 3
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Grades 4 – 6
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Give
examples of people and things we might trust in, for
example, our parents, grandparents, ourselves,
friends, siblings. Ask children to join in, naming
people and things they believe in. Record ideas on
separate sheets of paper as children suggest them.
You might want to write the name of each of the 12
gifts on a piece of paper, too. We can have faith in
the precious gifts we are born with. |
Identify many things we believe in and ways we use
faith. For example, we can believe in our parents’
love, in our inner voice, in our friends, and so on.
Invite children to name and talk about a variety of
things that they believe in and the ways in which
they have and demonstrate faith.
Acknowledge that faith
is also a part of religious beliefs. Stress that it
is important that we respect one another’s beliefs.
Respecting the beliefs of others is an important way
to use the gift of reverence. |
Explain to students
that it is important to recognize that all people
have the gift of faith and we use it in many ways.
You might want to point out that we all have beliefs
about life, love, Earth, and the universe and how it
works. Explain, too, that we are all shaped and
affected by what we believe and explain, too, that
it is important that we respect one another’s
beliefs. Guide students to understand that this is
one way we use the gift of reverence, by honoring and
respecting the beliefs of others. We can also have
faith in these 12 gifts, that they are given to us
at birth, and that they can help us live well and
help us to make a difference in the world.
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EXPERIENCE AND APPLY THE
LEARNING
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Pre K – Grade 1
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Grades 2 – 3
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Grades 4 – 6
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Gather in a standing
circle. Spread all the papers on the floor in the
center of the circle. Have children sing “I
believe”
(Faith Activity Sheet) while holding hands and
taking steps to the right for one verse and then to
the left for a second verse.
Have children find the
faith card in their treasure chest. Using the color
that best represents faith, make the faith symbol
above the word. If time allows, have children draw
a picture of themselves experiencing faith on the
back of the card. Then have them place their card
back in the chest. |
Have
the students gather in two circles, one inside the
other. Provide a small glow stick for each student.
Have each student snap and light the sticks and hold
the light up in front of them. Have the circles walk
in opposite directions. Explain that when we are
true to ourselves, true to what we believe in, we
let our own special light shine in the world.
Encourage students to always let their light shine
and respect the light of others. You may wish to
accompany this activity with music.
Have students make the
faith symbol on the faith card, write “I have,” draw
a picture of themselves experiencing faith or trust,
and then decorate it.
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Have
the students gather in two circles, one inside the
other. Provide a small glow stick for each student.
Have each student snap and light the sticks and hold
the light up in front of them. Have the circles walk
in opposite directions. Explain that when we are
true to ourselves, true to what we believe in, we
let our own special light shine in the world.
Encourage students to always let their light shine
and respect the light of others. You might wish to
accompany this activity with music.
Have students write
thoughts, feelings, and insights about faith in
their journals. |
SUMMARY
AND EVALUATION
Review what was learned about
faith.
If time allows, have students share understandings.
Acknowledge that they have already been using faith and that
they will use it in many ways in the future. Tell them there
is one more lesson about all their gifts.
CLOSE LESSON
Create a
ceremonial sense of having completed an important discovery.
Use cue to end the lesson.
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