Grade Two Links

Lesson ideas: All the above websites have many interesting activities and fun lessons that can help in teaching this unit. The have friendship art activities, songs, and poems. Also, they give you ideas on different types of name games or getting to know you games for the first few days of a new school year. They
have activities that support social and emotional development, as well as providing positive guidance. Additionally, you can find many book titles that can help in introducing the theme of friendship. And lastly, there are many cross-curricular activities and lessons for the theme of friendship (eg. Science lessons on the theme of friendship). --Antonietta Parisi

Lesson ideas: This website has many craft ideas and many activities/lessons related to the theme of friendship. Through this website you will be able to find many bible lessons on friendships. For instance, through one activity, children
learn that Jesus helped many people. Jesus is our friend. He wants us to be
helpful and to be good friends. They also learn that ladybugs are helpful and people like to see them in their garden. When we see ladybugs we can be reminded that Jesus wants us to be helpful too. --Antonietta Parisi

Lesson Plans Page
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSOFriendshipFlowers-TeachFriendship13.htm

In the second grade classroom the first religion unit includes friends as part of the curriculum. This web site, in particular, this detailed lesson plan on friendship, supports the teacher in the teaching of friends and the good qualities that a friend should posses. This site can be useful to the teacher in the presentation of the unit because children will relate to one another and share information about themselves. It is critical to learn good social skills early in life to get along well with others. At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to list qualities that they wish to find in a friend and qualities they want to have in themselves to be good friends. Students form relationships of trust and respect and they will recognize these factors.

Literature Based Integrated Arts Curriculum Design For Grade 2
http://www.ocdsb.edu.on.ca/teacher_res/integrated/gr2klf%20doc.pdf

A unit that has elements that can be adapted into the Religious Eduication program. I highly recommend this web based resource because when preparing for the Let's Be Friends unit, this amazing resource provides the teacher with an integrated unit on the friendship theme. This unit can be useful to the teacher in the presentation of the unit because young children will be able to feel included and engaged because the story of friendship (shown through adventures of a mouse and an elephant) is portrayed through the literature component Big Brother, Little Sister, by Papa Oyibo. Friendship is explored and defined as: acceptance of differences, mutual support and overcoming fears. (p.1) Furthermore, important questions can be discussed: What is friendship? Why do we need friends? What do we look for in a friend? Do friends need to be alike? This aforementioned unit will enhance the religion unit because it integrates different areas of the curriculum such as language arts, drama, art and music. This, in turn, will make the theme on friendship much more interesting and assist in a variety of teaching strategies for those kinesthetic learners. This is definitely a very helpful web site primary teachers would want to add to their bookmarks as it offers the opportunity for educators to print the friendship unit at no cost.

Epals http://www.epals.com

While teaching this unit I think it's important to express to children that there is a world that exists outside the classroom in which we need to connect with. In saying this I think children should be encouraged to meet children in different schools, cities or even countries. www.epals.com allows for children to make relationships with their friends or should I say 'brothers and sisters' who reside in various areas. By dipping into this site, you can register your class for global correspondance then search
the database for other classes by grade , language, city, state, province or country. Talk about making the unit come alive!!! --Daniela Meleca

Why God Gave Us Friends and Jesus Is My Best Friend
http://www.devotions.co.uk/why-god.shtml and http://www.just4kidsmagazine.com/rainbowcastle/jesusfriend.html
In this theme students welcome each other and make new friends. The students share personal stories of things they like to do with friends and discuss what makes a good friend. The first site has a beautiful and simple poem that explains to children why God gave us friends. It's a nice way for the students to also understand the qualities that make a good friend. The second site is about how Jesus wants to be our best friend. Once students learn what makes a good friends, they begin to realize that all of these qualities are in Jesus. The site also provides stories of how Jesus treated his friends - forgiving them, accepting them, caring about them and being trustworthy. --Allison Coutts

Friendship Poems, Poems about Friendship http://www.indianchild.com/friendship.htm
T his website focuses on friendship poems and quotes that can be useful in introducing the unit on friendship in September. These poems can also supplement the teacher's discussions and activities. The inspirational poetry and quotes link friendship to God, nature and to our families. This website offers a wide range of different poems having to do with friendship. This is a great resource for teachers to have, in order to make learning about friendship and God a wonderful experience for children.--Margaret Amoruso

Practical Christianity Series - Friends http://www.brandonweb.com/gbt/sermonpages/proverbs14.htm
This website is a great resource for teachers. A key point discussed is that if we (as individuals), are going to be a positive influence for Christ, we need to build bridges to develop new friendships. This website offers principles that will help us, as Christians, accomplish this goal. The three sections include: Choosing sides when cultivating friends, The Lord as our source for building friendships, and Guidelines from Scripture on friendship. Examples of each and the inclusion of scripture passages, allows a teacher to further enhance his or her knowledge of friendship with God and others. This site can be beneficial for the teacher and the children who are learning about the importance of friendship.--Margaret Amoruso

Unlike the above site this one offers more background information on the Eucharist and the preparation for communion. This site is also quite easy to venture through as a guide is provided. I found several pieces of information on this site to be practical as well as useful. For example, a complete guide to confession which details a step by step run through of confession is provided. As a teacher I feel this is a valuable resource to students who are receiving confession for the first time. I feel that the section, How I receive the Communion offers insightful information that could help teachers explain the eucharist and the idea of gathering as a community to witness the first communion as a sacrament. The web site also offers teachers with good theological information related to praying and the idea of gathering as a community. I especially like the layout and break down of the requirements needed before receiving communion. This site in insightful and informative in assisting teachers to implement this unit.

St Jude's Colouring Page http://cweb.snip.net/stjude/colorbk.htm

This site helps teachers to prepare students for the sacrament of the eucharist. Teachers can download a 12 page colouring book that outlines the process of mass. This works well with the Grade two unit, Lets Come Together and meets the third expectation of the unit, show familiarity with liturgical area and items in the parish church. The colouring book is an age appropriate activity that allows all students to be involved. The language is simple, organized and easy to follow which allows students to gain a thorough understanding of the liturgical process.

The Christian Resource Institute http://www.cresourcei.org/jesse.html

CRI site gives the story of the Jesse Tree, its origins, how to make a Jesse Tree, a sample story for each symbol, and a table of scripture readings to support each symbol.--Linda LeDren

This site enables you to go to lesson plans from kindergarten to grade 5. It gives you vocabulary, suggested reading, objectives, materials, procedures and discussion questions. If you go to the animal section you can get animal classification, animal instincts, animals in the wild, animal habitats, underwater animals, and mammals. This also leads you to the site zoo.org.au/ where you can visit zoos anywhere in the world with pictures and sound information. This also has subtitles for land animals and sky, sea animals, ocean animals, fun and games about animals and amazing animal facts You can also go to the site Wonders of the Sea, at lessons on Wonders of the Sea, at the site oceanicresearch.org/sharks.html and this will give you pictures and information for all life under the sea. This is a good site for scientific information about God's earth of animal life. Another site which gives a wealth of information is http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ This site gives games, homework ideas, pictures and a lot of information on animals and nature, amphibians and reptiles, birds, mammals, habitats, plants fish, and insects.--Paulette Cutler

Making a Difference in People's lives.http://faithfirst.com/

Go to RCL Sacraments on line and hit Eucharist. You then go to kids7-10. This site includes everything you need to know to get your students ready for First Holy Communion. The site includes mass responses, a walk through the mass which includes the introductory rites, the liturgy of the word, the liturgy of the eucharist, the communion rite, and the concluding rite. There are some fabulous scripture stories with colouring pages and puzzles . Then there is a tour of the church which explains and shows photographs of: gathering space, baptistry, assembly area, crucifix, ambo, lectionary, altar, tabernacle, sacristy, stations of the cross and reconciliation chapel. There is also a section for parents and teachers on frequently asked questions, gospel reflections, prayers, scripture stories and what difference does it make going to mass.This is an excellent site for both the teacher and the student.--Paulette Cutler

Kids 4 Truth http://www.kids4truth.com/creation.htm (click on English, and turn up the volume on your computer

This site is about the 7 days of creation. It is a beautiful movie/presentation for children to watch on the computer screen. This web site is cross-curricular because it incorporates computers and religious education together. You can have students work in small groups at the computer and bring up the web site, together with their friends they can sit back and watch a movie about Gods creations. Each frame has a simple sentence attached to it, appropriate for grade 2 readers.--Evonne Carafa

Families First http://families-first.com/kids/ross6.htm

This web site is great for children's religious crafts. There is a great craft on this web site pertaining to the creation of God's gifts of the earth. The Creation Wheel is basically a cardboard or paper wheel with several sections (7) divided into triangular pie shapes, each with a picture representing what God created on that day. It is a wonderful craft to hang in your clasroom and have children take it home to easily remember the gifts God has given us.--Evonne Carafa

Bible Truths - The story of Creation http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/bibletruths4.htm and God Gave Us His World (song)http://www.songs4teachers.com/earthgod.pdf

In this theme, the students recognize and appreciate the many aspects of the earth as gifts from God. The first site provides the teacher with scripture references, planned activities, worksheets, review questions and colouring pages that are all associated with God's creation. Children also learn through song. Number 10 on the CD, Song of the Earth nicely compliments the theme. However, the second site that I've provided has a shorter and simpler song that can be sung on those days that you don't have time to cue up the CD player. God Gave Us His World is sung to the tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.--Allison Coutts

Teaching Catholic Kids http://www.osv.com/teachingcatholicyouth/

This site offers many resources to assist in ' rekindling Eucharist Amazement'. Through prayers, meditations, and references to enriching your understanding of this most important of the Sacraments. It includes lessons, activities, and Church perspective on many ideas and issues. Each month it deals with diverse themes such as, 'The Eucharist, in Catholic Tradition', 'The How-to Book of the Mass: The Eucharist', 'Youth and the Eucharist', 'Eucharistic Q & A', and many more.

RCL Sacraments http://www.faithfirst.com/rclsacraments

This web site provides the teacher with ample resources for teaching the importance of the Eucharist, as a help in preparing the students for the receiving of the sacrament. This site provides numerous features such as reflection questions, scriptural passages, videos, games, colouring pages, tours of a church, as well as a walk through the mass. What is extremely wonderful about this web site is that there are activities, projects that parents are able to do with their children. There are also ideas for community class projects.

Teaching catholic youth http://www.osv.com/eucharist

This site is beneficial to the teacher that is teaching this unit because it is an easy way to access scriptural passages that relate to the Eucharist. As well teachers can find a list of prayers and meditation readings that will enhance the unit of study. There are also lists of various books, pamphlets and magazines that may be purchased as supplementary resources that will complement the text book.

God's Story for Children http://misslink.org/children/bibstory2.html

This site contains a variety of Bible stories teachers can use to help supplement their religion unit(s). Students and teachers can go on-line and read Bible stories that are easy to understand and written so children can relate to them. The stories include questions, special lessons, prayers, and sometimes activities, crafts, and songs to follow each story. --Jessica Savo Sardaro

World Council of Churches http://www.wcc-coe.org

This is a great website that offers a lot of background information on the Eucharistfrom an ecumenical perspective. It describes, in detail, the Institution of the Eucharist, the Meaning of the Eucharist, and the Celebration of the Eucharist. This site would be great to supplement the grade 2 religion curriculum as the students prepare for their First Communion. The information provided would help you to discuss the importance of this sacrament with the students.

Teachers (Teachers' Reflection Sheet for Education Week. "Called to the Table of Eucharist"). http://www.rccdsb.edu.on.ca

This website provides scripture on being called to the Table of the Eucharist. A reflection of the scripture is given in a simple way students can understand. A teacher can read the scripture to the students and ask them to reflect on what they think it means before sharing the reflection provided on the site.

Resources For Christian Living http://www.faithfirst.com/html/cathechist/sacramentPrep/sacramentPrep.asp

RCL has produced 3 booklets that help teachers guide students preparing for the sacrament of Eucharist and Reconciliation for the first time. This site provides lessons on the essential concepts necessary for Sacrament preparation, parent letters and step by step activities, for the students.--Linda LeDren

Resources for Catholic Educators http://www.silk.net/RelEd/
Teacher Background & Teaching Materials This site will assist teachers to help prepare their students for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion for the first time. The site provides lesson plans, clip art, newsletters, catholic magazine articles and bible searches to assist with these sacraments as well as site links specifically for teachers.