Week 5: Catechism - for Kids!

Reading the Catechism in such an intensive way is really inspiring me to share what I am learning about the faith with my children. I thought that along with the weekly reading assignment for mom, I would also have a seperate post with suggestions of related activities for kids! I hope others will add their suggestions and ideas as well.

A must have book for Catechism activities for kids is 100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This book has great reproducible sheets for grades 1-8, and each activity is linked to a passage from the CCC! The activities are divided by level: Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced. It had a great suggestion for learning the Apostle's and Nicene Creed.

• Write each line of the Creeds on a seperate index card, then have the kids put them in order. Or read a line and have them guess which Creed it is from.

Here are some more ideas I had for introducing my kids to this week's teachings on the Holy Trinity (CCC 232-267), this is a list of options to choose from, I won't do it all!

• Discuss the Sign of the Cross and the Glory Be, both of which invoke the Trinity. Have your child make a booklet of the Glory Be with an illustration for each line.
• Trinity Mobile- print this pattern and have your child color it, explain that the sun is for the Father (Creator of the world), the cross is for the Son, and the dove is for the Holy Spirit. Then cut out and punch holes in the symbols. Take a small paper plate and punch three holes around the edges. Use yarn or string to connect the symbols to the plate. Tape another piece of yarn or string to the center of the plate to hang it.
• Trinity Presentation from the Home Catechesis 3-5 album (if you have it).
• St. Patrick and the Shamrock- read Patrick the Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola and make this shamrock craft.

CCC 273 reminds us of the perfect faith Mary had in God's almighty power which she expresses in her Magnificat (Luke 1:46:55).

• Share this prayer with your children. Have them design a picture for a Holy Card, glue to construction paper and write the words of the Magnificat on the back.

I also have some ideas for lessons on Creation (CCC 279-289), but I think I'll save that for next week since this topic will continue!