8th Grade Religion

Teacher:   Mrs. Catherine Kollars, ckollars@stclarepdx.org

Curriculum:   Church History; Catholic Social Teaching; Family Life (Sexual Morality and Decision Making); Second Step (Violence Prevention)

Eighth graders will study themes in the history of the Catholic Church from the time of the apostles through Vatican II.  All eighth grade students are also required to complete at least ten hours or service outside of school time.  In addition, they will focus on Catholic Social Teaching culminating in our annual Food Fast project.  During this unit, students will learn about our brothers and sisters who struggle for food, water, and other basic necessities.  They will see the root causes and some solutions based on our Catholic faith.  Students will participate in a 24-hour fast which builds solidarity with those in crisis situations and raises pledge money to assist others (through Catholic Relief Services),  and will participate in a unique event I call "The Hunger Meal."  Near the end of the year, the eighth graders will review and expand their study of Catholic teachings on sexual morality and decision making skills using the Fully Alive series and other appropriate materials.  During this unit, the eighth graders will participate in the "Flour Baby" experiement.

Mrs. Kollars’s
8th Grade Religion Plan
2012-2013
This plan is subject to change based on teacher discretion.

Textbook: 
Blest Are We: The Story of Our Church  Grade 8 Silver Burdette Ginn 2010
Family Life 8   RCL Benzinger 2011

Curriculum:
History of the Catholic Church, Catholic Social Teaching, Liturgical Year, Service Project, Family Group Leadership Training, Liturgy Planning, Family Life

1st Trimester
36 class days
    Introduction                                                  
    Liturgy Preparation                                                      
    Unit 1 Chapters 1-4 Textbook • Test                 
    Unit 2 Chapters 5-6 Textbook                                    
    Saint Project                                                     
    Second Step
    Visions Gospel Weeklies
    Second Step Program                                       

2nd Trimester
38 class days
    Unit II Chapters 7-8 Textbook • Test
    Unit IV  Chapters  13-16 • Test                     
    Advent
    Visions Gospel Weeklies                                                 
    Liturgy Preparation
    MLK Project
    Second Step Program
    Service Project  Due  (mid March)

3rd Trimester
35 class days    
    Food Fast/Lent
    Fully Alive Unit and Flour Baby Project (due mid May) • Test   
    Liturgy Preparation