2nd Grade Goals & Objectives

Textbooks Used:

  1. Loving God

Curriculum Outline:

HOLY TRINITY:  To understand that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  1. The Church is the people of God led by the Apostles and today’s leaders.
  2. We love God’s house and learn about its beginnings at Pentecost and it’s growth through the centuries.
  3. To identify the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of God, the divine power in the Church and in daily living. 

CHURCH HISTORY & TRADITION: To understand the historical roots of both the Church and Holy Tradition.

  1. The Church is the people of God led by the apostles and today’s leaders.
  2. We love God’s house and learn about its beginning at Pentecost and it’s growth through the centuries.
  3. Construct “chain of the Church” over several months with strips of color paper to show how the Church grew from the time of Jesus, disciples, each Church, Fathers and Saints down to the present say with Patriarch Bartholemeus, Archbishop Demetrios, Bishop [name] and the parish Priest’s name being last on the list.
  4. Learn about the patron saints of each student in the class.  Retell each saint’s story.
  5. Learn about more saints.  Tell what each is known for and his/her feast date.  
    1. St. Demetrios  
    2. St. John the Beloved 
    3. St. Peter 
    4. St. Basil 
    5. St. Helen and the Cross 
  6. Learn about additional Feast Days.  Relate the story, identify persons and situations in the icon, locate in Scripture, identify/sing the troparion. 
  7. Identify the Ranks of clergy and what each does liturgically.
  8. Recite the Golden Rule.
  9. Explain why we Fast. 

WORSHIP & PRAYER:  To understand that going to church is a whole way of life and to appreciate that the Church has a rich liturgical tradition of feasts, festal cycles and worship services.

  1. Recite the Trisagion Prayers.
  2. Recite the Lord’s Prayer
  3. Recite the Jesus Prayer
  4. Learn more about hymns:

a.       Sing “Only Begotten Son”  

b.      Sing “One is Holy” 

c.        Sing “We have seen the true light” 

d.       Sing “Let our mouths…”

e.       Sing “Today the Virgin gives birth” 

f.        Sing the hymn of the patron saint/feast of the parish

  1. Recite the prayer of the Guardian Angel.
  2. Name one’s patron Saint; list the feast date, and why we celebrate that Saint.
  3. Review the proper way to pray:
    1. Make the sign of the cross correctly.
    2. When do we kneel, stand, and sit.
    3. We pay attention in Church and respect God’s house.
  4. Begin to outline the Divine Liturgy.
  5. Introduce Great Vespers.
  6. Introduce the Agape Service.
  7. Introduce the 40-day blessing.

 BIBLE & DOCTRINE:  To continue to understand the importance of the Bible and Orthodox doctrine.

  1. Identify Biblical places and events on a map or globe that are related to the lessons.
  2. Identify the Bible as God’s word to us, and that it is divided into the Old and New Testaments.
  3. Begin memorizing the Ten Commandments. 
  4. Learn a Bible verse per month.  
  5. Read and discuss the Sunday Gospel reading.
  6. Mysteries/Sacraments of the Church:
    1. Review Baptism 
    2. Introduce marriage 
    3. Introduce priesthood
    4. Review Communion and preparation 
    5. Introduce Confession 
  7. Learn more Bible stories.  Retell the following stories. 
    1. Adam and Eve leave the garden  
    2. Flight to Egypt 
    3. Wedding of Cana 
    4. Prodigal Son  
    5. St. John the Beloved, Evangelist, Theologian 
    6. Last Supper  
    7. Jesus forgives Peter  
    8. Good Samaritan  
    9. David and King Saul  
    10. Moses and the Ten Commandments  
    11. Parable of the house built on a rock
  8. Identify the major points in Jesus’ life.  

 EVANGELISM & STEWARDSHIP:  To know that we are called to help others and tell others about our Faith.  

  1. Show kindness to others.
  2. Understand and respect the differences between other cultures and us.
  3. Learn that God’s love is for everyone.
  4. Give money and service to the poor and needy.   
  5. Learn about and support missions and outreach programs.

OTHER RELIGIONS & SOCIAL ISSUES:  To understand how the Orthodox Faith and way of life us different from that of other faiths and traditions.

  1. Discuss the Orthodox roots are in the Jewish tradition and faith.
  2. Learn to respect and love others who are different.  
  3. Respect our world.    

VOCABULARY: Agape Service, Deacon, Nameday, Akathist, Hymn, Deaconess, Narthex, Alms, Eucharist, Nave, Altar table, Evil Spirit, Obey, Archbishop, Exaltation of the Cross, Orthodox  Banners,  Fasting, Panagia, Baptismal, Font, Gospel, Patriarch, Bishop, Great Entrance, Prosforo, Bishop’s throne, Great Vespers, Proskomidia, Censer, Hebrews, Resurrection, Chalice, Icon, Sacrament/Mystery, Chalice veil, Iconostasion, Saints Chanter, Incense, Sanctuary, Chrismation, Jesus Prayer, Savior, Christian, Lance, Sin, Church, Magi, Subdeacon, Churching, Martyr, Sunday of Orthodoxy, Communion, Metropolitan, Talents, Cross, Miracle, Ten Commandments, Crucifies/Crucifixion, Myrrh,  Theotokos