First Communion::Things We Are Working On

It is always interesting to put your plans in writing and then to compare where you actually wind up going. With First Communion plans, we are progressing yet backtracking at the same time.

Our focus for this month was to be:

 Church Manners (check)

 All Saints (check)

 All Souls (check)

 Prayers (check)

10 Commandments (not even close)

 I think the 10 Commandments will have to wait until after advent.

Here are the things that we have been working on:

This Church Manners Chart is from the CHC first communion lesson plans. I have made similar charts for my older children (old school- before computers:)), so you could customize one to fit your family. After each Sunday mass this month, we read the chart and evaluated what areas James did very well in and gave one star for each (and will continue until the chart is filled with stars).

I put this together for James to do from That Resource Site. James is already checked off for "Creation", but we did not have a project for his notebook. I felt like he had done enough Creation worksheets and coloring pages over the years but when I saw this, I thought it would be perfect. I printed up the Ladder of Creation word pieces (shown sitting on the numbered paper) and the Ladder of Creation F3 piece (the numbered paper and the ladder). I had to shrink the word pieces as they are meant to go with a poster and not the F3 piece.

The way this will come together is this: As I read the creation story (or James retells it), James will choose a word and glue it on the section with correct number day. When he is done, the paper folds in half lengthwise and the ladder shown in the picture is glued on the front. James will then glue that to a folder in his notebook. God's Love Story (shown) is just one book that we have with the Creation story in it.

Also from That Resource Site, these cards can be put in order to help learn the "Hail Mary". James knows his prayers, but does not say the words very clearly. I am hoping that reading them will help him with that.

We finished this Trinity Page (That Resource Site) a while ago, but this is a nice open view.

James working on his St Gabriel coloring page.

Our main resource is turning out to be the New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism. We are still using our other resources, but I like the approach of this little booklet. It is just the right amount of detail for a 7yo, yet is thorough enough at the same time.

Post #1- First Communion Planning