Religion Curriculum
Northern Illinois District
Grade 1
Purpose Statement for Religion Curriculum
We want all students and families to come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The gifts of faith and salvation come to us through word and sacrament. This curriculum strives to expose children to word and sacrament, so that the Lord can do His work. The Holy Spirit works through these saving gifts to not only bring people to faith, but also to strengthen God’s children to live the life of a disciple. This curriculum is designed to support teachers and students in the Church’s mission of making disciples of all nations. We want all students to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10
Goal 1: Students will strengthen their faith with the help of the Holy Spirit as they hear, read, and study the Holy Scriptures as the inerrant, inspired word of God.
Learning Standard A: Students will see Jesus and discover God’s plan of salvation as it is revealed in the Old Testament.
Genesis – God’s Plan
Objective 1: Recognize the major stories and people of the book of Genesis.
Objective 2: Describe God as the creator of the world.
Objective 3: Rejoice that they were created in God’s image.
Objective 4: Define sin as things we do wrong.
Objective 5: Talk about God as a figure they trust and love.
Objective 6: Verbalize that they are loved by God.
Objective 7: Describe the world as perfect before Adam and Eve sinned.
The Exodus and the Promised Land
Objective 8: Recognize some of the major stories and people of Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Joshua.
Objective 9: Describe God as caring and wanting what is best for His children.
Objective 10: Realize that sin must be punished.
Judges – Sins and Saviors
Objective 11: Recognize that God’s people sinned and God forgave them.
Objective 12: Acknowledge that they sin.
Objective 13: Trust that God forgives and loves them much like their parents love them.
Kings and Kingdoms
Objective 14: Recognize the name David as a great man of God.
Objective 15: Retell stories about King David.
Exile and Restoration
Objective 16: Rejoice that God does not forget them, the same way he did not forget his people in the Bible.
Prophets and Prophesies
Objective 17: Discover that people knew Jesus was coming.
Jesus in the Psalms
Objective 18: Define Psalms as prayers and songs to Jesus.
Objective 19: Sing the Psalms.
Learning Standard B: Students will see Jesus and discover God’s plan of salvation as it is revealed in the New Testament.
The Birth of Christ
Objective 1: Recall the Christmas story.
Objective 2: Understand that Jesus came to earth.
Miracles of Jesus
Objective 3: Trust that Jesus has the power to heal.
Objective 4: Identify Jesus as having power that others don’t have.
Objective 5: Describe Jesus as loving and caring.
Parables of Jesus
Objective 6: Recognize some of the more popular parables of Jesus.
Objective 7: Explain that a parable is a story told by Jesus to teach us something.
Teachings of Jesus
Objective 8: Know that Jesus wants us to love God and our neighbors.
Objective 9: Trust that Jesus loves them and forgives them no mater what they have done.
The Cross and the Empty Tomb
Objective 10: Verbalize the events of Good Friday and Easter morning.
Objective 11: Understand that Jesus died to forgive their sins.
Objective 12: Explain that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today.
The Holy Spirit and the Growth of the Church
Objective 13: Describe the Holy Spirit as God.
Objective 14: Realize that people learned about Jesus because people told others about Jesus.
Objective 15: Talk about church as being a place where Jesus is.
Learning Standard C: Students will identify God’s Law and Gospel as they investigate scripture.
Objective 1: Identify God as someone who keeps His promises.
Objective 2: Trust that our sin does not change God’s love for us.
Objective 3: Recognize that they sin quite often.
Objective 4: Be assured that God forgives us again and again.
Objective 5: Ask for forgiveness when they sin.
Objective 6: Describe Jesus as the one who forgives sin.
Learning Standard D: Students will memorize select passages of scripture.
See Memory Component
Goal 2: Students will explore and discuss the doctrines of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Learning Standard A: Students will study the doctrines found in the confessional writings of the LCMS.
Baptism
Objective 1: Anticipate their baptismal birthday each year.
Objective 2: Compare the washing they receive in baptism to the washing they receive with soap and water.
Objective 3: Describe baptism as a gift.
The Creed
Objective 4: Recognize the words of the Apostles’ Creed when they hear it.
Objective 5: Confess that they believe that Jesus is God and that he died and rose to take away their sin.
Ten Commandments
Objective 6: Explain that rules keep us safe.
Objective 7: Compare classroom rules and at home rules with the Ten Commandments.
Objective 8: Thank God, teachers, and parents for loving them.
Confession & Absolution
Objective 9: Confess their sins to parents, teachers, friends, and God.
Objective 10: Choose confession as a way to deal with feelings of guilt.
Objective 11: Expect to hear words of absolution when they confess sins.
Objective 12: Forgive others that ask for forgiveness.
The Lord’s Supper
Objective 13: Differentiate between the meal celebrated at church and the meals they eat at home.
Objective 14: Question why some people take the Lord’s Supper and others don’t.
Objective 15: Talk about the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Prayer
Objective 16: Pray the Lord’s Prayer daily.
Objective 17: Explain why it is called the Lord’s Prayer.
Objective 18: Create an age appropriate (vocabulary) version of the Lord’s Prayer.
The Trinity
Objective 19: Identify the Trinity as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Objective 20: Compare and contrast each person of the Trinity.
Objective 21: Argue that Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father are all God.
Justification/Sanctification
Objective 22: Describe themselves as both sinner and saint.
Objective 23: Judge themselves to be guilty of sin because of what they do and because of what Adam and Eve did.
Objective 24: Interpret salvation and forgiveness as a totally free gift, based on nothing they do or say.
Objective 25: Value the work the Holy Spirit does to make them more like Jesus.
Jesus – God/Man
Objective 26: Appreciate Jesus as being both God and man.
Objective 27: Differentiate between his “God” attributes and his “man” attributes.
Objective 28: Defend the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Church
Objective 29: Define the Church as the Body of Christ.
Objective 30: Describe the Church as a “family” of believers.
Objective 31: Evidence their citizenship in the Church by pointing to their baptism.
Learning Standard B: Students will be able to discuss what they believe as Lutheran Christians and how their beliefs are rooted in scripture.
Scripture – God’s Word
Objective 1: Differentiate between the Holy Scriptures and the confessional writings of the church.
Objective 2: Select verses from scripture that defend what they believe.
Objective 3: Argue that the Bible says that Jesus loves them and died for them.
Objective 4: Recognize that there are other Christian denominations.
Objective 5: Categorize the beliefs and concepts that make us Lutheran.
Objective 6: Discuss the teaching of Martin Luther.
Learning Standard C: Students will memorize the six chief parts of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.
See Memory Component
Goal 3: Students will worship regularly and maintain a personal devotional life.
Learning Standard A: Students will worship the Lord and be exposed to Word and Sacrament in a corporate setting.
Objective 1: Assume that they are coming to go to church every Sunday.
Objective 2: Receive the gifts given in worship.
Objective 3: Participate in worship.
Objective 4: Verbalize that we see Jesus in worship.
Learning Standard B: Students will compare and contrast the different liturgies, traditions, and music of the church.
Objective 1: Compare and contrast what they see, hear, and do in their church with what they see, hear, and do elsewhere.
Objective 2: Develop favorite hymns and songs about Jesus.
Objective 3: Predict when certain parts of the service are coming.
Objective 4: Identify the different people and objects they see in worship.
Learning Standard C: Students will develop a personal devotional life that includes prayer and the reading of Scripture.
Objective 1: Pray everyday.
Objective 2: Read or listen to Bible stories at home.
Objective 3: Ask questions about what they hear or read in scripture.
Learning Standard D: Students will memorize prayers.
See Memory Component
Goal 4: Students will recognize that the Lord has called them to be good stewards of their time, talents, and treasures in order to further His Kingdom.
Learning Standard A: Students will acknowledge that all they have is from the Lord.
Objective 1: Share toys and other possessions with siblings and classmates.
Objective 2: Describe a gift as something we are given, when we have done nothing to deserve it.
Standard B: Students will share their faith with the people around them.
Objective 1: Choose to tell others about Jesus.
Objective 2: Invite friends and family members to church and other church activities.
Objective 3: Conclude that telling people about Jesus is important.
Standard C: Students will love and serve their neighbor in actions and words.
Objective 1: Speak kindly to their classmates.
Objective 2: Invite left out students to play with them.
Objective 3: Cooperate with teachers, parents, classmates, and siblings.
Standard D: Students will glorify the Lord with their talents.
Objective 1: Be aware others see and hear their actions and words.
Objective 2: Volunteer to help with chores at home or activities in the classroom.
Objective 3: Articulate that God gives them their talents and abilities.
Standard E: Students will experience the joy of supporting the ministry of the church by tithing on the money they earn.
Objective 1: Contend that tithing is a normal thing to do.
Objective 2: Tithe regularly either at church or at chapel.
Goal 5: Students will remember their Baptism when dealing with life issues and decisions.
Learning Standard A: Students will be confident of God’s presence when dealing with difficult issues at home, at school, or in any other area of their life.
Family
Objective 1: Tell parents or other trusted adults when they are sad or afraid.
Objective 2: Talk about Jesus with family members.
Objective 3: Conclude that Jesus loves their parents and siblings.
Friends and Classmates
Objective 4: Practice confession and absolution with classmates.
Objective 5: Categorize the behavior of other children as good or bad.
The World Around Us
Objective 6: Develop the habit of praying when bad things happen.
Objective 7: Develop a sense of security, aware that God is in control.
Learning Standard B: Students will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit when struggling with temptation and sin.
Objective 1: Discuss the meaning of temptation and sin.
Objective 2: Differentiate between right and wrong.
Objective 3: Decide to do the right thing, assured that God loves them.
Objective 4: Ask for forgiveness when they sin and hear words of absolution.
Learning Standard C: Students will pray and seek God’s will when making difficult life decisions.
Objective 1: Discover that they can ask God about anything in prayer.
Objective 2: Pray when they are confused.
Goal 6: Students will explore and consider their current and future vocations.
Learning Standard A: Students will be confident that the God has made them His children and put them in this place and time to serve Him and love their neighbor.
Objective 1: Describe God as their Heavenly Father who loves and cares for them.
Objective 2: Recognize that they are part of God’s family.
Learning Standard B: Students will compare and contrast the different gifts God gives His children to use in his Kingdom.
Objective 1: Identify good gifts in their life.
Objective 2: Thank God for giving good things to them and others.
Learning Standard C: Students will explore the different ways they could serve the Lord as adults, including opportunities to serve as professional church workers.
Objective 1: Name the pastors in their congregation.
Objective 2: Discover that pastors and teachers were once children and that they too could grow up to be a pastor or a teacher.
Learning Standard D: Students will appreciate their place in the body of Christ as students and children and will maintain relationships with family, friends, and classmates that reflect Christ’s love.
Objective 1: Trust that God puts people in place to love and take care of them.
Objective 2: Speak kindly to others and try to do what is right.