Religion Curriculum
Northern Illinois District
Grade 4
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: Analyze in detail the events and people of the book of Genesis.
Objective 2: Document the ways in which God accomplished His will through the events and people of Genesis.
Objective 3: Connect the events of Genesis to events in the New Testament.
Objective 4: Create a timeline and put to memory the events of Genesis.
The Exodus and the Promised Land
Objective 5: Outline in detail the events beginning with the birth of Moses and ending with the Exodus.
Objective 6: Describe the events at Mount Sinai, especially the imparting of the Ten Commandments.
Objective 7: Conclude that the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years because they did not trust God.
Judges – Sins and Saviors
Objective 8: Read and discuss the book of Ruth.
Objective 9: Identify where the Judges fall in a timeline of the Old Testament.
Kings and Kingdoms
Objective 10: Recall the most major events connected with the lives of Saul, David, and Solomon.
Objective 11: Recognize that Israel split into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
Exile and Restoration
Objective 12: Understand what is being talked about when they hear people reference the Exile and Restoration of Israel.
Jesus in the Old Testament
Objective 13: Identify the first prophesies of the promised savior in Genesis.
Objective 14: Connect events like the snake on the pole in the desert with the Israelites to Jesus.
Prophets and Prophesies
Objective 15: Classify the major and minor prophets.
Jesus in the Psalms
Objective 16: Compare and contrast the different themes of 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: Rejoice in the Annunciation and birth of the Savior.
Objective 2: Recall the visit of the Magi.
Miracles of Jesus
Objective 3: Contemplate the temptation of Jesus.
Objective 4: Remember the first miracles of Jesus.
Objective 5: Argue that Jesus is the Great Physician as they read about Him healing the official’s son, the man at the pool, and the paralyzed man and raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead.
Objective 6: See Christ’s compassion, power, and glory when he calms the storm, feeds the five thousand, walks on water, and invites His disciples to a hilltop for His transfiguration.
Parables of Jesus
Objective 7: Study the parables of Jesus, outlining the heavenly meaning behind each of Jesus’ stories.
Objective 8: Categorize the parables according to their teachings.
Objective 9: Read and investigate several parables including the parable of the sower, the Pharisee and the tax collector, and the ten virgins.
Teachings of Jesus
Objective 10: Explain the Beatitudes.
Objective 11: Acknowledge that Jesus taught us the Lord’s Prayer.
Objective 12: Separate Jesus’ teachings about the end times and the things they hear in the media about the end times.
Objective 13: Discuss the interactions Jesus had with the woman at the well, the rich young ruler, and the ten lepers.
Objective 14: Defend that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
The Cross and the Empty Tomb
Objective 15: Reiterate Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Objective 16: Discuss the events of the night before Jesus died especially Peter’s denial, the garden and betrayal, and Jesus’ suffering and trial.
Objective 17: Tell of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Objective 18: Summarize the events between the resurrection and the ascension.
The Holy Spirit and the Growth of the Church
Objective 19: Practice the directive given in the Great Commission.
Objective 20: Rejoice in the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and in their Baptism.
Objective 21: Investigate some of the major events connected with Peter and Paul in the book of Acts.
Learning Standard C: Students will identify God’s Law and Gospel as they investigate scripture.
Objective 1: Recognize that the Law works as a curb, a mirror, and a rule or guide.
Objective 2: Defend the fact that it is the Gospel that motivates good works and not the Law.
Objective 3: Argue that salvation can come only through the Gospel.
Objective 4: Reflect on God’s word and contemplate if it is speaking to them in the way of the Law or the way of the Gospel.
Objective 5: Define the Gospel as what Christ does for us.
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: Defend that God’s words of institution are what make plain water into life giving water.
Objective 2: Proclaim that they are a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come.
Objective 3: Remember their baptism as they daily repent of their sins and receive forgiveness.
Objective 4: Associate the sign of the cross with remembering their baptism.
The Creed
Objective 5: Recognize that they say, “I believe” and not “We believe” at the beginning of the Creed, because we cannot be saved by another person’s faith.
Objective 6: Believe with their heart and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord.
Objective 7: Demonstrate the connection between the doctrine of the Apostles’ Creed and the doctrine God revealed through the Apostles in scripture.
Objective 8: Describe God as a triune God.
Ten Commandments
Objective 9: Explain that “love” is the summary of all the commandments.
Objective 10: Recognize that God has written His laws on their hearts.
Objective 11: Defend the truth that there is only one true God.
Objective 12: Demonstrate their love for God and others by obeying God’s commands through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Confession & Absolution
Objective 13: Comprehend that Confession has two parts, confession and absolution.
Objective 14: Argue that God’s words of forgiveness must always follow the confession of sins.
Objective 15: Admit that we let the devil get a foothold when we do not confess our sins.
Objective 16: Discuss the positives and negatives of private confession and absolution.
The Lord’s Supper
Objective 17: Believe that Christ’s true body and blood are under the bread and wine.
Objective 18: Locate the words of institution in scripture.
Objective 19: Discuss the different parts of the liturgy that surround the Lord’s Supper in worship.
Objective 20: Acknowledge that all who take the Lord’s Supper receive the Body and Blood of Christ, regardless of whether or not they believe it.
Objective 21: Desire to receive the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Prayer
Objective 22: Analyze the meanings of each petition of The Lord’s Prayer.
Objective 23: Recognize that the Holy Spirit prays with us and for us.
Objective 24: Trust that God hears the prayers of all believers.
The Trinity
Objective 25: Pray using the appropriate name of the Trinity depending on what they are praying for.
Objective 26: Search scripture for the evidence that supports God being a triune God.
Justification/Sanctification
Objective 27: Compare and contrast the words, “We are saved by grace through faith” with other verses in scripture that talk about how we are saved.
Objective 28: Confidently proclaim that Christ has redeemed them by His death and resurrection.
Objective 29: Identify good works, not as a requirement for salvation, but a result of salvation.
Jesus – God/Man
Objective 30: Conclude that salvation is found in Christ Jesus and no one else.
Objective 31: Examine the names used to identify Jesus.
Objective 32: Clarify that Jesus always was and always will be.
The Church
Objective 33: Define the Church as the communion of saints.
Objective 34: Believe in the existence of the Church even though it is invisible.
Objective 35: Identify Christ as the head of the Church.
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: Explain the phrases faith alone, grace alone, and scripture alone.
Objective 2: Use their catechism to explain elements of the Christian faith.
Objective 3: Engage their parents and friends in conversations about their faith.
Objective 4: Ask questions about what they read in scripture and how it ties into the teachings of the Lutheran Church.
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: Rejoice in what God does for them in the Divine Service.
Objective 2: Respond to God in faith with joy and thanksgiving.
Objective 3: Choose to participate in worship because it benefits their faith and the faith of those around them.
Objective 4: Verbalize that they need to be in worship because that is where God gives out His good gifts.
Objective 5: Explain that in worship they have communion with the Holy Spirit and all the saints in heaven and on earth.
Learning Standard B: Students will compare and contrast the different liturgies, traditions, and music of the church.
Objective 1: Paraphrase what the different parts of the liturgy are about.
Objective 2: Name some of the different Orders of Worship used in the church.
Objective 3: Predict the colors, symbols, hymns, readings, and prayers used in worship based on where we are in the church year.
Objective 4: Identify and name the physical structures and parts of the sanctuary.
Learning Standard C: Students will develop a personal devotional life that includes prayer and the reading of Scripture.
Objective 1: Choose certain prayers to pray depending on the circumstances of their day.
Objective 2: Recognize that every day should begin with prayer even if their personal prayer and scripture reading time is at a different time of day.
Objective 3: Develop a plan for reading scripture that could include devotional materials, reading a book of the Bible, or reading with a parent.
Objective 4: Lead prayer and scripture reading during family devotions.
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: Claim nothing as their own since all they have are gifts from God.
Objective 2: Define what it means to be a steward of God’s gifts.
Objective 3: Thank God for all they have.
Standard B: Students will share their faith with the people around them.
Objective 1: Claim the Great Commission as a directive that Christ has given to them.
Objective 2: Trust that the Holy Spirit will give them the words to speak if they are sharing or defending their faith.
Objective 3: Select “sharing the gospel” as one of the most important things they do in their life.
Standard C: Students will love and serve their neighbor in actions and words.
Objective 1: Differentiate between the good works of Christians done through the Holy Spirit and the “good works” done by non-Christians.
Objective 2: Plan ways to reach out to others in their church, school, neighborhood, or anywhere else where people are in need.
Objective 3: Demonstrate the love of Christ by speaking kindly to others and caring for the needs of others.
Objective 4: Empathize with those who are suffering.
Standard D: Students will glorify the Lord with their talents.
Objective 1: Use their gifts in worship by singing, playing an instrument, and participating in the liturgy.
Objective 2: Study, work, and play with the determination that comes from knowing they are glorifying the Lord.
Objective 3: Thank God for what they can do and for what others can do to support the work of the Church.
Standard E: Students will experience the joy of supporting the ministry of the church by tithing on the money they earn.
Objective 1: Tithe regularly in church or in chapel.
Objective 2: Explain that the money given to the church helps support the ministry of making disciples of all nations.
Objective 3: Trust in the Lord to meet their every need.
Objective 4: Translate what it means to give our “first fruits” to the Lord.
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: Understand that the Lord has placed them in this family at this time.
Objective 2: Determine that there are things they can do to support and care for their family as a whole.
Objective 3: Appreciate that all families are different and have different gifts and challenges.
Objective 4: Trust that the Lord will watch over them and care for them despite anything that is going on within their family unit.
Friends and Classmates
Objective 5: Practice confession and absolution with people at school or in any other activity in which they participate.
Objective 6: Plan to use their actions and words to build others up and not tear them down.
Objective 7: Talk about their faith with friends and classmates especially in times of trouble.
Objective 8: Maintain healthy Christian friendships.
The World Around Us
Objective 9: Assess the effects of sin in the world.
Objective 10: Evaluate how the world responds to tragedy and problems and how the Church responds to the same tragedies and problems.
Objective 11: Live life confidently knowing that the threats and dangers of this world cannot hinder or take away their salvation.
Objective 12: Think of themselves as strangers in this world, because heaven is their home.
Learning Standard B: Students will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit when struggling with temptation and sin.
Objective 1: Describe the life of a Christian as a life of confession and absolution.
Objective 2: Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen them as they resist the temptations of this world, the devil, and their sinful nature.
Objective 3: Confess their sins, both the ones they remember and the ones they don’t remember.
Objective 4: Experience the freedom that comes from having their sins forgiven.
Learning Standard C: Students will pray and seek God’s will when making difficult life decisions.
Objective 1: Consult scripture and other Christian friends and adults when they are unsure of what they should do.
Objective 2: Solve problems trusting that Jesus will love them and care for them regardless of what may come.
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: Believe that God made them His in the waters of Baptism.
Objective 2: Demonstrate self-esteem as they remember that they are valued by Christ.
Learning Standard B: Students will compare and contrast the different gifts God gives His children to use in his Kingdom.
Objective 1: Acknowledge that we all have different gifts, but that the Lord loves us all the same.
Objective 2: Thank God for giving us all good things.
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: Interact with pastors and teachers on a regular basis.
Objective 2: Develop relationships with people in the church.
Objective 3: Feel free to talk to pastors and other church workers about what they do.
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: Love others and respect their position in life.
Objective 2: Speak kindly to friends and family members.