Religion Grade 8

Grade Eight
Within our eighth grade religion curriculum, students will:

STANDARD 1 - SACRED SCRIPTURE
Read and understand Sacred Scripture as God's Word speaking to them.

Scripture.8.1. Locate any chapter and verse of the Bible upon request.
Scripture.8.2. Identify five literary forms used in the Bible and explain the value of using these various literary forms to deliver God's message to His people (see Grade 6 for literary forms).
Scripture.8.3. Trace how the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Scripture.8.4. Explain what it means to believe that we are saved by Jesus.
Scripture.8.5. Describe how the Bible is a collection of many books describing the history of salvation written under God's inspiration.
Scripture.8.6. Describe the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

STANDARD 2 - DOCTRINE
Know and understand the basic teachings of the Church and how they apply to their lives.

Doctrine.8.1. Explain the following terms: Trinity, Holy Spirit, Messiah, Salvation, Redemption, Savior, Revelation, Church, the Immaculate Conception, Mary – Intercessor before God, Mary – Mother of the Church, Mary – First Disciple of Jesus.
Doctrine.8.2. Discuss the implications for their lives of believing in Jesus as the Son of God and their Savior.
Doctrine.8.3. Discuss the courage and faith of Mary as she said "yes" to the Angel Gabriel's announcement and what her example means for us.
Doctrine.8.4. Research the origins and outcomes of the Councils of Jerusalem, Nicea, and Trent in the development of doctrine.
Doctrine.8.5. Explain the terms heresy and heretic.
Doctrine.8.6. Discuss the meaning and implications of our belief that the desire for God is rooted deep within every person and that God never ceases to draw us to Himself. (CCC #27)

STANDARD 3 - SACRAMENTS
Know and appreciate the centrality of the Eucharist and importance of the Sacraments in the life of Catholics.

Sacrament.8.1. Discuss that sacramental actions and symbols originated in Jewish rituals.
Identify a sign for each Sacrament and describe what each Sacrament celebrates (For example: Baptism – Water; Confirmation – Oil of Chrism; Eucharist – Bread and Wine).
Sacrament.8.2. Explain the rituals and symbols associated with the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.
Sacrament.8.3. Identify that the Mass is a celebration which has five movements or sections (Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, Communion Rite, Concluding Rite).
Sacrament.8.4. Participate in a Seder Meal and discuss similarities between the Seder and Eucharist.

STANDARD 4 - COMMUNITY
Understand and appreciate the role of the faith community - the Catholic Church - into which they have been baptized and through which they grow in faith to mature discipleship and will know what it means to have membership in the local, universal Catholic Church.

Community.8.1. Describe the roles and mission of deacons, priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and the Pope.
Community.8.2. Discuss strategies for dealing with thoughts and actions that are in conflict with Church teachings.
Community.8.3. Identify ways they can be involved in appropriate Catholic responses to situations of social injustice in their community.
Community.8.4. Explain their responsibility to call others to know, love, and understand Jesus.
Community.8.5. Explain the Catholic Church's teaching on human sexuality as a gift from God.

STANDARD 5 - SERVICE
Engage in service to and exercise responsible stewardship for the various communities to which they belong: family, school, parish, civic, national, global.

Service.8.1. Discuss what it means for a Catholic to "walk the talk."
Service.8.2. Discuss service to "neighbor" in light of the gospel story of the Good Samaritan.
Service.8.3. Participate in parish service programs such as the Food Pantry, Habitat for Humanity, Coats for Kids (if there is no service parish program, start one).
Service.8.4. Report on service projects they are involved in and how that service demonstrates love and care for others.
Service.8.5. Define good stewardship and explain how it is a way of putting their faith into action.
Service.8.6. Describe what their participation in service projects has taught them.
Service.8.7. Minister to the needs of peers in a manner appropriate to their talents and gifts.

STANDARD 6 - PRAYER
Experience and appreciate a variety of prayer forms in addition to the prayer of the Sacraments.

Prayer.8.1. Take leadership roles in working with students at other grade levels in preparing and directing a communal prayer service or liturgy.
Prayer.8.2. Evaluate their practice of personal prayer and describe how they will make changes that would strengthen their prayer life.
Prayer.8.3. Discuss how perseverance in prayer is a necessity for Christian life.

STANDARD 7 - SPIRITUALITY
Know how to develop a personal relationship with God.
Spirituality.8.1. Read, discuss, and meditate on selected readings from contemporary spiritual writers (Thomas Merton, Mother Teresa, Joyce Rupp, Dorothy Day).

Spirituality.8.2. View, discuss, and meditate on selected traditional and contemporary artwork that could be considered spiritual.
Spirituality.8.3. Identify and explain each of the Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity).
Spirituality.8.4. Explain how the practice of each of the Moral Virtues strengthens their spiritual life.
Spirituality.8.5. Practice the Moral (Cardinal) Virtues (Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude).
Spirituality.8.6. Suggest experiences in people's lives that could be celebrated through some ritual that honors the sacredness of the occasion. (birth, a family reunion, moving into a new home, recovery from illness)