Preschool

Teacher's Book: Item #663100
Class Resource Pack: Item #663101
Take Home Sheets (for each student): Item #663102

To order all the Preschool materials call PDS at (800) 524-2612 or order online:

Younger Elementary

Teacher's Book: Item #663200
Class Resource Pack: Item #663201
Take Home Sheets (for each student): Item #663202

To order all the Preschool materials call PDS at (800) 524-2612 or order online:

Older Elementary

Teacher's Guide: Item #663300
Class Resource Pack: Item #663301
Take Home Sheets (for each student): Item #663302

To order all the Preschool materials call PDS at (800) 524-2612 or order online:

Multi-age

Teacher's Guide: Item #663400
Class Resource Pack: Item #663401
Take Home Sheets (for each student): Item #663402

To order all the Preschool materials call PDS at (800) 524-2612 or order online:

Unit 1: Jesus Shows Justice

The goal of Unit 1 is to introduce stories that show students what justice means. Jesus extends justice when friends ask for healing, an outcast woman begs for healing for her child, the disciples argue over greatness, a rich man asks about eternal life, and Jesus tells followers what matters most.

Session 1. Jesus Heals a Person with Paralysis
Mark 2:1–12

Main Idea: Jesus is impressed by the faith of friends and heals their paralyzed companion.

Something to Remember: Belonging to God: A First Catechism
Q. 26. What did he do during his life on earth?
A. He called disciples to follow him. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, blessed children, befriended outcasts, required people to repent, and forgave their sins. He taught people not to fear, but to trust always in God. He preached the good news of God’s love and gave everyone hope for new life.
Mark 2:4–5
And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Session 2. The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith
Mark 7:24–30

Main Idea: Jesus heals a sick child because of her mother’s faith.

Something to Remember: Belonging to God: A First Catechism
Q. 26. What did he do during his life on earth?
A. He called disciples to follow him. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, blessed children, befriended outcasts, required people to repent, and forgave their sins. He taught people not to fear, but to trust always in God. He preached the good news of God’s love and gave everyone hope for new life.
Mark 7:28
But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

Session 3. Who Is the Greatest? Whoever Welcomes One Such Child . . . Welcomes Me
Mark 9:33–37

Main Idea: Jesus shakes up the disciples’ idea of greatness.

Something to Remember: Belonging to God: A First Catechism
Q. 26. What did he do during his life on earth?
A. He called disciples to follow him. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, blessed children, befriended outcasts, required people to repent, and forgave their sins. He taught people not to fear, but to trust always in God. He preached the good news of God’s love and gave everyone hope for new life.
Mark 9:35
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

Session 4. The Rich Man
Mark 10:17–22

Main Idea: A faithful rich man is sad because he cannot (or will not) give up his wealth to follow Jesus.

Something to Remember: Belonging to God: A First Catechism
Q. 26. What did he do during his life on earth?
A. He called disciples to follow him. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, blessed children, befriended outcasts, required people to repent, and forgave their sins. He taught people not to fear, but to trust always in God. He preached the good news of God’s love and gave everyone hope for new life.
Mark 10:21
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

Session 5. The First and Second Commandments
Mark 12:28–34

Main Idea: Jesus tells his followers that they are to love God and love others.

Something to Remember: Belonging to God: A First Catechism
Q. 27. How did Jesus Christ prove to be our Savior?
A. He sacrificed his life for us by dying on the cross. He showed his victory over death by rising from the dead. He removed our guilt and gave us new, unending life with God.
Mark 12:29–31
Jesus answered, “The first is, ’Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Unit 2: Jesus Is Justice

Jesus’ justice is justice in which the powerless become powerful. The goal of Unit 2 is to explore stories of Holy Week and learn how they inform this belief.

Session 6. Palm Sunday
Mark 11:1–11a

Main Idea: Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly, yet humbly.

Something to Remember: Belonging to God: A First Catechism
Q. 25. What was Jesus like?
A. When Jesus spoke, he spoke with God’s authority. When he acted, he acted with God’s power. The people were amazed. He was also gentle and loving. He cared for us in all our needs as a shepherd cares for the sheep.
Mark 11:7–10
Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Session 7. Not Justice!
Mark 15:1–15

Main Idea: Jesus comes before Pilate to be tried. But the trial is not fair and the justice is not just.

Something to Remember: Mark 15:12–13
Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

Session 8. Easter
Mark 16:1–8

Main Idea: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome visit the tomb to care for the body of Jesus. They discover that he has risen.

Something to Remember: Belonging to God: A First Catechism
Q. 27. How did Jesus Christ prove to be our Savior?
A. He sacrificed his life for us by dying on the cross. He showed his victory over death by rising from the dead. He removed our guilt and gave us new, unending life with God.
Q. 28. How do we know that Jesus is Lord?
A. After he died and was raised from the dead, he appeared to his disciples, both women and men. He revealed himself to them as our living Lord and Savior. Through the Bible, he continues to reveal himself to us today.

Session 9. Appearance Stories
Mark 16:9–15

Main Idea: Jesus tells the disciples to go out into the world and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.

Something to Remember: Belonging to God: A First Catechism
Q. 28. How do we know that Jesus is Lord?
A. After he died and was raised from the dead, he appeared to his disciples, both women and men. He revealed himself to them as our living Lord and Savior. Through the Bible, he continues to reveal himself to us today.
Mark 16:14–15
Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”