Unit Overview

This unit focuses on the concept of love, forgiveness and gratitude in our relationships with God and others. It begins with the children’s experience of friendship and explores Jesus’ example of loving one another as he loves us. The unit focuses on forgiveness and gratitude in relationships through two Gospel accounts – ‘How many times must we forgive?’ and ‘The Ten Lepers’.

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Enduring Understanding

Jesus teaches us how we can choose to love God and one another.

Objectives

A student will

value and appreciate their personal responsibility for moral decision-making; recognise that moral decision-making can be both complex and demanding; accept the need to work with compassion for justice in the world; believe in their own potential to effect change
develop an understanding of Catholic moral teaching, its relationship to moral issues and place in personal decision-making, including its call to work for justice in the world
research into and reflect on Catholic moral teaching; develop the ability to make responsible moral decisions; apply the principles of justice and compassion in their lives

Outcomes

A student

recognises that Jesus teaches us to love one another. (RECVE1)
describes Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness and gratitude. (RECKE1)
identifies ways we show gratitude to God and others. (RECSE1)

Essential Questions

How can we follow the example of Jesus and love one another?
How can we follow the example of Jesus and forgive one another?
How can we follow the example of Jesus and show gratitude to God and one another?

Learning Focus, Statements of Learning & Course Content

We are called to follow the example of Jesus by

- exploring the qualities of friendship.
- Explore Proverbs 17:17a A friend loves at all times and discuss what this teaches us.
- Describe the qualities of healthy friendships, including; respect, dignity, equality, care, and kindness.
- Discuss who the friends in our lives are and why they are important.
- exploring how Jesus treated others.
- Explore John 13:1-9, 12-15 Washing of the Feet (Storytelling approach).
- Describe who Jesus’ friends were and how he taught them about love and caring for others.
- recognising that Jesus calls us to love one another.
- Explore John 13:34-35 Love One Another and recognise Jesus’ teaching on how to treat others.
- Describe how, like Jesus, we can show our love for one another.
- Celebrate a prayer service using Proverbs 17:17a and John 13:34-45 and include a relevant hymn, to thank Jesus for teaching us how to love one another.

We are called to follow the example of Jesus by

- exploring how Jesus taught us to forgive.
- Explore Matthew 18:21-22 Forgiveness (Storytelling approach).
- Describe what Jesus taught Peter about forgiveness.
- Read KWL Book 1 Chapter 18 Forgiveness p132-136 and explore why Jesus tells us to be like him and to keep on forgiving each other, even when it is difficult.
- Identify the feelings associated with forgiveness and pray the prayer in KWL Book 1, Chapter 18 Prayer p137.
- exploring forgiveness as an important part of relationships.
- Define and categorise different ‘relationships’.
- Identify times in our relationships where we need to forgive others and be forgiven.
- Explore the choices we make in relationships that bring us closer to God, by reflecting on personal daily choices through a simple examination of conscience.
- Recognise that when we forgive others, we are a sign of God’s love and forgiveness.

We are called to follow the example of Jesus by

- exploring what Jesus taught about giving thanks.
- Explore Luke 17:11-19 Only One Said “Thank You” (Storytelling approach)
- Read KWL Book 1 Chapter 19 Only One Said Thank You p138-143 and explore the significance of Jesus healing the lepers and how they responded.
- exploring gratitude as an important part of relationships.
- Define ‘gratitude’ and identify times when we give thanks.
- Identify the need for gratitude in relationships.
- Identify the feelings associated with giving thanks and pray the prayer in KWL Book 1 Chapter 19 Prayer p145.
- recognising times when we give thanks to God.
- Identify how we show gratitude to God.
- Explore Psalm 103:1, 8 and recognise the verse as thanksgiving.
- Compose and pray prayers of thanks, recognising the qualities of love, care, kindness, forgiveness and gratitude.

Compulsory Scripture

Unit Content 1
Proverbs 17:17a A friend loves at all times
John 13:1-9, 12-15 Washing of the Feet
John 13:34-35 Love One Another

Unit Content 2
Matthew 18:21-22 Forgiveness

Unit Content 3
Luke 17:11-19 Only One Said “Thank You”
Psalm 103:1, 8

Storytelling

Unit Content 1
John 13: 1-9, 12-15 Washing of the Feet

Unit Content 2
Matthew 18:21-22 Forgiveness

Unit Content 3
Luke 17:11-19 Only One Said ‘Thank You”

Church Documents

Catechism of the Catholic Church

459 – The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”
982 – There is no offence, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. “There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest.” Christ who died for all men desires that in his Church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to anyone who turns away from sin.
1803 The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.
1823 – Jesus makes charity the new commandment.96 By loving his own “to the end,” he makes manifest the Father’s love which he receives. By loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive. Whence Jesus says: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.” And again: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
1939 – The principle of solidarity, also articulated in terms of “friendship” or “social charity,” is a direct demand of human and Christian brotherhood.
2055 When someone asks him, “Which commandment in the Law is the greatest?” Jesus replies: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
2638 – As in the prayer of petition, every event and need can become an offering of thanksgiving. The letters of St Paul often begin and end with thanksgiving, and the Lord Jesus is always present in it: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”; “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

Australian Curriculum
Cross Curriculum Priorities		The General Capabilities
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures		Critical and creative thinking
	Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia		Ethical understanding
	Sustainability		Information and communication technology capability
Other important learning identified by the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA):			Intercultural understanding
	Civics and citizenship		Literacy
	Difference and diversity		Numeracy
	Work and enterprise		Personal and social capability

E1 – Love One Another