Stage 4 Religious Education

Directed ReadingComprehension and Related activities

Stewards of Creation

Three Levels of Reading and Comprehension

Level 1 – Recalling Facts Level 2 – Using Clues

Level 3 – Analysis and interpretation

Lesson 1 Genesis – Biblical Passage

Read the following text and answer the questions in whole sentences.

Genesis 1

The Beginning

 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

 2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

 6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

 9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.

 11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

 14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

 20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

 24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

 27 So God created man in his own image,        in the image of God he created him;        male and female he created them.

 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

 29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Questions

Level 1 – Facts and Detail

1. What did God call the light and the darkness?2. What types of vegetation did God say the land should produce?3. What did God create on the third day? What did he call this?

Level 2 – Using the clues

4. In what image did God create man? Why do you think He did this?5. What do you think God did on the seventh day? How does this have anything to do with the modern day Sunday?

Level 3 – Analysis and interpretation

6. You have been asked to create a brochure describing the events of creation for a group of Year 6 students in primary school. Describe what God created and planned on the seven days of creation.

Lesson 2 Biblical Passage – Psalm 104

Read the text and answer the following questions:

Psalm 104 

 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

 He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more.

Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

QUESTIONS

Level 1 – Facts and Detail

1. According to line 1, what is the Lord clothed in?2. List 2 things that the Lord grows for the service of animals and man.

3. Level 2 – Using the clues

4. According to Psalm 104, “the glory of the Lord shall endure forever”. What is the term glory referring to.

5. According to the psalm, what powers does God have? What can he create and what can he take away?

6. What is the composer’s opinion of God and his power? Give reasons for your response.

7. Level 3 – Analysis and interpretation

8. Using this psalm, write your own short prayer that reflects the power of God as a creator.

Lesson 3 “God as Creator”

Read the following text and answer the questions in whole sentences.

The Creation of Man

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Creation_of_Adam

Level 1 – Facts and Detail

1. What is the name of this artwork? Who painted it?

Level 2 – Using the clues

2. Who do you think is represented in this image?3. The person on the right is surrounded by a dark shape. What do you think this represents? What does it look like?4. What does this image show about the relationship between humans and God? Hint: Genesis 1:26-27

Level 3 – Analysis and interpretation

5. Using your Bible locate TWO passages that demonstrate God’s power of Creation. Explain how the passage demonstrates the power and miracle of creation.6. Is it necessary for Adam to have a navel or belly button?

Lesson 4 The Importance of the Physical EnvironmentThe Parable of the Sower

Read the following text and answer the questions in whole sentences.

Gospel of Matthew That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered, because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

Level 1 – Facts and Detail

1. Which seeds failed to grow? Why did they fail? 2. Which seeds grew the best? Why did they grow up strong?

Level 2 – Using the clues

3. What is the moral lesson in this story? 4. What does this parable teach us about the importance of the physical

environment?

Level 3 – Analysis and interpretation

5. Compose a storyboard that illustrates the parable and its importance. 6. Compose your own parable about the importance of the physical environment.

Lesson 5 Types of Prayers

Read the following text and answer the questions in whole sentences. Type of Prayer Purpose

Blessing Recognises the close relationship between God and humanity. This prayer acknowledges God’s presence.

Adoration Expresses deep love of God, especially to Jesus present in the Eucharist

Petition When people pray they often ask for things. This is one of the most common and most heart-felt types of prayer, especially when it is born out of genuine need.

Intercession This is a type of prayer when we ask for something on behalf of someone else

Thanksgiving This simply means thanking God

Praise This type of prayer recognizes the power and majesty of God.

Level 1 – Facts and Detail

1. Copy the table into your workbooks and include another column with an example of each type of prayer.

Level 3 – Analysis and interpretation

2. Write your own prayer that petitions, praises or thanks the Lord for his work in creating the world we live in today. The prayer should express your attitude towards creation.

Lesson 6 Catholic Earthcare

Read the following text and answer the questions in whole sentences.

About Catholic Earthcare Australia

Catholic Earthcare Australia (CEA) was established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in May, 2002 and received its present Mandate in May, 2003.

As an agency of the Catholic Bishops Commission for Justice and Service, CEA's mission is to help promote understanding among people that Creation is sacred and endangered, and must be protected and sustained for present and future generations yet unborn.

To play its part in helping protect the creation and the health of Earth's inhabitants and life supporting ecosystems, Catholic Earthcare Australia is helped, through the activities of research, education, to give leadership in responding to Pope John Paul 11's call for an "ecological conversion" of the world's Catholics.

Walk against Warming - full Address by Archbishop John Bathersby

4 November 2006

Friends and all concerned about the future of our beautiful Planet. I'm grateful and honoured to be asked today to address you. Although I have loved Australia with its bushland, mountains, and trees with a passion from my earliest days in Stanthorpe, it was only in more recent years when I was elected to the Justice and Peace Commission of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, that I realised the damage that our carelessness, indifference, and blatant selfishness can cause to our beautiful world that the book of Genesis rightly describes as "good". Nor did I imagine the suffering that such neglect would cause to the people of the world especially the poorer people, and even in our own backyard the threat that global warming is causing particularly to country people and will cause to our brothers and sisters in Oceania.

From 1990 the recently deceased John Paul II called on Catholics and all people of good will to be "ecologically converted." He was even more passionate about the environment than we are ourselves, and he realised the dangers that might come from its neglect better than we do. From many points of view the love of our precious world and our rejection of anything that could destroy it is demanded of all of us. From a Christian point of view I don't believe we can call ourselves "Christian" and have any other option.

Care for the environment is demanded by our belief in and our concern for the Kingdom of God that exists in our midst. Without a love for the environment the world cannot become the place of justice, peace and freedom for all that I believe God wants it to be and all reasonable people desire.

This concern must be owned by our governments but it must also be owned by each and every one of us. We all have a role to play in safeguarding our planet Earth and today when so much persuasive evidence exists about the destructive effects of global warming, no one can any longer plead ignorance about the matter.

I thank you all today for this gathering that I believe will do much good to educate people about those very important issues we face in today's world.

QUESTIONS

Level 1 – Facts and Detail

1. Who established Catholic Earthcare Australia?2. When was catholic Earthcare Australia established?3. Who called for ecological conversion?

Level 2 – Using the clues

4. What parts of Australia does Archbishop John Bathersby highlight as things that are beautiful and need to be protected?

5. Who does Archbishop John Bathersby list as responsible for the protection of our environment?

6. Why does that Catholic Church believe that it is important to protect our environment?

Level 3 – Analysis and interpretation

7. Write a letter to the Federal Environment Minister explaining to him that you have just recently heard about Catholic Earthcare Australia.

Explain to him the need to protect our environment and that it is the responsibility of all Australians to take part in this initiative.

SCAFFOLD FOR A LETTER OF OPINION

Below is a SCAFFOLD for setting out a formal letter of opinion or Exposition, presenting one side of an argument in a convincing manner.

Dateline 24th November 2015

Title of person or organization receiving the letterThe EditorSydney Morning HeraldGPO Box 2000Sydney NSW2001

SalutationDear Sir

Paragraph 1 Introduce purpose of letter, state opinion, use persuasive language, state your opinion politely and formally.

Paragraph 2 State the first point of convincing evidence, produce examples to prove your point and elaborate your opinion. Be polite, concise and use a high level of language.Paragraph 3 State the second point of convincing evidence, produce examples to prove your point and elaborate your opinion. Be polite, concise and use a high level of language.

Paragraph 4 Make some suggestions, present some ideas to develop and give a positive solution to the problem.

Paragraph 5 Make final, concluding statements to reinforce the opinions and ideas presented in your letter.

Sign offYours Sincerely,

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