Palma Junior High School 2008-2009 / Ms Marsh
The Church through History / 8th Grade
Religion
Course Objective: This course is designed to help students understand the history of the Catholic Church. Students will explore their faith and the faith of the founders of the church as well as, historical facts, the people who made a difference, and the pivotal events that determined what the church is today.
Course Goals: To understand how the Catholic Church came to be what it is today.
Learning and Teaching Strategies: Since each student that enters my class has many different levels of understanding of religious faith/education and some have no background in religious education, various teaching methods (individual discussions, lecture, group discussions and projects, movies, speakers and power point presentations) will be employed. Every effort will be made to help each individual from their current point in understanding to their highest level.
Movies: The Prince of Egypt, St. Francis, John Paul II, Masadda, Dead Sea Scrolls, Luther, Inherit the Wind, Inside the Vatican, Rome.
Expected Schoolwide Learning Result (ESLRÕs): As with every course at Palma Junior High School, 8th Grade religion requires that all students learn and grow in these four areas: Spiritual/Moral (prayer, and an understanding of God in their life), Intellectual (class material and projects), Physical (reaching out to others and being active in their church as well as their Palma community), and Social (classroom behavior and interaction with students and teachers).
Grades: The percentage of distribution is as follows:
Quarter: Semester:
Homework 30% 1st Quarter 40%
Evaluations 50% 2nd Quarter 40%
Project 20% Semester Exam 20%
Letter Grade assigned follows the standard Palma % scale.
Homework: Weekly homework will be assigned. Homework will be written on the board in the classroom and on the website. All students must write the homework assignment from the board in their time trackers in the event that the class work gets off the website schedule.
Projects: There will be several large and small Projects every quarter. The projects grade is worth 20% of the quarter grade.
Materials: Text, ÒThe Church through HistoryÓ, The New American Bible, and a Religion Notebook. Students must have a pen or pencil for class at all times.
Course Outline:
Introduction: Allowing the Past to Speak
A. The Present began in the Past
B. History vs Chronology
C. History and Church History
Unit I: The Beginning: The Church of the Apostles
A. Pentecost
B. Jewish Roots of the Church
C. Abraham the Father of our Faith
D. Built on the Good News
E. The Beginning of the Church
F. Christians Inspire Hope
G. Early Christian Communities
H. Gentile Converts
Unit II: Spreading the Message: The Church Enters the Empire
A. Martyrs
B. Roman Persecutions
C. Edict of Milan
D. The Church takes Shape
E. Apologists Explain and Defend the Faith
F. Orthodoxy and Heresy
G. Sacramental Life
Unit III: Church Victorious: The Age of the Fathers
A. The Religion of the Empire
B. The Council of Nicaea
C. Western Roman Empire Falls
D. The Fathers of the Church
E. The Patristic Period
F. Monasticism
Unit IV: Expansion and Growth: Creating a Christian European World
A. Christianity East and West
B. Major Christian Centers
C. Christianity Meets Islam
D. The Christian Experience
E. Missionaries
F. The Conversion of Ireland
G. The Conversion of England
H. The Conversion of Europe
I. The Jewish People
Unity V: The Church and the World United: The High Middle Ages
A. The Medieval World
B. The Middle Ages
C. Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire
D. Troubles and Triumphs
E. Cluny and the Reform of Monastic Life
F. The East and West Schism
G. Medieval Christian Experience
H. The Cathedral
I. The Theologian
J. Crusaders and Reformers
K. The Franciscan and Dominican Mendicant Orders
Unit VI: From Disorder to Beauty and Hope: The Road to the Renaissance
A. Decline of Unity
B. Avignon Papacy
C. Resolving the Schism
D. The Black Death
E. Medieval Mysticism
F. The Ever-Changing Geography
G. The Renaissance
Unit VII: Challenge and Response. The Church and Disunity
A. The Protestant Reformation
B. Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
C. Luther on Indulgences
D. The Break with Catholicism
E. PeasantsÕ Revolt
F. The Spread of Protestantism
G. The Reformation in France and Spain
H. King Henry VIII
I. Two Protestant Reformers
J. Causes of the Reformation
K. Differences in Teachings
L. The Catholic Reformation
M. The Council of Trent
N. Catholic Spirituality
O. The Mystics
Unit VIII: Sacred
or Secular: Rationalism Confronts the Catholic Church
A. The Church and Science
B. The New Age of Science
C. An Age of Nation-State
D. The French Revolutions
E. Pope Pius IX
F. England and Ireland
G. A Changing World
H. Missionaries to Foreign Lands
Unit IX: Mosaic of Unity and Diversity
A. A Collision of Cultures
B. Conquistadores and the search for God
C. The French Presence
D. Jesuit work among the Northern Native Americans
E. Catholicism in the Colonies
F. Maryland-A save haven for Catholics
G. Religious Freedom
H. The American System
I. The Immigrant Church
Unit X: A Spiritual and Moral Presence: The Church in the Modern World
A. The Industrial Revolution
B. United States Contributions to Catholic Social Teaching
C. Political Controversies
D. The Church in Mexico
E. The Americans Controversy
F. Pope Pius X
G. Catholic Spiritual Life
H. And Age of World Wars
Unit XI: The Church of Vatican Council II
A. The Church is Transformed
B. Pope John XXIII
C. Vatican II-ChristÕs Presence
D. The Impact of Vatican II
E. The Documents
F. Pope Paul VI
Unit XII: The Gospel of Life: The Church in the Global Community
A. Transformation of the Church
B. Pope John Paul I
C. Pope John Paul II
D. A Voice for Life
Unit XIII: Making Your Mark: The Now and Future Church
A. Present and Future
B. The Beatitudes
C. The Beatitude for You