Alberta Kindergarten Catholic Religious Education

From: Kindergarten Catholic Handbook for Parents, 2011


Spiritual Development
A young child’s way of being “religious” is to play, to be creative, to be curious, and to express
wonderment. Through these natural childhood activities children explore traces of God, the
“marks” of God present all around them as they grow, learn and experience life. The essence of
children’s spirituality is their response to life.
In the uninhibited excitement that Kindergarten children feel toward nature, they are drawn
toward a loving Creator. Their experiences of God are “sensed” through touching, smelling,
tasting, seeing and hearing, rather than through intellectual explanations.
Young children come to know Jesus through their experiences of seeing people valued and
celebrated. They recognize themselves first, and then their families, friends and classmates as
made in God’s image. Later, they are able to experience Jesus as the perfect image and likeness
of God.
In a Catholic school, the spiritual development of a child in Kindergarten occurs through
activities that are affective, to support positive feelings toward themselves and others; and
sensory, to relate directly to the good things that God has created....

In a Catholic school, children are affirmed and encouraged as they make their own journey
toward God and greater participation in the Church.
Religious education crosses all the seven learning areas described in the Kindergarten Program
Statement.

Religious Education
The Kindergarten religion program, “In God’s Image,” consists of 8 modules containing 33
themes that can be sequenced by the teacher to best respond to the particular needs and interests
of each class.
The “Me” module celebrates the child through such topics as feelings, senses, capabilities, needs
and family. The “Earth Times” module celebrates the wonder of the earth through activities
related to the seasons. The “Community” module celebrates caring through discussion, by
making friends and by helping. The “Changes” module invites children to experience support
and comfort at such times as the birth of a sibling or moving to a new house. The “Plants” and
“Animals” modules celebrate creation through activities with trees, flowers, bugs, pets and other
animals. The “Special Days” module suggests activities for celebrating such events as birthdays,
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The “Church Times” module is a sequential set of lessons that
invite children to celebrate the Christian story as it unfolds through Advent, Christmas, Lent and
Easter.
“In God’s Image” uses the existing special moments and experiences of young children and
affirms their religious importance. Throughout the day, the children are encouraged to see
“traces” of God in all of their experiences.