TOWARDS WHOLENESS: THE JOY OF LIFE (PDHPE) K-10 RESOURCE

Early Stage One: Catholic Perspective

Strand: Health, Wellbeing and Relationships

Key Inquiry Question One: What makes me unique?

Unique qualities and strengths

We are all made in God’s image (Gen 1:27) and God loves everyone. God has made us with amazing bodies and each one of us are different but all beautiful. Some people are; tall, short, small, big, have blue eyes, black eyes, red hair, blond hair, curly hair. We are all different but all spectacular, because God has made us all.

We have bodies and can enjoy many different things in life. We can use our feet to kick the ball and play soccer, we can use our eyes and hands to read books, we can sit down and use our ears to listen to our favourite song, we can use our mouths to eat our favourite fruit. We are all different and have our favourite things and not so favourite things.

God has blessed us all with strengths and talents. Some people like ballet, some people can run really fast, others love painting. Each of us are different but beautiful.

Ideas for Classroom Questions: Unique qualities and strengths

What are some of my physical qualities?

What are the types of things I enjoy?

What are my strengths?

How has God made me different to animals and plants?

Sacred Scripture Passage(s)

Gen 1:27

Helping others

Each person is unique and has been given special talents and strengths. God wants us to share these talents and strengths with others, so everyone can benefit (CCC 1937). God has given us bodies, so that we can help other people and be a gift to others through our words and actions. We can be a gift to our parents by using our hands to clean up our room. We can be a gift to our classmates by not using our hands to push and feet to kick each other, but to play safely. We can use our mouths to be a gift and say nice things to other people.

God wants us to be safe and look after each other. We can use our hands to pick someone up, if they fall. We can use our legs by running to a teacher if someone needs extra help. We can use our eyes to look for crossing lights when walking across the road.

God has made us all different and unique and each person can react in very different ways in different situations. Some people get nervous of heights, others can be scared of big crowds. It is important to always look to God for strength and protection. God loves us so much and wants us to be safe, good and loving to each other.

Ideas for Classroom Questions: Helping others

How can I help others to be safe?

What are some dangers that I come across in different places?

Key Inquiry Question Two: How do we grow?

My body and its functions

God has made humans unique compared to the rest of creation. ‘Only humans can know and love God’ (CCC 355). God made humans with a body and spiritual soul. Both body and spirit are important. It is through the body that people can show kindness and love. If people didn’t have bodies then how could love be seen?

Our bodies are a magnificent creation, designed to be a ‘temple of the holy spirit’ (1 Cor 6:19). God has given everyone a body. God has given us hands to pick flowers, to play cards with Dad, push our little brother of sister on the swing, to write some numbers and letters. We have legs to run, to kick the ball to our friend, to dance. We have eyes to read, to look at all the wonderful insects and flowers in our school. We have ears to listen to our friends to telling stories, to listen to our teachers and parents. We have mouths to sing songs to Jesus, to say nice things to our family and people at school.

God has given us bodies, so that we can do fun and amazing things. Our bodies have changed and grown from when we were tiny as a baby. Each part of our body has a job, which helps us live and enjoy life. God wants us to love him and each other (Mt 22: 37, 39) and that’s why he gave us bodies.

Ideas for Classroom Questions: My body and its functions

What are the amazing things I can do as a person?

How has my body changed since I was a baby?

How can I use my hands, feet, eyes, mouth and ears in a positive way and negative way?

Sacred Scripture Passage(s)

1 Cor 6:19, Mt 22:37,39

Differences in bodies

God has made everyone unique and different. God has made all our bodies and many parts of our bodies are alike. God has made arms, hands, hair, eyes. Some people are tall, some have brown eyes, some have blonde hair, some have long fingers, some people have straight hair. God has made all bodies in an amazing way.

God has also made bodies in a special different way. God has made bodies of boys and girls different. God loves everyone equally and we are all of equal value, even though we are not exactly the same.

Ideas for Classroom Questions: Difference in bodies

How do I look different to others?

How do I look the same as others?

Private and public body parts

Our bodies are sacred and holy. God had made us with a body, so that we can be nice to others through our words and actions. It is important that we don’t use our bodies to be hurtful or negative to other people, like pushing, kicking or saying mean things to others. We should be respectful, kind and loving towards other people. Some examples of this are; smiling, putting your hand out to shake someone’s hand, allowing other people to join in games and have fun by running around.

God has made some parts of the boy body and girls body different. These body parts that make boys different to girls are extremely special and should be kept private from other people.

Ideas for Classroom Questions: Private and public body parts

How can I be a gift through my words and actions?

Which parts of my body should be kept private?

Sacred Scripture Passage(s)

Gen 1:27, 1 Cor 6:19

Key Inquiry Question Three: How can we care for and include each other?

Feelings and emotions

God has not made us like animals. Humans have a spiritual soul and therefore also have emotions. God has made our bodies in such an amazing way that our bodies can tell us many things. When our eyes feel heavy our bodies are telling us we are sleepy, when our tummy hurts, our bodies are telling us that we might have eaten too many lollies, when our head hurts, our bodies could be telling us that we have not drank enough water.

God has also made humans in a special way. It is natural for us to be happy, sad, nervous, excited, frustrated etc. It is important to understand when we have different feelings and emotions. People can show their emotions and feelings by crying, laughing, yelling, being quiet, running away, pushing. It is through our bodies that we feel and show our emotions.

Our emotions and feelings can help us understand a situation and react in the best way. Sometimes it is really important to listen to our bodies and emotions and act straight away. If our tummy is rumbling, then we should eat, if we have butterflies in our belly and feel unsafe, then we should go to a friend or family member, if we are being yelled out and shouted at by another child who is angry then we should leave and find help.

Other times it is important not to act straight way. If we feel frustrated and feel like pushing someone, we should not push but maybe go for a walk. If we feel like running around in the class, it is important not to run around but wait for recess or lunch to run around. We can choose to wait at times, as this is a better way of acting.

We can always trust God, as he is our loving Father. God has also blessed us with family, friends, teachers and people in our communities that we can trust and take care of us. We are also called by Jesus Christ to ‘love our neighbours like ourselves’ ( Lk 10:27). We are created by God to be a gift to our family, friends and community.

Ideas for Classroom Questions: Feelings and emotions

Why has God given me emotions?

Why should I express my emotions appropriately?

How has God cared for me?

What are some ways that I can care for other?

Sacred Scripture Passage(s)

Lk 10:27

Report abuse