Additional information
by Michaelin Otis (Illustrator), Carol S. Bannon (Author)
A Handshake From Heaven Lesson Plan book contains lessons and activities successfully used across the country with both large and small groups of children in conjunction with the children's Eucharistic book A Handshake From Heaven. In this book, children are shown how the Eucharist is truly the Body of Christ and it is the means by which we as Catholics come to know Jesus...the best friend we will ever have. Teaching children about the Eucharist is one of the most rewarding tasks a catechist is called upon to do. Parents and teachers alike will find these lessons, taken as a whole or taken individually, successful and easy to implement. Lesson One will help children understand that being Catholic is a conscious choice we make in our journey of discovering Jesus. Lesson Two will aid in teaching about the importance of attending Mass on a regular basis. In the other lessons they will be shown how the altar is the table upon which is set the greatest gift of all...Christ's Body and Blood. Most important of all, these lessons will teach children that when they hold the Body of Christ in their hands, they are touching God. This is Jesus' gift to all who believe. The art work provided in the lesson plan book are taken directly from the artwork contained in A Handshake From Heaven and is intended to be used for the purposes of augmenting lessons; suggestions as to their use can be found in each lesson. Catechists are encouraged to use the illustrations that best fit the needs of their individual classes. I have tried to include alternate activities for many of the lessons; if you discover a modification you feel would be helpful to other catechists, please share that idea with others on my author page. We are in this together as we impart the beauty of the Eucharist to another generation of God's children. God bless each and every catechist and parent as they begin the wondrous job of sharing the Good News of the Eucharist with our youth.
