| |
One of the great works of the Level 2 Atrium is the copying of a personal missal. In this work there are ten prayer cards which are copied and then illustrated by the child. This is often a work which extends throughout the whole 2nd grade year. One child this year, after completing her missal, chose to "redo" four of her images. Here are the ones she chose to remove from her missal and replace. During the final work time of the year two second grade girls took time to draw and write. The following are images of their work. "Dear Jesus, I will follow you always and promise to obey you. Hail Mary..." The image of Our Lady which accompanies this prayer reveals the child's understanding of Mary as perfectly living what the child is expressing to God. In the image of Mary we see the child Jesus held in her arms, a huge smile on her face, beautiful roses growing at her feet, and stars surrounding her. "I am the true vine. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes and those bear more fruit but every one that does not falls off." The text on this card is not an exact copy of Scripture but comes from the child's memory of the passage. She has illustrated this parable with an image of a tree producing beautiful fruit of many colors, surrounded by blue sky and healthy green grass.
In the Level 2 Atrium the children have an increased desire and capacity to express the prayer of one's heart in written words. The following two images both come from second grade girls who took time in the Atrium to express a moment of their personal conversations with God. "Two pleasing things to God" 1. Prayer. Prayer is a time where we talk to God and he talks to us. A good place to pray is also by a cross. 2. Confession. Confession is a time we tell the priest our sins but we are actually talking to God." The words of this illustration show the child's internal work of articulating how Confession is one form of prayer. Beginning with the Level 2 children, as an acknowledgement of their reasoning mind, art in the Atrium is to be accompanied by writing. The amount of writing expected depends on the ability of the child. For some, copying a prayer word or phrase is enough to elevate their work while others copy a Scripture verse or write out their thoughts and ponderings. The following booklet was composed by a 1st grade boy who selected several Scripture cards, copied them, and then illustrated them in a manner similar to that done by the Level 1 children who make prayer card booklets. |
Carolyn Kohlhaas
CGS Catechist and Formation Leader (Levels I, II, and III) Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|