By Susan Ciancio
Several people have told me lately that they want to implement pro-life education into their children’s lives but that they simply don’t have the time. Additionally, they think that their child’s parochial school should be teaching these values. They’re right; it should. But, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, parents are the first educators of their children. Pro-life values should be taught in the home regardless of whether the kids also get this education elsewhere.
Why is that? The home is a safe place to ask questions, to delve deeper into subjects, and to work through any confusion. In addition, it’s one of the best places for kids to see their parents modeling pro-life values.
That’s why CLSP is so valuable.
When parents hear that we offer lessons, they sometimes think that teaching is out of their league, that they don’t have time for teaching at home, or that it isn’t their responsibility to “teach” from a book. But our lessons don’t have to be taught standing up in front of a classroom or your family room. You can simply cuddle on the couch and read them aloud, just like you would read any book to your child, even to your teen. And who doesn’t like to be read to?
Each lesson delves into a pro-life topic, a pro-life hero, or the life of a saint. We give excellent background on the subject, pages of material meant to be read aloud, discussion questions and answers, and usually a fun activity. You can do each lesson in pieces, and you can adapt each to your own way of learning with your child. That means that you can simply read the material and discuss it afterward. It’s easy!
This year, we released five new lessons and an Advent reflection booklet. Plus, we updated previous Advent booklets to make them evergreen. That means you can use them this Advent, or future Advents, as well!
To help you become more familiar with our lessons, we want to highlight some of our favorites. We offer lessons for kids in pre-K all the way through high school. All are easily downloadable and can be taught anywhere.
1. The Beauty of the Developing Human Being
This is a four-class lesson for middle schoolers that explores the science of the earliest moments of a person’s life and gives students a firm foundation regarding the fact that every human being’s life must be protected from creation until death.
2. Unconditional Love and Respect for Everyone: St. John Bosco
Middle school students will learn about the life of St. John Bosco and how he created a home and school for young boys who had nowhere to go and no one to care for them. Through stories about his lessons and his life, students will learn to reflect on potential prejudices they have toward certain people based on their appearances, behaviors, or financial status. They will be challenged to think about how their own choices can have a lasting positive impact when they treat all people with respect.
3. The Golden Rule and Love for Those Who Hurt Us
This lesson introduces middle school students to the part of Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount known as the Golden Rule. Students will learn the importance of doing to others as they would have others do to them. Through discussion, examples from Jesus’ time, and real-life scenarios, students will develop both compassion and empathy in their dealings with family, friends, and those they may not like.
Using Church documents, the Catechism, and subject-matter experts, this four-class supplement for teens provides students with a basic understanding of the Catholic Church’s teachings on euthanasia and gives students the tools they need to defend those teachings against current cultural attitudes and pro-euthanasia arguments. This lesson examines the complex topics of euthanasia and assisted suicide and teaches students the reality behind what the culture of death advocates regarding end-of-life issues.
This 16-class lesson for kids in kindergarten and older helps students understand that every human being has value because we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Our value does not depend on our appearance, ability, or background. Students will learn about Down syndrome, autism, the beauty of the elderly, and the fact that it’s okay to be different.
This four-class lesson for middle schoolers teaches students that God created marriage between one man and one woman. Through the lives of saints and saintly couples, students learn how they can stand up and defend marriage and the family in our society.
7. Blessed Carlo Acutis: Extraordinary in the Ordinary
This lesson teaches high school students about the short yet impactful life of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a youth who used his exceptional computer skills to create a website cataloging the Catholic Church’s approved Eucharistic miracles. Carlo is a beautiful example of how living an ordinary life can become extraordinary because of faith, love of Jesus in the Eucharist, and generosity toward others.
8. St. Ignatius: Cura Personalis
In this two-day lesson, students will learn about the Ignatian concept of cura personalis—care for the whole person. The first lesson in this two-part series challenges students to care for themselves by caring for their whole person (heart, soul, mind, and body). The second lesson teaches students the importance of cura personalis toward others and debunks the lie of the “you do you” mentality. Through readings, discussion, and thought-provoking activities, students will come to understand the importance of caring for a person, both body and soul.
You can find these and more than 40 lessons for kids of all ages on our site.