Faith and Life series

Religious_studiesGrades 1–8

About This Curriculum

A comprehensive Catholic catechetical series combining solid doctrinal content with scriptural presentation and classical religious artwork.

What makes it unique: The only Catholic catechism series that required no changes to conform to the Catechism of the Catholic Church when bishops mandated conformity.

Faith and Life Series: Traditional Catholic Catechetical Program

Faith and Life is a comprehensive Catholic catechetical series for grades 1-8 that emphasizes solid doctrinal content, scriptural presentation, and classical religious artwork. The faith and life series curriculum follows a logical progression through Catholic teaching with each grade level building upon previous knowledge while covering the same big picture of salvation through different emphases.

Best for

Catholic families and schools seeking traditional, doctrinally solid religious education with systematic theological instruction and strong teacher support materials

Evaluation Criteria

6 strengths

Teacher TrainingStrength

The curriculum includes extensive teacher support through comprehensive manuals described as 'goldmines of information' with background content, teaching strategies, and cross-references. Family guides provide simplified instruction for less experienced teachers.

Teacher manuals are 'loaded with great content' including 'background information, prayers, brief biographies of saints, tidbits on Church history' and Family Guides offer structured lesson formats

Direct InstructionStrength

The faith and life series reviews indicate comprehensive teacher's manuals provide detailed lesson presentations with background information, teaching ideas, and structured four-day lesson plans. The curriculum is designed for explicit instruction rather than independent discovery.

Teacher manuals contain 'lesson presentation,' 'excellent teaching ideas, expansions on topics, background information' and 'lesson plans are written for four-day presentations'

Historical ContextStrength

The curriculum provides historical context through Old Testament stories, salvation history overview, and Church history instruction. Grade 8 specifically covers 'the Church's history, structure, and functions.'

Fourth grade 'provides more of an overview of salvation history' and eighth grade covers 'the Church's history, structure, and functions'

Vocabulary BuildingStrength

The series explicitly teaches religious vocabulary with complete definitions provided at the end of each text. Advanced theological terminology is systematically introduced and defined.

Each text 'ends with vocabulary words with complete definitions' and teaches terms like 'Decalogue, Ten Commandments, Covenant, and conscience' plus 'advanced theological terms'

Theological KnowledgeStrength

The series builds systematic theological knowledge through comprehensive coverage of Catholic doctrine including the Creed, Commandments, Sacraments, and prayer. Advanced theological vocabulary and concepts like grace, mortal sin, and Real Presence are explicitly taught.

Incorporates 'the four principal components of catechesis: the Creed, the Commandments, the Sacraments and Liturgy, and Prayer and Scripture' and teaches 'advanced theological terms'

Primary Text EngagementStrength

The curriculum incorporates direct scriptural study with cross-references to the Bible and requires having a Bible on hand during lessons. Each lesson includes pertinent Bible passages and the series integrates scriptural presentation throughout the doctrinal content.

Teacher manuals have 'cross-references to the Bible' and lessons include 'a passage from the Bible to read that is pertinent to the lesson'

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, domestic-church.com