We Catholics are called to be good stewards, so Catholic educators need to teach stewardship as a way of life. A steward is a person who manages another’s property. God’s “property” is all creation, so as God’s stewards, we must: understand that life and its many blessings are sheer gifts from God discern between wants and needs use time and resources on what is truly important recognize that all people have as much right to God’s gifts as we do work for others’ basic needs Here is how you can create an atmosphere of stewardship in your classroom. It’s all about God Start students off with a two-minute reflection as you say: “Every single thing is a gift from God! Blink your eyes: God gave you the eyes, the eyelids, and the muscles to blink. When you laugh with a friend, remember that God gave you one another and laughter too.” Younger children: Help them see the whole picture. For example, climbing a tree requires knees and elbows as well as legs—and a tree! Older children: Encourage them to think scientifically (e.g., microscopic life, chemical reactions) and of intangibles (trust, courage). Using a long roll of paper, have students list these gifts. Hang this in a hallway, and frequently challenge children to add to the list. This encourages a growing awareness of God’s generosity and presence in their lives. Catholic Social Teaching Use Catholic social teaching themes to become good stewards: The dignity of every person God made every single one of us, so every person must be treated with respect and fairness. Younger children: Provide them with photos of people from around the world (use magazines or catalogs from mission or fair trade organizations) and pictures of themselves to create a collage. Encourage children to continually bring in pictures and books that express the dignity of people. Older children: Have publications available that foster dignity, such as Maryknoll. (Go to tinyurl.com/3bl3e9 where you will see the Maryknoll classroom program, which is free for the 2007-2008 school year.) Family and community People greatly need other people. By helping one another in many ways, we create a loving community. Both age levels: Hold classroom discussions on bullying and teasing (in class, in school, at their computers). Work together to list ways to show respect and to help others in the classroom. Rights and responsibilities All people must have food, water, work, shelter, education, and medical care. These basic needs are “rights.” Yet many don’t have these. Those who do must help others to get them. That is their “responsibility.” Both age levels: This theme helps children truly comprehend basic needs, a lesson they may not have learned if their own needs are met. Have them do research. Even the youngest children can do some of this work. Food: Go to hungersite.org to learn about hunger, and click to give food. Research local food shelves for information on numbers of recipients. Water: Go to WaterPartners International (water.org) for information on this basic need. Shelter: Through Catholic Charities, find out about homelessness and what life is like for a homeless person or family. Education: Several Web sites can help you offer students a way to help students in other countries. See ungei.org, threecupsoftea.com, and penniesforpeace.org. This research may entice students to action. Encourage creativity and good organization. Students can even educate adults on these topics. Stewardship of creation The earth and all life on it is God’s creation. We must care for it because: it is a holy gift from God, it is the only place we can live, misuse causes many people and other living creatures to suffer. For younger children: Read The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau and Gail De Marchken (Scholastic Press). Have children put on a simple play or puppet show using this story. For older children: Link this with the work on “Rights and Responsibilities.” Have students seek information through television news and newspapers on ways the poor and vulnerable are helped or hindered. Solidarity The world’s peoples are interdependent, so we must work together. We are all sisters and brothers. The work done for the other teachings leads to this attitude. Also celebrate solidarity by honoring children’s ethnic traditions, bringing in guests to share different cultural traditions. RTJ Anne Neuberger is a writer, educator, and parent. She has written To Walk Humbly: Stories and Activities for Teaching Compassion and Justice and several other books (all from Twenty-Third Publications). Contact her through her Web site: anneneuberger.com.