Introduction
Because we are focusing on All Saints Day for November we are going to look more closely at two saints.
The first one is Saint Mary MacKillop, the only Australian to be recognised by the Catholic Church as a Saint. We are going to look at a book written by Sally Murphy and illustrated by Sonia Martinez. It is a wonderful collaboration to tell the story of a significant part of Mary's life. Sally wanted us to know that saints are everyday people like us. Not everyone always agreed with them but they had the courage to carry on their work because they really believed in what they were doing for others. The work of a Saint continues to influence others long after they have died. |
Look at the Front Cover
Read the Story and Discuss
Is Mary a Saint?
After reading this book, what do you think it is that makes Mary such an important person? What are her characteristics that you would call 'saint like'?
Was Mary ever challenged in trying to do the things that she wanted to do? How did she handle those challenges?
Who did Mary place her complete trust in?
What can we learn from Mary MacKillop that could influence the way we live our lives?
Fact or Fiction?
Books such as this one are written for children so that they can better understand the person of Mary MacKillop and really feel what it would have been like for her to live and work in those days.
Do you think this story is true (fact) or made up (fiction) ?
What parts of the story are fiction and what parts do you think the author made up?
Stories that are set in real time periods in the past, about a real person are fact books or Non-Fiction. Authors have to do a lot of research to get the facts right to set it in a story for children. Perhaps some of the dialogue in the story is made up because there wouldn't be records of everything that Mary said!! However the author would try very hard to make it as life like and real as possible.
After reading this book, what do you think it is that makes Mary such an important person? What are her characteristics that you would call 'saint like'?
Was Mary ever challenged in trying to do the things that she wanted to do? How did she handle those challenges?
Who did Mary place her complete trust in?
What can we learn from Mary MacKillop that could influence the way we live our lives?
Fact or Fiction?
Books such as this one are written for children so that they can better understand the person of Mary MacKillop and really feel what it would have been like for her to live and work in those days.
Do you think this story is true (fact) or made up (fiction) ?
What parts of the story are fiction and what parts do you think the author made up?
Stories that are set in real time periods in the past, about a real person are fact books or Non-Fiction. Authors have to do a lot of research to get the facts right to set it in a story for children. Perhaps some of the dialogue in the story is made up because there wouldn't be records of everything that Mary said!! However the author would try very hard to make it as life like and real as possible.
Watch
Please watch the following video by Marina Colagrossi available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwk74bbMcuM