Brave and Free · Week 1 · Grades 3–5
Guided Notes: St. Brigid of Kildare
- Name
- Date
- Class
Follow along as your teacher presents. Fill in each section when its slide is on the screen.
A girl who gave things away
Brigid was born in blank 1 around the year 451. At that time the Christian faith was still new there.
blank 2 says her father was a chieftain named Dubthach. Her mother, Brocca, was an enslaved Christian woman.
Many stories tell how young Brigid gave food to the poor. In one, she gave away all the butter she had made. She prayed, and the butter was there again.
Words to know
Write what each word means.
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Tradition | Write your answer |
| Monastery | Write your answer |
| Abbess | Write your answer |
| Hospitality | Write your answer |
The church of the oak
Brigid chose to give her whole life to God as a nun. Around the year 480 she founded a blank 3 at Kildare. The name means “church of the oak.”
Kildare had a community of women and a community of men. Brigid led it as blank 4. It became known for prayer, learning and hospitality.
A famous story says a king promised her as much land as her cloak could cover. The cloak spread out over the whole field!
Brigid died around the year blank 5.
Quick check
What does the name Kildare mean? Circle one.
- A Field of the cows
- B Church of the oak
- C House of the king
- D Hill of the cross
An open door or a closed door?
Brigid was known for hospitality. Sort each choice: does it open the door to someone, or close it? Check one box for each.
| Item | Opens the door | Closes the door |
|---|---|---|
| Inviting a new student to sit at your table | ||
| Making a group chat to leave one person out | ||
| Letting a younger kid join your online game | ||
| Whispering about someone when they walk in | ||
| Sharing your snack with someone who forgot theirs | ||
| Staring at a screen while a friend talks to you |
Quick check
Why do we say “tradition says” for many Brigid stories? Circle one.
- A Brigid asked that her stories stay secret
- B The stories were written in a lost language
- C The Church does not allow stories of saints
- D They were written down long after she died
Think, pair, share
People came to Brigid’s monastery hungry, tired or alone, and they were welcomed. Who might feel left out at our school or in an online game or chat? What is one way you could welcome them?
Think: my idea before we talk
Sentence starters: “Someone might feel left out when ...”“I could welcome a person by ...”“Online, being welcoming looks like ...”
Pair: something my partner said
Let us pray
Loving God, thank you for all you have given us.
Give us open hands and open hearts like Brigid.
St. Brigid of Kildare, pray for us.
Amen.
My own prayer or intention:
Well done!
St. Brigid’s feast day is February 1. In Ireland, many families weave a St. Brigid’s cross from rushes on that day.
One thing I learned today:
One question I still have:
Challenge: Welcome one person this week who is often left out, at recess, at lunch or in a game online.