Teachers and Learners · Week 4 · Grades 3–5
Guided Notes: St. John Bosco
- Name
- Date
- Class
Follow along as your teacher presents. Fill in each section when its slide is on the screen.
St. John Bosco
The farm boy who juggled
John Bosco was born on August 16, blank 1, on a small farm in northern Italy. His father died when John was only two. His mother, Margaret, raised her sons with hard work and prayer.
John watched traveling blank 2 at fairs and copied them. He taught himself to juggle, do magic tricks and walk a tightrope.
He put on shows for the children of his village. Then he led them in prayer and repeated the blank 3 homily.
Words to know
Write what each word means.
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Oratory | Write your answer |
| Apprentice | Write your answer |
| Salesians | Write your answer |
| Canonized | Write your answer |
A home in Turin
John became a blank 4 in 1841 and worked in the city of Turin. Many boys had come there alone to find jobs. Some slept on the streets. Some ended up in prison.
Don Bosco gathered them on Sundays for Mass, lessons and games. In 1846 he found a shed that became their home, the blank 5. His mother moved in to cook and sew for the boys.
He opened workshops where boys learned shoemaking, tailoring and printing. He died on January 31, blank 6.
Quick check
Why did young John learn juggling and magic tricks? Circle one.
- A To earn money at fairs
- B To join a traveling circus
- C To gather children and pray
- D To win a village contest
Gather or leave out?
Don Bosco made room for boys nobody else wanted. Sort each choice: does it gather people in, or leave people out? Check one box for each.
| Item | Gathers people in | Leaves people out |
|---|---|---|
| Inviting the new student into your game | ||
| Making a group chat to keep one person out | ||
| Teaching a classmate a skill you know | ||
| Laughing at someone’s mistake in an online game | ||
| Sending a kind message to a friend who is sick | ||
| Staring at a tablet while a friend is talking |
Quick check
What was Don Bosco’s Oratory? Circle one.
- A A home, school and playground for boys
- B A circus that traveled around Italy
- C A prison for boys who broke the law
- D A farm where his family grew grapes
Think, pair, share
Don Bosco wanted every boy to know he was loved, so he played, taught and prayed with them. How can you help someone feel welcome, in person and online?
Think: my idea before we talk
Sentence starters: “Someone who might feel left out is ...”“In person, I could ...”“Online or in a game, I could ...”
Pair: something my partner said
Let us pray
Jesus, you welcomed the children who came to you.
Help us notice anyone who is lonely or left out.
St. John Bosco, pray for us.
Amen.
My own prayer or intention:
Well done!
John Bosco was canonized on April 1, 1934, by Pope Pius XI. His feast day is January 31.
One thing I learned today:
One question I still have:
Challenge: Invite one person who is often left out to join you this week, at recess or in a game online.