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manna & mercy


CATHOLIC First Sacraments Unit Study

First Holy Communion & Reconciliation learning made simple, joyful, and deeply rooted in scripture & tradition.
Try it for free

Our brand-new First Sacraments unit study for kids ages 6-8!

 
What's included:

  • 240+ pages delivered as digital downloads organized in an online course format to make things as open-and-go as possible.
  • 4 units that follow the story of Salvation History and the covenant relationship of God with His people. 
  • A complete lesson guide with detailed teacher scripts, discussion questions, pacing options, homeschool tips, classroom tips, supply lists, book recommendations.

  • Student printables with prayer cards, vocabulary & virtue flashcards, Salvation History timelines, crafts, review games, Mass resources for both the Novus Ordo and Traditional Latin Mass, preparation activities for both Confession and Holy Communion, and Saint & Scripture stories coloring pages.

  • 125+ Audio MP3s for vocabulary words, prayer cards, the Ten Commandments, saint stories, and Bible stories to support memorization, and independent review. Includes Pixel art and instructions for using the audio resources on a Yoto player.

Pricing Options:

  • $60 (for Single Household Use)
  • Group, Parish, and Classroom pricing available!
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About the Creators

Manna & Mercy was developed by Jenny Marchi in collaboration with Amanda Burton.

Jenny Marchi holds a degree in elementary and special education from Franciscan University and taught in Catholic schools for 8 years. Her classroom and theology background helped shape her vision for a sacraments unit study that is faithful, creative, and hands-on.

Amanda Burton is the creator of All Saints Play, who attended John Paul the Great Catholic University for Theology and Media. Amanda brought her experience as a curriculum developer and graphic designer to bring a joyful style and multimedia vision for the project.

Together, they created Manna & Mercy to be a unique and comprehensive path for students to learn about the sacraments.

does this sound like you?
You want to prepare your child for First Confession and First Holy Communion in a way that feels reverent, beautiful, and truly understandable - but pulling all the pieces together can feel overwhelming.
  • Some sacrament prep resources are clear, but feel dry or disconnected from a child's daily life.
  • Others are sweet and engaging, but don't walk deeply through Scripture, virtue, Salvation History, and the Mass.
  • And gathering prayers, Bible stories, saint stories, vocabulary, crafts, memory work, and review activities on your own? That's a lot.

You're not looking for more worksheets. You're looking for something faithful, joyful, holistic, and hands-on — something you can trust to be both beautiful and true.

Meet Manna & Mercy

Manna & Mercy brings everything into one open-and-go unit study — 240+ pages of scripted lessons, printables, and audio, created by a Franciscan University–trained Catholic educator with eight years in Catholic-school classrooms. It's written in faithfulness to the Magisterium and will be submitted to the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend for Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat review.

Across 20 weeks, children walk through four units that follow the story of Salvation History. They begin with who God is and why He made them, move through the Old Testament covenants, meet Jesus as the New Covenant, and finish by preparing for Confession, the Mass, and Holy Communion — approaching the Eucharist with real understanding and wonder.

includes 8 subjects

  1. Prayer – Discover the history of Catholic prayers while learning to recite them independently.

  2. Virtues – Learn what a virtue is and the many ways we can practice them.

  3. Saints & Scriptures – Get to know the lives of the saints while reading specific stories from Scripture.

  4. Vocabulary – Understand and memorize the definition of important terms.

  5. Memory – Learn important verses from the Bible and teachings from the Catechism.

  6. Salvation History – Create a timeline that highlights important events throughout the course of Salvation History.

  7. Living the Faith – Practice real-life skills to enhance the spiritual life and prepare for receiving the Sacraments.

  8. Explore – Reinforce learning through movement, creativity, and experiential activities.

why choose manna & mercy


The goal of this unit study is to help children not only learn important teachings of the Church, but also understand how those teachings connect to prayer, the sacraments, Salvation History, and everyday life.

 

Rooted in Salvation History and the Covenants

Our unit study does not just focus on memorizing isolated facts—It follows the story of God's love from Creation through the Old Testament covenants to Jesus, the New Covenant, the Sacraments, and life in the Church.

 

Open-and-Go
Teaching Support 

Scripted teaching prompts help you know exactly what to say, what to ask, and how to guide each lesson. The structure minimizes prep while still leaving room for conversation and flexibility.

 Includes Support for the Novus Ordo and Traditional Latin Mass

Manna & Mercy includes instruction on the parts of the Mass for both the Novus Ordo and the Traditional Latin Mass, making it a beautiful fit for families, parishes, and classrooms with different liturgical experiences.

Hands-On, Joyful, and Deeply Catholic 

Every lesson blends prayer, virtue, saints, Scripture, vocabulary, memory work, Salvation History, everyday faith practice, and hands-on Explore activities. Children make prayer cards, virtue tools, timelines, Mass books, Confession supports, review games, crafts, and visual demonstrations that help the truths of the Faith stick.

BUILT FOR BOTH HOMESCHOOLING & LARGE GROUP SETTINGS

parish & classroom licenses
 

UP TO 10 STUDENTS

$100

SMALL GROUP

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UP TO 25 STUDENTS

$175

PARISH & CLASSROOM

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UP TO 50 STUDENTS

$300

PARISH & CLASSROOM

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UP TO 100 STUDENTS

$500

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unit study overview


Grab a cup of coffee and take a look over the outline for the entire unit study

  1. 🧺 Welcome to Manna & Mercy!

    2 lessons
    1. 🖨️Unit Study Printing Options
    2. 🗝️ Icon Key: What Everything Means

  2. 📁 Complete Unit Study PDFs

    2 lessons
    1. 🖨️ Manna & Mercy Student Printables
    2. 🧭 Manna & Mercy Lesson Guide

  3. 📁 Getting Started

    8 lessons
    1. 📚 Book Recommendations
    2. 🖍️ Supply List
    3. 👋🏻 Welcome & Vision
    4. 📝 Preparing to Begin
    5. 📓 Unit Study Overview
    6. 🏠 Homeschool Tips
    7. 🏫 Classroom Tips
    8. 🙋🏻‍♀️ FAQ

  4. 🥰 Unit 1: God Made You for Himself

    49 lessons
    1. 🖨️ Unit 1 Printables
    2. 🧭 Unit 1 Lesson Guide

    1. 🙍 Lesson 1: Why did God make you?

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Sign of the Cross (Holy Spirit)
      2. 🙏 Prayer: Sign of the Cross (Holy Ghost)
      3. ❤️ Virtue: Theological Virtues
      4. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Jeremiah 1:5
      5. 📖 Saints & Scripture: St. Joan of Arc
      6. 🔤 Vocabulary: Virtue
      7. 🔤 Vocabulary: Rational Soul

    2. 😇 Lesson 2: Who is God? The Trinity and Angels

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Guardian Angel | Praying With Angels
      2. 🙏 Prayer: Guardian Angel Prayer
      3. ❤️ Virtue: Cardinal Virtues
      4. ❤️ Virtue: Prudence
      5. ❤️ Virtue: Justice
      6. ❤️ Virtue: Temperance
      7. ❤️ Virtue: Fortitude
      8. 📖 Saints & Scripture: St. Patrick
      9. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Baptism of Jesus
      10. 🔤 Vocabulary: Theophany
      11. 🎥 What is the Trinity? Explained for Kids
      12. 🎥 Baptism of the Lord
      13. 🎥 The Story of St. Patrick

    3. 🌍 Lesson 3: God Created the World

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Morning Offering Prayer
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Gratitude
      3. ❤️ Virtue: Generosity
      4. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Creation Story
      5. 📖 Saints & Scripture: St. Francis
      6. 🔤 Vocabulary: Covenant
      7. 🎥 The Creation Story
      8. 🎥 The Story of St. Francis of Assisi

    4. 🍂 Lesson 4: The Fall

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Glory Be (Holy Spirit)
      2. 🙏 Prayer: Glory Be (Holy Ghost)
      3. 🙏 Prayer: Hail Mary
      4. 🙏 Prayer: Our Father
      5. ❤️ Virtue: Obedience
      6. ❤️ Virtue: Honesty
      7. ❤️ Virtue: Docility
      8. 📖 Saints & Scripture: St. Paul
      9. 📖 Saints & Scripture: The Fall of Mankind
      10. 🔤 Vocabulary: Original Sin
      11. 🔤 Vocabulary: Concupiscence
      12. 🔤 Vocabulary: Repentance

    5. ❓ Lesson 5: What is sin?

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Act of Contrition
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Knowledge
      3. ❤️ Virtue: Perseverance
      4. ❤️ Virtue: Compassion
      5. 📖 Saints & Scripture: St. Augustine
      6. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Cain and Able
      7. 🔤 Vocabulary: Sin

  5. 🌎 Unit 2: God's Plan of Love

    33 lessons
    1. 🖨️ Unit 2 Printables
    2. 🧭 Unit 2 Lesson Guide
    3. 🧠 Memory: 10 Commandments
    4. 🎥 The 10 Commandments Explained for Kids!

    1. 🌊 Lesson 6: God Saves Noah

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Act of Love
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Service
      3. ❤️ Virtue: Hospitality
      4. ❤️ Virtue: Diligence
      5. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Noah
      6. 📖 Saints & Scripture: St. Martha
      7. 🔤 Vocabulary: Covenant
      8. 🎥 Why did God ask Noah to build an ark?

    2. 🐐 Lesson 7: God Promises Abraham

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Act of Faith (Holy Spirit)
      2. 🙏 Prayer: Act of Faith (Holy Ghost)
      3. ❤️ Virtue: Counsel
      4. ❤️ Virtue: Faith
      5. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Sacrifice of Isaac
      6. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Sts. Perpetua & Felicity
      7. 🔤 Vocabulary: Typology

    3. 📜 Lesson 8: God Gives Moses the Law

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Act of Hope
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Humility
      3. ❤️ Virtue: Poverty
      4. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Life of Moses
      5. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Saint Clare of Assisi
      6. 🔤 Vocabulary: Commandment
      7. 🎥 Moses the Prince of Egypt
      8. 🎥 Moses & the 10 Plagues

    4. 👑 Lesson 9: God Chooses David

      1. ❤️ Virtue: Reverence
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Wisdom
      3. 📖 Saints & Scripture: King David
      4. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Saint Ignatius of Loyola
      5. 🔤 Vocabulary: Anointed
      6. 🎥 David vs. Goliath

  6. ❤️‍🔥 Unit 3: Jesus Brings us Back to God

    18 lessons
    1. 🖨️ Unit 3 Printables
    2. 🧭 Unit 3 Lesson Guide

    1. 🍞 Lesson 10: Jesus and the New Covenant

      1. 🙏 Prayer: The Apostles Creed
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Purity
      3. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Jesus' Birth and Early Life
      4. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Jesus' Death and Resurrection
      5. 🔤 Vocabulary: Parable
      6. 🎥 What is the Creed?

    2. ⛪ Lesson 11: Sacraments and Grace

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Act of Contrition
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Hope
      3. ❤️ Virtue: Understanding
      4. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Scriptural Roots for the Sacraments
      5. 🔤 Vocabulary: Sacrament
      6. 🔤 Vocabulary: Grace

    3. 💓 Lesson 12: Growing in Virtue

      1. ❤️ Virtue: Theological Virtue
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Cardinal Virtue
      3. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Saint Reflections on Virtues
      4. 🔤 Vocabulary: Virtue

  7. ⛪ Unit 4: Sacraments & Living the Faith

    25 lessons
    1. 🖨️ Unit 4 Printables
    2. 🧭 Unit 4 Lesson Guide
    3. 🎥 What's a Sacrament? 7 Sacraments Explained for Kids
    4. 🎥 The Seven Sacraments for Kids!

    1. 🔔 Lesson 13: What is the Mass?

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Prayer of Thanksgiving
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Prayerfulness
      3. ❤️ Virtue: Piety
      4. 📖 Saints & Scripture: The Last Supper
      5. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Saint Thomas Aquinas
      6. 🔤 Vocabulary: Eucharist
      7. 🔤 Vocabulary: Transubstantiation

    2. 🙏 Lesson 14: How to go to Confession

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Act of Contrition
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Honesty
      3. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Confession Verses
      4. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Saint Padre Pio
      5. 🔤 Vocabulary: Venial Sin
      6. 🔤 Vocabulary: Mortal Sin
      7. 🔤 Vocabulary: Contrition
      8. ✨ Why do we tell a Priest? Confession Explained for Kids!

    3. ❤️‍🔥 Lesson 15: How to Receive Jesus in Holy Communion

      1. 🙏 Prayer: Anima Christi
      2. ❤️ Virtue: Charity
      3. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Bread of Life Discourse (Loaves & Fishes)
      4. 📖 Saints & Scripture: Saint Carlo Acutis
      5. 🔤 Vocabulary: Eucharist
      6. ✨ The First Holy Communion | How can we become a part of God's body?

  8. 🎉 Extra Resources

    7 lessons
    1. ✏️ 10 Commandment Notebooking Prompts
    2. 💕 Works of Mercy Bonus Lesson
    3. ⚖️ Commandment Match & Clip Cards
    4. 📜 Examination of Conscience
    5. 🎧 Yoto Icons for Audio Tracks
    6. 🔊 Yoto Playlists
    7. Yoto Card Covers
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Manna & Mercy is our brand new Catholic First Sacrament Unit Study which will joyfully integrate Reconciliation and Communion learning into your at home and classroom faith formation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Ready to begin a beautiful sacrament preparation journey?

Bring clarity, joy, and reverence to First Confession and First Holy Communion preparation with this 20-week Catholic unit study. With scripted teaching prompts, printable resources, audio supports, and a flexible week-by-week layout, Manna & Mercy helps you teach the Faith in a way children can understand, remember, and live.

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