Blog_Banner_1.jpg

Engaging Faith

Practical Lesson Ideas and Activities for Catholic Educators
Filter by Archive
Clear Filters

The Latest

engaging_faith_placeholder.svg

Picture Meditation

To "meditate" means to "think deeply and continuously." A person can meditate about anything: how many points she'll score in the next game, who he will take to the prom, what kind of career he will have, or who she will marry. As a prayer form, meditation involves using your thoughts, imaginations, emotions, and desires to turn to God. One goal of meditation is to see how God is revealed in everyday life, from the biggest events and experiences right down to the smallest details. Such revelations lead you to discover that God is love. A second goal of meditation is to know God better so that God might be better loved and served. In a picture meditation, have you students select copy of a famous religious art, natural scene or photos of a place, person, or time in their lives of special importance and place it on their desk. Quiet the room and prepare for a brief guided meditation by taking them through the following steps. Guided Meditation Preliminaries Assume a comfortable position. Quiet yourself through slow breathing. Be aware of the sounds around you. Be aware of God's love for you and the fact that God created out of nothing what has been captured in your picture. Turn to your meditation. 1. Observation Spend the next three to five minutes concentrating on your picture. * What is in it? What is happening or has happened? What are the people doing? What season is it? Where is the action taking place? When? Who is in it? Why are certain actions taking place? What sounds do you hear? What odors do you smell? Write a few sentences describing what you observed. 2. Reflecting Spend three to five minutes discovering what the picture might be telling you about itself. Are there any symbols in it? What do they mean? What message(s) is (are) being communicated? If the picture could talk, what would it say? Write a few sentences describing what your imagination discovered about the meaning of this picture. 3. Listening Imagine that God has a message for you in this picture. Spend some time hearing what God has to say to you? Resolution Now that you have listened to God, write a short prayer to the Father with a resolution that will help you to grow.

Read More
engaging_faith_placeholder.svg

Three Different Feasts

This post from 2007 is being reissued in 2011. It is among several entries linked in the "Saints" label at the right. Halloween, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day are often linked together as would make sense since they fall on consecutive days. However, their connections are not as strong as you might imagine. Halloween The name Halloween means "All Hallows (Holy) Eve." Recall the name is a misnomer: Years before Christianity, the Druids marked the start of winter with the burning of stalks around November 1. Also, it was believed that demons and devils roamed the earth on this night, and the way to ward them off included offering them sweets or disguising oneself in a costume as a demon and roaming with these evil spirits. Obviously part of these traditions have lasted today. All Saints Day All Saints Day, on the other hand, is a feast established by the Church to honor all of the saints in heaven who do not have a special day on one of the other 364 days of the year. These include the many saints who have not been recognized with canonization. Some of your deceased relatives and friends are likely included in those remembered on All Saints' Day. You might think that the Church established this holiday on November 1 to counteract the pagan practices on Halloween. Actually, All Saints' Day was originally held in May. In 844 it was transferred to November 1 so that the many pilgrims who came to Rome to celebrate the day could be fed more easily with food from the harvest. All Souls Day All Souls Day on November 2 was established in the eleventh century. The Church has always believed that it should pray for "the souls of the faithfully departed." The tradition around All Souls' Day includes the Catholic belief in purgatory, a condition in which those who have died are "purged" or made clean from their sins in preparation for meeting God in the full joy of heaven. People on earth can aide the souls in purgatory by praying for them, doing works of charity, and offering Masses for the dead. Today, in a parish bulletin, there are usually people, both living and dead, listed who will have Masses offered for them on a particular day and time. A tradition in the United States and in other countries is for family members to visit and decorate the graves of their deceased family members on All Souls' Day. Also, names of the dead are collected and given to a priest who offers special prayers for them during the month of November. In years past, Catholic schools were usually closed on All Saints' Day. It gave the students a chance to really "celebrate" Halloween night with no school the next day. That's probably not the case at your school today, though you may have the chance to celebrate Mass that day with all of the student body. Discussion Questions What do you imagine will happen to you after you die? Who is someone who has died with whom you feel a special connection? Explain the connection. If there were a blueprint for becoming a saint, what would it include? Additional Lessons and Assignments Present more information on the Church's belief in the final purification of the dead, known as purgatory. See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1030-1032, for more information. Lead a discussion about respect for the dead, including Church regulations on the burial of the dead, autopsies, organ donation, and cremation (see CCC, 2299-2301). Have the students write and share short biographies of deceased family members who have taken their place with the communion of the saints. Watch a film on the life of a saint.

Read More
engaging_faith_placeholder.svg

Prophets Lesson Plan

A very large portion of the Old Testament focuses on the lives and messages of the prophets. The prophets played a very important and influential role in the history of Israel and the development of the Jewish people. They voiced a constant reminder from Yahweh that his people must worship the one, true God and treat others with dignity and respect. Old Testament Prophets Lesson Plan Lesson Objectives: SWBAT list the eighteen prophetic books of the Old Testament. SWBAT categorize the prophets as major/minor and northern kingdom/southern kingdom. Assessment: Prophets Matching Quiz Teaching Approaches: 1. Bell Work: Directed Reading Guide Jesus Christ: God's Revelation to the World (Chapter 5, pages 107-116) Or The Old Testament (Chapter 7, Introduction) 2. SMART Board Activity (or Prophetic Worksheets) Using the Prophets SMARTBoard Notebook presentation or the PDF prophets worksheet version of the activities, address the following questions: How many prophetic books are in the Bible? (18) To what do the terms "major" and "minor" refer? (the length, not the importance, of the prophetic books) Who were the "major" prophets? (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, [Daniel]) Who were the "minor" prophets? (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) Who were the prophets of the northern kingdom? (Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hosea) Who were the prophets of the southern kingdom? (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah) Who were the postexilic prophets in Judah (southern kingdom)? (Zechariah, Haggai, Isaiah (3rd), Joel, Malachi, Zechariah, Jonah) 3. Create Matching Quizzes To memorize the categories for each prophet, have the students create matching quizzes on blank notebook paper. Have them create an answer key on a separate sheet of paper. After 10-15 minutes, allow the students to exchange their quizzes with a partner. Repeat the process as time allows. 4. Verbal Check Check the students' ability to categorize the prophets. Say the name of a prophet and have the students show who the prophet is in the following ways: stand if the prophet is a major prophet sit if the prophet is a minor prophet raise a hand pointing to the sky if the prophet is from the northern kingdom point to the ground if the prophet is from the southern kingdom point behind yourself if the prophet is from postexilic Judah After students have shown sufficient evidence that they know the categories of each prophet, distribute the quiz. 5. Assessment: Matching Quiz Give students the opportunity to show their knowledge in the Prophets Matching Quiz (PDF or Word versions). Note that the final question can use some of the names on the front of the sheet, but will require students to know the prophetic books that are not listed. Answers: 1. A, 2. B, 3. B. 4. B, 5. B, 6. A, 7. A, 8. B, 9. B, 10. B, 11. A, 12. C, 13. A, 14. C, 15. B, 16. B, 17. A, 18. B, 19. A, 20. C, 21-22. the length, not the importance, of the prophetic books, 23-40. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, Nahum, Hosea, Habakkuk, Micah, Zephaniah, Joel, Haggai, Jonah, Zechariah, Obadiah, Malachi, Lamentations, Baruch.

Read More
engaging_faith_placeholder.svg

More Thoughts on Bringing Facebook into the Classroom

Do you allow the use of Facebook as part of your classroom experience or not? Some states, such as Missouri, have actually created state-wide regulations to Facebook interactions between students and teachers. Individual schools often create their own guidelines about using the social networking site. In a recent article author Tina Barseghian, discusses the benefits of having class Facebook pages in “50 Reasons to Invite Facebook Into Your Classroom.” By having their own classroom Facebook pages, teachers possess additional opportunities to encourage student learning. Here are some advantages: Students like Facebook and many check it several times a day, so they are more apt to see a reminder from a teacher or become involved in a discussion. Facebook is free in contrast to the social network sites that schools must pay for. Teachers can easily share calendar and events. Facebook can be an easy way for students who miss class to catch up. Parents can follow what is going on in the classroom by looking at the class Facebook page. Students and Parents can also find pertinent information such as permission slips electronically that may have been lost in a locker in their paper form. Students can use the polling feature to poll their friends as part of research. A teacher who requires responses from all students will hear from shy students or those who prefer not to share in class; the rest of the students will benefit as well. Teachers can invite experts to participate in a Facebook conversation much more easily than inviting them to the classroom. Protecting student privacy is an important concern but finding creative ways to do so can yield some excellent teaching opportunities via Facebook. And don't forget, even the Pope is on Facebook. Written by Christine Schmertz Navarro

Read More
engaging_faith_placeholder.svg

SMART Board Tutorial Video: Teaching Vocabulary

Most teachers use PowerPoint as the backbone of their direct instruction. Like me, many of these teachers didn't understand the true potential of the SMART Board when they first got one in their classrooms. IF you have a SMART Board, I'm challenging you to use the SMART Board Notebook software to step up your teaching and move beyond PowerPoint lectures. SMART Boards are equipped with interactive tools to teach basic concepts and lessons. Take vocabulary for instance. Those of you who have used the SMART Board Notebooks for Jesus Christ's God's Revelation to the World, will notice a few pages with a list of vocabulary definitions. If you click on the vocabulary word, its definition will appear beside it. How do you create something like this for yourself? SMART Board Tutorial: Vocabulary Words and Definitions Type out the vocabulary word and definition as separate objects. Clone (or copy and paste) the vocabulary word and move it out of the way. Group the vocabulary word and its definition. Add object animation: "Fade In" to the grouped word and definition. Align the cloned vocabulary word over the grouped vocabulary word so that it looks like a single object. Send the visible vocabulary word to the back. You will still be able to see it, but when you click over it, you will actually be clicking on the invisible grouped version of the word. Click on the vocabulary word to reveal its definition. Video Tutorial:

Read More
engaging_faith_placeholder.svg

Catholic Connections with Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, who died on Wednesday, was not a Catholic, though he was baptized a Christian. In the last years of his life he practiced Buddhism. This post is not to delve into Job's religious practice but more to appreciate the life of a remarkable person who nevertheless reminds us of the trusted servants in the Gospel parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30) who used their God-given talents to the full. Jobs also had an impact on Church life; like with any other organization in the world today much of the technology the Church now uses for record-keeping and communication can be attributed to Jobs. As this current event remains in the consciousness of your students, consider drawing on some of the following links to enrich your lessons. A Catholic Perspective on the Life of Steve Jobs Vatican Reflections on Steve Jobs Steve Jobs and the New Evangelization A Right to Life Connection: Steve Jobs was adopted Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Address: Three Important Lessons for Life (including living each day as if it were your last) Steve Jobs' decision not to include porn on iPhones and iPad apps: Steve Jobs' Impact on Church Life Steve Jobs: Life Lessons for Catholic Leaders

Read More
engaging_faith_placeholder.svg

Respect Life Month Teaching Resources

The month of October is Respect Life Month. When we hear "respect life," most of us immediately think of the pro-life movement to end abortion. This is a key cause to support during October (and all year round!). But Respect Life Month is also meant to remind us of the issues of capital punishment, euthanasia, contraception, and respect for those with disabilities. September 28 begins the 40 Days for Life campaign that coincides with Respect Life month and ends on November 6. The three components of 40 Days for Life are: Prayer and Fasting Peaceful Vigil Community Outreach General Respect Life Month Teaching Resources: USCCB Website This list of resources includes the Respect Life Sunday Statement, pamphlets, bulletins, liturgy guide, posters, flyer, clip art, and additional program activities. Check out the old USCCB website for past Pro-life Activities. TeenBreaks.com This teen-friendly website provides great talking points for discussion in class. Have the students explore the resources on their own or in class. Have them create a mock conversation that they might have with a classmate considering abortion. How would they explain to them the resources that can be found on the site? Right to Life Michigan: Teacher Resources This collection of resources provides teachers with materials to use in class at many age levels. Pro-life Activities Great list of pro-life activities for children that may be useful for teens as well. 40 Days for Life Teaching Resources: 40 Days for Life Website This is THE home of the 40 Days for Life campaign. Explore the many valuable resources and share them with the students throughout the campaign. The resources include: A map of all local campaigns Daily Devotional 40 Days for Life Store Teaching Resources from Ave Maria Press Discussing President Obama's Embryonic Stem Cell Order The Catholic response to the 2009 executive order that allows stem cell research using embryonic stem cells. Prayer for the Holy Innocents Background to the Feast of the Holy Innocents and a prayer for the unborn. Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer for the Unborn Overview of the 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the U.S. and a prayer for the unborn. Living and Dying on Death Row Lesson Short lesson plan for reading an article about living and dying on death row.

Read More
engaging_faith_placeholder.svg

E-D-U-C-A-T-E

Frank Mercadante, founder of the very successful Cultivation Ministries that has offered training seminars for youth ministers for the past twenty years, offers the following acronym to help youth ministers be better catechists to the youth they serve. His suggestions also are very applicable to classroom teachers. The acronym E-D-U-C-A-T-E with some notes from Frank taken from his book Growing Teen Disciples (St. Mary’s Press, 2002) follows. E Emphasize Interaction “When a teen is not given the opportunity to interact and be a partner in learning, he or she concludes that the class does not belong to him or her in any way, shape, or form, but is solely possessed by the catechist.” D Diversity of Learning Approaches “Variety of activity is a boredom-buster….Teens learn differently. By utilizing a variety of different methods we increase our likelihood of satisfying a greater number of our participants.” U Utilize Life Experience “Every adolescent arrives at a session with relevant experiences. We need to capitalize on these experiences by helping draw a connection point from their life to the teachings of the Church.” C Content Moderation “Our meetings should emphasize only one, two, or maybe three points of content. We are on a lifelong journey. No one needs to know everything before their eighteenth birthday.” A Applicable to Real Life “When a young person describes a class or subject as “boring” or a “waste of time,” what he or she often means is that “I will never have to use this information in real life.” Faith is a verb. We are meant to live it. T Three-Fold Response “Genuine faith involves a response of the whole person—mind heart, and will. Effective catechesis helps foster faith in all three dimensions: trusting (heart), believing (mind) and doing (will).” E Environment of Concern “We may employ all of the above principles for effective adolescent catechesis, yet foster little or now growth. Without a warm, caring, and accepting environment, we possess only the “batter” for spiritual faith and growth. This batter is transformed into the real thing when “baked” in an atmosphere of genuine love.

Read More
Filter by Archive
Clear Filters
Follow Us
Categories
activities
advent
apologetics
black catholics
christmas
christology
church history
church year
current events
easter
ecclesiology
holy cross
holy week
icebreaker
introduction to catholicism
lent
lesson plans
marian devotion
morality
most popular resources
national framework
news
new testament
old testament
parish programs
paschal mystery
pope francis
prayer
relationships
resources
rosary
sacraments
saints
scripture
social justice
teacher enrichment
technology
tech tips
vocation
world religions