CLASSROOM RESOURCES
In this section you will find many activities that you can use and adapt in your own classrooms.
This Venn diagram is perfect for students to find the differences and similarities between the two creation stories. Most students will be unaware of there being two creation stories in Genesis. Among the differences, the key similarity is that God is always creator and creation is God's initiative.
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It is important to reiterate the understanding that the creation story is about truth more than fact. The truth that God created the world and all living creatures including humans is the focus rather than the facts of the creation stories as read in Genesis. The Catholic Church accepts that creation did not occur as we read in the bible but that these accounts of creation were written to explain the truth of God as creator.
For more senior students in years 9-10 this is a great template to encourage students to write their 10 Commandments. They may keep some of the original commandments or propose a totally new set of commandments. These new commandments can then be compared to the original commandments as given in the bible.
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For junior students, from grade 5- year 8, this template can be used for them to record the 10 Commandments as they read them in the bible or as they watch a clip about the 10 Commandments. Students could also select one or two commandments and draw them in the two boxes.
One of the easiest ways to explore a scripture passage is to break open a parable. This document guides students to identify the key elements of a parable. It could be used many times to help compare a set of parables or students may use it over time and build up a collection of parable analysis documents.
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The interpretation of a parable can lead students in many ways so it is always good to allow class discussion once they have worked through a parable. Possibly as a class these headings could be used to analyse a parable especially for younger students.
This document provides many different activities that students can undertake to grow in appreciation of God's creation. They are perfect for homework activities or opportunities to take students outside during class time.
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It is surprising how many students don't stop to look at the clouds or to notice an ant crawling along the footpath. Even walking across grass with no shoes. Hopefully it also works as an opportunity for prayer and reflection.
This activity works well when trying to discuss the different meanings for the word love. It is a great introduction activity to help students realise that the fact they do not love food, football and family in the same way. It is an easy activity for students to complete as it is self reflective and requires no prior knowledge.
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As a class activity you could ask students to offer one thing they love from their list and write them on the board. This will highlight that some people disagree with loving cats vs dogs or loving the colour red vs the colour blue.
This is not an original idea. I have heard it many times before where students are asked to write to their future spouses. This is an activity that can be completed after discussions around love. It will work well for ages from 14 years upwards.
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I have encouraged students to keep their letter in a safe place and refer to it in the future when they are in relationships where they are unsure it is a healthy one. It acts as a reminder of what it is they value in a relationship and what is important for them.
This will allow students to brainstorm either prior knowledge or learned knowledge about Jesus. It can also be used as something that students return to as they learn more about Jesus.
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Students might choose to colour in Jesus and write in or around the image of Jesus
When learning about The Last Supper it is a great exercise to have students think about who the important people are in their lives that they would want at their Last Supper. Depending on the level of students it might be better to focus on who they would want at a special dinner rather than a last supper.
I have allowed students to include people who they know or don't know such as celebrities. Some may also include people who have died.
In this sheet students can either write who they would invite and why or draw the people at their supper.
Everyone loves a good word search and this one is perfect for the Year of St Joseph. It is a good beginning to allow further links to be made in class such as the places of Bethlehem and Nazareth or what the significance is of the dreams of St Joseph.
Creative worksheet for students to write all that they know about St Joseph. This could be used after a period of time learning about St Joseph or as an introduction to what they already know.
Students could also record scripture passages where St Joseph appears.
Being grateful is a key element of living a life that is joyful and fulfilled but who do we thank for the good things in life?
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We can encourage our students to thank God for those things in life for which they are grateful.
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This sheet can be printed and placed in a students workbook or they could take it home and place it on their bedroom wall. When it comes time for prayer in class students can refer to it to thank God for family, friends, pets and more.
Discussion of what prayer is should be part of all year levels. Prayer is a journey and the type of prayer that is effective for a student in primary school will be different to that which is effective in secondary school.
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This worksheet allows students to think about different areas in their lives for which they can pray. At times prayer is thanking God for people in our lives, at other times it is praying for other people and at times it is praying for our world in general.
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This sheet can be printed and kept in a school workbook or students could be encouraged to stick this up at home to remind them to pray.
It is important for students to be able to identify the key parts of the Mass. It will allow them to engage more effectively if they know what is happening and when.
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In this worksheet students can either write or draw the different parts of the Mass to help strengthen their understanding.
Every Catholic School explores the significant events of Holy Week and Easter. For those in Primate School and junior Secondary School drawing what they know of each of these scenes will allow students to showcase what they have learned of what happened during Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
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The first three could be completed before the school holidays and then the scene about Easter Sunday could be completed after the school holidays once it has been celebrated.
What better way to calm young minds than with some mindfulness colouring. For all ages students can spend some time colouring in each letter of these two important prayers. A great way to relax. You might consider playing some appropriate background music as students not only colour but also reflect on the words.
These completed sheets can then be displayed in student workbooks, the classroom wall or a bedroom wall.
In this double worksheet students are able to watch a video about Moses and answers straight forward comprehension questions. Following this students are invited to read a passage from the book of Exodus and explore more about the life of Moses through answering the next set of questions. These questions will push students to relate this story to their own lives.
In this double worksheet students will watch a video about Isaiah and then are invited to read a passage from the prophet Isaiah. Through answering the questions provided students will be given the opportunity to reflect on the importance of Isaiah's prophecy about the birth of Jesus.
The life of St Paul is explored in this double worksheet with a video and questions which ask students to explore what would happen if St Paul was a missionary in today's society.
Following this students will read two important passages from St Paul and discover the relevance of these passages for their own lives.
St Mary of the Cross, who is Australia's first and only saint, is explored in this double worksheet. After watching the video students can gain a better understanding of the journey she took in life. This is followed by students reading a letter written by St Mary which encourages students to reflect on the will of God in their own lives.
Blessed Carlo Acutis is a role model for all young people and is someone that today's young people can relate to. In this double worksheet students explore the life of Blessed Carlo and then read words written by Carlo which will enable them to compare the spiritual thoughts of someone who is of the same generation as themselves.