Mini-Units on Contemporary Issues
Ave Maria Press offers free 5-day mini-units that fit within several different theology courses schedules. They are also perfect for a short catechetical lesson in a parish youth ministry setting. Four of the mini-units are particularly…
Catholic Schools Week Assignment for High School Students
The annual Catholic Schools Week is scheduled for January 28 to February 3. How will you mark the occasion with your students? One idea would be for the students to write a short essay entitled “6 Benefits of a Catholic High School…
Questions and Answers on Jesus’ Disciples
Here’s a short exercise your students might complete upon entering your classroom or at the end of a lesson. Have the students look up each passage and complete the following items related to Jesus’ disciples. Matthew 10:1–15.…
Scripture Spiral: After Easter Exercise
Here’s an activity for your students when they return to school after Easter.
Reflections on Christian Patriotism
Ask students to say aloud words or phrases that come immediately to them when you say the word “patriotism.” List the words on the board. Distribute a handout with the following quotations and questions. Read the first quotation…
Thinking about the Beatitudes
For any lesson you are doing on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11), you may wish to combine this discussion activity that helps students think about how the Beatitudes apply to their own lives.
Understanding Facets of “White Privilege”
Conduct a discussion as a way to allow white students in your class to be aware of some preferential treatments they experience because they are white. Likewise, allow students of color to discuss their perspectives of some of these experiences.
End-of-the-Year Review
While the following “50 Questions” are part of the Send Out Your Spirit high-school Confirmation program, they serve well as a general review for students enrolled in just about any Catholic high school theology course.
Opening Week Lesson
This lesson—created by Sr. Kieran Sawyer, SSND—or an adaptation of it serves well for a first week introduction to your class
Memory Game: Names, Titles, and Symbols of the Holy Spirit
The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly outlines how the Holy Spirit is represented in names, titles, and symbols: