The Parable of the Prodigal Son has such important lessons for us as Christians. By reflecting on the ways in which we have been like either son in the story or like the father, we can begin to understand the mystery of God’s mercy for us. To help your students reflect on the story, invite…
The Religion Teacher Blog
Hail Mary Activities
One of the most common prayers we pray in class with our students as Catholic Educators is the Hail Mary. The Hail Mary (or Ave Maria) is a short prayer to ask the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, to pray for us. Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. blessed art thou among women, and blessed…
Nicene Creed Lesson Plan & Activities
The Nicene Creed is the summary of our Catholic faith. We proclaim it every Sunday at Mass. All that we teach throughout the year in religious education has a foundation in the Nicene Creed. Therefore, it is helpful to teach your students to memorize the creed, understand its meaning, meditate on the words, and pray…
The Jesus Prayer
The Jesus Prayer is a simple and powerful way to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ with an open heart ready to receive his mercy: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” This very ancient prayer is known as the Jesus Prayer. It has been used for centuries in monastic…
The Parable of the Prodigal Son Lesson Plan
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most memorable stories in the Bible. In it Jesus teach us the meaning of God’s mercy and forgiveness. In this Prodigal Son lesson plan your students will learn the story and be able to make personal connections between the parable and their lives. This lesson…
David and Goliath Lesson Plan & Activities
In this lesson plan you will help your students summarize the story of David and Goliath in the Bible and make connections between the meaning of the story and their lives. The story is often told as a classic tale of an underdog defeating a great champion, but there is so much more to the…
A Beatitales Lesson Plan to Teach the Beatitudes
When I wrote the eighty fables in Beatitales, I had three audiences in mind. First, I wanted to write short stories that children of all ages would enjoy. That’s the obvious reader (or listener) for the stories. But I also had two other audiences in the back of my head: parents and educators. I knew…
Seven Sacraments Lesson Plan
Using this lesson plan, you will be able to introduce your students to the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church and their significance in the lives of God’s people. The lesson is meant to be an introduction and overview of the sacraments, but further lessons on each individual sacrament are encouraged with links provided below….
Bible Activities for Kids
This collection of Bible activities for kids will help you lead your students into an encounter with Christ through the written Word of God. First, we want to familiarize young people with the Bible as a book. We want them to feel comfortable opening it, navigating it, and reading it. Then we want to help…
The Parable of the Good Samaritan Lesson Plan
In this lesson, your students will gain a greater appreciation for the ways in which they can love their neighbors as themselves just as the Samaritan did in Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan. The structure of this lesson is based on the Lectio Divina Lesson Planning model described in the book, Christ in the…
