Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Advent Wreath Link Up @ catholicmom.com



Come one, come all! Come join the Advent Wreath Link Up @ catholicmom.com. It will be hosted at catholicmom.com on Monday, December 9. The post will go up at 6 a.m. Eastern (3 a.m. Pacific) and you’ll be able to link your posts to it.

Here’s how it works:

1. Take a picture of your Advent wreath.

2. If you have a blog, post it there. If not, email it to Sarah Reinhard (posted at catholicmom.com) and she will take care of the rest.

3. If you’ve posted it to your blog, link up to catholicmom.com on December 9th (there will be a little “share your link here” thing at the end of the post, like they do on Thursdays for Small Success).

4. Click around and enjoy the tour of Advent wreaths. Be inspired! :) Insert Advent anticipation, get ideas, have fun!





Here is my Advent Wreath that I did with my students in class on November 24th. I got the craft idea from catholicinspired.com. What a great way to learn about Advent by making an Advent Wreath to take home!




Monday, November 25, 2013

Grace Before Meals Roll a Prayer Worksheet





Check out this neat Grace Before Meals worksheet that is part of a FREE printable Thank You God Activities from teachingheart.net on page 7.

Cut out prayer strips. Students roll a die to collect all the pieces to their prayer. The first one to collect all the pieces to the prayer is the winner. Students then glue in the spaces provided the prayer in the correct order.

Unfortunately I found this too late to do with my 1st Grade CCD students for Thanksgiving. I therefore made a non-Thanksgiving themed one to have my students do on December 8th.


Grace Before Meals Roll a Prayer- non-Thanksgiving themed



Mean and Utter Nonsense Comments Posted On Your Blog





Ever get a mean or utter nonsense comment posted on your blog? Well, I sometimes do, but I found this post from a blogger that I thought others would find informative when they receive critical or even mean or hateful comments.


brianshim.com- How To Avoid and Deal with Mean Comments on Your Blog





Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Crafty Crafters: Pumpkin Pie Spinner (Thanksgiving)





So how crafty are you?

What is your favorite religious craft you make for Thanksgiving?


Here is a craft I make with my students using a paper plate:


Introduce activity/craft- What holiday is coming up in November? Thanksgiving. What does your family do for Thanksgiving? What do you eat at Thanksgiving? Why do we have Thanksgiving? Discuss. We have Thanksgiving to say thank you to God for all the things he gives us. Ask the students what they are thankful for. Let’s make something that shows what we are thankful for. After students make crafts say: Thank you God for . . . and have each student show their craft and say what they are thankful for.



parents.com- This pumpkin pie may look good enough to eat, but it's actually an interactive spinner that reveals things your child is thankful for. (Scroll down for this craft).

Directions: Trim the edge of a paper plate rim with scallop-edge scissors, then paint the rim with a mixture of white and brown paint to resemble the color of crust. From rust-color card stock, cut a circle to fit the center of the plate and adhere it in place. Put the plate on top of a second paper plate and poke a hole through the centers, then insert a brad through the holes. Cut a slice out of the top plate (be careful to avoid the brad), add letter stickers to the top, and handwrite thankful items to the bottom plate.

*You can change the wording on the craft to “Thank you God for”. For younger students you can have them draw what they are thankful for instead of writing.



This activity below is free; however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.


Thank you God for . . .- Color and Black & White template you can print out.



Thank you God for . . . (Color template)
Print out on card stock and cut out. Attach to paper plate using a brass fastener. Cut out a triangle (be careful to avoid the brad) that will show the words or pictures that you are thankful for. Write or draw things you are thankful for on the paper plate in the space you cut out.



Thank you God for . . . (Black & white template for the children to color)
Print out on card stock and cut out. Color. Attach to paper plate using a brass fastener. Cut out a triangle (be careful to avoid the brad) that will show the words or pictures that you are thankful for. Write or draw things you are thankful for on the paper plate in the space you cut out.



Please comment so I can add the link to your blog to this post. We would love to see what you do!



Friday, October 25, 2013

Gospel for the Mass: 11/24/13- Luke 23:35-45








*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year C page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.


Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.




Luke 23:35-45



Activities

catholicmom.com- Click on the month. Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

Theresa at catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com will post a link to an activity sheet that coordinates with the Catholic Mass. There will be pictures and activities each week to help little kids understand and appreciate the Mass. Most weeks, she will also highlight a Saint whose feast day falls within that week or a liturgical symbol they can watch for at Mass.

sadlierreligion.com- Scroll down to Gospel Reflection, Discussion Questions for the Gospel, and Proclaiming Faith Activities

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

4catholiceducatiors.com- Resources on the Sunday Readings

sermons4kids.com- King Backward object lesson with group activities, coloring page, puzzles, worship bulletin

sermons4kids.com- Christ the King object lesson with coloring page, group activities, puzzles, quiz, worship bulletin

calvarycurriculum.com- Jesus is Crucified lesson #237 with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets

textweek.com- Lectionary, Scripture Study and Worship Links and Resources



Coloring

sermons4kids.com- Luke 23:33

sermons4kids.com- Luke 23:33



Crafts

sermons4kids.com- King Backward group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- Christ the King group activities (crafts)


Crosses

crafts.kaboose.com- Beaded Cross Necklace
A very nice necklace for boys and girls. Be sure to make the string at least 36 inches long to fit over their heads. Craft cord can be used as well.

daniellesplace.com- Cross Crafts (several cross crafts listed)

christiancrafters.com- Mosaic Cross
Easy cross necklace/magnet that all kids can make.

crafts.kaboose.com- Melted Crayon Stained Glass Window
I make this craft in the shape of a cross by folding one sheet of black construction paper in half and tracing a cross in the center on the top sheet. I then cut the cross out of both sheets of paper for the students. We then follow the rest of the directions given here.

christiancrafters.com- Colors of Christ Cross (neat tip at the bottom for younger students)



Games

sermons4kids.com- King Backward group activities (games)

sermons4kids.com- Christ the King group activities (games)



Puzzles

sermons4kids.com- Maze

sermons4kids.com- Word Search

sermons4kids.com- Word Search

joanyedwards.com- Word Search

sermons4kids.com- Word Shape

sermons4kids.com- Decoder

sermons4kids.com- Decoder

sermons4kids.com- Crossword

sermons4kids.com- Crossword

joanyedwards.com- Crossword



Quiz

sermons4kids.com- Multiple Choice




Friday, October 4, 2013

Gospel for the Mass: 11/3/13- Luke 19:1-10








*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year C page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.


Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.




Luke 19:1-10



Activities

catholicmom.com- Click on the month. Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

Theresa at catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com will post a link to an activity sheet that coordinates with the Catholic Mass. There will be pictures and activities each week to help little kids understand and appreciate the Mass. Most weeks, she will also highlight a Saint whose feast day falls within that week or a liturgical symbol they can watch for at Mass.

sadlierreligion.com- Scroll down to Gospel Reflection, Discussion Questions for the Gospel, and Proclaiming Faith Activities

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

4catholiceducatiors.com- Resources on the Sunday Readings

mssscrafts.com- Zacchaeus Wants To See Jesus with tons of resources for illustrating the story, coloring pages/activity sheets, crafts, and songs.

sermons4kids.com- Big or Small- It Doesn’t Matter At All object lesson with group activities, coloring, puzzles, worship bulletin

sermons4kids.com- A Little Man With A Big Problem object lesson with group activities, puzzles, craft, quiz

calvarycurriculum.com- Zacchaeus lesson #216 with memory verses, circle the correct words, true or false, fill in the blanks, puzzles, and color sheets

sundayschoollessons.com- Zacchaeus Climbs Up To See Jesus lesson

sundayschoolsources.com- Zacchaeus lesson with discussions, songs, crafts, games, questions, worksheets, memory work, etc.

The Catholic Toolbox- Zacchaeus PK – K lesson with: Objectives, Word Wall, Bible Story with questions, Songs and/or Finger Plays, Activities, Crafts, Games, Snacks, Coloring/Puzzles, etc.


Read story: “Zacchaeus” from (Snip-And-Tell Bible Stories by Karyn Henley, page 96 & 97). While reading the story do cut outs as the story unfolds. Then ask questions from below.

1. What did Zacchaeus do for a living? He was a tax collector.
2. Why did everyone not like him? He often took extra money and kept it for himself. He was dishonest.
3. Why could Zacchaeus not see Jesus? Because he was short.
4. What did he do so he could see Jesus? Climbed a tree.
5. Jesus taught Zacchaeus that what he did was wrong and to live in God’s way so what did Zacchaeus do? He gave half of his property to the poor and he would give back four times the amount he stole from others.

textweek.com- Lectionary, Scripture Study and Worship Links and Resources



Coloring

sermons4kids.com- Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

sermons4kids.com- Jesus and Zacchaeus



Crafts

sermons4kids.com- Big or Small- It Doesn’t Matter At All group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- A Little Man with a Big Problem group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- Make Your Own Periscope

Zacchaeus- Bible Story Wheel (Bible Wheels to Make and Enjoy by Carmen Sorvillo, page 51 & 52.)

daniellesplace.com- Several Zacchaeus crafts listed


Introduce craft: What did Zacchaeus do for a living? How did he carry his money around?

Make a money bag out of paper or material and put play money inside.

kidscraftweekly.com- Money and felt pouch- Scroll down to 4. Pirate Money and Felt Pouch


Introduce craft: What did Zacchaeus do so he could see Jesus?

Zacchaeus in a Tree craft

dltk-holidays.com- Tree

mssscrafts.com- Zacchaeus



Games

sermons4kids.com- Big or Small- It Doesn’t Matter At All group activities (games)

sermons4kids.com- A Little Man with a Big Problem group activities (games)

books.google.com- I Spy (Zacchaeus Sees Jesus)
This lighthearted game engages students with the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus. It could be played indoors, outdoors, or while traveling. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry, page 86).

Zacchaeus, Come Down!- Blow up balloon and tie it off. Remind the students that the people did not want Zacchaeus to be with Jesus and they grumbled. Using masking tape, mark spots on the floor that the student must stand on. Have one student stand on each marker and tell the students that they must stay where they are standing (they cannot move their feet) and they have to keep Zacchaeus (the balloon) from touching the floor. The teacher starts the game by saying, “Zacchaeus, Come Down!” and tosses the balloon up high in the air for the students who must try to keep Zacchaeus from touching the ground using their hands.

The Catholic Toolbox- Zacchaeus, Come Down! (file folder game)

Forgiveness Frenzy- The Really Big Book of Bible Games, page 82.

daniellesplace.com- Several Zacchaeus games listed


Puppetry

christiancrafters.com- Zacchaeus Puppet Skit



Puzzles

Zacchaeus Climbs a Tree- Count the items in each row, then write the number next to that row. Color the pictures, too. (Big Puzzles for Little Hands: Jesus’ Life and Lessons by Carla Williams, page 56).

sermons4kids.com- Maze

biblewise.com- Jesus is going to Zacchaeus house. Which path will He take? (maze)

biblewise.com- Little Man in the Tree (maze)

365 Activities for Kids (do the Zacchaeus in the tree maze on October 23 or find the 10 differences puzzle on October 24).

sermons4kids.com- Word search

joanyedwards.com- Word Search

sermons4kids.com- Word Shape

sermons4kids.com- Decoder

sermons4kids.com- Crossword

silk.net/RelEd- Crossword

joanyedwards.com- Crossword



Quizzes

sermons4kids.com- Multiple Choice

gardenofpraise.com- Fill in the Blanks

sermons4kids.com- Fill in the Blanks



Forgiveness

childrensministry.com- All Clear object lesson
Use this message to teach children about how God has forgiven us.

christiancrafters.com- Sin and Forgiveness object lesson

beliefnet.com- How Forgiving Are You?
Ask the students these questions and see how forgiving they really are.

kidssundayschool.com- God's Forgiveness object lesson
This Object Talk will help demonstrate the power of God's forgiveness over our sins, and how the Holy Spirit can melt away the barriers that keeps us from Him.

mssscrafts.com- Forgiveness with tons of resources for illustrating faith, Bible stories, coloring pages/activity sheets, crafts, and songs.





Friday, August 2, 2013

Gospel for the Mass: 9/1/13- Luke 14:1, 7-14








*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year C page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.


Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.




Luke 14:1, 7-14



Activities

catholicmom.com- Click on the month. Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

Theresa at catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com will post a link to an activity sheet that coordinates with the Catholic Mass. There will be pictures and activities each week to help little kids understand and appreciate the Mass. Most weeks, she will also highlight a Saint whose feast day falls within that week or a liturgical symbol they can watch for at Mass.

sadlierreligion.com- Scroll down to Gospel Reflection, Discussion Questions for the Gospel, and Proclaiming Faith Activities

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

4catholiceducatiors.com- Resources on the Sunday Readings

sermons4kids.com- Left Out object lesson with group activities, coloring page, puzzles, worship bulletin

sermons4kids.com- All Puffed Up object lesson with coloring page, group activities, puzzles, fill in the blanks, etc.

sundayschoollessons.com- Jesus Invites Everyone to the Table lesson with questions and answers.

sundayschoolresources.com- Don’t Play Favorites activities

kidssundayschool.com- This activity will have the children going away feeling great about who they are, and it will help them see how the power of our Lord can help them accept others for who they are.

randomactsofkindness.org- Random Acts of Kindness lessons, crafts, activities, etc.

goodcharacter.com- Lesson and activities on respecting others

baptist-church.suite101.com- Teaching Christian Kindness
Preschool Bible Lesson Ideas and Sunday School Activities

textweek.com- Lectionary, Scripture Study and Worship Links and Resources

tonychestnut.com- Kindness Counts: Exploring Random Acts of Kindness
A curriculum for “The Book About Tony Chestnut”

theiamprogram.com- The Kindness Tree

pbs.org- A Kindness Tree

pinterest.com- Kindness Projects

goodcharacter.com- Being Friends for grades K – 5
This page is from the teaching guide for the video "Being Friends" in the video series You Can Choose! Even if you aren't showing this video there is a lot of useful material here, though you may wish to change some of the wordings or omit a few items.


Kindness Coupons- This is a great idea for kids to give coupons to perform an act of kindness. Kids can print out the great coupons that will tell you they are volunteering to pull weeds in the garden, mow the grass, or perhaps do the dishes.

familycrafts.about.com- Printable Coupons. Blank ones also available.

lds.about.com- Coupon book that you can make

4men1lady.com- Kindness Cards to print out



Coloring

sermons4kids.com- Luke 14:11

silk.net/RelEd/- Everyone Who Humbles Himself Will Be Exalted and Sit at the Lowest Place (gifs)

christysclipart.com- Kindness coloring page

sermons4kids.com- Showing Kindness Towards Others

sermons4kids.com- Happy are those people who are fair, who do what is right at all times. (Psalm 106:3)



Crafts

sermons4kids.com- Left Out group activities (crafts)

sermons4kids.com- All Puffed Up group activities (crafts)

associatedcontent.com- Making a Chain of Kindness

associatedcontent.com- Cups of Kindness

daniellesplace.com- Scroll down to: Plant a Little Kindness Plant Marker

thebestkidsbooksite.com- Scroll down to: Suggested Craft Projects. Several are listed there.

crayola.com- Circle of Kindness

crayola.com- Heart Suncatchers

crayola.com- Kindness Calendar Quilt



Games

sermons4kids.com- Left Out group activities (games)

lessonplanspage.com- 5 Up: A Game to Build Classroom Community and Enhance Self-Esteem

The Really Big Book of Bible Games:
After You- page 218
All Strung Up- page 219

Life Size Kindness- This game will help the children discover Jesus was kind and instructed us to be kind to others. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry, page 120 & 121).

Serving Up Acceptance- Students will display acceptance of each other through an active praise game. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry, page 127).

What Do You Stand For?: Character Building Card Game by Barbara A. Lewis


Get to The End of the Line (Review Game)

Introduce game- When you are in a line, where is the worse place to be? Let’s find out.

Have a list of review questions from past Bible stories or lessons. Line up all the students against the wall. Ask each student one question. If they answer incorrectly, they sit down at their seat. If they are correct, you say, “Get to the End of the Line” and they move and stand at the end of the line. Ask the next student in the line a question and the game continues. The last student standing is the winner.

Limbo- The student that can go the lowest wins!

thefunplace.com- Scroll down to: Tiddly - Button Golf (moderate)

The Catholic Toolbox- Random Acts of Kindness (file folder game)



Puppets

pbskids.org- Feeling Left Out



Puzzles

Playing Favorites- Look at these pictures. Which children are humbling themselves? Which children are playing favorites toward others? Color the humble children. Put an X through the selfish children. (Big Puzzles for Little Hands: Jesus’ Life and Lessons by Carla Williams, page 61)

sermons4kids.com- Dot-to-dot

sermons4kids.com- Word Search

sermons4kids.com- Word Search

joanyedwards.com- Word Search

sermons4kids.com- Decoder

sermons4kids.com- Decoder

sermons4kids.com- Word Shape

sermons4kids.com- Crossword

sermons4kids.com- Crossword

joanyedwards.com- Crossword



Worksheets &Quizzes

sermons4kids.com- Fill in the Blanks

teacherscorner.net- Writing prompts

dollarphilanthropy.typepad.com- Sharing is Super worksheet





Sunday, July 7, 2013

Fortnight For Freedom (June 21 – July 4, 2013)





The U.S. bishops have called for a Fortnight For Freedom, a two-week period of prayer and action, to address many current challenges to religious liberty, including the August 1, 2013 deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate, Supreme Court rulings that could attempt to redefine marriage in June, and religious liberty concerns in areas such as immigration and humanitarian services.

My husband and I was fortunate enough to go to the Opening Mass (June 21, 2013) at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Maryland (Archbishop William Lori, Celebrant) and the Closing Mass (July 4, 2013) at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. (Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Celebrant and Homilist). Celebrating Mass with so many people was awe-inspiring. It was an experience I will never forget!





Monday, July 1, 2013

Catholic Lesson Plans For Teens



As requested, FREE Catholic lesson plans for small group study or classroom covering a variety of issues for today's teens.


usccb.org- Junior High and High School Catholic lesson plans

loveourcatholicfaith.com- Roman Catholic Confirmation Program
This confirmation material is based on reflections on Holy Scripture and the 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church. It was developed over three years of preparing teenage candidates to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Through Group Discussion and Class Activities, this program can help Catechists teach from the Catechism of the Catholic Church in a way that reaches our teenagers.

catholicfaitheducation.blogspot.com- Principle of Catholic Social Justice lessons

4catholiceducators.com- Lesson plans for Catholic Faith Education

lifeteen.com- Great resources for use in any youth ministry environment!

catholicreligionteacher.com- Incredible, amazing lesson plans, meaningful projects, engaging review games, etc.

avemariapress.com- Great lesson plans for older students that really get them involved and allows them to learn through activities that reinforce teachings of the Catholic Church.

thereligionteacher.com- Great lesson plans by Jared Dees
The Liturgy of the Eucharist Lesson Plan, The Liturgy of the Word Lesson Plan, Liturgical Year Lesson Plan and Flash Card Activity, Moses Lesson Plans, Habemus Papam! Pope Francis Lesson Plan, Papal Conclave Lesson Plan, Valentine’s Day Object Lesson: Making Jesus Our Valentine, @Pontifex Lesson Plan on the Pope, Introduction to the Catechism Lesson Plan, Jesus as a Boy in the Temple, The 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit, New Testament Lesson Plans, Ash Wednesday, “And With Your Spirit” Lesson Plan (New Roman Missal), Hocus Pocus! A New Roman Missal Lesson Plan, Genesis Creation Stories Lesson Plan, Post Confirmation Lesson Plan, Rite of Confirmation Lesson Plan, Feast of the Epiphany in the Modern Day- Lesson Plan Activities, Catholic Thanksgiving Day Lesson Plans on the Eucharist as “Thanksgiving”, Teaching the Mysteries of the Rosary to Elementary Students, etc.


If you know of any other lesson plans online for Catholic teens, please comment so I can add the link to the list!



Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Are you a lurker?




This is a post for all you lurkers out there. You know who you are. Don’t try to hide behind a “not me” expression on your face. We see right through it and we want you to come out, come out, where ever you are.

According to Blogs as Virtual Communities: Identifying a Sense of Community in the Julie/Julia Project by Anita Blanchard states that lurkers are people who regularly read blogs but do not leave comments.

So how many lurkers are there out in cyber space? Blanchard says that lurkers may comprise the vast majority and they get none of the attention they so rightly deserve because they do not comment on blogs.

You don’t want to end up at Lurkers Anonymous and have to go through a 12 step program that will make you feel embarrassed and forever labeled as a “lurker”.

Believe it or not, we want to here from you. Your comments DO matter. So why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself- who you are, where you’re from, what you do, what you like the most and what you would like to see on this blog. This will also help you to get to know some of the other lurkers and will even give you a few hits to your blog if you have one.

It’s now time to come out of the blog lurker closet and give us a holler. You’ll be glad you did!





Friday, May 10, 2013

Finding Faith in Art: Loyola Press Celebrates Creative Expressions of Faith





*Loyola Press is launching a new online series called Arts and Faith. As the name suggests, it celebrates the many ways people express their faith and find God through the visual and performing arts—including catechetical ideas.


A religion teacher who prays while singing opera. A lieutenant in Afghanistan who brings spiritual healing to soldiers through artwork. A young dancer who uses movement to interpret Scripture. A Jesuit who studies Mexican drug ballads to find God’s presence. These are a few of the fascinating stories we’ll be bringing you in Loyola Press’s new series, Arts and Faith.

Arts and Faith is a collection of stories from Catholics around the globe who demonstrate the inspiring—and surprising—ways art expresses and deepens their relationship with God.

The special series kicks off on LoyolaPress.com with daily articles, videos, slide shows, and more from four categories of interpretive art: Music, Dance, Drama, and Visual Arts.

Arts and Faith covers a wide scope of the personal and public ways faith is shared. A catechist explains why and how arts and crafts should be used in the classroom. A 20-something describes his ministry of playing the organ at multiple parishes every weekend. A faith formation leader reflects on how she prays a form of the Examen through photography. Whether you’re a catechist, an artist, or a creative soul, you’re sure to find inspiration and meaning in the stories you’ll read.

The stories in Arts and Faith capture snapshots of how spirituality is explored, revealed, and ultimately, celebrated in our faith communities. We hope these 40+ stories inspire you to tap your own talents to express your faith through sewing, sculpting, design, fashion, cooking, collage, spoken word, photography, poetry, modern dance, and so on.

As our series illustrates, you don’t have to be a Monet to participate in the arts. Jump in, explore the stories, and share the creative ways you’re expressing your faith!


Arts and Faith is online now, but the first installment of stories begins on May 15th.




Thursday, May 2, 2013

8 Reasons to Go to Mass



Here is a great article by Thomas Lickona

"Mass is boring." "I don't get anything out of Mass — why should I go?" "Why can't I just pray alone?" These are common feelings, especially among young people but among many adults as well. How should we respond.

catholiceducation.org- 8 Reasons to Go to Mass




Friday, April 26, 2013

Gospel for the Mass: 5/26/13- John 16:12-15 and The Most Holy Trinity








*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year C page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.


Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.




John 16:12-15 and The Most Holy Trinity



Activities

catholicmom.com- Click on the month. Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

Theresa at catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com will post a link to an activity sheet that coordinates with the Catholic Mass. There will be pictures and activities each week to help little kids understand and appreciate the Mass. Most weeks, she will also highlight a Saint whose feast day falls within that week or a liturgical symbol they can watch for at Mass.

4catholiceducatiors.com- Resources on the Sunday Readings

sadlierreligion.com- Scroll down to Gospel Reflection, Discussion Questions for the Gospel, and Proclaiming Faith Activities

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

sermons4kids.com- The Unseen Power object lesson with coloring page, group activities, puzzles

sundayschoollessons.com- The Holy Spirit Brings Us Together lesson

word-sunday.com- Tony’s Best Friend lesson (scroll down to Gospel)

kidssundayschool.com- A Heart for Jesus
The Holy Spirit can reach our heart no matter how much we may have sinned.

The Catholic Toolbox- Holy Trinity references and lessons, coloring, crafts, games, puzzles

textweek.com- Lectionary, Scripture Study and Worship Links and Resources



Coloring

sermons4kids.com- John 16:13

faithfirst.com- Download and print the activity. In the heart, list the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. Cut out the heart and keep it as a reminder to pray in the name of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

first-school.ws- Dove coloring page

apples4theteacher.com- Peace Dove coloring page



Crafts

sermons4kids.com- The Unseen Power group activities (crafts)

sundayschoollessons.com- We Celebrate the Three in One of the Holy Trinity

catholicicing.com- Holy Trinity Craft

apples4theteacher.com- Hanging Trinity Shamrock

orientaltrading.com- Holy Trinity Photo Frame Craft Kit

orientaltrading.com- Trinity Lucky Shamrock Ornament Craft Kit

chrisitanpreschoolprintables.com- Shamrock Trinity Craft

carolbrookebooks.files.wordpress.com- Holy Trinity Shamrock Craft

christianpreschoolprintables.com- Shamrock Heart Craft
This is a fun way for older children to learn the song "3 in 1" which is sung to the tune of "Are you sleeping, Are you sleeping....brother John" Children cut out the hearts, and the stem. Fasten them together with a brad, and then adhere the stem to a popsicle stick.



Games

sermons4kids.com- The Unseen Power group activities (games)

books.google.com- Listen Up (Jesus Sends Power From God)
This game will help kids remember to listen for the Holy Spirit. (The Encyclopedia of bible Games for Children’s Ministry, page 105).

kidssundayschool.com- Guided in Truth
Children have fun trying to duplicate a pattern of blocks hearing only verbal commands. The unseen Holy Spirit guides us in truth, if only we listen.

The Catholic Toolbox- Holy Spirit File Folder Game
Work your way around the board and answer questions about the Holy Spirit. For 2nd grade on up. There are a lot of choices and possibilities for this game.

The Catholic Toolbox- Holy Trinity Ring Toss (scroll down to this under games)

The Catholic Toolbox- Holy Trinity File Folder Game (scroll down to this under games)



Puzzles

sermons4kids.com- Maze

sermons4kids.com- Spiral

sermons4kids.com- Word Search

joanyedwards.com- Word Search

joanyedwards.com- Crossword





Monday, April 22, 2013

Book Review: The Catholic Children’s Bible by Saint Mary’s Press



Recently I received an email from Saint Mary’s Press asking if I might be interested in checking out and reviewing for my readers their new Catholic Children’s Bible and app for iPad. Alas, I do not have an iPad so I cannot review their app, but I was more than happy to review their Catholic Children’s Bible.

I have seen Bible story books for young children and I use one with my first grade CCD students. I wondered what The Catholic Children’s Bible had that would make it different and suitable for children. When The Catholic Children’s Bible arrived, I was not disappointed. I was amazed by what it contained. It is the first complete children’s Catholic Bible that is written just for children to learn about our faith and it also helps develop young readers reading skills.

*Be sure to click on the pictures below to make them larger.


Saint Mary’s Press has really taken the child’s point of view when they designed this book. Children will be able to easily locate Bible passages and stories by the color coordinated sections and tabs. These colorful tabs are also visible from the side of the book allowing children to find what they want quickly. They also kept early readers in mind as well by using larger print, child engaging fonts, more spacing between lines, colorful column dividers, bold and colorful text, etc. This makes it easier for children to read and they can do it on their own.




Included are all 73 books of the Good News Translation Catholic Edition Bible. This 2,000 page Bible is designed for second, third, and fourth grades and packed with countless ways to make it easier for your child to understand and comprehend the Bible.


• Easy to understand directions on how to find a Bible passage.
• Explains how the Bible is divided into 73 different books.
• Pronunciation key
• Introductions to the Old and New Testaments
• One page introduction for each book of the Bible explaining the central theme of the book and also highlights the feature stories that are in the book.






The Catholic Children’s Bible also has 125 featured stories which highlight key Bible passages. These featured stories are a shorter version of the Bible story and are two pages long.


These stories include:

• Colorful illustrations and borders that children enjoy and want to see more.

• Bold text vocabulary words with definitions.

• Understand It!, Live It!, and Tell It! sections help children understand the story.


Understand It! section explains what the children just read.

Live It! section helps children to relate the story to their lives with fun activities and prayers.

Tell It! section uses pictures that help children retell the story in their own words.





In the back of the book are Prayers and Bible Helps. It includes:

• Bible Pictures
• Bible Time Line
• Bible Lands in Old Testament Times
• Israel in Old Testament Times
• Bible Lands in New Testament times
• Israel in New Testament Times
• Catholic Practices
• Catholic Prayers (including the Rosary)
• Bible Passages for Special Times



The Mother Test

The Catholic Children’s Bible would be a great addition for your home to be used at story time at night with your children or as Bible study. Having your child read for story time will be a delightful change. It will enable further participation and comprehension and also help improve their reading skills. Children will also want to read it on their own because they will find it geared just for them and they will learn more about our faith.


The Kid Test

Will it pass the kid test? Will children like it as much? To find out I took it to CCD to see what my students thought.

My 1st grade CCD students are quite familiar with a Bible story book I use in class, but when I first opened the Catholic Children’s Bible they immediately found it colorful, interesting, and easy to understand. They really enjoyed the Understand It!, Live It!, and Tell It! sections.

My students also liked reading from it and asking other students questions about the story. Seeing my students become more involved and wanting to learn about our faith was so rewarding.


Conclusion: The Catholic Children’s Bible has been kid tested, mother approved. This children’s Bible is great to use with your child at home and in the classroom because children want to use it and enjoy learning from it.


*I received a free copy of The Catholic Children’s Bible in exchange for my honest review of this product. All opinions expressed are my own.





Friday, April 12, 2013

Gospel for the Mass: 5/12/13- John 17:20-26








*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year C page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.


Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.




John 17:20-26



Activities

catholicmom.com- Click on the month. Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

Theresa at catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com will post a link to an activity sheet that coordinates with the Catholic Mass. There will be pictures and activities each week to help little kids understand and appreciate the Mass. Most weeks, she will also highlight a Saint whose feast day falls within that week or a liturgical symbol they can watch for at Mass.

4catholiceducatiors.com- Resources on the Sunday Readings

sadlierreligion.com- Scroll down to Gospel Reflection, Discussion Questions for the Gospel, and Proclaiming Faith Activities

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

sermons4kids.com- We Are One object lesson with coloring page, group activities, puzzles, quizzes

sermons4kids.com- That May Be The One object lesson with coloring page

kidssundayschool.com- Do You Believe?
An activity to compare how easily children believe in things they cannot see to show how they can believe in an unseen God.

textweek.com- Lectionary, Scripture Study and Worship Links and Resources



Coloring

sermons4kids.com- John 17:20-21



Crafts

sermons4kids.com- We Are One group activities (crafts)



Games

sermons4kids.com- We Are One group activities (games)


Introduction to game: What was Jesus doing in this gospel reading? (He was praying.) Do you know your prayers? Let’s find out!

The Catholic Toolbox- Name That Prayer File Folder Game (scroll down for this)
The objective of the game is to get to FINISH first by answering questions about prayers.


Review others prayer with these games:

The Catholic Toolbox- Act of Contrition (look under games)

The Catholic Toolbox- Apostles Creed (look under games)

The Catholic Toolbox- Glory Be (look under games)

The Catholic Toolbox- Grace Before Meals
Grace Before Meals worksheet and/or game (scroll down to this)

The Catholic Toolbox- Hail Mary (look under games)

The Catholic Toolbox- Nicene Creed (look under games)

The Catholic Toolbox- Our Father/Lord’s Prayer (look under games)



Puzzles

sermons4kids.com- Word Search

joanyedwards.com- Word Search

sermons4kids.com- Jumble

sermons4kids.com- Crossword

joanyedwards.com- Crossword



Quizzes

sermons4kids.com- Multiple Choice

sermons4kids.com- Fill in the Blanks





Thursday, March 14, 2013

Pope Francis Activities For Kids





We have a new Pope! Here are some activities for kids about Pope Francis that they can do so they can learn more about him.


Activities & Information

usccb.org- Pope Francis Biography Graphic

parents.com- Learning About The New Catholic Pope
Printable worksheets to hit the highlights about the new Pope… what the pope does, where the new pope is from and where he’ll live now. We’ll talk a little bit about how many Catholics there are worldwide as well as a bit about the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel.

loyolapress.com- Meet Pope Francis I
Information and activities about Pope Francis I

itsonmytodolist.wordpress.com- Make Your Own Pope Francis Prayer Cards

activityvillage.co.uk- Pope Francis Printables (coloring pages, learn to draw Pope Francis, handwriting, writing page, worksheets, etc.)

saints365.blogspot.com- free downloadable crossword puzzle with lots of fun facts about Pope Francis



Coloring

activityvillage.co.uk- Several to choose from

paperdali.blospot.com- Pope Francis Coloring Page: Habemus Papem!

catholicplayground.com- Habemus Papem! A coloring page for Pope Francis I

sjtb.org- In Honor of Pope Francis (coloring page)

infovisual.info- Pope Vestments (coloring page)



Crafts

catholicicing.com- Pope Francis Craft for Kids (puppet)

catholicicing.com- Pope Francis Craft For Catholic Kids- Free To Print!

catholicicing.com- Make a Zucchetto

catholicicing.com- Pope John Paul II Mitre Craft for Catholic Kids (several kinds to choose from)

catholicmissionaryfamily.com- Paper Bishop Miter or "Pope Hat"

catholicinspired.com- God Bless Our Pope Hats/Mitres (scroll down for this)



Lessons

thereligionteacher.com- Habemus Papam! Pope Francis Lesson Plan

thereligionteacher.com- Nine Activities and Lesson Ideas to Teach about Pope Francis’s Visit to the United States



Puzzles/Worksheets

saints365.blogspot.com- free downloadable crossword puzzle

activityvillage.co.uk- Several to choose from

msjproch.files.wordpress.com- Pope Francis Worksheet

reallifeathome.com- 28 Page Pope Francis Printables and Worksheets Packet

paperdali.blogspot.com- Pope Francis Visits the United States (coloring/worksheet)



Other

Pope (information and activities)



If you see any activities about Pope Francis for kids, please let me know so I can add it to the list.





Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Electing A Pope Activities from pflaum.com





Who gets to vote? Where will they vote? How will we know when it’s done? The five fact sheets below provide answers to these and other questions students ask. Use them as handouts for older students, or as background information if you’re working with younger children. 3 Reproducible activities with answers, for primary and intermediate grades, focus on the symbols and work of the papacy.


pflaum.com- Electing A Pope





Worksheet/Puzzle/Quiz Makers





Need to make a worksheet for your students? Well, here are a few of my favorite worksheet generators/makers that are online that are free and easy to use that you might like:


discoveryeducation.com- Create and print customized word search, criss-cross, double puzzles, fallen phrases, math squares, mazes, letter tiles, cryptograms, number blocks, and hidden message.

worksheets.theteacherscorner.net- Make your own worksheets: word search, telling time worksheets, brain teasers, money worksheets, crossword puzzle, Sudoku, calendar maker, word scrambles, match up worksheets, maze maker, math worksheets, fill in the blank, graphs, etc.

esl-kids.com- ESL-Kids' Worksheet Generator that can make: writing practice sheet, text only flash cards, tracing worksheet, multiple choice worksheets, rock paper scissors game, dice game, die template, spelling quiz, bingo sheets, slam sheet, drawing sheet, board game, word search, unscramble sheet, spinner, etc.

schoolexpress.com- Create your own worksheets: spelling, alphabetizing, missing letter, word shape, quiz, word search, word unscrambles, make a sentence, awards, word walls

toolsforeducators.com- Make worksheets for: word search, dice maker, printable board games, crossword puzzles, bingo boards, crisscross bingo boards, maze, domino maker, spelling worksheet, reading sheet, writing, spelling, and tracing worksheets, certificates, handout creator, listening test worksheet, word bank worksheet, spaghetti word string worksheet, etc.



Friday, March 1, 2013

Electing A Pope Matching Worksheet



This worksheet is free, however it is only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.




Electing A Pope Matching Worksheet- Write the letter of the correct match next to the answer.



Saturday, February 16, 2013

Electing a Pope (information & activities for students)






Here are some links that might be useful in teaching students about electing a pope:


fisheaters.com- How Popes Are Elected

vaticaninsider.lastampa.it- How A Pope Is Elected

ewtn.com- Interregnum Terms and Expressions (Question and Answer Format)

newadvent.org- Election of the Popes

catholic-pages.com- Electing a Pope

catholic.org- How a Pope is Elected

pbs.org- Step-by-Step Guide to Electing a Pope

religionfacts.com- How the Pope is Elected

loyolapress.com- Papal Transition
Learn about Church leadership and how a pope is chosen with the following information and activities.

americamagazine.org- Papal Transition
Q&A on Papal Transition, Conclave & Election of New Pope

pflaum.com- Who gets to vote? Where will they vote? How will we know when it’s done? The five fact sheets provide answers to these and other questions students ask. Use them as handouts for older students, or as background information if you’re working with younger children. There are also reproducible activities for primary and intermediate grades that focus on the symbols and work of the papacy.

info.sadlier.com- How the Catholic Church Chooses a New Pope (printable)

catholicinspired.com- Choosing a New Pope (reading comprehension printable)



Books

books.google.com- Conclave: The Politics, Personalities, and Process of the Next Papal Election by John Allen

books.google.com- Selecting the Pope: Uncovering the Mysteries of Papal Elections by Greg Tobin



Coloring

abcteach.com- Pope (coloring page)

edupics.com- coloring page pope

jumbocoloring.info- Vatican City Flag Coloring Page

catholicplayground.com- Papal Flag

world-free-printable-flags.com- 2 Vatican flags posted (scroll down to these)



Crafts

Have the students make a mural of how a pope is elected.

catholicicing.com- Pope John Paul II Mitre Craft for Catholic Kids (several kinds to choose from)

catholicmissionaryfamily.com- Paper Bishop Miter or "Pope Hat"

catholicicing.com- Make a Zucchetto

catholicicing.com- Papal Flag Idea for Kids

catholicicing.com- How to Craft a Papal Flag for World Youth Day (scroll down to this)

catholicicing.com- Pope Puppet

catholicinspired.com- Conclave Smoke Craft (scroll down to this)

alivinggarden.com- Papal Election Playset with Printables
Help little ones to actively engage with the upcoming papal conclave — here’s a papal election playset!



Flash Cards

quizlet.com- Electing a Pope (flash cards)



Games

funtrivia.com- Electing a Pope (online game)

catholicinspired.com- Simon Peter Says (play the game as posted or play "The Pope Says")






Electing A Pope (file folder game)- The idea is to answer questions about electing a pope so you can move your stones around the board. The goal is to move each stone along the 24-square path from the beginning to the end and remove the stone from the board. If the stone of one player lands on a square occupied by the stone of the opponent, the opponent’s stone is removed from the board and must start again. If a player has two or more pieces on a space the pieces on it cannot be captured. An exact throw is needed to remove a piece from the board. The winner is the player who removes all their stones from the board first.


Graphics

graphics.latimes.com- Selecting a pontiff (large graphic)

washingtonpost.com- How a Pope Is Elected (large graphic)

lasotrasinfografias.files.wordpress.com- Papal Election (large graphic)

nytimes.com- Changes at the Vatican (click on “The Voting Process”)



Lap Book

showerofroses.blogspot.com- Papal Lap Book



Lessons

thereligionteacher.com- Papal Conclave Lesson Plan
A full lesson with: Objectives, Assess Prior Knowledge, Explore the Papal Conclave, Papal Election Educational Resources, Conclave Q & A, Compare Papal Elections and Presidential Elections, Assessment: The Papal Conclave Process


catechisisinthethirdmillennium.wordpress.com- Lessons on Pope Benedict and Papal Conclave


evergreenexhibitions.com- Selecting a Pope (page 16 – 20) Grades 7 – 9

Students will:
- describe the role of the Pope and his teaching authority in the life and mission of the Church
- understand the process of a conclave for electing a pope
- examine and discuss critical issues facing the church today
- reenact a papal conclave by “electing a pope” responsive to the needs of the life and mission of the Church today



Worksheets

search-document.com from lcchs.edu- Fill in the Blanks below to complete the explanation of how a POPE is elected.

teacherweb.com- Answer the questions below.

Electing A Pope Matching Worksheet- Write the letter of the correct match next to the answer.



If you see any information or activities about electing a pope, please let me know so I can add it to the list.



Friday, February 15, 2013

How the Catholic Church Chooses a New Pope





How is a new pope chosen? This explanation of papal elections is written in child-friendly language as a way to explain the process of electing a new pope. Download and distribute to older children as a discussion guide, or use as a resource for explaining the process to younger children.

Download includes:

•Beautiful custom artwork
•Full-sized colorful worksheet
•2 small colorful worksheets
•Optional black & white worksheets for quick copying



info.sadlier.com- How the Catholic Church Chooses a New Pope