Discussion-Oriented
62 results
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Friendship and Forgiveness Prayer Space
An activity, including a discussion and a craft, on forgiving friends and family members, based on The Catholic Children’s Bible featured story “Jesus Teaches Us to Forgive”, Matthew 18:21–35.
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Symbol Interviews
A series of interview questions that students can ask married couples about symbols and marriage.
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Remembering My Confirmation
A worksheet where students are asked to interview several adults about their Confirmation experiences.
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Questions about Elisha
An activity in the form of a talk show, Good Morning Israel, about the death of Elisha and interviewing people who came in contact with him.
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Getting to Know Jesus
A partner activity on getting to know Jesus through Scriptural accounts of his miracles.
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The Word to the Page
A worksheet on the topic, facts, main point or theme, and moral or message of a chosen event.
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Three Scriptural Images of the Church
An activity where students are asked to respond to each of the items for each of the three scriptural images of the Church.
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The Acts of the Apostles
A group activity where students are asked to read assigned sections of Acts of the Apostles, and discuss the presented questions.
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The Body of Christ
A customizable assignment on different issues, locations, and groups of people around the world, in relation to the Church, the Body of Christ.
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The Gospel of John and Anti-Semitism
A group activity on the Gospel of John and anti-Semitism.
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Analyzing Artistic Depictions of the Book of Glory
A group activity where students analyze the artistic depictions of the Book of Glory.
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Exegetical Methodology: Sociohistorical Criticism
A group assignment on exegetical methodology: sociohistorical criticism.
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Exegetical Methodology: Literary Criticism
A group activity on using exegetical methodology to analyze Scripture.
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Contextual Reading of Scripture
An activity where students read selected Scripture quotes and generate a list of questions that they want to ask of the text to further understand why it was written.
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Preassessment Pair Activity
A preassessment activity where students work in pairs to match definitions and vocabulary words.
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Socratic Seminar Observation Form - Student
An observation form for students to fill out after a Socratic Seminar.
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Socratic Seminar Symbol Codes
A list of symbol codes used to evaluate the Socratic Seminar method.
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The Socratic Seminar
A handout on the Socratic Seminar method, which is a class seminar that gives students the opportunity to test their analytical and discussion skills through oral debate.
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Socratic Seminar: Israel's Demand for a King
Instructions for an in-class debate on Israel’s demand for a King.
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Israel in Egypt
A worksheet where students are asked to work in groups to read Scripture passages that illustrate the development of the Israelite community and identity.
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Small Passage Midrash, from “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide
An activity where students read an assigned Scripture passage of the mythical genre and then work on interpreting what they have read, from “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.
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A Preassessment of My Knowledge of the Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony
The leader’s copy of several preassessment questions and answers used to gauge students’ knowledge of the Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony.
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Life in the Holy Spirit
A number of real-world scenarios that deal with the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
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The Meaning of Redemption (II)
A set of discussion questions centered around the meaning of Redemption: a matter of unconditional love, from "The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ."
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Sacramental Symbols in Scripture
A listing of scripture passages and complementary discussion questions from “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”
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Preassessment
The Leader’s Guide for a preassessment of students’ knowledge of the Sacraments.
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Story Critique
Guidelines for critiquing “What is My Story?” from “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”
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What Is My Story?
An activity based on reflecting on moments in your life in which you faced a significant challenge, from “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”
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Scripture Readings for Celebrating the Rite of Marriage
A list of Scripture readings that can be included in celebrating the Rite of Marriage, from "Christian Morality: Our Response to God's Love."
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Sharing in the Ministry of Jesus: Priest, Prophet, and King
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Groups of students can answer questions about Jesus as Priest, Prophet or King and reflect on models and characteristics of these distinct but related ministries.
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The Prodigal Son A Story of Conversion
This worksheet is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can reflect on and answer questions about the conversion of the Prodigal Son.
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Redemptive Suffering in the Ministry of Jesus
This worksheet is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students must look up various scripture passages referring to Jesus' suffering and answer questions about the scenario and the significance of redemptive suffering.
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Visual Meditation on the Ascension
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students may reflect on images of Jesus' Ascension and answer these questions.
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The Miracles of Jesus
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can work in groups to look up passages of some of Jesus' miracles and reflect on them together.
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Reading the Parables
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students must look up some of Jesus' parables and answer questions about the analogy and imagery used and the message being given about the Kingdom of God.
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Symbols of Baptism
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. It invites students to reflect on the significance of key symbols used in baptism.
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The Baptism of Jesus
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can read the account of Jesus' baptism and answer questions about it.
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Interview Questions about Your Baptism
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students ask the provided to questions to adults who can tell them about the details of that student's baptism. A reflection on the significance of the sacrament is done at …
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Using the Lectionary to Understand How God’s Ancient Promises Are Fulfilled in Jesus
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can use this handout to explore some Old Testament prophecies that find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
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Compare and Contrast: Abraham and Moses
In this exercise the students compare and contrast the covenant experiences of Abraham and Moses to gain a deeper understanding of the role of covenant in the history of the Jewish people.
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Senses of Scripture and the Annunciation
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can analyze the story of the Annunciation through the literal, moral, spiritual, anagogical, and allegorical sense of interpretation.
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Pentecost
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can read the account of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles and answer questions about it.
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The Ascension of Jesus
This worksheet is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can read the account of Jesus' Ascension and answer questions about it.
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What Kind of Leader Is Moses?
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students are asked to look up verses and make assessments about Moses' leadership in the Old Testament.
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Sprint Through Salvation History Scriptural Passages
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students are asked to explore the Bible for key events in the Old and New Testaments in Salvation History.
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Pass the Bag: A Biblical Affirmation Exercise
Class activity that familiarizes them with scriptural values, increases vocab, and ups self-esteem
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Paul: A Unique Person
Background for the Teacher Saint Paul has fascinated Christians throughout history. The combination of his Jewish upbringing, his exposure to Greek culture, his fiery personality, and his openness to God's grace uniquely prepared him to spread the Gospel. This session …
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Leader's Guide for The Master's Companion: A Christian Midrash
Table of Contents Beyond Scripture Helpful Hints for Using and Creating Midrash with Young People Classroom Activities Chapter 1: The Small Black Dog with the White Foot (John 4:1-30)--compassion for animals Chapter 2: A Night in the Garden (John 4:39-45)--significance …
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Leader's Guide for Coyote Meets Jesus
Stories are not just for young children. Everyone loves a good story and good storytelling is a useful tool for teaching. Using folktales as a teaching tool in a catechetical setting or a religion class can help teens understand the …
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Peace Creed
Writing a Peace Creed (15 minutes) 1. Tell the young people that as much as we might want peace to become a reality in our world, being a peacemaker takes a lot of hard work. The first steps are to …
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Family Relationships
Scripture Passage Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"-- this is the first commandment with a promise: "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on …
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The Final Beginning: Ascension and Pentecost
Overview After Jesus' death, his followers were fearful, angry, grief-stricken, confused, and shattered. About fifty days later, at Pentecost, they were confident, joyful, determined, committed, and passionate. This topic of this session covers the time from the Resurrection until the …
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Advent: Saint Joseph and Jesus
This can be easily adapted to a video call. 1. Gather the group in a circle for a moment of silence. Light the candle and read these passages about Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew (1:18-21 and 2:13-15). Ask the …
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A New Rock: Adaptations for Home Use
These activities are easily adapted for family members at home. When gathered for a meal, or for the specific purpose of these activities, family members can do one activity, a couple, or all of them, depending on the amount of time …
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The Meal Ministry of Jesus
Ask the students to recall their favorite meal celebration. What made it so special? What was the occasion? Where were they? Who was present? What did they eat? What else happened there? Invite them to share with the class the …
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Names and Images of God
Fill in the three columns ("Names for God," "Images of God," "Feelings Evoked by Names and Images") for each of the age categories in which you have lived to date. In the "Names for God" box, list all the names …
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Taking Off on the Ten Commandments
This classroom strategy is based on a method used by Fr. Steve Brice while teaching religion at Aquinas High School, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Young people love humor and satire. One way to alleviate pressures students feel from the culture around …
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Using Imaginative Retellings in Teaching the Bible
Biblical stories have been imaginatively retold over and over again for centuries. A particular type of retelling, in which students assume the role of a biblical character then retell the story using a first-person point of view, has proven effective …
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Praying the Psalms
Remember the television show from the late 80's called "Doogie Howser, M.D.?" At the end of every show, Doogie would sit down at his computer and write a 2 or 3 sentence "blurb" that perfectly summed up his day and …