We will be closed for Christmas break from December 23–January 3. We look forward to serving you on January 4! Merry Christmas!

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Chapter G: Design a Monastery

Students design a monastery based on the responsibilities and needs of the monks.

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Final Performance Tasks for Unit 3

This handout provides two project possibilities for students to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts learned in Unit 3.

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Creating a Triptych

This is a description for an art project where students express the relationship between Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

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I Am . . .

This is a project description that asks students to create a poster as they explore their identity.

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Final Performance Tasks for Unit 5

This handout lists two final-project possibilities for Unit 5.

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Rubrics for Final Performance Tasks for Unit 1

This is a rubric to assess the final project options for Unit 1.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7

The final performance task options for Unit 7 of Church History: Apostolic Times to Today. The options include creating a children’s book about the Catholic Church in the United States, or creating a PowerPoint presentation about the Catholic Church in …

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Handout: Images of God in Scripture

Circle the Scripture passage that your teacher assigns you in the following list. Reflect on your assigned Scripture passage using the questions below. Use poetry, prose, painting, illustration, sculpture, or another medium to depict an image of God that is …

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The Wheel of Life

An image of a wheel.

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The Bible’s Big Picture (Part I)

A worksheet with Scripture passages to cut out.

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The Images of Jesus Book

Read through the passages below, and select seven you like best. Create a booklet of drawings around the seven images you chose from the readings. Using copies of the handout, “Images of Jesus” (Document #: TX003029), fill in the missing …

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The Last Words of Jesus

Read the following seven passages from Scripture, which each contain one of the seven last words (meaning phrases or statements) of Jesus. Create a song title for each Scripture passage, expressing what you think these last statements meant to Jesus. …

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The Fig Leaves of My Life

A craft activity where students cut out a fig leaf and draw or write the ways that they hide who they really are.

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Vocations: Answering God’s Call – Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3

Several project options that reinforce the main ideas of Unit 3.

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Vocations: Answering God’s Call – Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2

Several project ideas centered around the main ideas from the Unit.

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Vocations: Answering God’s Call - Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1

Several final performance task options/activities that correlate with Unit 1 of Vocations: Answering God’s Call.

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Middle School Retreat to Learn about the Church as a Saving Community

An outline to help plan a middle school retreat focused on the Church as a saving community.

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Presentations on Vocations

A project where students are asked to create several presentations on vocations.

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Modern-Day Martyrs: Redemptive Love in Action

An activity where students will learn about the lives of several modern-day martyrs, draw connections between the lives of these people and the life and death of Jesus, and explore what the witness of martyrs, from the time of Jesus …

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A Graphic Novel or Play

A project where students are asked to create either a graphic novel or a play based on what they have learned in the Old Testament.

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Researching and Writing about Scripture

A wrap-up project on researching and writing about Scripture.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5

Several final performance task project options for Unit 5 of The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, Third Edition.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4

Several project ideas that coincide with Unit 4 of The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, Third Edition.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4

Several final performance tasks options for Unit 4 of The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3 of “The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth”

Several final performance task options for Unit 3 of “The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2 of “The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth”

Several final performance task options for Unit 2 of “The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth.”

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Interview Questions for a Practicing Catholic

A list of interview questions to ask a practicing Catholic.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1 of “The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth”

Several final performance task options for Unit 1 of “The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth.”

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Wrap-up: A Graphic Novel or Playlist, from Section 3 of "Jesus Christ: God's Love Made Visible"

A section wrap-up activity where students create a graphic novel or playlist.

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Research Ideas for the Life and Times of Jesus, from Section 3 Part 2 of "Jesus Christ: God's Love Made Visible"

Several research ideas for projects and activities on the life and times of Jesus.

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Interviewing an Adult Who Has a Personal Relationship with Jesus, from Section 2 Part 1 of "Jesus Christ: God's Love Made Visible"

How to conduct an interview with an adult who has a personal relationship with Jesus, including appropriate questions to ask.

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A Brochure about the Trinity in Everyday Life

A wrap-up activity for Section 1 of “Jesus Christ: God’s Love Made Visible.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ”

Several final performance task options for Unit 8 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ”

Several final performance task options for Unit 7 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ.”

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Paul's Missionary Journeys

A group assignment on Paul’s missionary journeys.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ”

Several final performance task options for Unit 6 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ.”

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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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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ”

Several final performance task options for Unit 5 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ”

Several final performance task options for Unit 4 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ”

Several final performance task options for Unit 3 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ”

Several final performance task options for Unit 2 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ"

Several final performance task options for Unit 1 of “The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 8 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 7 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 6 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide.

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Miracle Presentation Plans

A planning sheet for a group presentation on miracles.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 5 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide.

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A Service Project

A service project that will help students imitate Jesus’ love for those in need.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 4 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 3 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 2 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final performance Task Options for Unit 1 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 1 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” New Testament Teacher Guide.

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Using Final Performance Tasks to Assess Understanding

A reading on how to use final performance tasks to assess student understanding.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 8 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 7 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 6 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 5 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Moses and Joshua: Small-Group Project, from “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

A small-group project where students compare and contrast Moses and Joshua as leaders of Israel, from “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 4 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Festivals and Holy Days: Research Project, from “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

A research project on festivals and holy days, from “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 3 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 2 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

Several final performance task options for Unit 1 of “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

Several final performance task options for Unit 8 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

A list of several final performance task options for Unit 7 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

A list of several final performance task options for Unit 6 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

A list of several final performance task options for Unit 5 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

A list of several final performance task options for Unit 5 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

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Just Choices

A worksheet on just choices where students choose a topic to cover as well as a task based on their preferred learning style.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

A list of several final performance task options for Unit 6 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

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Students Teaching Students About Environmental Justice

A lesson plan entitled “Students Teaching Students about Environmental Justice.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4

A list of several final performance task options for Unit 4 of "Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society."

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

A list of several final performance task options for Unit 7 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

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Prayer Stations

Three prayer stations presenting ideas for craft projects to help make forgiveness more tangible for students.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

Several final performance task options for Unit 8 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

Several final performance task options for Unit 3 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

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Final Performance Tasks Options for Unit 4 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

A listing of several final performance tasks options for Unit 4 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

A listing of several final performance task options for Unit 2 of “Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3

A number of final performance task options for Unit 3 of "The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ."

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2

A listing of final performance task options for Unit 2 of “The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ.”

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1

Options for final performance tasks for Unit 1 of "Catholic Social Teaching: Christian Life in Society."

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1

Options for final performance tasks for Unit 1 of "The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ."

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8

Several performance task options for Unit 8 of "Christian Morality: Our Response to God's Love."

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Spotlighting Quotes on Respecting Sexualtity

Quotes on respecting sexuality, from "Christian Morality: Our Response to God's Love."

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Card Deal Questions on the Christian Vision of Marriage

An activity dealing with index cards from "Christian Morality: Our Response to God's Love."

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Final Performace Task for Unit 7

Several final performance task options for Unit 7 of "Christian Morality: Our Response to God's Love."

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6

Options for final performance tasks for Unit 6 of "Christian Morality: Our Response to God's Love."

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8

This resource is from the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who are or have been studying ecclesiology, especially, the role of community, prayer, and discipleship in the Church.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7

This resouce is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who are or have been studying ecclesiology, especially the role of the Magisterium on matter of faith and morals.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied ecclesiology, especially ecumenism and interreligious dialogue.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. If offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied eccesiology, especially the roles of the hierarchy, the vowed religious, and the laity.

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The Church Is One

This project is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students are asked to do research on the mark of the Church as 'One' using various websites.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4

This resource is part o the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas for final assessment activities for students studying apostolic succession, sacraments, and the four marks of the Church.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied eccesiology, especially the nature and role of the Catholic Church.

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Paul, the Missionary Adventurer: The Comic Book Version

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It is a project idea for students to create a comic book/graphic novel about Paul's adventures in the Acts of the Apostles.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas for assessing students who have recently learned about the Church, especially the birth of the Church at Pentecost.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas for assessing students who have recently studied the Church, including the scriptural accounts of early Church.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who are or have been studying the Paschal Mystery, especially with regard to discipleship, vocation, and holiness.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who are or have recently been studying the Paschal Mystery, especially in terms of personal and communal prayer.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6

This resource is from the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied the Paschal Mystery, especially the themes of redemptive suffering and grace.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied the Paschal Mystery, especially the birth of the Church at Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the …

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The Powerful Symbol of the Cross

This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can reflect the difference between symbols and signs, and do a project to create their own symbol of the Cross.

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Modern Day Martyrs

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It introduces a project idea for students learning about modern-day martyrs for their faith and religious convictions.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. If offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied the Paschal Mystery and the redemptive nature of Jesus' suffering.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers project ideas for students who have recently studied the Paschal Mystery, especially the life and ministry of Jesus Christ in the Gospels.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas for assessing students who have recently studied the Paschal Mystery and salvation history.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas for a final assessment for students who have been learning about the Paschal Mystery.

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Final Synthesis

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas for final projects after students have studied various elements of the Paschal Mystery.

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Liturgy Reflection

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers reflection questions for students to use as prompts when writing papers on the Liturgy.

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Research Component - Liturgy Writing Assignment

This handout is part of the Living in Christ Series. It outlines the guidelines for a research writing assignment in which students reflect on various liturgical seasons.

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Semester Long Project

This project idea is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students compile a portolio of written assignments, making observations and reflecting on the Paschal Mystery through the Sacraments.

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Portfolio Instruction

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers instruction to students who must put together a portfolio of their readings, writings and assignments from lessons on Jesus and Christology.

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Using a Wiki for Group Projects

This article is part of the Living in Christ Series. It discusses the use of Wikis for classroom group projects, including some suggestions and caveats.

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Using Final Performance Tasks to Assess Understanding

This article is part of the Living in Christ Series. It discusses the value of using Final Performance Tasks to assess students.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8

This resource is part of the Living in Christ series. It offers various project ideas for students who are or have been studying scripture, especially the New Testament gospels and letters.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied scripture, especially the New Testament portrait of Jesus Christ.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied scripture, especially the Old Testament and the prophets.

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The Best King of Israel

This handout is part of the Living in Christ Series. It outlines the research questions for students to explore while studying various kings of the Old Testament.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied scripture, especially Old Testament leadership qualities in the kings and judges.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. If offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied scripture, especially important Old Testament characters.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas of assessing students who have recently studied scripture, especially original sin and salvation historys' culmination in Jesus Christ.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas for assessing students who have recently studied the Bible, including inspiration, divine revelation, and exegesis.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1

This is a helpful resource for coming up with final assessments for students after reviewing biblical scholarship, history, genres, and criticism.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers several project ideas for students who are or have been studying christology, especially what it means to be a follower of Jesus through prayer and discipleship.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied christology, especially Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection in salvation history.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied christology, especially the moral teachings and model of Jesus Christ.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied christology, especially Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and the fulfillment of the Ten Commandments.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied christology, especially Jesus' relationships with Mary and the disciples.

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Research Ideas for the Life and Times of Jesus

This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Several key questions about the culture and customs in the life and times of Jesus are posed for students to investigate further.

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The Life and Times of Jesus

This handout is part of the Living in Christ Series. It serves as a guide for writing assignment students may do as an introduction to Biblical exegesis.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers three different options for assessing students who have recently studied Christology, especially Jesus' fully human, fully divine nature, his historical context, and his relationship to God the Father.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2

This resource is from the Living in Christ Series. It offers three ideas for assessing students who have recently studied Christology, including core themes like monotheism, trinitarianism, and community.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1

This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas for final assessment projects for students studying Christology, including revelation, the Church, and tradition.

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A Place at Our Table

A class activity designed to raise awareness of the reality of hunger in our nation and world.

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The Sacraments at the Service of Communion: Holy Orders and Matrimony

This session from Catechetical Sessions on Liturgy and the Sacraments invites participants to consider the unique ways in which ordained ministers and married people serve the people of God, responsibilities that are presented in the vows they take in either …

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Exploring the Themes in Paul's Epistles

Background for the Catechist This session invites the participants to work in small groups to research some of Paul's major theological themes and create billboard representations to "sell" their assigned theme. In this way the young people get a deeper …

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Scripture Search and Discussion: Living by the Spirit of Jesus

(25 minutes) Before the session. Ask one of the participants to serve as a reader. Then, write each of the four following words or phrases on a separate sheet of paper. If your group is large, you might want to …

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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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Lenten Justice Crosses

OVERVIEW Through this hands-on project, the young people help spread the Lenten message of conversion to justice. They also become familiar with the message of the prophet Micah and the traditional spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Suggested Time: …

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January 22: Saying Yes to Life

Preparation Bring in pictures of fetal development. 1. Present a scenario in which a girl like those in your group experiences a crisis pregnancy. Then list on the board a number of options, such as these: She can keep the …

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Advent Buddies

Advent Buddies: An Intergenerational Relationship-building Activity OVERVIEW This activity helps young people learn from an older person in the parish and establish a faith relationship with that person. Suggested Time: About 15 minutes for each meeting during Advent Group Size: …

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Build a Meal: An Outreach Activity for Thanksgiving

Build a Meal: An Outreach Activity for Thanksgiving OVERVIEW This outreach activity invites the young people to build holiday meals and memories for families that might not be able to afford a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Suggested Time: 10 to 15 …

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All Saints' Day: Unmasking Saints

Unmasking Saints: A Learning Activity for All Saints' Day OVERVIEW This creative activity helps young adolescents learn a little about their Catholic heritage by exploring the life and work of their patron saint or a favorite saint. Group Size: This …

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Back to School: Saintly Guest Speaker

Saintly Guest Speaker? This activity is designed to have your students move around a little, look at the lives of a few saints, assess where they are in their spiritual lives, and help you assess how they are feeling about …

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Technology assignment - Catholic Social Teaching

Over ten years ago, I began using my home computer to file and create documents for my students. My high school, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, already had a very well-developed technological infrastructure. Internet searches, e-mail, PowerPoint presentations, …

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Feminine Images of God

Look up the following Scripture references and summarize each in the space provided. For each group of readings, come up with a category or theme. Isaiah 66:13 Isaiah 46:3 Isaiah 49:13-16 Hosea 11:1,3-4 Wisdom 16:25-26   Psalm 22:9-10 Isaiah 66:9 …

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Scripture Puppet Show

This assignment allows students to use their own creativity in the understanding and application of the Scriptures. Their grade for this assignment will be based on their ability to do the following tasks: Involve all members of the group. Create …

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Following the Spirit Down the (Yellow?) Brick Road

The road is really a five-foot wide path. The bricks are more dappled browns than yellow. But the journey does have a wizard and feisty little black terrier. And along the way we found our hearts, our minds, and our …

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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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The Connections Binder: A Theology Project

The Connections Binder encourages students to find meaningful connections between the content they are studying in class and something from the world outside the classroom that they find interesting or appealing. I assign this project at the beginning of my …

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Building Faith Community in the High School

In a workshop entitled "The Catholic High School as Faith Community," religion teachers, campus ministers, and school administrators discussed, among many things, the obstacles they face in trying to build faith community in their school. One obstacle they addressed was …

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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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Introductory Activities for Teaching Christology

Mimi McCaul, who teaches at La Salle High School in Pasadena, California, passes along to you some of the strategies she uses in the course Jesus of History, Christ of Faith. Thanks, Mimi! Introductory Activity On the first or second …

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Back to School: Beatitude Jingles and Cheers

Jesus taught us what happiness is all about in a Christian lifestyle and summed it up in the Beatitudes. Many people know the Ten Commandments by heart, and that is great. But as a Christian, we should also know the …