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Sharing the Good News

This activity helps students prepare to share the Good News of Jesus with different individuals or groups, and then act out how they would do so, given the individual's or group's particular needs and characteristics.

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Your Relationship with Jesus

This worksheet leads students to reflect on one of three Gospel passages in which Jesus interacts with the people around him and how he shows them compassion and mercy. Students will also reflect on their own relationship with Jesus and …

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Script for a Special Passover Meal with Jesus

The script for the skit in which children reenact the Last Supper, acting as Jesus, the Apostles, and narrators.

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A Special Passover Meal with Jesus

The instructions for the skit in which children reenact the Last Supper, acting as Jesus, the Apostles, and narrators.

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A Modern Parable of the Prodigal Son

This skit presents the Parable of the Prodigal Son in four scenes, with parts for the Father, Younger son, Narrator, and Chorus.

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Joy and Hope for the Modern World

This handout provides questions for students to reflect on and answer as they read quotations from this Constitution.

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Renaissance Humanism

This handout provides questions for students to research on the Internet about Renaissance Humanism.

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A Little Help Here!

After reading several real-life examples of conflict, students provide suggestions to mediate each situation.

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On Your Marks

This worksheet guides group members to work together as they identify the importance of the church being “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic”.

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God Loves a Cheerful Giver

This worksheet guides students to read and answer questions about a specific Hebrew festival from the book of Leviticus.

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Dear Millie and Mike

This handout provides several real-life situations that teens might encounter. Students are challenged to respond to the situations and give advice to other teens.

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Fair Trade

This worksheet provides questions for students to answer as they research and learn about the Fair Trade Movement.

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Be Careful What You Ask For

This is a list of Scripture passages to be acted out from 1 Samuel

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Biblical Heroes

This handout assigns groups to read Scripture passages to learn about a specific biblical hero.

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The Stations of the Cross

Students read a Scripture passage for an assigned station before creating an enactment and discussing questions.

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Exploring the Lectionary

In this activity, partners read the readings for a specific feast day and identify key symbols, similarities, and differences that help make Mass more meaningful.

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Non-Pauline Letters and Revelation

This small-group activity asks students to read and reflect on a Scripture passage from a Non-Pauline Letter in the New Testament. Students must then answer reflection questions about the passage.

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Paul’s Response to the Early Christian Communities

This small-group activity asks students to read and reflect on a Scripture passage about Paul and the early Christian communities.

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Paul’s Missionary Journeys

This small-group activity asks students to read a Scripture passage about one of Paul’s missionary journeys. Students must then create several blog posts describing the story.

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Mind Mapping: "I Am" Statements from the Gospel of John

This small-group activity asks students to reflect on a specific “I am” statement from the Gospel of John.

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Miracles

This small-group activity asks students to read several versions of a miracle of Jesus. Groups must then answer questions and create a storyboard to accompany the Scripture passage.

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Four Images of Jesus

This small-group activity asks students to read a section of the Gospel and answer questions focused on the image of Jesus.

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The Prophets

This small-group activity provides questions for students to answer about the different prophetic books of the bible.

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King David

This small-group project asks students to read a section from the bible about King David. Students must then create and act out a television show based on their scripture passage.

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The Book of Exodus

This small-group project asks students to read a section from the Book of Exodus before acting out the passage and responding to discussion questions.

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Jigsaw Activity: Categories of Books in the New Testament

This activity asks small groups to answer questions about a specific section of the New Testament.

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Jigsaw Activity: Categories of Books in the Old Testament

This activity asks small groups to focus on a small portion of the Old Testament as they read and answer questions.

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Literal and Spiritual Senses of Scripture: The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37)

This small-group, discussion guide challenges students to read a familiar story using a different lense and perspective.

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Responding to God’s Invitation: Exemplary Models

This project asks students to research an exemplary model of what it means to be the best person that God created each of us to be.

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The Fasting Siddhartha

This handout is meant to be used as part of a station activity in which students observe different pieces of artwork from various religions.

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Searching the Scriptures for the World of Jesus

Small-group activity that guides students to discover the culture of Jesus’ world by searching the Gospels

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To Know Another

An individual worksheet where students rank the importance of discovering specific types of information about another person

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Handout: Love Is...

A small group activity to foster discussion about what love is

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Who Is Your God?

This handout presents a list of different definitions and identities for God. Students are asked to choose ones that resonate with them.

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Our Culture, Our Selves

This handout asks students to rank a list of items in life and society according to their importance.

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Communication in My Family

This handout helps students to explore the communication and relationship they have with their parents by asking a series of reflective questions for students to answer.

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Telling Our Body's Story

This handout helps teens reflect on their body image and the influences on their attitudes towards their bodies.

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Relationships in Marriage

This handout presents numerous questions about healthy, life-long marriages for students to think about and answer.

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Cases to Examine: Changing Roles

This handout presents several real-life family situations about which students must evaluate and make a decision.

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Cases to Examine: Parenting Dilemmas

This handout provides several examples of parenting dilemmas. Students are to read the situations, choose a course of action, and explain their thoughts.

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Paths to Marriage

This handout gives a brief explanation for several types of relationships that end in marriage. Students are then asked to evaluate the reading and complete a journal prompt.

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Cases to Examine: Dealing with Conflict

This handout provides three situations for students to read and evaluate. Students must give a suggestion for how to respond to the conflict in each scenario based on the strategies in the book.

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Perspectives on Sex

This handout provides several comments from teenagers about sex. It can be used as a discussion starter or writing prompt.

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Three Perspectives on Drugs

This handout provides three different comments from teens about their drug and alcohol usage. This can be used as a discussion starter.

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A Sample Relationship Map

A sample of how to create a relationship map.

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Justice Resources

Brief description of organization/agency/group and the nature of its work: How does it build relationships? promote justice?

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Empires of the Ancient Near East

On this map draw in the boundaries of the following ancient empires. Then label the empires, using a different color of pencil for each.

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Exile and Redemption

Discuss the following questions in your group. Have one person take notes in order to report your responses to the class later.

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The Near East Today

This map shows the lands of the Near East as they were known in ancient times. Using an up-to- date atlas or encyclopedia for reference, draw in (with dotted lines) the political boundaries of the countries that exist in the …

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World Map

A blank world map.

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The Riddler

Working alone or with classmates, identify what is being described in each of the following riddles.

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Life Issues B Summary: God, Where Are You?

A nice summary of the ways God promises to be with us always.

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Life Issues A Summary: Dealing with Peer Pressure

A good summary on dealing with peer pressure.

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Life Issues B Summary: Friends in Jesus

A summary of Life Issues B: Friends in Jesus from the Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers, Second Edition.

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Life Issues A Summary: Who Am I?

A summary of Life Issues from the Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers, Second Edition.

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Parent Tip Sheet 2: Three Key Family Faith Activities

A tip sheet for parents focusing on three key family faith activities.

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Parent Tip Sheet 1: Developmental Characteristics of Young Adolescents

A tip sheet for parents focusing on developmental characteristics of young adolescents.

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Catechist Tip Sheet 6: Using Scripture

A tip sheet for catechists focusing on using scripture.

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Catechist Tip Sheet 5: Helping Young Adolescents to Pay Attention

A tip sheet for catechists focusing on helping young adolescents to pay attention.

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Catechist Tip Sheet 4: Effective Group Management

A tip sheet for catechists focusing on effective group management.

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Catechist Tip Sheet 3: Effective Storytelling

A tip sheet for catechists focusing on effective storytelling.

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Catechist Tip Sheet 2: Active Learning and Faith Formation

A tip sheet for catechists focusing on active learning and faith formation.

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Catechist Tip Sheet 1: Developmental Characteristics of Young Adolescents

A tip sheet for catechists focusing on the developmental attributes of young adolescents.

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Three Renewal Movements

Work with your group to complete the section of this handout that corresponds to your assigned topic.

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Research Activity: Working for Social Justice

Answer the following questions about the organization you are researching. Use a separate sheet of paper as needed.

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School History Scavenger Hunt

Write your name and the names of your group members at the top of this handout. As a group, research the history of our school and complete the following questions. For each answer, note the source of your information. This …

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Brochure on Vatican I

Work with your group to create a six-panel (folded) brochure describing the history and work of Vatican Council I.

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Missions to North America

With your partner, follow the instructions on this handout to trace the missionary activities in North America during the Age of Exploration.

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Creating a Promotional Brochure

Your group has been assigned to create a brochure about one of the two major religious orders to emerge during the Catholic Reformation: the Jesuits or the Carmelites. Imagine that you are members of this new religious order during the …

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Web Quest on Renaissance Culture

Write your group member’s names at the top of this handout, and circle the topic assigned to your group. Use the Internet to locate three reliable sources about your group’s assigned topic in Renaissance culture. Use this handout to organize …

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4

The final performance task options for Unit 4 of Church History: Apostolic Times to Today. The options include making a video about the Protestant reformation and the Catholic reformation, or writing a journal from the perspective of someone witnessing the …

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Scholastics and Medieval Universities

Complete this handout with your partner as you review article 24, “Scholastics and Medieval Universities,” in the student book.

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Challenges to the Papacy

Complete this handout with your group as you review article 21, “Challenges to the Papacy,” in the student book.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 3

The final performance task options for Unit 3 of Church History: Apostolic Times to Today. The options include creating a podcast about the Church in the High Middle Ages, or creating a journal of a Christian in the High Middle …

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The Roman Empire at the Time of Charlemagne: Research Worksheet

Write a five-paragraph essay summarizing changes and significant events that affected the Church from the 700s through the 800s. Your essay must include suitable citations. You may use article 17, “Charlemagne: Holy Roman Emperor,” in the student book as a …

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2

The final performance task options for Unit 2 of Church History: Apostolic Times to Today. The options include creating a children’s picture book, or making a PowerPoint presentation for a parish community.

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Handout: Morally Good or Morally Suspect

For each situation, determine whether the action is right, neutral, or wrong; whether the intent is good or not good; and whether the circumstances allow you to decide freely or keep you from deciding freely.

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Handout: Liturgical Year Match

Column 1 lists the holy days of obligation and several other feast days of the Liturgical Year. Column 2 lists the dates on which those feasts are celebrated. The task of each group is to match the holy day or …

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Handout: The Old Testament and the Gospel of Matthew

In each of the Scripture citations below, Jesus or the Gospel writer refers to a Scripture passage from the Old Testament that sheds light on the identity or mission of Jesus. Read the passages assigned to your group, and then …

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Final Performance Task Options

The final performance task options for Unit 3 focusing on the Paschal Mystery, the Holy Spirit and the Church, and the mission of the Church. The options include exploring one important ministry in a diverse Church, creating a poster comparing …

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 2

Options of final performance tasks for Unit 2 focusing on faith, the Trinity, the Kingdom of God, and creation in the image of God. The options include writing a personal creed, creating a Holy Trinity play, or exploring three Kingdom …

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1

Options of final performance tasks for Unit One about the basics of Catholicism, Scripture and Tradition, and Reason and Revelation. The options include reflecting on the Catholic faith in an essay, writing a personal story about your salvation history, or …

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The Travels of Paul

A map showing the locations that Paul travelled to.

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Traveling with Abraham

A map of Abraham’s travels in the Old Testament.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 8

Final performance task options for unit 8 focusing on discerning God’s will. The options include writing an essay on a Saint, interviewing someone who lives a Christian vocation, or keeping a discernment journal.

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Exploring Religious Orders and Congregations

A research assignment worksheet done in pairs to find important information about different religious orders.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 7

Final performance task options for unit 7 that assess the students’ knowledge of consecrated life. The options include writing a biographical essay about a woman or a man who chose the consecrated life, or giving an oral presentation on a …

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The Sacrament of Holy Orders Graphic Organizer

A worksheet completed in groups about the symbolic words and actions that take place during the Rite of Ordination, as well as their meaning and effect.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6

Options for final performance tasks for unit 6 focusing on the vocation to ordained life and the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The options for final performance tasks include creating a brochure on priestly formation for prospective candidates, or writing a …

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The Threefold Ministry of a Bishop

This resource is a group activity worksheet that has students list examples of the Bishop’s roles in the areas of teaching, governing, and sanctifying.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 5

This assessment presents the final performance task options for unit 5 focusing on the priesthood. The options include interviewing a priest, or “adopting” a missionary priest project.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 4

Options of final task performances for students to choose from to demonstrate their knowledge about the Sacrament of marriage.

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Key Places in the Acts of the Apostles

A map of the key places on the Acts of the Apostles.