I teach at a Catholic school, so on a mostly daily basis I teach Religious Studies. I also try to connect our beliefs throughout the curriculum, and teach students to question their own beliefs, values, and assumptions. After a long time of working on my Christian Ed. Curriculum, I have found a few resources that I believe every teacher needs if they are going to teach religion in their classroom and have it mean something.
I think we have all been there... trying to balance the Experiential part of faith with the Informational part. As part of a school, I know information is essential, yet I still walk into many classrooms where the students have no idea why they are praying certain words.
On the other hand, you don't want students to only have the academic part of Religious Ed if they are in a Christian school. Why pick a Christian school if you don't want to experience what Christianity can be?
So what are some of the main things you need if you want to have a successful religious education program? Here we go:
On the other hand, you don't want students to only have the academic part of Religious Ed if they are in a Christian school. Why pick a Christian school if you don't want to experience what Christianity can be?
So what are some of the main things you need if you want to have a successful religious education program? Here we go:
Quality Devotional Books
Students need to spend time with scripture every day to be familiar with the way it sounds and how to reflect on it. So many students are not familiar with God's word, or they may hear it in Church but have no idea how to meditate on what He has told us. Good devotional books do just that.
Students need to spend time with scripture every day to be familiar with the way it sounds and how to reflect on it. So many students are not familiar with God's word, or they may hear it in Church but have no idea how to meditate on what He has told us. Good devotional books do just that.
A Prayer Spot
Students need a visual reminder of prayer in the classroom. This could be a prayer table, much like this one from Oblate Spring, or just a quiet place to pray.
Students need a visual reminder of prayer in the classroom. This could be a prayer table, much like this one from Oblate Spring, or just a quiet place to pray.
Academic Resources
Kids need to know the context for our beliefs. They need to know what was so surprising about a Samaritan helping out, or why the Pharisees and Sadducees wanted Jesus dead. I have found one of the best kid-friendly religious resources are lapbooks, which are essentially unit studies made for homeschooling families. They look like this -
Kids need to know the context for our beliefs. They need to know what was so surprising about a Samaritan helping out, or why the Pharisees and Sadducees wanted Jesus dead. I have found one of the best kid-friendly religious resources are lapbooks, which are essentially unit studies made for homeschooling families. They look like this -
The information is all made so that it can go on graphic organizers and templates and glued to a file folder. I use the organizers and just have students glue it in their notebooks. There are lapbooks for pretty much every Biblical book under the sun, you just have to ensure you look through the information provided so that it matches your particular denominational beliefs. Check out www.currclick.com for some of my favorite lapbooks!
Time for Social Justice
Religion is one of the best subject areas for getting students outside the classroom. This doesn't just mean taking them outside to pray or sing some worship songs (although that is a great idea too!), but have them serve other people in their school and around their community. Some ideas:
- Serving juice to brighten up another classrooms day
-Picking up litter in the schoolyard
-Shoveling snow for the neighborhood around the school
-Inviting seniors over for tea
-Watching the phones for the administrative assistants so they can have an extra coffee break
-Washing whiteboards around the school for teachers
So that pretty much sums up what I think you 100% need for a great Religion Class. Anything you think I am missing?
Religion is one of the best subject areas for getting students outside the classroom. This doesn't just mean taking them outside to pray or sing some worship songs (although that is a great idea too!), but have them serve other people in their school and around their community. Some ideas:
- Serving juice to brighten up another classrooms day
-Picking up litter in the schoolyard
-Shoveling snow for the neighborhood around the school
-Inviting seniors over for tea
-Watching the phones for the administrative assistants so they can have an extra coffee break
-Washing whiteboards around the school for teachers
So that pretty much sums up what I think you 100% need for a great Religion Class. Anything you think I am missing?