Last Things

 Update.  I forgot to get photos!  Arrrrrgggghhh!  We subbed for two fifth grade classes today, too!  In my defense, I did a promotion for VBS in the gym twice with the Sunday CCD classes.  The two classes had a ton of work finishing their study guides, tests, etc.  The kids write their prayer intentions on Post-it notes.  There was some difficulty folding the flat boxes.  We had to explain that dogs do not have souls and the person must have died before they could enter Purgatory.  I completely forgot to take photos.  We made a list of ideas for people to pray for in Purgatory, including poor souls who have no one to pray for them, and of course Pope Francis.  Sorry.  I’ll try again next time.

My husband, Rob, and I are subbing again later this month for a fifth grade class.  They’re studying ‘Unto Everlasting Life or ‘Last Things’.  (Their teacher says that the group loves to act out Bible stories.  We’ll create rain storm and assign loads of animal noises for Noah’s Ark, too.)  But I like to add a hands-on lesson for the kids, too.  I want the class  to make Purgatory Boxes.  I love the article’s association with St. Padre Pio.  We’ll add a bit about him, too.  The blog post  has this List of Prayers.  Here is a complete lesson with a video about St.Padre Pio.  I’ll post more after the lesson.

How do I structure a class?

 In another life I did a bit of consulting in my field, science education.  I worked with teachers understanding how inquiry education invigorates instruction.  Guess what?  I believe this strategy works with every subject. Ok, it doesn’t mean every lesson has a hands-on craft; although many do!  One tip is to have loads of changes during every lesson.  Look at the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska’s fourth grade, Chapter 28 Lesson.  There is a guide, slide deck, and video.  (No, I didn’t use it.). I’m subbing.  I stick to the teacher’s lesson.  Well, I do add and adapt, just a bit.  

How did I structure class?  First we pray. Always. The fourth grade teacher wants the class to memorize seven prayers, including the Nicene Creed and the Acts of Contrition, and Faith, Hope, and Love.  Next, Mr. P. plays hang man with a vocabulary term.  (I chose confirmation; I was tempted to use transubstantiation.). Next, we reviewed the seven sacraments.  I do this by letting each kid give me an answer.  We teased my husband who could only come up with five.  Next, we read the chapter, taking turns.  Many of the CCD classes have quizzes on the lesson.  We had one today.  I like everyone to earn 100%; so, we went over the quiz together before they took their tests.  Just before they started the test, I went over the agamographs with the kids to complete whenever they finish their quiz.  The kids handed in their quizzes and worked in the craft.  In all we had seven different activities; this method helps keep class moving, the kids engaged, while following the lesson.  Our class was about 70 minutes.  Kids can pay attention for about ten minutes.  They are engaged for a longer period with  the craft.  Why?  It’s relatively novel.  They could talk with their neighbor.  It’s hands-on.  Consider how you structure your class time.  Could it use a revamp?  Try breaking things up!

How did the Agamographs go at CCD?

My husband and I subbed for a fourth grade RE class at our church.  After our lesson on the sacraments and the quiz, the kids made agamographs.  I nearly forgot to take pix!  This was a fourth grade class.  I get kids started on the craft as soon as they finish their quiz.  (Yes, I brought extras—just in case!) The verdict was positive.  The kids didn’t want to leave class before they finished.  A few wanted to take home an extra.  This looks like it will work for VBS in June.  My plan is to use the JP II craft for VBS.  I can’t wait!

Examples of Agamographs

 I just made up two examples of agamographs.  I tried examples with and without pasting on to card stock. Glue the paper onto another sheet or chart.  It works well enough to stand.  He is Risen has this printable with a numbered chart.  The St. Francis one has both color and b/w copies.  Littles can just glue a copy and fold it; older kiddos can color, cut, and paste.  Take a look.

Agamographs!

 Yes, I’m hunting for original ideas to enhance Cathletics.  I bought several licenses for VBS to do this agamograph for one of the week’s saints, St. Francis Xavier. 

Have you tried making an agamograph?  I haven’t either.  But kids love anything a little different. Here is an Easter craft and a simple agamograph. Here is a Moses agamograph.  One more—True Presence in The Eucharist, a classic.

Get ready for VBS: Cathletics!

 Our church and my son, Fr.Josh’s church in Okinawa are both doing Cathletics.  We don’t subtract material from the VBS program; we do add a bit.  One thing we’re adding again this year is Saint Guessing Jars.  They are a huge hit!  We use crackers and cereals rather than candy.  We’re anticipating 100 kids: candy is too expensive.  Additionally, I don’t want kiddos too disappointed when they don’t win.

Four Marks Lesson

 The kids read Chapter 25 in Faith and Life after we prayed a decade of the Rosary.  Their teacher adds the Creed and Hail Holy Queen prayers.  Then we did the Lesson.  Instead of making little books, we just put the Creed in order on their papers.  CCD runs an hour.  Between praying, reading, discussing, and doing the activity, we were able to use the hour we..