Curated OER
Religion and Politics: The Battle Over the Judiciary
Students analyze the relationship between religion an politics. For this Supreme Court lesson, students examine the results of the 2004 presidential election and explore how the results impacted George W. Bush and his Supreme Court...
Curated OER
A Test of Faith
Secondary schoolers investigate the debate surrounding the current sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church with this New York Times lesson. Through discussions and written reflection, they explore their own thoughts and opinions on...
Curated OER
Signs and Symbols
Sixth graders carefully analyze a triptych of the nativity, paying close attention to the lines, shapes and symbols included in the artwork. They explore the role of the Catholic church in society at the time the piece was created and...
Huntington Library
Religion & Spirituality - Exploring the California Missions
The California missions were built with the hope of converting the local Native Americans to Catholicism, but exactly how different were their beliefs to begin with? Through analysis of a series of primary source documents, young...
Curated OER
Focus of Native American Religious Practices
Here are five quick lessons you can use to introduce your class to religions from around the world. They view and perform a Native American dance, watch a video on Judaism, compare the difference between Catholics and Protestants, watch...
Curated OER
The Wars of Religion (1560s-1648)
Providing the details of different religious wars in 16th - 17th century Europe, this presentation includes pictures and maps to help contextualize these important events. The last slide prompts viewers to answer a question about the...
Curated OER
Religion: Great Schism Debate
Pupils examine the Great Schism in the Roman Catholic Church and research the positions of the three popes. The three groups research their popes' positions and then hold a debate. Students write position papers about the Great Schism.
Curated OER
Religion: Eastern Schism Debgate
Students, debate the Eastern Schism in church history. They divide into four groups as Christians debate iconoclasts and the open debates the patriarch. Students debate the use of icons in religion and who has supreme authority over...
Curated OER
POLITICS AND RELIGION: Targeting Faith When It Counts
Students research current articles about the influence of religion on the presidential election of 2004.
Curated OER
Judeo – Christian Tradition
Do you have a class full of middle schoolers eager to learn about world religion? If not, at least you have a nice activity to give them. They'll define seven terms related to the Judeo-Christian tradition, list contributions made to...
Curated OER
Reformation Simulation
Learners discover the Medieval reformation. In this ethics lesson, students simulate council and government bodies to determine responses to various opinions regarding religion and ethics. They determine what postilions to take and why...
Curated OER
The Byzantine Empire: Icon Adoration
Learners identify the worship of icons as a division between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. In this lesson on the Byzantine Empire, the teacher provides a simulation showing a basic division in students. The teacher...
Curated OER
Aztecs Meet the Spanish
Students simulate an Independent Counsel to represent the Spanish and the Aztecs to formulate a policy for the Roman Catholic Church in 1527. They conduct research, graph the similarities and differences, create a poster, and write a...
Curated OER
Religion in Social Change: What's God Got To Do With It?
Students determine how religion influences social change. In this religion and social change instructional activity, students examine how the religious beliefs of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were inspirational as they...
Hyperion
Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Avi's Crispin: The Cross of Lead is the focus of a teacher's guide that provides background information on 14th Century England, a plot summary, discussion questions, activities, and resource links. A must-have for those who use this...
Curated OER
Icon Adoration: The Byzantine Empire
Learners study idol worship in the Byzantine Empire and the separation it cause between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. In this Byzantine Empire lesson, students study pictograph transparencies and take a pop quiz over them....
Curated OER
The Basilica of the Assumption-A Symbol of Freedom
Fourth graders explore the importance of the Basilica of Assumption and the development of the Catholic Church in Maryland. For this social studies lesson, 4th graders discuss the Basilica of the Assumption and the Catholic Church.
Curated OER
Comparing the Confessional traditions that Emerge from the Reformation
Ninth graders examine the Protestant Reformation. In this World History lesson, 9th graders research various places of worship. Students comapre and contrast the different sects of religion that resulted from the Protestant Reformation.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Puritan Massachusetts: Theocracy or Democracy?
Was Puritan society governed as more of a theocracy or democracy? After comparing and contrasting a series of primary source documents, middle and high schoolers form small groups and debate the question.
Joe Paprocki's Catechist's Journey
40 Ideas for 40 Days
From constructing a colorful paper chain for learners to keep track of their Lenten goals to baskets of plastic eggs filled with suggestions for observing Holy Week, here you'll find a variety of activities and ideas for the forty days...
Curated OER
Who are My Sisters and Brothers?
Students explore religion by completing a cultural diversity activity. In this human compassion lesson, students identify all of "God's Children" as their sisters and brothers. Students read the book Frederick in class and listen to...
C.S. Lewis Foundation
Study Guide to Mere Christianity
Delve into the arguments central to Christianity as C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity creates a rational case for his religion. Although slightly preachy in its format, this resource fully outlines, in two different sets, the essential...
Curated OER
Reasons for Settling the New World
After studying the reasons settlers entered the New World, primary learners try to persuade others to enter this new land. Class members present their arguments in a variety of ways including posters, writings, and charts. Richly...
Curated OER
"When They Came for Me, There Was No One Left to Speak Up" - Exploring Personal and Collective Responsibility in WWII
Students examine the underlying meaning of the phrase spoken by Pastor Martin Niemoller in 1945, "When they came for me, there was no one left to speak up." In this World History lesson, students share in a class discussion on civic and...