Young scholars explore the precepts of the Catholic faith. In this Catholicism lesson, students discuss the basic beliefs of Catholicism and the responsibilities of the pope.

Examine the historic election of Pope Benedict XVI and reflect on the challenges he faces as the new leader of the Catholic Church. This New York Times instructional activity investigates how other world leaders are chosen in different...

Students examine Arabic architecture in Spain. They explore the principles and teachings of Islam and campare them with Catholicism. Students examine paintings and maps to understand different things about the Arab culture. Also,...

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...

If it weren't for Catholicism, theater may not exist today. As the eighth video in the Crash Course Theater series explains, early Christians despised theater, but as the art began to die, it found a new life during Catholic mass. The...

Ninth graders investigate the Protestant Reformation. In this global history activity, 9th graders examine the provided primary sources that enable students to create posters and presentations that reveal how Catholicism, Lutheranism,...

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...

Fourth graders discuss the major nations of California Indians, their geographic distribution, economic activities, legends and religious beliefs. They describe the function of Spanish missions and the influence of Catholicism. In...

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...

The Crusades sounds like a glamorous time period in the Middle Ages full of glory—but was it? Scholars find and review the truth of the Crusades' influence on the world through the resource. The study guides, separated individually by...

Have your class examine a very old piece of art as they consider history, chronology, geography, culture, and tradition. They discuss the concept of ritual as it is associated with religious practices and research the spread of...

Fourth graders examine life of French explorer, La Salle, and how he impacted settlement of Texas and the establishment of Catholic missions in Texas; students write letters from the perspective of an explorer.

Take a trip to ancient Rome in this presentation, which includes details about Roman life, society, politics, and religion. Viewers will be enthralled with the vivid maps and pictures in these slides, which could lead to a discussion on...

Click and open a link to three related worksheets all focused on primary source analysis and the Protestant Reformation. Included are three short documents for learners to consider, an image of the inquisition, and several thinking...

What does Easter have to do with bunnies? Find out with a brief and entertaining video that details the history of the holiday and why we celebrate it in spring with animals and eggs.  

Add a little glitter to your Mardi Gras celebration with a packet that includes information about the history of Mardi Gras. It also provides information about how different communities celebrate the holiday, as well as templates for...

New ReviewAfter watching two educational films about Texas history, young settlers create a T chart listing the pros and cons of renouncing their American citizenship, converting to Catholicism, and moving to a Texas colony under the Empresario...

Get your theologians pondering the Great Schism through primary and secondary source analysis. They begin with a Do Now assignment, reading an excerpt from Exodus and responding with both a display and referential question. Consider...

Eighth graders, using a Venn Diagram, compare and contrast Protestantism and Catholicism. At the beginning of class, they participate in a simulation to explore the beginnings of Jamestown and Roanoke. After discussion and taking...

High schoolers explore diversity in ethnic, lingual, religious, and political systems of the people of Southeast Asia. The lesson's focus is designed to foster an understanding of the complexity of the region.

Get your scholars writing about history in this short-answer worksheet on the Byzantine Empire. In complete sentences, they consider context and details of the Byzantine culture. Learners explain contributions made to engineering,...

From Catholicism to candy corn, this presentation has it all when it comes to Halloween. The history of the holiday is discussed in these slides, as is the stories behind seasonal traditions (trick-or-treating, jack-o-lanterns). The...

The Protestant Reformation didn't just happen, it happened for a reason. Discover the causes and effects of this world-altering event. Slides are rich with bulleted text and images. Each is easy to follow and will provide great lecture...

Tenth graders examine different perspectives regarding indulgences and salvation. In this Reformation lesson, 10th graders watch video clips about the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and Martin Luther on indulgences and salvation....