learning stations Archives - Catechist's Journey

Sacraments of Initiation Learning Stations

We encounter Jesus through the Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. In this lesson, young people will complete activities at 12 learning stations—each sacrament has four stations—that will deepen their understanding of the Sacraments of Initiation. The free lesson plan packet includes instructions for how to set up learning stations that get children out of their seats and moving around doing simple tasks to learn about the symbols and signs used in each Sacrament of […]

Evaluating the Marian Learning Stations

Denise Gorss

When I wrote about the Marian learning stations, I might not have been realistic about what we could accomplish in the time allotted. Because I wanted to keep working groups small—three or four people per station—I went with more stations than I should have. As a result, we ran out of time before everyone could get through all the stations, especially since each activity took a different amount of time to complete. The idea, you […]

Marian Art, Advent, and Learning Stations

Denise Gorss

With both the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (a holy day of obligation) and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December, and the readings in the second half of Advent telling Mary’s story in the days before Jesus’ birth, this is the perfect time to teach the children in our classes about Mary. I realized in my planning my Advent arc of activities this year that the Finding God art prints […]

Stealth Catechesis: Teaching without Teaching

Bob Burnham

One evening, my 10th-grade Confirmation class revolted. “We do not want to use the book anymore,” said their leader. “Why not?” I asked. “We’ve been in school all day, and we’re tired of sitting around listening and reading. This is supposed to be church, not school.” I could see her point. After all, I had been working all day, had gone straight to the church from the train, and I had yet to eat dinner. […]

Sacraments of Initiation Learning Stations Used with Seventh Graders

Denise Gorss

In the next-to-last session for the year, I used the Sacraments of Initiation learning stations with my group of seventh graders. As the download page for the learning stations explains, the activity gets young people “out of their seats and moving around doing simple tasks to learn about the symbols and signs used in each Sacrament of Initiation.” Overall it was a successful lesson. I was surprised by how quiet the young people were as […]

Sacraments Learning Stations at St. Gabriel’s in Riverdale, the Bronx

Joe Paprocki

As they say, imitation is the highest form of flattery so I am indeed flattered to learn that a parish in the Bronx – St. Gabriel – adapted my Sacraments of Initiation Learning Stations for use with their Family Faith Day, an intergenerational event. I’ll let Marie Gwertzman, the Sacramental Coordinator, fill you in and then you can enjoy the pics she sent along! Hats off to Marie and her DRE Glenn McCarthy! November 14, […]

New Testament Learning Stations: READY!!!

Joe Paprocki

I’ve completed the 4 Learning Stations for the New Testament that will be part of our lesson this coming Monday evening. Here they are in PDF: GOSPELS Learning Station ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Learning Station LETTERS Learning Station REVELATION Learning Station Here are the Student Fill-In Sheets for the New Testament Learning Stations: Bible Learning Stations fill in sheets – NT And here are the New Testament bookmarks: NT Bookmarks Lastly, I’ll get to work […]

Sneak Peek of Bible Learning Stations

Joe Paprocki

I mentioned in my previous post that I am working on Bible Learning Stations for next week’s session. Here is a sneak peek of the newly completed first learning station: The Pentateuch. In addition to the Pentateuch display board, there is a fill-in sheet for the students to complete and a bookmark for them to place in their Bible to mark off the Pentateuch. More to come!

Opening Mass Tonight; Thinking Ahead to Next Week

Joe Paprocki

Tonight, our religious education program celebrates our Opening Mass in the Church which means that I will primarily be supervising my 6th graders as they gather for Mass and then throughout the Mass. This afternoon, I plan to go over their names so that this evening I will be able to greet them and talk to them by name. As we wait for Mass to begin, I thought I would do some Q & A […]

A Mixed Bag

Joe Paprocki

Last evening’s session went well for the most part but was a mixed bag. Here’s what I’m talking about: Because of frigid wind chills, I expected low attendance. Instead, I had perfect attendance! While it’s great that they all showed up, I was thrown off…but that’s my own fault for having low expectations. Whenever I have low expectations, the adrenalin isn’t flowin’ so I felt like I was just not hitting the nail on the […]