7th Grade Religion Scaffolded Notes

Transform your classroom into a festive and welcoming space with our Advent & Christmas Bundle!

Bundle Components

• Advent & Christmas Flashcards

  • Interactive Learning: Enhance vocabulary and understanding of key Advent and Christmas terms.
  • Versatile Use: Perfect for games, flashcard activities, and classroom discussions.

• Advent & Christmas Hexagon Cards

  • Discussion Starter: Encourage students to make connections between concepts related to Advent and Christmas.
  • Collaborative Activity: Small group work to spark deeper conversations and collaborative learning.

• Color by Number Advent Poster

  • Fun Engagement: A creative way for students to learn about Advent while enjoying a coloring activity.
  • Visual Learning: Helps reinforce themes and symbols associated with the season.

• Advent Wreath Door Decoration Kit

  • Festive Environment: Decorate your hallway's classroom doors to create a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Interactive Project: Involves students in the decorating process, fostering teamwork and creativity.
  • Door Transformation: Each door symbolizes a candle in the Advent wreath with corresponding words for hope, love, peace, joy, and Jesus.
  • Educational Opportunity: Discuss the meanings behind each candle and its significance during the Advent season.

• Jesus' Birth & Childhood Unit

  • Comprehensive Content: All-inclusive unit covering Jesus' birth and childhood with lesson plans, graphic organizers, and maps.
  • Interactive Learning: Includes a PowerPoint presentation, editable student packets, and a variety of assessments.
  • Vocabulary Building: Focus on critical terms such as salvation, Messiah, Nativity, and Magi, with engaging activities and games.

Unit Includes:

• • 15-Page Student Packet: Engaging materials for students to work through independently or collaboratively.
  • Rubric & Answer Key: Tools for assessment and grading.
  • Class Slides: Visual aids to guide students through lessons and discussions.
  • Fun Activities: Games from Quizlet, Gimkit, and Blooket that match the unit content.
  • Saints Study: Research and graphic organizers on four saints, linking them to the themes of the unit.

Benefits of the Advent & Christmas Bundle

• Engaging Learning Environment: A variety of interactive resources to enhance student engagement.
• Community Building: Activities that foster a sense of community and teamwork among students.
• In-Depth Understanding: Encourages reflection on the significance of Jesus' birth and the themes of Advent.
• Visual Appeal: Beautiful decorations and posters create a festive atmosphere in the classroom.

This collection includes engaging resources that promote learning and community while celebrating the significance of the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Perfect for educators looking to enrich their curriculum, this bundle features activities and materials that cater to various learning styles and encourage creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

This Advent & Christmas Bundle is an essential addition to your holiday curriculum. Equip your students with the knowledge and understanding of these important themes while enjoying the spirit of the season!

Three great resources to teach your kids about the Nicene Creed!

1. Nicene Creed Bingo Lessons: Learn about Catholic Mass Prayers with a Fun Religious Game Why do kids love Bingo so much; they are ALWAYS excited to play! Engage your students with the Nicene Creed through an interactive Bingo game that makes learning fun. With 40 different Bingo cards, this game is perfect for large groups. Students will mark their Bingo cards as lines from the Nicene Creed are called out, making it an exciting way to reinforce their knowledge of the prayer.

• Engagement and Interaction: Bingo captures students’ attention and encourages them to actively participate.
• Improved Retention: Discussing each line of the Creed during the game enhances memory retention.
• Fostering a Positive Classroom Environment: The game encourages teamwork and social interaction, making learning a communal experience.

Download this resource today and bring a deeper understanding of the Nicene Creed to your classroom with almost no prep time needed!

2. Nicene Creed Lessons with Sorting Cards: An Interactive Bible and Prayer ActivityThese sorting cards offer a challenging yet rewarding activity for students to master the Nicene Creed. Students will put the lines of the prayer in order, look up related Bible passages, and match the meaning of the scripture to the prayer. This activity not only helps students learn the prayer but also deepens their understanding of its biblical foundations.

• Independent or Group Activity: This can be done individually or in groups, sparking rich discussions about the prayer’s meaning.
• Differentiation Options: Adjust the difficulty by sorting only the order of the prayer or using colored hints to guide students.
• Critical Thinking: The sorting activity requires students to think deeply about the connections between scripture and the Nicene Creed.

Perfect for discussion and bible skills; download and print today!

3. Nicene Creed Lesson with Council of Nicea Packet: A Comprehensive Lesson PlanThis packet includes a 4-page student packet with readings, activities, and answer keys, all designed to engage students with the Nicene Creed and the Council of Nicea. Through interactive learning and group activities, students will explore the historical and theological significance of the Creed and its role in Church history.

• Interactive Learning: Spark discussions with reading passages and worksheets focused on the Councils and an intro to your Nicene Creed lessons.
• Group Activities: Promote collaborative learning by having students analyze the Creed and present their findings.
• Comparative Analysis: Help students visualize theological differences using a table comparing Catholic and Protestant beliefs.

Incorporate this versatile resource into your Church History curriculum by downloading it today!

Teaching the Nicene Creed to Catholic students is a valuable endeavor that enhances their spiritual and intellectual growth. By using engaging resources like Nicene Creed Bingo, Sorting Cards, and the Nicene Creed and Council of Nicea Packet, educators can make this important prayer come alive in their classrooms. These tools not only make learning enjoyable but also ensure that students develop a deep and lasting understanding of their faith. Download these resources today and enrich your student’seducational journey with a deeper connection to the Nicene Creed.

•This all-inclusive unit contains everything you need to teach about Jesus' Birth and Childhood. There are graphic organizers to help understand the content, there is also a map of Israel and the Mediterranean to help students picture the locations.

•The lesson plans include a PowerPoint which contains an editable packet of work that can be completed independently, or collaboratively. Students will read the bible, summarize passages, answer comprehension questions, and complete graphic organizers about the information.

•Students will learn critical vocabulary and use problem-solving skills to think about examples and non-examples for vocabulary. Students will also reflect on and work to memorize Isaiah 9:6.

Unit Includes…

• 15-page student packet
• Rubric to grade packet
• Answer Key
• Class slides to guide students through the packet. Includes the answer keys, slides to add ideas from class brainstorming, games, and discussion questions.
• Links to Quizlet, Gimkit, and Blooket games that match the packet
• Test & Answer Key
• Vocabulary Words such as salvation, manger, Messiah, Prophecy, Advent Wreath, City of David, Nativity, and Magi.
• Word Wall with vocabulary words and definitions
• An outline of the Family Tree from Adam to Jesus.
• Advent Wreath Note Taking page and a short presentation on Advent, the Advent Wreath, and symbolism.
• Graphic Novel page and rubric

Awesome Things in the Packet

• Students will analyze the Hail Mary prayer, connect it to the bible, and rewrite the meaning in their own style.
• Students will match the people in the unit to Gifts of the Holy Spirit as a review of the people and their strengths.
• Students will match the events and locations to a map to better understand the geography of the region.
• Students will read about 4 saints and complete a graphic organizer after researching one saint. Saint Josephine Bakhita, Saint Lucy, Saint Juan Diego, Saint Agnes Lê Thi Thành.
• Students will analyze the Messianic Prophecies and compare the Prophecies to the knowledge of Jesus and John the Baptist.
• Students will use Hexagonal thinking to connect the people and vocabulary from this section.
• Students will connect information from this unit to sacraments, the Catholic Mass, the Liturgical colors, and the Gloria.

Objectives covered in the packet

• Understand, remember, and analyze translations of Isaiah 9:6 using a worksheet, verse sort, and sparkle

• Understand, remember, and analyze vocabulary for this unit by writing examples, non-examples, sentences, drawing pictures, and playing games.

• Understand the Family tree from Adam to Jesus.

• Understand, remember, and analyze the pregnancies of Mary and Elizabeth.

• Understand, remember, and analyze the births of Jesus and John the Baptist.

• Analyze the Messianic prophecies from the Old Testament and apply them to Jesus and John the Baptist.

• Remember and understand the stories of Anna and Simeon, andcreate a headline about the Messiah.

• Remember and understand the Wise Men and gifts of the Magi.

• Remember and understand the story of the boy Jesus in the Temple.

• Analyze people and places from this section and connect them with hexagonal thinking.

• Remember and understand the Passover and the connection with Jesus in the Temple.

• Understand the map of Israel during this time period.

• Remember people from the unit and evaluate a lesson learned about those people.

• CATHOLIC: Apply the information from this section to deepen an understanding of the sacraments specifically analyzing sacraments that use anointing with oils.

• CATHOLIC: Apply the information from these sections to deepen an understanding of the Mass by analyzing the Confiteor prayer by sorting, writing definitions, and praying the prayer, as well as understanding the Tabernacle’s connection to the Ark of the Covenant and Eucharistic Adoration.

• Apply the information from this section with a review.

• Apply the information from this section with a test.

Enhance your teaching of Jesus' Birth and Childhood with this comprehensive Nativity Unit, designed to provide engaging and informative lessons for your students. This all-inclusive unit contains everything you need to effectively cover the Christmas lesson plans that revolve around the story of Jesus’ birth, ensuring a deep understanding of the Nativity and its significance in the Christian faith. With well-structured lesson plans, students will embark on an exciting learning journey that integrates Advent lessons with a focus on the Nativity, providing a holistic approach to understanding the Christmas season.
To support your students’ learning, the unit includes graphic organizers that help them dissect and comprehend key content areas.

Accompanying these resources is a detailed map of Israel and the Mediterranean, allowing students to visualize the geographical context of the Nativity story. This visual aid is crucial for students to grasp the locations of significant events, deepening their understanding of the historical and spiritual journey leading to Jesus’ birth. By integrating mapping activities into your Christmas unit, you foster critical thinking and enhance spatial awareness among your students.
The lesson plans feature an interactive PowerPoint presentation that guides students through an editable packet of work.

This packet can be completed independently or collaboratively, fostering a sense of community in the classroom as students engage in discussions and group activities. They will read passages from the Bible, summarize their learnings, answer comprehension questions, and utilize graphic organizers to synthesize their understanding of the Nativity and its key figures.

This collaborative approach not only enhances comprehension but also encourages teamwork and communication skills, which are vital in any educational setting.
As part of the unit, students will also engage with essential vocabulary related to the Nativity, such as salvation, Messiah, and Advent Wreath.

The curriculum includes activities that promote vocabulary acquisition, allowing students to apply critical thinking skills as they differentiate between examples and non-examples of each term. Additionally, the unit offers opportunities for reflection and memorization, such as working with the scripture from Isaiah 9:6. This focus on both comprehension and application ensures that students are not just memorizing facts, but genuinely connecting the material to their faith and personal experiences.

Incorporating other relevant content, the unit encourages students to analyze the Hail Mary prayer, connect it to the Bible, and explore the lives of saints related to the Nativity. They will research and complete graphic organizers on saints like Saint Josephine Bakhita and Saint Lucy, allowing them to recognize the broader Christian tradition during this festive season.

By examining Messianic prophecies and connecting them to the story of Jesus and John the Baptist, students will gain a deeper appreciation of the scriptures and their relevance to the celebration of Christmas. This Nativity lesson plan is not only a vital educational resource but also a meaningful way to enrich your students' understanding of their faith and the importance of the Christmas season.

Other Lesson Plans

Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost

Confiteor Prayer from the Catholic Mass

Do your students know all the people and places of the Resurrection? This Unit is a great way for students to dig into the Word and find a deeper understanding of Easter.

•This all-inclusive unit contains everything you need to teach about Easter, Jesus’ resurrection, doubting Thomas, Ascension, Pentecost, and other appearances of Jesus that are important in the study of early Christians.

•The lesson plans include a printable and editable packet of work that can be completed independently, or collaboratively. Students will read the bible, summarize passages, answer comprehension questions, and complete graphic organizers about the information.

•Students will learn critical vocabulary and use problem-solving skills to think about examples and non-examples for resurrection, apostles, disciples, speaking in tongues, baptize, and other words. Students will also reflect on the Great Commission and work to memorize John 20:29.

•This unit uses the Bible as a textbook and students should be able to complete the packets independently if you need to use this for distance learning. The quizizz link would work as an online test.

Unit Includes…

•8-page Student Packet & Answer Key

•Memory Verse

•Vocabulary

•Bible Summary, Comprehension Questions, and Graphic Organizer

•Graphic Novel Template

•Study Guide

•30 Question Test & Answer Key

•Memory Verse Sorting Cards

•Word Wall Posters for Unit Vocabulary (Do you want to buy ONLY the Word Wall? Click here!)

•Links for online review activities at Quizlet, Quizizz, and Kahoot.

***All resources are included as PDFs and editable PowerPoint files, there is also a link to the student pack as editable google slides which can be used for distance earning.

Ideas for Easter

Easter: I Have Who Has

Easter Seek & Find Game

Christian History

This unit is a comprehensive overview of Christian History to teach the key information from 2000 years of Church history and help them understand the Church of today.

This Unit Includes PDF & PowerPoint of…

•20 page student packet full of readings and activities to engage with the information

•Test Review Page & QuizizzLink for online review

•Test with 2 versions for easy differentiation

•Answer Keys for packet and tests

•Word Wall cards to accompany the 15 vocabulary words in the packet

The Packet Contains…

• Church History Timeline
• Vocabulary (Priest, Monk, Bishop, Cardinal, Pope, Doctrine, Theology, Catholic, Protestant, Reformation, Martyr, Council, Creed, Ordain, Theses
• Vocabulary Review Worksheet
• Before Jesus reading and graphic organizer to recall previous information
• Jesus & the Apostles reading and map to recognize the impact of the Apostles’ ministry
• Jesus’ Followers reading and brainstorming activity on the titles of early Christians and the emergence of the word Catholic
• Church Hierarchy & Holy Orders reading and graphic organizer on the hierarchy of the church and the duties of deacons, priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes
• Age of Martyrs reading and reflection questions to learn about early martyrs such as Saint Perpetua, Saint Felicity, and Saint Sebastian.
• Emperor Constantine reading and reflection questions about the legalization of Christianity.
• Councils reading passage to introduce the Council of Nicea
• Nicene Creed fill-in-the-blank worksheet
• Nicene Creed worksheet where students analyze the meaning of the prayer and connect it to Catholic Doctrine and teachings
• Sacred Scripture passage and activity where students learn about Saint Jerome’s Latin Vulgate and compare English and Latin bible verses
• Review worksheet to reinforce information
• Great Schism reading and activity to analyze the difference in the Nicene Creed between the faiths
• Crusades reading and map to show students where people of different faiths live and what land was contested during the Crusades
• Religious Orders reading and an activity in which students read part of the Rule of Saint Benedict and react to each statement with an emoji
• Universities, Theology, and Philosophy reading explaining the connection of religion and education and explaining the discoveries of Copernicus and Gregor Mendel
• Protestant Reformation passage and image analyses where students make hypotheses about the parts of a printing press
• Martin Luther reading and a summary activity so students think about the meaning of some of his theses
• King Henry VIII passage about the creation of the Church of England
• Council of Trent reading and table analyzing the difference between Catholic and Protestant beliefs with the Nicene Creed.
• First and Second Vatican Council readings and reflection questions, as well as an image of the First Vatican Council to analyze the discuss
• Recent Pope Readings about Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis
• People Graphic Organizer to review the people in this unit
• Review Worksheet over the Councils, Nicene Creed, and people

•This all-inclusive unit contains everything you need to teach about the Early Church. This packet includes vocabulary, Stephen’s martyrdom, Peter’s miracles and imprisonment, Philip and the Ethiopian, Paul’s conversion, and Paul’s writings. There are graphic organizers to help understand the content, there is also a map of Israel and the Mediterranean to help students picture the locations.

•The lesson plans include a printable and editable packet of work that can be completed independently, or collaboratively. Students will read the bible, summarize passages, answer comprehension questions, and complete graphic organizers about the information.

•Students will learn critical vocabulary and use problem-solving skills to think about examples and non-examples for devout, ordain, blaspheme, repent, and other words. Students will also reflect on and work to memorize Philippians 4:6.

Unit Includes…

•11-page Student Packet & Answer Key to Print OR distribute and complete in Google Slides! Perfect for distance learning!

•Memory Verse (Philippians 4:6) and a problem-solving activity where students analyze the verse in the Greek

•Vocabulary (Martyr, devout, lame, alms, witness, repent, blaspheme, persecute, ordain, deacon, supplication)

•Bible Summary, Comprehension Questions, and Graphic Organizers

•Graphic Novel Template for students to use artwork and humor to tell the stories

•Study Guide

•Answer Key—which is also a good resource for differentiation of instruction so students can receive completed notes if needed.

•Memory Verse Sorting Cards

•30 Question Test & Answer Key: TWO different test forms for easy differentiation! One test with 4 options in the multiple-choice questions, a second test with only two options and a word bank on the verse memorization. You could also use Quizizz for a Digital Test or review.

***All resources are included as PDFs and editable PowerPoint files.

Other Lesson Plan

Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost

Confiteor Prayer from the Catholic Mass

This Resource Includes PDF & PowerPoint of…

•4 page student packet full of readings and activities to engage with the information

•Answer Keys for packet

***This is a small part of a larger Church History Unit that can be found here.

The Packet Contains…

• Councils reading passage to introduce the Council of Nicea
• Nicene Creed fill-in-the-blank worksheet
• Nicene Creed worksheet where students analyze the meaning of the prayer and connect it to Catholic Doctrine and teachings
• Council of Trent reading and table analyzing the difference between Catholic and Protestant beliefs

Ideas for Using This Resource:

• Interactive Learning: Use the reading passages and worksheets to spark interactive classroom discussions about the historical impact and theological significance of the Councils.
• Group Activities: Divide students into groups to analyze the Nicene Creed and present their findings to the class, promoting collaborative learning and deeper understanding of Catholic beliefs.
• Comparative Analysis: Utilize the table from the Council of Trent section to help students create visual charts comparing Catholic and Protestant beliefs. This visual approach can make complex theological differences more accessible and easier to understand.

Who Should Use This Resource: This resource is ideal for middle school teachers, religious education instructors, and catechists who want to provide their students with a structured and engaging way to learn about key events in Church history. It is also well-suited for homeschool parents who wish to integrate Church history into their curriculum. The clear and accessible format of both the PDF and PowerPoint makes it versatile for classroom use, group activities, or remote learning environments.

Incorporating this resource into your Church History curriculum can help students gain a solid understanding of the Councils of Nicea and Trent, the Nicene Creed, and their impact on Catholic doctrine. By using these engaging activities, you can enhance students' comprehension and appreciation of Church history, making these significant historical events more relatable and memorable.