8th Grade Religion Handouts

Students will choose one of the following pages of scripture and create blackout poetry. They will select words to create a phrase that will be featured as their poetry. After creating the poem, they will color the rest of the page, leaving only the key phrases uncovered.

Students can create traditional blackout poetry and use a black marker to cover the rest of the page. They could also choose to draw a picture of the passion or resurrection over the words to convey more meaning.

The pages all contain words from Matthew 26 and 27 which tell about Jesus’ passion and death. There are different fonts available to give the students more choice in their assignment.

When I assign this project, I ask the students to use these sad words to create a positive poem, reflecting the glory of the resurrection, and then draw a resurrection image over the words. This helps the students reflect on the sadness of Jesus’ death, but also to focus on the purpose of His sacrifice and the goodness and grace that came from His death.

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Assignment Description

Rubric

34 Pages for Blackout Poetry

This activity is a great introduction or follow-up to my Lent Bundle of games, guided notes, PowerPoint, and a test. I love to use this toward the end of the unit so students can reflect on the deeper meaning of all the content that we’ve been covering.

Objective: Reflect on the words of scripture and create a poem and artwork to communicate some of the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Choose a page of words from Matthew 26 & 27.

Create a poem by selecting words from throughout the page. Most poems will be about 10-20 words long. The poem does not need to rhyme—it will be free form poetry.

Feature the words of your poem so the reader will read your poem, but not the rest of the words on the page. You can leave your selected words blank, draw a box around each word, or color your poem in one color and color the rest of the page with other colors.

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Cover the rest of the page with color. You could draw a picture covering the page, or ‘blackout’ all the other words on the page by neatly coloring the entire page with one color.

Additional Ideas for Lent Blackout Poetry:

1. Collaborative Projects: Encourage students to work collaboratively to create blackout poetry on larger sheets of paper, combining multiple pages of scripture. This promotes teamwork, discussion, and a collective interpretation of the text.
2. Multimedia Elements: Integrate technology by having students use digital tools to create blackout poetry. They can use graphic design software, apps, or even incorporate audio elements to enhance their artistic expression.
3. Reflection Journals: Pair the blackout poetry activity with reflective writing. Ask students to journal about their choice of words, the process of creating their poem, and the emotions they experienced during the activity. This helps deepen their personal connection to the scripture.
4. Gallery Walk: Organize a gallery walk where students showcase their blackout poetry. This provides an opportunity for the entire class to appreciate and interpret the diverse perspectives and creative expressions of their peers.
5. Cross-Curricular Connections: Connect the blackout poetry activity to other subjects, such as history or theology. Discuss the historical context of the scriptures or explore theological concepts related to Jesus' sacrifice, making it a more interdisciplinary learning experience.

Benefits of Lent Blackout Poetry:

1. Critical Thinking: Analyzing and selecting words for blackout poetry requires careful consideration and critical thinking. Students must delve into the scripture, discerning which words carry the most significant meaning for their intended positive message.
2. Artistic Expression: This activity allows students to express themselves artistically, whether through traditional blackout methods or by incorporating drawings and images related to the passion and resurrection. It caters to various learning styles.
3. Spiritual Reflection: Lent is a time for introspection and spiritual growth. The blackout poetry project provides students with a unique opportunity to connect emotionally and spiritually with the scriptures, fostering a deeper understanding of the Easter narrative.
4. Creativity: The open-ended nature of blackout poetry encourages creativity. Students can experiment with different fonts, colors, and artistic elements, making each creation a unique representation of their interpretation.
5. Integration of Technology: By incorporating digital tools, students gain valuable skills in technology and design while adapting a traditional concept to the modern classroom.

By expanding on the traditional blackout poetry approach, educators can elevate the impact of Lent blackout poetry, fostering a richer and more engaging learning experience for students.

If you're not ready for the Lent Bundle--check out these resources.

➳I have...who has...: Reinforce Lenten vocabulary and trivia.

➳Sort the Lent Events: A fun sequencing game to learn the events of Holy Week.

Visit Catholic Kids Bulletin each month for more Bulletins!

Shine a Light this Fall Season! Pass out these Candy Grams on or with your choice of Candy. You could also pass out to your friends and neighbors as you receive candy. Print, Cut out and use to tell others about God’s Love!

This was inspired by my Bible Lesson: Shine Your Light for Jesus!