Tips for Keeping Religious Education Classes Interesting and Fun

I have been teaching 2^nd grade religious education for 8 years and here are some tips for making religious education classes interesting and fun:

Take a Real Interest in Your Students
Whatever age you are teaching, relate to your class on their level. Talk with your students as they come in and see how they are and what they have done that week. If a holiday has passed (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas) ask your children how they spent that time. Have a real conversation with their parents/guardians. Send them frequent emails with updates and just checking in. Show that you truly care about their family.

Have activities ready
For the younger grades, have some kind of project each week as they walk in the door. Coloring sheets, puzzles, mazes and themed activities that correspond with the lesson of the week or with that week’s Mass readings. For the older grades, use a journal and have a question ready each week for them to think about and share with the class.

1. Have a reward system.

For my second graders, I have index cards and they can earn stickers on their cards merely by coming prepared each week with their books and any other assignments I have given them. They also earn stickers by participating in class, helping me pass out materials and by bringing in the church bulletin from the previous Sunday. They love it! The card with the most stickers each month gets a small prize (the dollar stores are great for this). And believe me, the older grades love this as well. For them, I would suggest earning tickets (which you can also get at the dollar store) or even stickers – it’s amazing how even the teenagers love stickers!

2. Show and Tell

Show and tell in religious education? Sure! I have my class bring in any item that keeps the conversation going about God and the sacraments. Bibles, medals, rosaries and other family items are popular choices. Have a week where Show and Tell is featured and have each child talk about their items. It gets everyone involved and it breaks up the monotony of just reading out of the textbook each week.

3. Use the blackboard

In my class, one of the things my kids love is when we write on the blackboard. For us, it is a weekly prayer list in where each student gives the name of a friend, relative or other who needs our prayers that week. Pick a couple of students each week to write on the board until everyone has had a chance. Again, it engages everyone and they can’t wait until it is their turn.

4. Call on Everyone Each Week

In each class, there are children who come prepared ready to learn and participate and those who just don’t want to be there after spending all day in school. You can’t keep calling on those few who always have their hands up. In our class, I use a coffee can and wooden Popsicle sticks with the children’s names on them. I pull out the sticks randomly and call on every student each week so no one is left out. It also gives everyone a chance each class period to earn that reward that you have established.

5. Have a Class Mascot

For my 2^nd graders, the highlight each week is the choosing of who is taking the class mascot home. We have a stuffed animal lamb (which the children get to name each week) and a notebook in which the children write what they do with the lamb on their week home. There are enough class periods so each child gets 2 chances to bring the mascot home. You would be surprised how many times that mascot goes to Mass! I also bring the mascot to the special events like our class Mass times and when our class makes its First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. For the older grades, maybe something else can be taken home each week, like a special sacramental like a small statue and the same principle can apply.

6. Give Them Something to Take Home Each Week

When the class period is over, you want each student to take that message of God’s love with them. I make sure my students get something each week like a small medal or prayer card. There are many sites with special pricing on medals and prayer cards and local religious goods stores usually have a discount for catechists. It is well worth the few dollars you may spend in order to spread God’s word and keep it fresh in your student’s minds.

These are just a few things that I incorporate in my religious education classes that makes it fun and interesting not just for my class but for me. Whether you are a novice or have been teaching for decades, I hope these few tips will make your religious education experience a better one. And God bless you all that have answered this most important call.

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."