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1 Quick Way to Get Your Lesson Started

By Deanna Bartalini

This is a quick way to get your group thinking about the topic of the day you are presenting. It can be used for any age group, kids to adults, and includes a way to turn the activity into something that can be sent home as a reminder of the topic.

Since Lent is approaching, let’s choose that as our topic and put ourselves in front of a middle school group. As they enter your room, ask them this question: When I say Lent, what words come to mind? If possible, have it written out where it can be seen.

What comes to mind?

After you have started your class in the usual manner, ask for answers to the question and write a list of all the answers. Using Lent as the topic, here’s a list: fasting, no meat, pizza, fish, stations of the cross, forty, suffering, death, pray, share, poor. Now, you can make a Word Cloud with the list of words and have it as a visual reminder of what Lent means to the group.

This idea does two important things for your group: they see that they do know something about the topic; as others give their thoughts, more come to mind – showing them the power of listening and working together.

If you make a word cloud for Lent or other topics, share it on our Facebook page! I’d love to see it.

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Read all posts by Deanna Bartalini Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: lesson opener, religious education, resources, teaching, Technology, words

About Deanna Bartalini

Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed.; M.P.A., is a certified spiritual director, speaker, and content creator. She has served in parish ministry as a religious education director, youth minister, liturgical coordinator, and stewardship director. Deanna is the founder of the LiveNotLukewarm.com online community. Her Not Lukewarm Podcast gives you tips and tools to live out your faith in your daily life.
Deanna was a regular contributor to Catechist Magazine. She writes for CatholicMom.com, Diocesan.com, WHer bible study, The Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women, Invite the Holy Spirit into your Life, published by Our Sunday Visitor, contributed to the Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion from Ave Maria Press, and Digital Ministry and Leadership in Today’s Church, published by Liturgical Press.
Deanna is available to lead retreats and speak at catechist and ministry events.

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