I am looking for ways to make my 7th grade class exciting - learning activities and lessons that draw them deeper and closer and have value.....

It seems that our students aren't fired up about being in class on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 8:45. I see a great deal of apathy, acting out in behaviors they wouldn't exhibit in a regular school setting. I want to find ways to engage them. I have found that the more I am planned with a great activity that makes them think, gets them excited about their faith, and involves them (versus just a plain old lesson plan that seems boring, preachy, and so "un-cool") makes both my night and theirs rewarding and time spent well.

Find various activities (crafts, worksheets, games, puzzles, etc.) that go with your lesson. Review the objectives of your lesson to determine if the activity is appropriate for your students. Remember that the activities must relate to the lesson. Only do crafts, games, and activities that emphasize the lesson and the objectives of what you want your students to learn. These activities make your lessons more concrete and easier for the students to understand and also a lot of fun. Keeping the students busy with relevant activities also helps eliminate discipline problems that might erupt due to the students being bored.

What is the topic/subject for your next lesson? Maybe we can come up with a few activities for you.

Have you checked out http://www.catechistsjourney.org? It is a blog written by a Jr. High catechist his ideas are often very helpful.
One thing I might humbly suggest it talking to the DRE about changing the time of class. 7:30 to 8:45 is quite late even for highschoolers. On one hand you will get the arguement that they're up that late anyway but they're not open to being engaged at that time. A few years ago we had our highschool classes from 7:15 to 8:30 and had complaints from the highschoolers of all people saying that they were having a hard time concentrating because of the time of day. We changed the time of day to better accomodate their natural schedules. I know kids have alot happening after school but think about it most have been in school since 7:30 or 8 you're getting them at the end of a 12 hr day filled with all kinds of age appropriate work ie. school work negotiating relationships with friends and family etc. It is no surprise that they're distracted and unwilling to really engage.
Peace
Maura

Faith formation of junior high youth really needs some of the elements of youth ministry. It is more than just catechesis, but includes those other elements from Renewing the Vision: advocacy, community life, evangelization, justice and service, leadership development, pastoral care, and prayer and worship. Take a look at http://www.usccb.org/laity/youth/rtvcontents.shtml for the document. Anyone working with junior high kids should at least be aware of it.

I urge you to look beyond providing "classroom activities" - to helping the kids form community, feel like they make a difference, and become engaged in the Mass. If you have a parish youth minister, he or she should be able to help with ideas.

I toatlly agree with Joyce!

My 6th grade class runs from 6:30-7:30 and we have the lassitude problem as well. I tend to ask lots of questions of the kids as part of covering the class material as a way to maintain energy and participation, like this:

Hey, y'all, where in the Bible have you heard this line before: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?" No takers.....who's the Lamb of God? Jesus! So whoever is talking, is talking about...? Jesus? Yes, in fact the speaker may have been pointing right at Jesus.

So....who was the speaker? Peter? Mmm, a good guess, but no. This person was Jesus's cousin......was a little bit older.......Mary went to visit his mom when they were both pregnant......we call that visit the.....Visitation! Yes! And Mary's older cousin was....? Elizabeth! Yes again, honorary sons & daughters. And who was Elizabeth pregnant with, the baby that jumped inside her? Oh, John the Baptist! Yes, John the Baptist. John said that line to Jesus when He came to be Baptized. By the way, what did John eat in the desert? Bugs! Mmmm, tasty when dipped in honey!

That's from part of our Mass discussion, some of which is here:

http://platytera.blogspot.com/2009/05/m ... -mass.html

Thanks for reminding us of an important fact about working with middle school students: we can't just talk at them or expect to keep them engaged if we spend the entire time reading from a text book! They love to talk, so let's use that to our advantage

A few years ago I quit reading from the textbook at all during class. I tell my kids I don't care if they even bring their books to class or not. Their books tend to distract them.

I do care that they read the chapter before they come to class (some of them do), and thus informed, be ready to think and participate in discussion.