With All Saints' Day fast approaching, there is no better time to get some new ideas for teaching about the saints. Teaching about the saints doesn't have to just be reserved for November 1st. Saints studies are perfect all year long, and now more than ever they are accessible for younger students too through books, videos and hands-on learning activities. I've rounded up some ideas for ways that you can add more to your saint studies with your students or even your own children.
Catholic Saints Banners
Catholic Saints Interactive Notebook
Catholic Saints Interactive Notebooks are a way to learn basic facts about different saints in an easy and hands on way. These can be made into trading cards, flipbooks, notebooks and more. Each saint has a few basic facts plus feast day, what they are the patron of, and the virtue associated with him/her. There are also posters that can be displayed around the room.
Catholic Saints Coloring Books
Coloring books are a great way for students to learn basic facts about each saint. For the included saints, there is a short section about his/her life, virtue, feast day and what he/she is the patron of. Pick the saints you want to study and bind them into a coloring book. There is a free sample of this if you want to try it out - click the link below.
Catholic Saints Videos
Sometimes you just need a video to engage your students who are growing up in a media dominated society. This blog post includes 10 videos about saints (mostly cartoons) that would help teach about the life of the saint to your students.
Another great source of animated saints videos is Christian Kids TV - Stories of Saints for Kids. You can find them on YouTube and on Amazon Prime.
Catholic Saints Read Alouds
I found this Catholic series of chapter books and fell in love. Not only is it awesome to have a Catholic chapter book that is fun and modern and completely relatable to kids, but it also focuses on different saints in each book. Students get to travel back in time as they read (or listen along) to meet and walk in the footsteps of a saint. I've reviewed 2 books in the series on my blog, but there are several others in the series, too.
Catholic Saints Bingo
Make learning about the saints even more fun with games!! I have a Catholic Saint Bingo and 2 different versions of Bingo Jr (ideal for younger students) that include all different saints. This is the perfect game for your All Saints' Day celebrations and comes in a bundle or individually.
Catholic Saints Books
Reading books are a great way to share the stories of the saints. In this book round up, I found books that taught about multiple saints in short, easy to understand formats.
Catholic Saint Tags
I love giving out saint tags to my students as we learn about a new saint during our religious education class. Each tag has a picture, the feast day, patronage and virtue. These are perfect if you use reward tags (brag tags) or if you just want to start a collection on a necklace or keychain of saints you study during the year.
Catholic Saint Games
Another great way to teach children about the saints is through technology. I love the app, Little Saint Adventures. Now this game isn't strictly about the saints. It is about the Bible, Jesus, Catholicism, etc. but it includes different saints throughout it that children get to know better. My girls love playing this and even play it over and over now that they've completed all the levels.
Saint Matching Cards
I love matching cards because there are so many different ways you can use them and these saint versions are no exception. They can be turned into flashcards or trading cards by putting the description on the back of the picture. Or you can use them for games like memory or go fish. Try out the FREE SAMPLE of these matching cards.
Catholic Saint Podcast
This was such a fun find. The creators of Shining Light Dolls, have a podcast where they record short kid friendly episodes all about the saints. Each podcast focuses on one saint including popular saints and some of the lesser known saints. The episodes are usually between 5 and 8 minutes, so a quick listen. You can find the podcast by searching Saint Stories for Kids on your favorite podcast app.
Catholic Saint Research Projects
Having students research a specific saint is perfect anytime of year, but for sure in time for All Saints' Day. I have two options for researching and writing reports.
First up is the trifold saint report. This includes 78 saints plus an editable page to include other saints. Students write the information they learned during their research to make this fun brochure to teach others about their favorite saint.
Another option for research is to use a style similar to the brochure. But in this version, students will create their own saint and can staple the report behind the saint. Then the saint reports can be displayed as a bulletin board. The words are also included.
Catholic Saint Mega Bundle
Can't get enough Catholic Saints resources to teach your students about our friends, the saints? I'm right there with you! That's why I created the Catholic Saint MEGA Bundle. It includes every saint product I've created and I continue to add to it as I create new products. The price increases each time, so grab it now and be guaranteed all of my future saint products for free.
All Saints' Day Party Pack
Ready to simplify your All Saints' Day celebration? I've got the perfect pack for you. I designed this with my own kids in mind. I like celebrating, but I often want simple and easy so that I'm not overwhelmed. That's exactly what is included in this party pack - simple, easy, print and go activities to make decorating and celebrating simple. It also comes with different levels of activities, perfect for siblings or students with different ability levels in the same class.
What's included:
- Cupcake Toppers (color & black/white)
- Treat Bag Toppers (color & black/white)
- Banner (color & black/white)
- Crown
- Read & Write the Room
- Who Am I Task Cards
- Word search
- I Want to Be...