Use this lesson plan to introduce students to the Bible, it’s major parts, but most importantly how to read it.
Bible Lesson Objectives
- SWBAT (Students will be able to) explain who wrote the Bible.
- SWBAT explain the major differences between the Old Testament and New Testament.
- SWF (Students Will Feel) interested in opening the Bible at home on their own.
Bible Lesson Activities
Hook
Bring in one of your own bibles from home. Tell the story of where you got this bible and what it has meant to use personally to read from it. Ask students to identify if and where they have bibles at home. Encourage them to find one of their bibles at home and look through it this week.
(Read more about lesson hooks here.)
Present: Introduction to the Bible and Sacred Scripture Videos
I’ve created a number of videos to help introduce your students to the Bible. In your introduction to the Bible lesson, share one or all of these videos to highlight some important points:
- Bible means “books” because the Bible is a collection of many books, not just one book.
- The Bible is divided into two parts: Old Testament and New Testament.
- “Testament” refers to the two covenants in the Bible: one with the Moses and the People of Israel in the Old Testament and one through Jesus and the Church in the New Testament.
Here are the videos:
The Meaning of Bible and Scripture Video
Who wrote the Bible? Video
The Meaning of Divine Revelation Video
The Meaning of Testament Video
Present: How to Find Books in the Bible
Help students navigate the Bible by explaining the meaning of the numbers in a Bible verse:
[Book] Chapter:Verse
Show them where to find the Table of Contents in their class bibles and ask them to practice finding Bible verses using the TOC to find the book, then the headings at the top of each page to find the chapter, and finally the small numbers to find the verse.
Practice: Bible Scavenger Hunt
You can create your own list of Bible verses for students to find or use this Bible Scavenger Hunt Worksheet for students to practice finding passages in the Bible.
You can also download and use the Bible Scavenger Hunt Worksheet I created to use at the beginning of each year here:
(Find this and other Bible Worksheets here.)
Activity: Meditating on Bible Passages
Saint Augustine had a conversion experience through reading the Bible. He heard the words “Take up and read” one day. Following the voice, he found a bible and opened up to a passage randomly and started to read. The passage read: “Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Rom 13:14). (Actually it included verse 13 as well, but focusing on only verse 14 proves the point without getting into the details of the previous verse.)
Saint Augustine considered this to be God speaking directly to him. He immediately took these words to heart and dedicated his life to serving the Lord. He was baptized shortly after this experience and became a full Catholic.
Invite students to experience the same kind of encounter with Christ through Sacred Scripture.
Give them bibles and invite them to turn randomly to a page and close their eyes to point to a verse. (Make sure they open to a page that has actual biblical text and not introductory material. I would also suggest focusing on the New Testament to avoid pages from books like Leviticus, which are less relatable.)
Post these questions on the board as a mini-Lectio Divina:
- What is this verse about?
- What is God saying to me through this verse?
- What can I say in prayer as a response?
You can also take some time to introduce students to all of the steps of Lectio Divina and practice the process with this verse. (Read more about Lectio Divina here.)
Prayer: A Blessing on the Bibles
Ask the students to hold up the copies of the class bibles and raise your hand in a form of blessing. Pray words such as these:
Lord God,
You have given us a great gift in your Sacred Word.
Bless each one of the bibles in the hands of my students.
May you inspire their hearts and speak to their minds through the words that they contain.
We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.
Assessment: Testament Exit Card
Give students blank two-sided notecards. Have then label each side Old Testament and New Testament. Along the side, have them draw a pencil, stick figure, and a building. Next to each drawing, answer the following question:
✏️ Who wrote the books in this Testament?
(Answers should include God, but also will vary including Moses, Prophets, Priests for the Old Testament / Evangelists, St. Paul, St. Peter, St. James, etc. for the New Testament)
🧍♂️ Through whom did God make his covenant? (Moses / Jesus)
⛪️ With whom did God make his covenant? (Israel / Church)
