A big "Snow Event" is predicted for northeast Ohio and many other areas of the U.S. for this weekend. Due to this, some events are being rescheduled, changed or canceled. As I heard one teen wonder out loud, "Great, what am I going to do now?" I immediately began thinking of a myriad of options... some outdoors, some indoors. I realized as I started listing ideas off in my head that this officially makes me an 'older' adult, but then I thought, a. if you are a teen really looking for ideas, then here you go.... or b. if you are a fellow adult who feels the same but would like to have a place to direct your kids attention without it looking like you are the cranky one listing off options, here you go: 30 Snow Ideas for Teens/Families: 1. Read a book* 2. Clean your room 3. Offer to shovel snow for neighbors (after your own driveway and sidewalk, of course) 4. Build a snowperson or two, or even snow animals 5. Make snow angels 6. Go ice-skating 7. Go sledding (and maybe take your little siblings with you) 8. Build a snow fort 9. Have a snow ball fight 10. (If permitted where you live and with supervision) have a bonfire (if you have dry wood stored somewhere) 11. Learn to make a new craft using YouTube videos 12. Cook a meal 13. Bake 14. Play a board game 15. Exercise or dance 16. Do your homework 17. Write thank you cards, Valentines cards, etc. 18. Create a snow day play list of music 19. Do mani-pedis, a facial or other spa treatment 20. Go on a winter hike 21. Catch snowflakes on your tongue 22. Build a house of cards 23. Watch a movie* 24. Color (yes, with crayons or pencils) 25. Pull up a karaoke app and start singing! 26. Play tic-tac-snow (draw the board in the snow, use sticks and rocks as your Xs and Os) 27. Stick the Nose on the Snowman (like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, but playing a carrot on a snow man as blindfolded) 28. Make bird feeders like you used to at camp or on kindergarten (peanut butter on pinecones, sprinkled with birdseed, tie with yarn or string and hang out on a tree) 29. Look for critter-prints ( you know, pawprints from animals and identify the animals) 30. Snow-painting (fill squeeze containers or spray bottles with water and food coloring, mix, then head outside to "paint") If you are still board after all of these ideas, then take a nap, watch TV or play video games! OR share more ideas in the comment section below! In any event, I hope you have some fun and take time to enjoy winter. (I'll likely be sipping on some hot chocolate by the fireplace!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Since I am posting this during the March For Life and as we enter the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, can I suggest looking for books and movies related to Respect for All Life and equal rights? A few that come to mind include: ~ A Raisin in the Sun ~ Mississippi Burning ~ Selma ~ To Kill a Mockingbird ~ Gandhi ~ The Butler ~ The Long Walk Home ~ The Rosa Parks Story ~ Bella ~ Gattaca ~ Hotel Rwanda What other books and movies follow these themes? You can also join in the final days of the 9 Days for Life Prayer initiative at: www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm
1 Comment
Most youth ministers and high school catechists discovered years ago that teens learn better by Doing and so have gotten very creative in ways to help youth apply learnings, but we often still have time for lecturing by the adult. A few of us have moved to sending articles/chapters/booklets home to read or video links to view prior to meeting for class or session, adapting the teaching method of "flipped classroom" into religious education. (You can learn more about this below.) This is a great way to assure there is time to respond to questions and encourage discussion (so long as the students actually do the preparation and if all the youth have access to the media needed!) I like this explanation of Jigsaw Learning as a way of perhaps using some Flipped Model, but giving another way for the youth to dive into the content. I think many of us have used this method in concept, but perhaps not with as much organization as this video describes: This video lays out a game plan clearly. I really like the "expert group" portion where teens help each other understand the concepts (with adult advisors assisting when needed.) Then when the teens take the extra step to TEACH, we know they learn better. Albert Einstein once said: “I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” Can you see how the Jigsaw can provide conditions to learn? I can envision a few ways to use this: a. using The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, dividing up sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church or selecting by topic, such as: Creed... Prayer... Parts of the Mass... Gifts of the Holy Spirit… Fruits of the Holy Spirit… Types of Books in the Bible.... The 7 Sacraments... what other topics jump out for you to consider using Jigsaw? b. having the above or YouCats for teens to look up topics that apply to the textbook you may be using for religious class c. if using the Phlaum Weeklies, divide up sections, making sure teens have access to the teaching guide and supplementary booklets as well as Bibles and other resources to allow them to expand the information d. even on a retreat, set aside some time for learning sessions on the theme of the retreat. e. prior to a service/mission activity, cover Catholic Social Teachings or elements of the service project as connected to our faith. What other ideas come to mind? -------------------------------- Reflection (feel free to share your responses as a Comment below)
Thanks for all you do to pass on the faith to the next generation. We must ensure that young people are well equipped for their special mission in the world. -Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry Quick overview of a Flipped Class:Example of watching a Flipped Classroom“Those who know, do.
Those that understand, teach.” ― Aristotle Have you Had a Leadership Wellness |
Details
*** Note: The Office Blog is now inactive, but posted for continued reference as needed (6/30/21) ***Cindee Case, MPSFormer Director of the Diocese of Youngstown Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (2/2002 - 6/2021) Archives
July 2021
Categories
All
|