Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Riddle and Mystery: A Program on the Big Questions for Grade 6

Alternate Activity 6: Another WIT Time - About Death

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Handout 2, What I Think
  • Paper, envelopes that can be sealed and pens/pencils for all participants

Preparation for Activity

  • Copy Handout 2 for all participants.

Description of Activity

If you have time, use this activity at the end of this session.

Tell the youth you will distribute a handout to help them record their own ideas about death and the ideas covered in the session. Assure them they are not expected to share their answers. In fact, you will give each youth a sealable envelope so they can keep their ideas private. However, note that they may not wish to keep their ideas private. Many people find that talking with others about death can be very helpful.

Distribute the handouts, envelopes and pens/pencils. Suggest that youth begin by writing their name on their envelope. Tell them they need not hurry; they can take the page with them to complete later if they wish.

Give the group at least five minutes of quiet writing time. When they are done, suggest they may wish to put their envelopes away in a special place so they can find them and read them at a later time-maybe years later-to see how their ideas may have changed.

If you have time, ask if anyone wishes to share any answers. Were they comfortable thinking about death as they considered their answers? Did they find any of the questions especially interesting or challenging to answer? Which ones, and why?

Including All Participants

If some members of the group struggle with reading and writing, read the questions aloud and then give the group time to write their answers.