Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Building Bridges: A World Religions Program for 8th-9th Grades

Alternate Activity 1: Date That Faith

Part of Building Bridges, Grades 8-9: A World Religions Program

Activity time: 15 minutes

Materials for Activity

Preparation for Activity

  • Make two copies of Leader Resource 2, Chart of Religions. Set aside one copy (your answer key). Use the other copy to cut out the names of each religion so each is on a separate slip of paper.
  • Create a time line on the floor with masking tape. Mark one end "pre-history" and the other with the current year.

Description of Activity

An active game tests participants' knowledge of religions and graphically represents a chronology of world religions on a time line.

Hand out slips of paper so each participant holds the name of a religion. Ask the youth to line themselves up in the order they think the religions came into being. Point out that the time line begins before documented time and ends at today.

Once the line has stabilized, read the dates from Leader Resource 2 of the formation of each religion, and let the youth reorient themselves.

Ask participants what surprises them.

Including All Participants

Make sure there is plenty of open space around the time line so it is accessible to all participants. Partner a youth with mobility limitations with a peer or a co-facilitator who can assist them.