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

Activity 5: Time Line

Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Religions Time Line (Workshop 1)
  • Sticky notes and fine point marker
  • World map or globe

Preparation for Activity

  • Post religions time line in the meeting space.
  • Create and set aside a sticky note saying "Judaism, 1400 BCE."

Description of Activity

Ask participants if they remember the approximate date historians believe Abraham formed the covenant with God (15th century BCE). Place the sticky note on the time line.

Point out that this is the earliest date we have for a non-indigenous faith, a religion whose birth date we can identify.

Ask participants if they remember in what part of the world Judaism was born. Point out Israel on the map. Ask where Judaism is practiced today. (Jews live all over the world, but Israel is the only Jewish nation.)