Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Spiritual Works of Mercy Teaching Tools

The Spiritual Works of Mercy give us direction for how to care for the spiritual needs of people around us.  This great article offers inspiration to see living out these works of mercy beyond the basics.  I've created a few teaching tools to help us teach kids about the Spiritual Works of Mercy, and hope that they spark discussion about how we all (those kids included) can find ways to serve Christ and his people in these seven ways.


Click here for a coloring page of the seven Spiritual Works of Mercy:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ETRkL51fhMVmNmeU9qQ1VKbG8/view?usp=sharing

Click here for an eight page mini book of the Spiritual Works of Mercy with a simple image and label:
(print two sided, cut horizontally, stack, fold vertically, staple on fold for an 8 page 5.5"x 4.25" mini book)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ETRkL51fhMQ1NQTnFpMHc4X0U/view?usp=sharing
This version of the mini book has enough room that kids could write a practical way that they can live out these Works of Mercy.  For example on the "forgive offenses willingly" page, kids could list things like "be nice to my brother" and "take turns during recess."  For the "pray for the living and the dead" page, kids could like things like "light a candle at church for my relatives that have passed away" and "say an Our Father for each of my friends."  Thinking outside of the box can help kids see that they too can help fulfill Jesus' call to Christians to care for each other as if they were caring for Him.


Click here for an eight page mini book of the Spiritual Works of Mercy with a simple image, label, and a Scripture verse or two:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ETRkL51fhMVklOMzBrLUc5aVE/view?usp=sharing

 And go back to this post to get the same resources for the Corporal Works of Mercy.

24 comments:

  1. Thank you for the great printouts. I teach third grade CCD and guided by Pope Francis, Mercy is our theme this year. God bless you.

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    1. That is so great! We are using it as our theme too! Make sure you check out all of the other resources I have for the Year of Mercy: Year of Mercy Resources

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  2. I'm a brand new catechist for a group of Confirmation candidates, and some of my kids have asked for things to color.
    These are perfect: just what I was hoping to find.
    Thank you so much!

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  3. Is this supposed to be a foldable book? Is it suppose to print on only one page?

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    1. Hi Karen! There are three different file links on this page- a coloring page, and two different mini books. If you would like to print one of the mini books to use, click on the image of the one you want, and it should open up as a two page file. Print both of those pages. It was designed to be copied back-to-front, but could work single sided. Then, cut the page in half horizontally. Stack the pieces on top of each other and fold in half vertically (making sure that the cover "Spiritual Works of Mercy" is on top. Order doesn't matter other than that.) Does that make sense/help? Please let me know if you still have trouble. Thanks!

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  4. Katie, just love what you shared. Wonderful way to teach kids about the Year of Mercy. God bless!

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  5. thank you for sharing so willing! teachers giving free resources to one another, benefits our students so much!!!

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  6. Katie Anne, These Works of Mercy crafts and coloring pages, booklets, etc. are fantastic. I am helping the Missionaries of Charity with a summer camp and family day for kids in my area, and needed Mercy crafts and closing pages specifically. Everything you have here is just awesome!!! Thank you for sharing these!!! --Jill

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    1. I'm so glad they've been helpful!!!

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    2. Whoops, I meant coloring pages, not closing pages. And yes they have been helpful, thank you!!!

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  7. I remember seeing (somewhere) the Works of Mercy with pictures of each down the left side of the paper, and examples on the right-hand side for each one with little check-boxes next to each one for students to check off if/when they did those activities. Was this something you had? I can't find it on your blog. I DO absolutely love your Works of Mercy materials!

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    1. Yes! Here's the link for those pages: http://looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com/2016/02/from-kids-for-kids-practical-ideas-for.html?m=1. (Sorry it's not a hyperlink- you'll have to cut and paste into your browser. ). Thanks so much!

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    2. YES!!! Thank you SO much! I'll be using these with my 3rd graders this week. You just made my week a whole bunch easier! God bless!

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    3. Happy to help, Betty :). Hope your 3rd graders love it!

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  8. THIS IS SOOOO CUTE!! Thank you so much for putting this together and for sharing this with everyone free of charge. We all are super thankful. Cant thank you enough. Its too cute

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  9. I'm so grateful for your wonderful resources!! Perfect for a busy catechist that wants to make class fun for the kiddos. Thanks so much for sharing everything, this is truly a gift!

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  10. So excited to find your site. We will be talking about corporal works of mercy at VBS.
    Thank you for sharing

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  11. Thank you so much, Katie! I echo all the thanks already mentioned and am grateful to have found your site. I'm excited for my 2nd graders! This was seriously a God-send.

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