Historical Books of the Bible
Prepared by Elaine Cooney
- Lesson Overview
- Lesson Details
This is one of the most popular units of the year for most students. We use the Breakthrough Bible extensively, and use the DVD of music from The Story by Nichole Nordeman to reveal what these stories mean to us. A worksheet of directions and progress checking is given. (attached). Should be able to cover two historical books/day. After copying the "headlines" explain the story headlines in narrative form. Follow this by playing the track that goes with the book. For example, after talking about Joshua and the Walls of Jericho, watch the Music DVD "Take Me Home" (Joshua) , and have students make notes on their prayer cards about the main message of the song. They absolutely love these and the music DVD is amazing!
Subject area(s): Religion, Sacred Scripture Grade Level: High School, Middle School Resource Type: Close Reading/Reflection,
Game/Contest/Activity, Video
Special Learners
This resource was developed with the following special learners in mind:
Traditional Classroom
Standards Connection
The teacher who prepared this lesson determined that this lesson meets the following standards:
After all the cards are completed, we play charades. I pull a random headline out of a box, and two students are responsible for acting out that headline without using words. The rest of the class tries to guess (using their own cards for reference) which headline is being acted, what characters are involved, and what book of the Bible the story comes from. At the end of the unit, students get into groups, and write a group prayer in T.R.I.P. format (Thanksgiving, Repentance, Invitation (or Intercession) and Praise). Each line of their prayer must mention one significant character or a historical book of the Bible. For instance: "Thank you God for giving each of us courage, just like you gave David courage to face Goliath." ccss.ela-literacy.rl.8.1
The author of this lesson shared it with other educators within the Sophia Institute for Teachers Catholic Curriculum Exchange. Find more resources
and share your own at https://www.SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org.
Lesson Plan
Historical Books Unit
Use one 3 X 5 card for each historical book. Write the name of the book at the top of each card. Copy the headlines below on your card. Take notes from the interview pages and Study It! and Live it! sections assigned. Label one 3 X 5 card “Prayer Card”. Take words or phrases from the Pray It! sections listed that you feel are significant. You will be combining these at the end of the study into a prayer in T.R.I.P. format.
Joshua
Introduction/Summary to Book of Joshua pg. 248
- _________
- Headlines pg. 248
Rahab Rescues Spies on the Roof! (2:1-24) The Walls Come Tumbling Down (5:13-6:27) People Vow to Serve the Lord (24:14-18)
- Interview with Joshua (after pg. 556)
- _________
_________
_________
Following God’s Will pg. 254 Whose Power Won? pg. 256
- Courage pg. 259
- Prayer card ________
- Prayer card ________
- Remembering God’s Goodness
Judges
Introduction/Summary to Book of Judges pg. 283
- Headlines pg. 283
- ________
Woman Murders Sleeping General (4:12-24) Gideon Looks for a Sign (6:36-40)
The author of this lesson shared it with other educators within the Sophia Institute for Teachers Catholic Curriculum Exchange. Find more resources
and share your own at https://www.SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org.
Bad Haircut Leads to Blindness (16:1-22)
- Interview with Deborah (after pg. 556)
- ________
________
________
A Brave and Wise Woman pg. 286 Interview with Gideon (after pg. 556)
Prayer of a Humble Leader pg. 298 Interview with Samson (after pg. 556)
Samson in trouble pg. 306 _________
Prayer in Despair pg. 310
Prayer card _______
_________
Prayer Card ________
Ruth
Introduction/Summary to Book of Ruth pg. 319
Headlines pg. 319
_________
Desperate Widow Sends Sons’ Wives Away! (1:1-14) Faithful Daughter-in-law Refuses to Leave (1:16-22) Boaz Takes Off Sandal, Seals Deal! (4:1-12)
Interview with Ruth (after pg. 556) When Bad Things Happen Pg. 320 Marriage Then and Now pg. 324
_________
_________
_________
Catholic Connections Pg. 322
Introduction/Summary to 1 Samuel
Prayer Card __________
1 Samuel
- Headlines pg. 326
- _________
Sleeping Boy is Awakened by Voice (3:1-19) Saul Is Chosen as First King (10:17-27)
The author of this lesson shared it with other educators within the Sophia Institute for Teachers Catholic Curriculum Exchange. Find more resources
and share your own at https://www.SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org.
Shepherd Boy Is Anointed Next King (16:1-13) Giant Slain with a Slingshot (17:41-54)
Interview with Samuel (after pg. 556)
I’m Praying Really! Pg. 327
_________
Prayer Card ________
- _________
- Being Anointed pg. 340
- The Heart of the Matter pg. 349
- _________
Interview with Saul (after pg. 556) The Jealousy Monster pg. 356
A Tragic End pg. 371
__________
Prayer Card ________
__________
2 Samuel
Introduction/Summary to 2 Samuel
- 2 Samuel Headlines pg. 372
- __________
Sex Scandal in the Palace (chapter 11) Prophet Uncovers Crime, King Repents (chapter 12)
Interview with David (after pg. 812)
Facing the Truth pg. 386
__________
Prayer Card _______
1 Kings
Introduction/Summary to 1 Kings pg. 411
- Headlines pg. 411
- __________
King Orders Baby Cut in Two! (3:16-28) Temple Construction Begins (6:1-14) Northern Tribes Revolt, Kingdom Splits (12:1-20)
- Interview with King Solomon (after pg. 812)
- _________
The author of this lesson shared it with other educators within the Sophia Institute for Teachers Catholic Curriculum Exchange. Find more resources
and share your own at https://www.SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org.
- Old and New pg. 424
- ___________
___________
Prayer Card ___________
Too Many Gods . . .or Wives? Pg. 431 Not a Perfect Person pg. 417
2 Kings
Introduction/Summary to 2 Kings pg. 452 Headlines pg. 452 Assyrians Conquer Samaria (Israel) (17:5-12) Jerusalem and the Temple Destroyed (25:1-17)
- Monkey See Monkey Do
- pg. 487
- Prayer Card __________
1 Chronicles Introduction/Summary to 1 Chronicles pg. 495 2 Chronicles Introduction/Summary to 2 Chronicles pg. 527 Ezra & Nehemiah Introduction/Summary to Ezra & Nehemiah pg. 556
Headlines pg. 556 Jewish Exiles Free After Fifty Years (Ezra 1:1-10) Interview with Ezra and Nehemiah (after pg. 1260) __________ Keep Trying! Pg. 571
___________
_________
Big Deal, a Wall! Pg. 583
_________
Tobit Introduction/Summary to Book of Tobit pg. 602
Headlines pg. 602 Tobit Risks Life to Bury the Dead (1:16-20) Bird Droppings Cause Blindness! (2:9-10) Undercover Angel Travels with Tobias (5:4-9) Blind Tobit Is Healed! (11:10-15)
_________
_________
_________
_________
The author of this lesson shared it with other educators within the Sophia Institute for Teachers Catholic Curriculum Exchange. Find more resources
and share your own at https://www.SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org.
- Praying for Death? Pg. 606
- Prayer Card __________
Judith Introduction/Summary to Book of Judith pg. 619
Headlines pg. 619 Judith Assassinates General, People Saved (13:1-11) __________ Interview with Judith (after pg. 1260)
Esther Introduction/Summary to Book of Esther pg. 637
The Courage of a Queen pg. 646
_________
___________
- ___________
- Saving the Jews pg. 651
Interview with Esther (after pg. 1260)
1 Maccabees Introduction/Summary to 1 Maccabees pg. 656
- The Temple is Purified (4:36-59)
- _________
2 Maccabees Introduction/Summary to 2 Maccabees pg. 690 ________
Headlines pg. 690 Martyrs Tortured and Die for Faith (chapter 7) Is God Violent? Pg. 709
_________
Prayer Card _________
The author of this lesson shared it with other educators within the Sophia Institute for Teachers Catholic Curriculum Exchange. Find more resources
and share your own at https://www.SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org.