Mark Siolek, Coordinator of Religious and Family Life Education for the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) and CARFLEO Executive member created this post to help Ottawa area families further their children’s faith development.
With the closure of OCSB schools after March Break, you may be looking for some activities for your children to do. Here are six great religious education resources to support your child’s learning from home. They can explore these tools on their own, or with you:
1) Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ: Pearson Canada has made this excellent resource available to us during school closures. When you log in, you can access videos, stories, activities, and songs all anchored in the celebration of our Catholic faith.
- username: GIFGIC_student99
- password: Student99
2) Virtual Tour of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City: Just because we need to stay home physically doesn’t mean we can’t travel virtually! Explore the beautiful St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and witness Renaissance art and architecture and the centre of the Catholic Church.
3) The Religion Teacher: A valuable resource with many activities and lessons for Catholic Schools created by Jared Dees, author of 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator and Christ in the Classroom. During this extended time from school, he has kindly unlocked many of his resources and activities.
4) Catholic Association of Religious and Family Life Educators of Ontario: This organization creates resources, curriculum and promotes Catholic Faith and Education in Ontario and beyond. Explore their website for valuable resources.
5) Me & My House Catholic Parenting: A new resource with activities for Catholic families with an emphasis on parents and the family as the first educators and socializers of faith. Created by author and blogger Patrick Sullivan, this website provides suggestions on how to nurture the home, school, and parish relationship.
6) Praying Each Day: A comprehensive prayer resource created by the La Salle Brothers with daily prayers and prayers organized by theme. Many of the prayers make a historical connection to significant events that happened on that day in history. During challenging times, prayer can be a great source of peace, hope and comfort!
If you’ve found a resource or activity to engage your child in faith-based learning from home, we’d love to hear about it! Share what you’re learning and doing on social media using the hashtag #ocsbAtHome. [You can also send them to CARFLEO at carfleo@live.ca.
I pray that you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy. I am confident that with faith, patience, understanding, hope and prayer that we will continue to Seek Justice, Love Kindness and Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God.