Eucharistic Miracles and Bl. Carlo Acutis

***Update- All files now updated to SAINT Carlo to celebrate his canonization on 4/27/25!

Find new resources, like coloring page, an info page with short bio, and crossword puzzle here.

My students are a bit obsessed with Bl. Carlo Acutis, and understandably so! He died in 2006 at the age of 15 due to leukemia. He wore Nikes, made silly videos of his dogs, loved soccer, played video games, and taught himself computer programming. He also attended Mass daily, set prudent limits on his use of technology, and deeply wanted others to know and love Jesus. (This video is a great introduction to his life!)

Carlo was convinced that one way he could help others come to believe in Jesus was through Eucharistic Miracles. Amazing incidents that give visible evidence of the usually invisible truth of Jesus' Body and Blood Truly Present in the Eucharist, these miracles have been happening all over the world for centuries. Carlo worked to catalogue and document the miracles and created a website to share them with the world. His website has been maintained, added to, and translated following his death. What a legacy to leave behind!

I can think of no better way to teach your students about Carlo than to use his website to learn more about the Eucharist. I made a couple of research guides, both for my junior high students and for my 8th graders to use with their 3rd grade buddies. Note that the website is very, very full of information, is written at a fairly high reading level, and isn't the most kid friendly to navigate. My 6th graders were able to use it with a little help, but I think 2nd-5th graders might need a little more guidance. It is such an awesome tool that it is worth exploring!

Click here for a research guide for younger kids: (And here for Spanish)

Click here for a research guide for older kids: (And here for Spanish)

Click here for a coloring page of one of his most popular quotes: (And here for Spanish)

And if you are interested in a book about Bl. Carlo, here are a few good ones!

(May contain Amazon affiliate links)

Carlo Acutis: God's Computer Genius by Ellen Labrecque

Dare to Be More: The Witness of Blessed Carlo Acutis- Swaim, Colleen & Matt

Blessed Carlo Acutis: The Amazing Discovery of a Teenager in Heaven- Sabrina Arena Ferrisi

Carlo Acutis: The First Millennial Saint, Nicola Gori

Bl. Carlo Acutis, pray for us!

New Editable & Shareable Resources for the Catholic Classroom

Hello! I hope you are hanging in there with whatever back-to-school looks like in your neck of the woods. ;)

For school, I am back in person in the classroom while also teaching some students virtually. At my parish, we are still finalizing plans but are looking at creating at-home whole family catechesis resources (and I'll certainly share what we end up making!).

I've heard so much feedback from many of you across both school and parish work how helpful it has been to have editable, shareable resources, allowing you to tailor them to the needs of your students and families and send over a digital platform. I shared six different sets of Google Slides with varying topics in this post in May, and I'm back today with a few more to add to the collection. 

The Details:

-Topics today include the Sacred Heart of Jesus, American Saints, and prep for the Mass

-Target age for the Sacred Heart and American Saints is junior high, but of course can be modified to go up or down. These two are actual projects/assignments that could be used for an individual study/grade. These could be taught in the classroom, assigned remotely, or used as a back up set of plans if you need a sub.

-The Mass reflection slides have choices that are intended to span across grade levels. This is a resource especially for those that might be watching the Mass via a livestream or in unusual circumstances to try and provide reverence before, during, and after the Holy Mass.

-These assignments were created in Google Slides with the intention of being assigned in Google Classroom. You can certainly download them in PowerPoint and send them through email, or whatever tool you are using to communicate with your students.

-They are totally editable. You just have to make a copy or download before making any changes. Delete, change, add-- make them work for your kids.

-The Sacred Heart and American Saints projects are multi day assignments- otherwise they would be way too long! You can use them multi day, split them up, or just delete slides you find less important to create a shorter task

***All of the resources needed for the tasks are readily available- like public websites or docs I've created. If you share the slides with your students, make sure that they can access all of the links as well. For example, if you have a closed Google Domain (many schools are) they will not be able to open any of the Google docs I have linked because I am outside of their domain. You will have to make a copy, save in your own Google Drive, and link. (Unfortunately, I get A LOT of student access requests to docs shared by their teachers, but I can't even email them back because of domain permissions. It breaks my teacher heart to not be able to help them- so if you are in a closed Google Domain, keep that in mind!)***

Mass Reflection Slides:

These slides were designed to help teachers maintain an atmosphere of reverence before and after Mass even if circumstances are out of the ordinary- like watching a livestream or attending Mass in a new location. For example, right now my class participates in school Mass every Friday, but alternate weeks we are in the church and in my classroom watching a livestream. Immediately following, we are able to receive Holy Communion, but as you can imagine, it is a challenge to create an environment fitting of the Sacrament in a regular old classroom. 

To help, I've been leaving the lights off to keep the focus on the smart board, encouraging the kids to fully participate with responses and postures, and also using these slides before and after Mass, as well as for a time of thanksgiving after receiving Communion. The were created with our whole school in mind, so there are lots of options and needed variety for different grade levels or amounts of time available.

Even after we move past the strange circumstances of Mass at present, I am planning on continuing to use these to set the tone before we walk over to the church and after as well if time is available. It's nice to be doing something differently right now that actually will be fruitful even under more normal circumstances! :) These also could totally be used at home or inspiration for prayers or songs in the car on the way to and from Mass as a family.

Click here to open the Mass Reflection Slides:

America the Beautiful Saint Study:

This study is based on the At-Home VBS I shared earlier this summer, but turned into a junior high level research project with a choice based culminating activity. It is a self led five day project where the students chose four Saints (one each day) to research and on the final day create a project synthesizes some of their new knowledge. In my classroom, I'm supplementing with some short videos, but those are a little harder to share in this format so you can add your own if you think that would be of help. ;) You could adapt this for younger students by choosing which Saints to study as a class and then working together to fill out the biography forms. You could also stretch to last more days by adding more Saints or expanding the final project.

Click here to open the American Saint study:

Sacred Heart of Jesus Study:

This study is based on another At-Home VBS I shared earlier this summer, but turned into a junior high level research project with a choice based culminating activity. It is a self led five day project where the students study different aspects of the Sacred Heart (symbolism, Saints with devotion to, 12 Promises, Scripture Study) and on the final day create a project synthesizes some of their new knowledge. This one does include embedded videos for each day. You could certainly stretch this by adding additional days of Lectio Divina or Saint study (those days have multiple choices) or expanding the requirements for the final project.

Click here to open the Sacred Heart study:

Know of my prayers for all of you, your families, students, parishes, and schools! I was already in the habit of praying for my blog readers daily, but it seems to be even more important now. Don't hesitate to reach out if there is something I can be doing or sharing that might help all of us!

Little Saint Adventures!

You guys, I'm just so excited to share this news with you! Over the past year or so, I've had a small part in helping with a brand new Catholic kids' app called Little Saint Adventures.  It launched last week, and I am so pleased to finally get to tell you all about it!

Little Saint Adventures is an app that takes kids on an adventure through themed landmarks where they listen to interactive storybooks, play games, solve puzzles, and more all while being taught some of the most important truths of our faith.  Scripture, Tradition, the life of Christ, and stories of Saints are woven seamlessly together in the midst of fun activities kids can play again and again.

How awesome is it that the creators are using the best of available technology to make the faith real and relevant and fun for kids?  What's even better is that they aren't just providing great games, they also want to help support parents as the primary educators of their children.  A companion app called the Parent Portal connects to the kids app and provides info on each child's progress, details on the games, and tons of questions, projects, and resources that can take the learning out of the app and into your living room.

Just take a look at this curriculum overview.  The first five landmarks are complete, including more than 35 kids activities and 75 family activities.  The next landmarks are coming later this year and will at least double the content available.  Click here to read more about the landmarks & curriculum.

Each landmark uses activities like storytelling, games, matching activities, problem solving, etc. to connect fundamental teachings of the Catholic faith.  Interwoven throughout the landmarks are stories from the Old and New Testaments, the lives of the Saints, the teachings of Christ, the Sacraments, Prayer, Church teaching, and more.  Shared in an engaging and interesting way, kids can work their way through the app and repeat activities again and again, learning new things each time.

The warm and appealing graphics and characters are childlike but also detailed and expressive.  Every time I look around the landmarks, I find more well thought symbolism and meaning hidden in the pictures.  The voices, music, and sound effects add to experience (but aren't too annoying for the adults around to listen to ;) ).

The Parent Portal is such a unique feature to this app.  Once downloaded, it can be connected with the children's app.  You can see what activities have been completed and when by each child.  Clicking on an activity provides you with an activity summary and description (so you don't have to play it first yourself!), a list of conversation starters that you can ask your child about the game over the dinner table or in the car, ideas for family activities of all kinds that extend the lessons found in the app, and links to connecting resources if you are looking for even more.

Now that the app has launched, we are all so excited to think about the families that are ready to start playing and learning together using this tool.  I asked Melea, Curriculum Director for Little Saint Adventures, a little more about her thoughts on the app:

Q: What features of Little Saint Adventures make it such a great tool for Catholic kids? 

Melea: I think what makes LSA such a great tool is how FUN it is for the kids, with different activities such as storybooks, shooting games (similar to angry birds) and quizzes. It's reinforcing things they are learning in their homes, Catholic Schools and Religious Ed and giving it a new fun twist! 

Q: Why is the Parent Portal an integral piece of Little Saint Adventures? 

Melea: Our goal with the Parent Portal is to give Parents the tools and resources to feel capable and confident in catechizing their own children! To bring the app out of the technological sphere and into their daily lives. Yes, the app is fun but we want it to be a springboard for conversations and fun interactions for families using it! 

Q: What is your family's favorite landmark (or activity)? 

Melea: My daughter's favorite activities are the shooting ones. She's 6 and will play them over and over and over. She also loves the matching games.

I've already mentioned that the app will continue to grow, but the team has also created some tech-free supporting activities.  The corresponding activity book with coloring pages and games uses the same characters and concepts as the app and you can find it here as well as on Amazon (affiliate link).  LSA graciously sent a sample page for me to share with you to use at home or in your classroom.  I just love the Nazareth Village landmark, and this coloring page features a sweet family scene with young Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Joachim, and Anne gathered around the dinner table.  Click on the image to download your coloring page!

Check out all the details for Little Saint Adventures here, including links to the App Store and Google Play.  I think that it is an awesome resource to supplement the great learning going on in homes, schools, and parishes.  I hope you give it a try and recommend it to a family that you think would love it too!

Finding the Seven Sacraments in My Church {scavenger hunt & technology project}

One of my favorite things to do with a class of kids is to take them on a "field trip" to our church.  We are there regularly for Mass, Confession, and Adoration, but there is something special about an unscheduled visit to the quiet church for time in prayer.  I also like to make sure we get in good church tours so that the students are familiar with the structure, decor, and items found in the church.

One way to go about a church tour that is more student directed is a "Sacred Scavenger Hunt."  Instead of the teacher being the expert, the students are able to show what they already know as well as discover new information.  (Hint- call it a Sacred Scavenger Hunt to set the tone- we are still in God's House, we walk, we whisper, etc.)

Because so much of my curriculum focuses on the Sacraments, we go on a Sacred Scavenger Hunt looking for signs and symbols relating to the seven Sacraments.

Here is one recording sheet that lists items the students can try and find, as well as space for them to record other items that relate to each Sacrament:  (Click on image for printable)

Or, you can challenge the students to discover their own connections with this blank record sheet. (Click on image for printable)

We always gather back together and share the symbols each student found.  They are welcome to "borrow" their classmates ideas and record them as well.  I am always amazed at the different things that each child finds, from the sacred vessels for Mass to the images in the stained glass windows.

I make sure as the students are working that I take pictures of all of the items they find. You can see and use some of the images from one of our scavenger hunts in this gallery:

And then, as a cross curricular project between religion and their technology class, the students create a presentation in Google Slides (or you could use Power Point) connecting their knowledge of the Sacraments with their experience in the church.

Click here to view a pdf version of a sample of student work:

And click here for the instructions for the technology project:

How do you incorporate and use technology to strengthen your religion instruction?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Your Handwriting Matters

I am an advocate of handwriting. Handwriting is an undervalued art form, one that's meaning comes from a deeper layer than the words themselves.

When the topic comes up, I always encourage people to use their own handwriting instead of typing/printing/etc.  A sign in their home, a letter, captions in a scrapbook, a birthday invite, addressing wedding thank yous- all in your handwriting.  Many argue with me that their handwriting is messy, that writing is more time consuming, that they just don't like their handwriting.  I think that there is a lot more to it than that...and here are a few reasons why:

1.  Just to be clear, I am not just talking about neat, beautiful, or perfect handwriting.   I am not just talking about teaching "correct" handwriting to my 5th grade students.  I am certainly not just talking about my own handwriting.  I mean that I am an advocate of your handwriting, my handwriting, your children's handwriting- all handwriting. Neatness and penmanship have their place, but as I am writing this post I am thinking about the uniqueness of the way that you write, possible messiness and all.  Your natural handwriting is what others will remember.  When I encourage someone to handwrite something, they often say that it is just because I have great handwriting.  While I will admit that my writing isn't terrible, I certainly don't always like it.  Anytime we are close to something, we often are the first to see its flaws.  I don't typically love my own handwriting, but that doesn't mean that I am not going to use it.  Perfect is not a qualification for sharing a part of yourself. 

2.  Handwriting reveals personality.  I remember using these cheap handwriting analysis books in jr. high to analyze how the slant of my l's revealed that I was an optimist and the curve on the tail of my y's showed that I was an introvert.  I would not put a lot of stock into what official graphology says about you through your handwriting, but just remember on a personal level that your handwriting is a bit of, well, you.  Your personality is carried and emotions can be expressed through handwriting.  Despite the fact that the twenty two students in my classroom have almost all been taught by the same teachers, their handwriting is very unique and I can usually tell their papers apart easily even when they don't have names.  I can also tell when they were in a hurry, when they were confident, and when they were unsure.  I can see them in their writing.

3.  In a world that limits human interactions more and more, handwriting helps us continue to share a bit of ourselves with another.  It allows us to be Incarnational, to show that another is worthy of our time, and to help us see the person behind the communication that we share.  This can be a lot harder through type-written texts, emails, and letters.

4.  Handwriting is sentimental.  Even if you are the opposite of a pack rat, I bet you have a few notes or cards tucked away in a drawer.  You don't keep those cards for the pretty typeface "Happy Mother's Day" on the outside.  You keep it for the scrawled second grader's message printed in pencil on the inside.  Or you keep the note with the spidery cursive that was your grandfather's handwriting near the end of his life.  My dad has some of the worst handwriting I have ever seen (which is saying something as a middle school teacher).  However, the notes that he tapes on my mom's mirror in his terrible handwriting stay there for her to see and mean much more than anything he could have typed.  Being sentimental doesn't mean that we are attached to the object, but to the person behind the object, and it is a good reason to handwrite things that might mean more to someone else.

5.   Handwriting is a little piece of history.  As a genealogy nerd, I savor finding something handwritten by an ancestor. Handwriting is a missing piece of a person's story that can't be recreated after they are gone.  Much like a photograph, that handwriting is unique and important.  Finding original captions on the back of a picture, or a diary penned over time, or a note tucked in a box meant for a loved one from the past is like finding a unique treasure, one that I think we all can appreciate.

6.  Your handwriting is a witness to what you believe.  There is a reason that our signature is still (usually) required to be in our handwriting, even if it is created with a stylus and a digital screen instead of a pen and paper.  Adding your handwriting to something is like adding a stamp of approval, an acknowledgement that testifies to the content of what you are writing.

7.  Finally, handwriting is a connection between the words we live by and who we have been created to be.  "Keep my commandments and live.  Keep my teachings as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart."  ~Proverbs 7:23



I challenge you to remember that your handwriting matters, that it means something to those around you, and that perfect isn't a requirement for something to be important.  Find ways to incorporate handwriting into your days, and learn to love that you share a bit of yourself with each stroke of the pen.

Wandering Wise Men, Part 3

Happy Feast of the Epiphany!

In honor of the Three Kings finding their way to Bethlehem, here are pictures from another week of the Wandering Wise Men in my classroom.  You can get ten more ideas (and hear the beginning of the story) in this post and this post.

Day Eleven:
This was the only time during our Wander Wise Men that I was a bit "deceptive" with the kids, and only because they were way more enthusiastic about this days' Wise Men hijinks then the others.  I took face shots of the three figurines and created profiles for them on our classroom social media website.  We use a site called Edmodo in our school, but you could do this in pretty much any other social media platform or even create fake screen shots to just pull up on the Smartboard using a site like this. 

 The kids walked in to find the Wise Men lined up at their own classroom computer...

 But over the weekend, I had been adding posts and comments like these to our classroom site:
(fyi, these screen shots are posted in backwards order, with the earliest posts at the bottom, and the more recent posts on top, just like facebook)

I insisted that I had not been in the school to post these, and my students were on a hunt to figure out who was doing it all week.  They even had me lock the classroom and come with them to PE one day to see what would happen...and while we were gone the Wise Men posted this!  (I had another teacher log in and add it).  The kids had commented that the Wise Men's conversation was very serious, so we gave them this:

I eventually confessed to organizing all of the posts, but it sure was fun while it lasted!


Day Twelve:
The guys hid in an owl basket in our classroom, and Caspar had to stand on the shoulders of Balthasar and Melchior to peek out.  They made a sign asking "Whoooooo has seen the Baby King?"
They also continued to post on Edmodo, much to the delight of the kids.

Day Thirteen:
The Wise Men were found hanging out with our classroom patron Saint St. Maximilian Kolbe.

St. Max gave us a little reminder of how loving Mary should be a part of Advent with this quote, "Never be a afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin Mary too much.  You can never love her more than Jesus did."

 Sitting near St. Max was this basket of Christmas pencils with a note that the Wise Men planned to bring the students three gifts, just like they took to Jesus.  I think the pencils were more practical than gold, frankincense and myrrh, at least in the eyes of a 5th grader!

Day Fourteen:
The Wise Men were found hiding in and among our classroom supplies, and had filled one of the empty bins with special owl candy canes.  Gift number two!

 Day Fifteen:
The Wise Men were found just about a foot short of the Nativity (it is sitting on top of this book shelf).  When the students come back to school in January, they will be gathered with Mary and Joseph around Jesus.  On this day, they brought the kids' third gift, which was actually my real Christmas gift to them.  (I'll save that for another post :)).

 I look forward to trying this tradition out next year with my next group of 5th graders.  I'd be excited to hear how you make it work in your classroom or home!

Click here for more Wandering Wise Men ideas:

Visit Catholic Inspired's link up for even more ideas!