An Overview of Catholic History

by Katie Torrey

TRISMS

Katie Torrey originally created this guide for use alongside the TRISMS curriculum, but it could be used alongside almost any non-Catholic curriculum--unit study or textbook--to provide a Catholic dimension.

An Overview of Catholic History comes as packet of pages, prepunched to go into a three-ring binder. There is also a cover page that inserts into the front cover of a "view-binder."

This is a research guide that divides history into time periods. Then, using only one or two pages per time period, it lists Church councils, saints/martyrs/popes, religious orders (their founding), suggested reading book titles, suggested movies, and URLs for related websites. A single page at the beginning of the guide also lists more general recommendations for websites, books, and curriculum/book suppliers.

After the time period pages, are four reproducible questionnaire forms that students are to use as they research popes, martyrs, saints, church councils, and religious orders. As students complete these forms or other research, their work should be added to their three-ring binder. There is also a reproducible Timeline form that students might use to show chronological relationships. At the end of the guide are sample completed questionnaires.

The scope of the research topics is purposely limited to keep it manageable. Of course, you can add other topics if you choose.

The type of research required and the format of the questionnaires would make this most useful for students in junior and senior high. However, it is also useful for Catholic parents with children of any age. Parents might use the guide simply to know what books or resources to use without using the questionnaires. With the limited number of quality Catholic history resources available, this is a great tool for those who choose to use secular or Protestant resources, so their children can also learn some of what's either been omitted or presented with a non-Catholic slant.