Catholic Saints Project Worksheet for 13-Year-Olds | Religion, History & English

Instructions

You are becoming a saint researcher and storyteller. Your task is to investigate the life of a Catholic saint and explain how that person followed God, served others, and responded to challenges.

1. Choose one Catholic saint. Select someone from a different time period, country, or background than your own when possible.
2. Use at least three reliable sources. Helpful sources include a parish website, a Catholic encyclopedia, a library book, a diocesan website, or a museum or university website.
3. Complete the research activities in order. Write in your own words rather than copying.
4. Create a final product: a one-page profile, poster, slideshow, podcast script, or short speech.
5. Include a bibliography that names every source you used.
6. Check the Answer Key after completing the worksheet. Open-ended answers may be different, but they should be supported by accurate research.

Learning goals:

• Identify important facts about a Catholic saint.
• Explain how historical events influenced the saint’s life.
• Connect the saint’s virtues and actions to everyday life.
• Practice research, note-taking, source evaluation, and clear communication.

Part 1: Choose Your Saint

Circle or write the category that interests you most.

• Missionary or evangelist
• Martyr
• Founder of a religious order
• Saint known for helping the poor or sick
• Young saint
• Saint connected with science, education, art, or writing
• Saint from a country or culture you want to learn more about
• Another category: __

Saint I plan to research: __

Why did I choose this saint?

Quick check: Is this person officially recognized as a Catholic saint or blessed? How will you verify this?

Part 2: Before You Research

Make a prediction. Based only on the saint’s name or what you already know, what do you think this person’s life may have been like?

Write two questions you want your research to answer.

Part 3: Research Organizer

Use short notes, not complete copied sentences. The first row is an example.

Research hint: Look for specific dates, places, names, and actions. If two sources disagree, record the disagreement and investigate further.

Part 4: Understanding the Saint’s Faith

Answer in complete sentences.

1. What was one important decision this saint made because of faith?

2. What group or people did the saint serve?

3. Which two virtues best describe this saint? Explain your choices.

Virtue 1: ____

Evidence: ____

Virtue 2: ____

Evidence: ____

4. What challenge did the saint face? How did the saint respond?

5. What is this saint the patron or patroness of, if anything? What might explain that connection?

Part 5: Match the Vocabulary

Write the correct letter on each line.

1. Canonization _____

2. Martyr _____

3. Patron saint _____

4. Virtue _____

5. Relic _____

A. A person honored as a special heavenly helper for a group, place, activity, or need

B. A good habit or character strength that helps a person choose what is right

C. The formal process by which the Catholic Church declares that a person is a saint

D. A person who dies for faith or a deeply held belief

E. A physical object connected with a saint, such as clothing or an object used by the saint

Part 6: Put the Story in Order

Number these events from 1 to 5 after researching your saint. Use the saint’s actual life events rather than the general order below.

_____ The saint died.

_____ The saint was born.

_____ The saint began a major ministry or mission.

_____ The saint faced a significant challenge.

_____ The saint was recognized by the Church as a saint or blessed.

Now write a five-sentence timeline using dates and places.

Part 7: Source Detective

Evaluate your sources. The first row is an example. Then add at least three sources of your own.

For each source, ask:

• Who created it?
• Does it provide evidence or references?
• Is the information recent enough for my purpose?
• Does another reliable source confirm the main facts?

Part 8: Choose the Saint’s Message

Complete the sentence:

The most important message from this saint’s life is

Support your message with two facts from your research.

• Fact 1: ____

• Fact 2: ____

Write one realistic way a 13-year-old could practice this message today.

Part 9: Create Your Final Product

Choose one option.

• One-page profile: Include a portrait or symbol, dates, places, virtues, service, challenge, patronage, and sources.
• Poster: Organize information into sections with a timeline and a clear central message.
• Slideshow: Create 5–7 slides. Include a bibliography slide.
• Podcast or speech: Write a 2–3 minute script with an introduction, three important facts, a challenge, the saint’s message, and a conclusion.

Your final product must include:

• The saint’s full name and feast day, if known
• Birth and death information
• Country or region connected with the saint
• Three or more important life events
• At least two virtues with evidence
• One challenge and the saint’s response
• Service to others or an important ministry
• Patronage, if applicable
• A personal connection or practical application
• At least three reliable sources

Planning box:

My final format: __

My central message: __

The three most important facts I will include:

Part 10: Peer or Self-Review

Place a check beside each statement when your work is ready.

• _____ I used my own words.
• _____ I checked dates, names, and places with reliable sources.
• _____ I explained rather than merely listed the saint’s virtues.
• _____ I included a clear connection to life today.
• _____ My work is organized and easy to read or hear.
• _____ I included all sources in a bibliography.
• _____ I reviewed spelling, punctuation, and pronunciation of unfamiliar names.

Optional Challenge: Compare Two Saints

Choose a second saint and complete the comparison.

Write a short paragraph explaining one similarity and one difference.

Answer Key

Part 1: Answers will vary. The saint should be a person officially recognized as a Catholic saint or blessed, and the student should explain how this will be verified.

Part 2: Answers will vary. Questions should be connected to the saint’s life, faith, service, challenges, historical setting, or influence.

Part 3: Answers will vary. Notes should include accurate, relevant details supported by sources.

Part 4: Answers will vary. Strong answers include specific evidence. For example, a student might identify courage because a saint continued serving others despite danger, or compassion because the saint cared for people who were sick or poor.

Part 5:

1. C
2. D
3. A
4. B
5. E

Part 6: The general chronological order is:

1. The saint was born.
2. The saint began a major ministry or mission.
3. The saint faced a significant challenge.
4. The saint died.
5. The saint was recognized by the Church as a saint or blessed.

The student’s five-sentence timeline should use the actual dates and events of the chosen saint. Some saints experienced their major challenge before beginning their ministry, so the researched order may differ from the general sequence.

Part 7: Answers will vary. A strong source evaluation identifies the author or organization, publication or access date when available, evidence of expertise, and reasons the information can be trusted. At least three sources should be listed.

Part 8: Answers will vary. The message should be a clear idea supported by two accurate facts. The practical application should be specific and realistic, such as helping someone who is lonely, standing up for a person being treated unfairly, serving at a food pantry, or practicing forgiveness.

Part 9: Answers will vary. A complete final product includes every required element, uses accurate research, explains the saint’s significance, and lists at least three reliable sources.

Part 10: All statements should be checked before submission.

Optional Challenge: Answers will vary. A strong comparison identifies one accurate similarity, one accurate difference, and a meaningful lesson connected to both saints.