Read It Aloud!
We passed out the first Keepsake Book, What's In a Name?, at the Orientation Session, which included youth and parents. Each youth received a copy. We had it read aloud during the session. Some pages we read; other pages we asked for volunteers. Every time a word or phrase appeared in a white box, all the youth had to read it aloud.  This activity built up excitement for the class, both for the youth as they read and for the parents as they heard their sons' and daughters' enthusiasm. more...

Idea for Confirmation
Hi everyone! I just discovered the claimthename website! It is excellent.
Idea for Confirmation: The first Sunday Confirmation classes begin, we invite the Confirmation class to kneel at the altar. The ministers pray for them as they continue their journey of faith toward claiming the name of Christ for themselves. In front of the congregation, we give each Confirmand a cross necklace. They are asked to wear these each Sunday to identify themselves as Confirmands and remind the congregation to pray for them.
—Beth Miller, Director of Youth Ministries, FUMC, Ann Arbor, MI

Claim the Name Art
Why not dress up your handouts and paraphernalia with the official Claim the Name logo? Click here to download the logo for use with your next confirmation class. 

From The Faith We Sing
The 6-15 Week Teaching Plans include an option to study and sing hymns of the church seasons, as well as songs for other activities in the sessions. This list of additional suggestions comes from the  The Faith We Sing. more...

Hymnal Hunt Answer Key
Answer sheet now available for the Hymnal Hunt. These pertain to the activity described on pages 118–119 in the 39 week Claim the Name leader guide. more...

Trip Tips: Visits to Other Places of Worship
Why go? Youth bring home a level of understanding of ideas and traditions far greater than from simply talking about them in class. Youth experience a variety of worship styles (even within United Methodist congregations) and increase their images of ways to honor God. Youth gain an appreciation for the similarities as well as the differences among God's people and the various traditions of worship. more...

  John Wesley Through Pictures and Sounds
  Visit John Wesley. Check out this website from England: Click here

Historical Sites & Service Projects
Check here for a list of United Methodist historical sites. By visiting an historical site or a United Methodist agency or working on a service project, you give youth an experience they can connect to the learnings in the classroom. more...

Choosing 16 Weeks From the 39 Week Teaching Plans
Here is what I've come up with, from the 39 week curriculum, for a 16 week plan. Our class time is an hour and a half, so obviously I will be picking and choosing activities on those days when working from more than one unit. At an orientation meeting that we've already had, I used the Covenant Cards form Unit 4. more...

United Methodist Certificates for Your Confirmands
Why not reward your confirmands with a stylish and frame worthy certificate that will remind them for years of this special time in their lives. Cokesbury has several styles to choose from! more...

Confirmation Candles for your Confirmands
Decorated with descending dove and cross design, this confirmation candle adds to the confirmation worship service and presentation.  Includes presentation box with space for name, church name, and ceremony date. more...

What Can a Building Say?
Do you want to know what a building can say? In Session 7 of Claim the Name: Confirmation Teaching Plans for 39 Weeks (page 76), the section "What Can a Building Say?" suggests searching the Internet for websites with pictures of Gothic-style cathedrals. Here are some sites that we recommend for starting your research! more...

Timeline
Use this scrollable timeline to give your youth to a fun and visual way to learn more of the history of The United Methodist Church. more...

Self Quiz
Just in case you were wondering: On the "Self-Quiz" (page 49, 6-15 Week Teaching Plans ) have your youth add points by columns (Now, Ten, Future) and compare the column totals.