Educational Resources
Designed for educators at the K–12, undergraduate, and community levels, this section provides lesson plans, primary source sets, discussion guides, and classroom activities (with more under development).
Materials are aligned with relevant standards and designed to help teachers approach religion in the classroom with respect, confidence, and care. Resources emphasize inquiry-based learning, multiple perspectives, and connections between past and present.
Led by Chicago-area scholars and Newberry subject specialists, these seminars allow teachers to learn at one of the world's premiere research libraries.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
How to Teach (About) Religious Texts in Public Schools
Dr. Laura Dingeldein, University of Illinois Chicago
In this seminar teachers learned how to teach students in public schools about religious texts, such as the writings found in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Qur’an. Participants learned the basics of historical and anthropological-based approaches to the study of religious texts (as opposed to confessional and faith-based approaches to such). Participants were provided with examples of religious texts that could supplement high school students’ understanding of history and social science. Also discussed was how to troubleshoot issues that might arise in teaching students about religious texts.