Vices and Virtues

Activity Objective

The young people will propose practical ways to break free of bad habits and to choose virtuous ones.

Lesson Outcome

The young people should be able to explain the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

Materials

  • Paper, pencils

Directions

  • Review with the young people the seven capital sins (pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, sloth) and the corresponding virtues (humility, temperance, generosity, love of others, meekness, chastity, diligence).
  • Share with the young people an example of how a vice influences our behavior. (Sloth could lead to cheating on a test instead of studying; gluttony could lead to eating too much and getting sick.)
  • Direct the young people to choose a vice and then to write four actions it could lead to.
  • Form small groups of three or four. Direct each young person to share his or her examples of a vice. Then have the other members of the group suggest ways to break free of that behavior by practicing one of the virtues.

Learning Styles

Logic/Math Smart, People Smart, Word Smart

Approximate Time

15 minutes