I work with high school students, many of whom are brand-new to faith and church traditions. I grew up with Lent, so I was surprised when my students were absolutely shocked by the idea of meatless Fridays and making an intentional sacrifice. Giving something up on purpose?! What!
First, I’ve started pre-teaching earlier, so students have time to understand the purpose and the benefits of fasting. Later, I created a list of Lent Sacrifice Ideas using three levels of difficulty, so students can move beyond giving up chocolate and choose a sacrifice that truly challenges them at the right level. How do you motivate your students to sacrifice during Lent?
Sacrifice Ideas (With Difficulty Levels)
Hot Sauce (Fasting)
1. Give up hot sauce at family dinners, except when you have mac & cheese or wings.
2. Give up hot sauce at all meals.
3. Give up hot sauce & Ranch dressing for all of Lent!
Sweet Snacks (Fasting)
1. Give up chocolate snacks.
2. Give up all sweet snacks and eat healthy snacks.
3. Give up all snacks and eat only 3 meals a day. Offer your candy/sweets to your younger siblings as an Easter Gift (Fasting & Almsgiving).
Desserts (Fasting)
1. Give up dessert at school lunch.
2. Give up all desserts (except for Birthday cake)
3. Give up all desserts/cake/sweets.
Technology (Fasting or Prayer)
1. Only use technology for 1 hour/night (not counting school work).
2. Only watch TV with others, and let them choose.
3. No TV or Movies.
**This could count as prayer if you use that extra time for bible study and Prayer
Kindness (Fasting or Prayer)
1. Only say positive things about others.
2. Every time you say something mean about someone, pray the Our Father.
3. Every time you say or THINK something mean about someone, pray the Our Father.
Accepting (Fasting or Almsgiving)
1. Accept decisions and feedback by looking and saying ok.
2. Do #1, PLUS don’t complain or talk about the decision later.
3. Do #1 and #2, PLUS use thought stopping so you don’t THINK complaining/arguing thoughts.
Extra Church Services (Prayer)
1. Attend an extra Mass before school once a week.
2. #1 PLUS attend Stations of the Cross.
3. #1 & #2 PLUS attend bible study.
Chores (Almsgiving)
1. Do a chore cheerfully when anyone asks.
2. Volunteer to do the bathroom chores every night.
3. Volunteer to clean the whole house 1 night a week.
Rice Bowl (Almsgiving)
1. Give a 1$ to the Rice Bowl every week.
2. Give half of your allowance/paycheck to Rice Bowl.
3. Don’t spend any money during Lent and give it to the Rice Bowl instead.
Cheerfulness (Almsgiving & Fasting)
1. Smile and say ‘Hello’ to people in the Hallway.
2. #1 and meet someone new each day.
3. #1 and #2 and give positive and appropriate compliments to 2 people every day.
Pens (Fasting & Almsgiving)
1. Don’t use any G2s (or favorite pen) during Lent.
2. Use only pencils and regular black pens during Lent.
3. #1 and #2 and give away your G2s (Fasting & Almsgiving).
Hair (Fasting & Prayer)
1. Pray while you do your hair and make-up in the morning.
2. Don’t straighten your hair and use that time for prayer.
3. Don’t straighten your hair or use make-up and use that time for prayer and bible study.
Lent Countdown to Track the Sacrifices!
Before Lent begins, I have students write down their goals. The main thing that derails my own personal goals is a lack of accountability. For example, if I don’t tell someone and write it down, I won’t follow through. So these tools are helpful for me, too.
The Lent Countdown and Goals resource includes reflection pages where students can summarize Bible verses about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Then, they set their goals and follow up throughout Lent by tracking their progress. This is one of my favorite ways to help students take Lent Sacrifice Ideas seriously and stay committed.
If that feels like too much writing for your students (or your own kids), the Lent Bulletin Board includes a small goal sheet where students can write their goals and add them to the display. I usually ask students to write these anonymously, but adding names can build extra accountability—something that really helps older students stick with their Lent Sacrifice Ideas.
Do you want more Lent ideas? Check out these posts…
