The Reformation Age
The Renaissance Popes led a Church in desperate need of reform, and the Reformers obliged.
It is during this time that we see many great men of the Protestant Church rise up, Bibles translated into native tongues and reproduced en masse, and a Counter-Reformation in the Catholic Church. It is also during this age that Catholicism invested heavily in missions and exploration and the Puritans move to the American Colonies.
Invite your older students to travel the Cobblestone Path of Church history. A path filled with individual lives, theological debates, and political intrigue.
Christian History Notebooking
Invite your older students to travel the Cobblestone Path™ of Church history. It is a path filled with individual lives, theological debates, and political intrigue.
Cobblestone Path™ Church History Research Journals are designed to help middle school and high school students develop a solid understanding of Christian history one “age” at a time.
They will also help young adults develop and strengthen skills in:
- pre-writing (notetaking and organization)
- handwriting
- reading comprehension
- research
While much of the research for the journals will be done using the internet, you’ll want to have a good Christian history overview text (or two) and you may wish to supply your students with some great biographies or literature pertaining to the time period.
Each journal covers a period of time (or “age”) in Church History. There’s no clear agreement on the divisions of Church ages, so I have divided these ages thematically and have tried to name them appropriately.
Cobblestone Path™ is designed to look at the major aspects of each age from a global view. Students will find people and movements that stood in opposition to the Christian Church, as well as those who claimed the name of Christ, yet espoused a different gospel.
This Church history research journal series is compiled from a Protestant viewpoint. There is not a complete list of the bishops and popes of Rome or of world leaders, however, at every point where the individual popes or world leaders are important to understanding Church history, they are included.
Reformation Church History Resources
While much of the research for Cobblestone Path™ may be done online, there are wonderful recommended and supplemental resources suggested for use with the journals.
This is a list of great resources for studying the Christian Church from the Ascension of Jesus until 325 AD.
This list is designed to coordinate with Cobblestone Path™ Church History Research Journal: The Apostolic and Church Ages, but can also be used on their own just to study the history of the Church.
Following is a list of recommended resources and suggested supplements. Because I know you may have younger children as well, I will also recommend some great books from The Apostolic and Early Church Ages as well. You can include them in your Church history studies with a few well-chosen read-alouds. No notebooking or research required!
Christian History Resources from Danika Cooley
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther
The 5 Solas: Signs to Follow on the Narrow Path, A 7 Day Family Bible StudyBuy NowWho was Martin Luther? (Who What Why)What was the Gutenberg Bible? (Who What Why)Why did the Reformation Happen? (Who What Why)
Recommended Church History Overviews
For middle and high school students undertaking the study of Church history, I recommend choosing a good overview text (or two), and then allowing students to use the internet to do additional research. Following are several good choices. You’ll want to read reviews and make a decision based on your needs.
Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity
Church History in Plain Language: Fourth EditionThe Church in HistoryThe Story of Christianity, Vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the ReformationThe Story of Christianity, Vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present DayFoxe’s Book of Martyrs (Pure Gold Classics)
1350-1648 AD ~ The Reformation for Middle School
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin LutherCourage and Conviction: Chronicles of the Reformation Church (History Lives series)Reformation HeroesHammer of the Huguenots (Heroes & History)Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the ReformationA Plymouth Pilgrim: William Bradford’s Eyewitness Account of the Mayflower PassengersUlrich Zwingli: Shepherd Warrior (Trailblazers)John Welch: The Man Who Couldn’t Be Stopped (Trailblazers)John Knox: The Sharpened Sword (Trailblazers)Charles Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers (Trailblazers)William Tyndale: The Smuggler’s Flame (Torchbearers)John Calvin: After Darkness Light (Trail Blazers)Michelangelo for Kids: His Life and Ideas, with 21 Activities (For Kids series)John Calvin (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)John Knox (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Lady Jane Grey (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)
1350-1648 AD ~ The Reformation for High School
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin LutherReformation HeroesHeroes of the ReformationReformation Sketches: Insights into Luther, Calvin, and the ConfessionsThe Betrayal: A Novel on John CalvinThe Revolt: A Novel in Wycliffe’s EnglandThe Thunder: A Novel on John KnoxThe Daring Mission of William Tyndale (A Long Line of Godly Men Profile)The Expository Genius of John Calvin (A Long Line of Godly Men Profile)The Mighty Weakness of John Knox (A Long Line of Godly Men Profile)The Affectionate Theology of Richard Sibbes (A Long Line of Godly Men Profile)Girolamo Savonarola (Bitesize Biographies Book 14)Hugh Latimer: The Foremost Preacher of the English Reformation (Bitesize Biographies)John Hooper (Bitesize Biographies)Renee of France (Bitesize Biographies)John Knox (Bitesize Biographies Book 7)Samuel Rutherford (Bitesize Biographies Book 17)Thomas Cranmer (Bitesize Biographies Book 6)Ulrich Zwingli (Bitesize Biographies)William Farel (Bitesize Biographies Book 11)
1350-1648 AD ~ The Reformation for Preschool to Second Grade
Who was Martin Luther? (Who What Why)What was the Gutenberg Bible? (Who What Why)Why did the Reformation Happen? (Who What Why)Joan of ArcMartin Luther: A Man Who Changed The WorldMartin Luther: What should I do? (Little Lights)The Life of Martin Luther: A Pop-Up BookThe Barber Who Wanted to PrayJohn Calvin: What is the truth? (Little Lights)John Knox: Who will save you? (Little Lights)Reformation ABCs: The People, Places, and Things of the Reformation―from A to ZThe Woman Who Helped A Reformer (Banner Board Books)Katharine von Bora: The Morning Star of Wittenberg
1350-1648 AD ~ The Reformation for Third to Fifth Grade
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin LutherWho was Martin Luther? (Who What Why)What was the Gutenberg Bible? (Who What Why)Why did the Reformation Happen? (Who What Why)Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the ReformationCourage and Conviction: Chronicles of the Reformation Church (History Lives series)Reformation HeroesJohn Knox (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Lady Jane Grey (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)John Calvin (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Julia Gonzaga (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Peter Martyr Vermigli (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)The Glory of Grace: the Story of the Canons of DortThe Quest For Comfort: The Story of the Heidelberg CatechismFaithfulness Under Fire: The Story of Guido De BresMichelangelo for Kids: His Life and Ideas, with 21 Activities (For Kids series)The Queen’s Smuggler: Introducing William Tyndale (Trailblazer Books) (Volume 2)The Mayflower Secret: Introducing Governor William Bradford (Trailblazer Books) (Volume 26)Spy for the Night Riders: Introducing Martin Luther (Trailblazer Books) (Volume 3)The Betrayer’s Fortune (Trailblazer Books Book 14)
How to Notebook (and What is Notebooking?)
Notebooking Resources for Your Kids!
Bible Road Trip™ Year One Notebooking JournalsBuy HereBible Road Trip™ Year Two Notebooking JournalsBuy HereBible Road Trip™ Year Three Notebooking JournalsBuy HereMy Timeline NotebookBuy HereMy Book LogBuy HereMy Field Trip and Travel JournalBuy HereMy Sermon NotebookBuy HereCobblestone Path™ Church History Research JournalsBuy Here
Teach Your Kids the Bible with Bible Road Trip™
Bible Road Trip™ is a three-year Bible survey curriculum. Take your family through the Bible five times from preschool to high school.
To help you get the most out of your studies, Bible Road Trip™ has an array of coordinating weekly activities:
- Researching the section of the Bible you’re studying
- Reading and discussing the Bible
- Memorizing Scripture
- Notebooking about your studies
- Praying for the nations
- Suggestions for further study
- Crafting about what you’ve learned
- For your older students: A project to share what they’ve learned
- Bible Road Trip™ also has some great tools you can use along with it, such as:
- Notebooking Journals for grades 1-9. Want a structured notebooking journal for high school? Don’t hesitate to use the Dialectic journal (grades 7-9).
- Bible Memory Card Sets for all five levels of study, preschool to high school. These are available in both ESV and KJV.
Grab your Bible Road Trip™ Year One Sample Pack. You’ll get:
- The Bible Road Trip™ Parent / Teacher Guide.
- The first three weeks of the curriculum for all five learning levels. Week Three is where we really dive into the Bible and begin to our systematic study. Week Three will give you a good feel for the rest of the curriculum.
- The first three weeks of the Bible Memory Card sets for all five levels, in ESV and KJV.
- The first three weeks of each of the three leveled Notebooking Journals.
Grab the Sample Pack for FREE:
Disciple your kids by taking your family through the Bible together in a meaningful way!
Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible
You want your kids to learn and love the Bible.
You want to teach the Bible…
As parents, we deeply desire the best for our kids. We look for the right schools, we make them eat right and exercise, and we get them involved in extracurricular activities. We take our job as parents seriously.
But are we also putting our time and energy into
teaching them the Bible? Giving them the life-changing, soul-nourishing words of Scripture is not only doable, it’s an essential part of parenting kids for Jesus. And the good news is, studying God’s Word as a family doesn’t have to be difficult!
2 Timothy 2:15, ESV, says:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Our job, as parents who love Jesus, is to help our kids become approved workers, unashamed and rightly handling the word of truth.
The good news? Teaching the Bible isn’t hard. Your family can learn the Bible together.
…and you can!
A Crash Course in Teaching the Bible to Your Kids
Danika Cooley’s book, Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible, will give you the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family. It will help you identify and overcome your objections and fears, give you a crash course in what the Bible is all about and how to teach it, and provide the guidance you need to set up a family Bible study habit.
You will finish this book feeling encouraged and empowered to initiate and strengthen your child’s relationship with the Lord through His Word.
Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible will equip you with everything you need to know to teach the Bible to your kids!
Thinking Kids Posts You’ll Love
Join the newsletter
Get the Family Prayer Box Project FREE!
Teach your children to pray with this fun project that includes 7 printable sets!
Hi. I am excited to use your resources this year in my co-op history class. Do you by any chance have some sample pages of this Reformation Age journal I could look at? I want to make sure it will be a good fit for us.
Thank you!
Still looking forward to hearing from you!