Instead, they need to know why people fought to end chattel slavery and how the abolition of slavery occurred.
The Abolitionists Who Loved Jesus
From 1688 to 1888, Christian abolitionists searched God’s Word to discover how God feels about chattel slavery. In fact, the Bible prohibits kidnapping and selling humans and their offspring.
With this fun, hands-on unit study, your kids can learn about the lives of ten abolitionists who loved God, loved others, and fought to end the institution of slavery globally. While these ten Christian abolitionists lived very different lives, each one used the spiritual gift they received from the Lord to serve him in the time in which they lived. Each one helped change the course of history.
A Unit Study that’s Fun, Christian, Biblical, and Non-Woke
It’s so important that our kids can explain the biblical basis for abolition. After all, the Christian fight to end slavery was a battle to return to the truths of Scripture.
This unit study on the abolitionists is written and designed from a Christian worldview with Scripture as the lens, rather than from a cultural Marxist view where race is the lens through which society is filtered. Our children need to understand that the bulk of the work done to end chattel slavery was done by Christians, to the glory of God. Their arguments were based on Scripture, and God does–in fact–outlaw chattel slavery in his Word.
They will learn, too, that there were people who claimed their wickedness was supported by God’s Word. It’s vital that our kids know what the Bible actually says so they can live according to God’s commands for his people. We need to know, too, that there are those who seek to twist God’s Word for evil gains. As followers of Christ, we are to be on the lookout for false teachers and prophets (2 Peter 2).
Christian history is important. We don’t want to skip teaching our kids about important movements because we are afraid they will fall into a common or pervasive misunderstanding or misrepresentation of history.
Rather, we want to teach them:
- What God’s Word says
- How God used his people to end injustice and further hope
- How we can respond today to those who would malign the cause of Christ using false arguments.
That’s what the Who What Why Christian history series works to do for your children.
Abolitionists Against the Slave Trade
Your kids will study the lives of ten abolitionists:
- Granville Sharp (1735-1813)
- Phillis Wheatley (c. 1745-1797)
- Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745-1797)
- Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846)
- William Wilberforce (1759-1833)
- Zachary Macaulay (1768-1838)
- William Knibb (1803-1845)
- Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
- Frederick Douglass (c. 1817-1895)
- Harriet Tubman (c. 1820-1913)
Your family can do a quick unit study on the lives of ten Christian abolitionists using three resources:
- Who Were the Abolitionists? by Danika Cooley | Who Were the Abolitionists? (Christian Focus Publications, 2023) is a 95-page illustrated book which tells the stories of ten British and American Christian abolitionists who worked to end slavery between 1688-1888 AD. These abolitionists each worked in a different way, each inspired by important truths from God’s Word.
- You can also purchase Who Were the Abolitionists? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Abolition books together in a bundle.
- The Abolitionists History Craft | Your kids will enjoy creating these little toilet-paper roll abolitionists to remind them of the biographies they’ve read!
- Who Were the Abolitionists? Lapbook | A lapbook is a fun, hands-on way for your child to keep a record of their studies. Your kids record:
- The impact of the abolitionists on the modern world, on the Church, and on your child’s world.
- The world of abolition (1688-1888). Your child will learn about what it was like to live during the time of Abolition.
- Ten Christian abolition biographies.
- Abolition vocabulary.
- The timeline of the abolitionists.
- The geography of the stories of the abolitionists.
- Theology: Esther 4:13-14.
Help your children learn about the lives of ten inspiring Christians who lived their lives in the service of all God’s people with this exciting unit study on the Christian abolitionists!
Every Who What Why Christian history book has a timeline with relevant dates. Your kids can keep track of dates from their studies in history with the My Timeline Journal!
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Abolition Lapbooks here.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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