The Life of Jesus
What could be more important than helping our children learn about the life and teachings of Jesus? As Christian parents, helping our children know and understand our Lord and Savior Jesus is one of the most important things we will ever do.
This unit study is designed with both you, the parent, and your children in mind. Everything is prepared for you–the most labor intensive part will be gathering your supplies. Your children will love learning about the life of Jesus in ways they don’t typically learn about his life in Sunday School or during your family Bible reading time. In fact, your kids are likely to feel like they’ve entered the story of Scripture, and that they understand how the whole Bible works together to tell the story of God’s great plan for salvation through Jesus Christ.
As your kids study the life of Jesus, they’ll learn about the ordinary men Jesus chose to be his special disciples. They will see how following Jesus changed the lives of these men, and how the message of the gospel they shared changed the world. Your kids will also learn about the women who followed Jesus and contributed to his ministry, standing by him even during his crucifixion. Then, your kids will learn about how the entire Bible points to the work of Jesus on the Cross. In an age-appropriate way, they’ll learn about how Jesus willingly died a sacrificial, atoning death to pay the price for the sin of all believers. Last, your kids will learn what the Resurrection of Jesus proves, who witnessed the Risen Christ, and what it means to spend eternity with Jesus.
This fun Resurrection unit study is made up of three smaller studies your kids will enjoy. Along with engaging books on each subject, you’ll find hands-on activities to help cement the learning.
Note: In observance of the 2nd Commandment, there are no pictures of Jesus in any Christian Focus Publication books, including those in the Who What Why series.
Jesus’ Twelve Disciples
Our children may often hear stories and teachings from the life of Jesus. Looking at his life from the viewpoint of the twelve men he called to become his closest followers gives our children another perspective through which to view Jesus.
Jesus called twelve ordinary men to repent and believe in him. The Twelve were called to follow Jesus and become fishers of men. That is exactly what our children become when they, too, repent of their sins and believe in Jesus.
Your unit study on the Disciples, Jesus’ twelve specially chosen followers, includes a fun, 95-page biography, Who Were the Disciples?. Your children will learn about the life, times, and impact of twelve ordinary men–and the extraordinary Savior they followed.
- Who Were the Disciples? by Danika Cooley | Who Were the Disciples? (Christian Focus Publications, 2025) is a fun way for kids to learn about the twelve men Jesus called to be his special disciples. Your kids will learn about each many’s personality, his interactions with Jesus, and about how of the eleven faithful disciples shared the gospel as apostles after the death and Resurrection of Jesus.
- You can also purchase Who Were the Disciples? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Resurrection books.
- You can also purchase Who Were the Disciples? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Resurrection books.
- Jesus’ 12 Disciples Craft | Your children will create toilet paper roll busts to represent each of the twelve disciples. They’ll be sure to recall the lessons they’ve learned about the disciples in Who Were the Disciples?.
- Fishing for Men Matthew 4:19 Craft | Your kids will create an underwater fishing scene to remind them of Matthew 4:19.
- Fishers of Men Copywork Craft | This fun quilling crafts will give kids a fun way to copy and remember Mark 1:17
- Who Were the Disciples? Lapbook | The lapbook completes your unit study of the disciples, allowing your kids to record what they’ve learned about:
- The impact of the disciples on the New Testament world, on the Church, and on your child’s world.
- The New Testament world. Your child will learn about what it was like to live during the time of Jesus.
- The people involved in Jesus’ biblical, historical story.
- Vocabulary from the story of the disciples.
- The timeline of each story.
- The geography of each Resurrection story.
- Theology: Luke 5:10b.
This hands-on study of how Jesus called twelve ordinary men to follow him is one your kids will remember for a lifetime.
The Cross
The Cross of Jesus is more than just a symbol or a historic, ancient torture device. On the Cross, Jesus took the punishment for the sin of all who believe in him and who repent of their sin. The work Jesus did on the Cross freed believers from sin, death, and eternal punishment.
The Cross of Jesus Christ is central to our salvation, and the entire Bible points to it. Your kids can learn about the Cross in a fun, age-appropriate way with this hands-on unit study.
Your unit study on the Cross of Jesus includes a fun, 95-page biography, What Was the Cross?. Your children will learn about how the whole Bible points to the work Jesus did on the Cross, about God’s great plan for salvation, and about the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.
- What Was the Cross? by Danika Cooley | What Was the Cross? (Christian Focus Publications, 2025) is a fun way for kids to learn about how the Old Testament pointed to Jesus as the Messiah, about God’s plan for salvation, the work Jesus did on the Cross, and about what the Cross means for us today.
- You can also purchase What Was the Cross? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Resurrection books.
- You can also purchase What Was the Cross? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Resurrection books.
- The Cross of Jesus Christ Craft | Your kids will create a representation of the Cross of Jesus and the crosses of the criminals on either side of his.
- Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Craft | Your kids will construct two scenes–one of the Cross of Jesus, and one of the empty tomb.
- Women at the Cross Craft | Your children will create toilet paper roll busts to represent each of the named women who followed Jesus. They will learn who the Bible names as the women as the Cross, and add two of his female followers.
- What Was the Cross? Lapbook | The lapbook completes your unit study of the Cross, allowing your kids to record what they’ve learned about:
- The impact of the Cross on the New Testament world, on the Church, and on your child’s world.
- The New Testament world. Your child will learn about what it was like to live during the time of Jesus.
- Biblical stories that point to the story of Jesus’ work on the Cross.
- Vocabulary from the story of the Cross.
- The timeline of each story.
- The geography of each Resurrection story.
- Theology: Colossians 2:13-14, how the Bible points to the Cross in Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, and the Gospels.
This hands-on study of how the Cross of Jesus changed the world, and the life of every believer, is one your kids will remember for a lifetime.
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!
The Resurrection
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ proves the veracity of our faith. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we know that his work on the Cross–conquering sin and death on behalf of those who believe in him–was effectual.
Our kids need to know and understand that the Resurrection is our proof that Jesus is, indeed, our Messiah. He is the firstfruits of a mighty harvest for the Kingdom of God, and all who believe in him will follow him in resurrection to eternal life. One day, we will live forever with Jesus in the New Jerusalem, where the tree of life bears fruit and the leaves heal the nations.
Our kids also need to know that there were over 500 historical witnesses to the Risen Jesus in the 40 days following his Resurrection.
Your unit study on the Resurrection is based on the fun, 95-page biography, Why Did the Resurrection Happen?, which explains the significance of the Resurrection, the promise of eternity with Jesus for believers, and the witnesses to the Risen Christ.
- Why Did the Resurrection Happen? by Danika Cooley | Why Did the Resurrection Happen? (Christian Focus Publications, 2025) is an engaging narrative about the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus, what it means to us today, and the historical witnesses to Christ’s Resurrection.
- You can also purchase Why Did the Resurrection Happen? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Resurrection books.
- You can also purchase Why Did the Resurrection Happen? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Resurrection books.
- The Empty Tomb Cardboard Craft | Kids will build a cardboard representation of the empty tomb to help them remember what the first witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus saw.
- Revelation 22:2 Tree of Life Craft | Your kids will create a representation of the tree of life and copy Revelation 22:2 (or Revelation 22:1-2 for older kids) to help them remember John’s vision from God of the new Jerusalem where believers will one day live with Jesus eternally.
- Jesus’ Resurrection Scene | Children will construct a scene of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, along with the original believing witnesses at the empty tomb.
- Why Did the Resurrection Happen? Lapbook | With the Resurrection lapbook, your children will delve deeper into what they’ve learned, including:
- The impact of the Resurrection on the New Testament world, on the Church, and on your child’s world.
- The New Testament world. Your child will learn about what it was like to live during the time of Jesus.
- The witnesses to the Resurrection in Jesus’ biblical, historical story.
- Vocabulary from the story of the disciples.
- The timeline of each story.
- The geography of each Resurrection story.
- Theology: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, Colossians 1:15-18, and Revelation chapters 21 and 22.
This study of the Resurrection will help your kids learn more about the importance of the Resurrection of Jesus.
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Resurrection 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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