Our children must know about these movements, and understand the causes of them, in order to be properly educated.
The Protestant Reformation changed everything, and the Protestant Reformers involved in fighting for the veracity of God’s Word were influential in changing history across the globe. What began as small protests in little towns in medieval Europe became a movement that changed the Church, feudalism, European governments, technology, and extended to governments and churches across the world.
The core tenets of the Protestant Reformation hold true today.
Teach your kids about Christian history with the Who What Why series for 8-11 year olds!
The Protestant Reformers
Our kids need to know about the Protestant Reformers and their role in the Reformation. They also need to understand the Five Solas–the slogans the Reformers used to point to Scriptural truths that had been abandoned at the time of the Reformation.
My narrative history from Christian Focus Publication, Why Did the Reformation Happen?, is a fun way for your kids to learn about the Five Solas and Reformers who labored for the truth of God’s Word between 1350-1648 AD.
God used the Reformers to change the Church. Their commitment to the authority of God’s Word helped them stand on the truth that our salvation is in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone. Their lives were dedicated to the glory of God alone–just as ours must be.
If your child worships in a church where the Bible is taught as God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus is proclaimed, the Protestant Reformers had something to do with that!
Why Did the Reformation Happen?
The Church was following the words of men rather than the Word of God but brave men read God’s Word and were saved from their sins. They fought for truth against the most powerful organizations of the time – the Church and the Crown. Help your 8-11 year olds explore how God’s people changed the Church, Europe and the World. This is the story of how the Church found the gospel and the people heard about Christ.
Amazon | Thinking Kids Press | Christian Book
Lost things, once they are forgotten, can be hard to find again. Have you ever cleaned the back corner of your closet, only to find something you once dearly loved? Maybe it was your favorite shirt and now you are too big to wear it.
Alas–that’s a word which means oh no!–just over five hundred years ago, God’s people lost his Word to us.
Why Did the Reformation Happen?, Danika Cooley (Christian Focus Publications, 2021), page 6
Reformation Craft
You can help your kids commemorate what they’re learning about history in a hands-on way! Check out this fun video of the Protestant Reformers toilet paper roll craft!
The Protestant Reformers Supplies
- Cardstock (colored and white)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- Toilet Paper Rolls
- Printable Templates with Instructions
- Don’t forget this fun book to help your kids learn about the Reformers and the Protestant Reformation: Why Did the Reformation Happen?
The Reformers | Instructions
Your child’s representation of some of the important Protestant Reformers are a great way to help them consider what they learn as they read Why Did the Reformation Happen? from the Who What Why series! (Your kids can make Martin and Katie Luther and Johann Gutenberg, too!)
1) Print your templates and labels.
Print the Protestant Reformers templates and labels on cardstock.
2) Assemble your William Tyndale Reformer figure.
Print the template page from the step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
For historically accurate colors, cut out enough black cardstock to cover a toilet paper roll. Use brown paper for the hat, gray for the beard and mustache. The top (rectangular) collar should be white, and the bottom collar will be dark blue. Use a skin tone for the head.
Trace the pieces on the cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Glue the beard to the bottom of Tyndale’s face, and the mustache over the top. Leave room for a mouth.
Use a permanent marker to draw a wavy pattern on the white rectangle to represent a medieval ruffled collar. Glue the white rectangular collar along the middle of the top of the body piece. Glue the blue collar over the top of that collar, right in the middle of the body, as shown.
Glue the back of the body piece to the toilet paper roll, wrapping the roll completely.
3) Assemble your John Calvin Reformer figure.
Print the template page from the step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
For historically accurate colors, cut out enough black cardstock to cover a toilet paper roll. Use red paper for the hat, gray for the beard and mustache. The collar should be brown. Use a skin tone for the head.
Trace the pieces on the cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Glue the beard to the bottom of Calvin’s face, and the mustache over the top. Leave room for a mouth.
Glue the collar right in the middle of the body as shown.
Glue the back of the body piece to the toilet paper roll, wrapping the roll completely.
4) Assemble your Renee of Ferrara Reformer figure.
Print the template page from the step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
For historically accurate colors, cut out enough green cardstock to cover a toilet paper roll. Use light brown paper for the hair. The headband should be red. The dress necklines can be orange and light green. Use a skin tone for the head.
Trace the pieces on the cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Glue the narrow orange strip to the top of the light green trapezium. Glue the collar to the top of the dark green body piece, leaving a little space at the top as shown.
Glue the back of the body piece to the toilet paper roll, wrapping the roll completely.
5) Assemble your John Knox Reformer figure.
Print the template page from the step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
For historically accurate colors, cut out enough gray cardstock to cover a toilet paper roll. Use black paper for the hat, and dark brown for the beard and mustache. Use a skin tone for the head.
Trace the pieces on the cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Glue the beard to the bottom of John Knox’s face, and the mustache over the top. Leave room for a mouth.
Glue the back of the body piece to the toilet paper roll, wrapping the roll completely.
6) Assemble your Catherine de Bourbon Reformer figure.
Print the template page from the step-by-step instructions and cut out the pieces.
For historically accurate colors, cut out enough black cardstock to cover a toilet paper roll. Use white paper for the necklace and collar. The hair should be dark brown. Use a skin tone for the head.
Trace the pieces on the cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Use a permanent marker to draw a wavy pattern on the white rectangle to represent a medieval ruffled collar. Draw U-shaped lines on the necklace shape to create strands of necklace.
Glue the necklace onto the middle of the black paper, on top. Glue the white rectangular collar along the middle of the top of the body piece, over the necklace.
Glue the back of the body piece to the toilet paper roll, wrapping the roll completely.
7) Apply the Protestant Reformers labels and display your Reformation craft.
Glue your Reformer labels to the bottom front of each Reformer figure.
Your child can display their Protestant Reformers
to help them remember what they’ve learned about history from
Why Did the Reformation Happen?,
and the rest of the Who What Why Series Christian history books!
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.
The Who What Why Series is the perfect resource to teach your kids about history, while helping them apply biblical truths to their lives today.
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