The Reformation - History Levels 1&2, 10/1/13

Tudors & the Church

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg as as an invitation to debate. Luther argued that the Bible, not the Pope, was the true source of truth.  The people, tired of church excess, were receptive to him and by the early 1520s, he had attracted a vast following and the printing presses spread his message across Germany. 

For a time King Henry VIII of England wrote against Lutheranism, but Henry’s loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church later gave way to his desire to preserve his Tudor dynasty.  Henry Vlll wanted an heir, but his wife had not given birth to a son, so he asked the Pope to grant him a divorce.  The Pope refused.   In order to get his way, Henry passed a law in 1534 making himself head of the Church of England. This act allowed him to divorce his wife and led to the formation of the Protestant Church of England. The Protestant movement was known as the Reformation. Henry's influence on America included not only the church, but also his descendants Elizabeth, for whom Virginia was named, and James who is honored in the name of Jamestown.

In Class Activities 10/1/13:

• Learned the stories of Martin Luther & Henry VIII
• Made our own wooden hammers 
• Ate gummy worms (Martin Luther's trial was called a diet, and it was held in the town of Worms)
• Created a timeline of the Tudors, discussing each in turn
• Added to our history notebooks

Optional Lesson Extension Activities:

• Learn about the time of the Tudors (don't miss the interactive activities in the lefthand sidebar)
• Watch a video explaining the reformation in very simple language

Parents: 

• I was careful in class to tread lightly in regard to Catholic/Protestant discussions in an attempt to honor the various denominations present.  I highly suggest that you discuss the Reformation with your child this week.  It is important to understand this turning point in history, and this would be a great time to lead your children in a discussion of your own faith. We will be delving more deeply into the topic next week, and your work at home will be appreciated.

Assignment: 

• In preparation for our next class please read history cards # 8 & 9 covering Plymouth Colony.
• Don't forget to review your timeline!