Top 5 Upper Elementary Christian Resources

Ok, maybe it’s really a few more than 5 selections….I’ve grouped a few of these by author!  As your children grow and learn, you’ll need to find resources that can challenge their minds and hearts in appropriate ways.  This week, I’m including resources for upper elementary children.  I’ve categorized these into the topics of a good Bible, apologetics, theology, worldview, and holiday resources.  What you’ll find is more than my top 5 upper elementary Christian resources! Let’s take a look at some books that will keep your children occupied and learning for years to come!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

 A Good Bible 

My favorite Bible for elementary age children is the NIrV Adventure Bible for Early Readers.  This is the New International Readers Version.  The translation is written in a way that helps children understand what they are reading.  It comes in a hard cover jungle theme and soft cover in pink, purple, brown and blue.  There are some other really cool “accessories” included like, Live It, People in Bible Times, Words to Treasure, Did You Know? and Life in Bible Times.  All of these special sections help children understand context and important concepts.  From personal experience, I’ve seen my grandkids use this Bible and understand what they are reading.

My Review

 

Worldview

Elizabeth Urbanowicz is a Christian and an educator.   One day in her classroom, a student responded to Elizabeth’s correction by saying, “Don’t judge me!”  The role of a teacher is to help students learn. Part of that includes correcting children when they give an incorrect answer.  But this child felt ANY kind of correction was equivalent to judgement!  The teacher’s correction made this student FEEL bad.  This child wanted to feel good rather than know what is true.  You have likely run into similar circumstances.  The desire to feel good becomes more important than what is true or what is real.  This is dangerous territory and it is very confusing for children.  We know that our  feelings can’t be trusted. Sometimes our feelings are wrong!  It’s important to give children tools to evaluate the difference between feelings/preferences and what is true/real.  This is what  Foundation Worldview is all about. This curriculum (which includes videos, parent guides and student worksheets) will help you teach your children at home.  They will learn ways to critically think distinguish between object truth vs. subjective truth and will learn about the differences between a biblical worldview and other common worldviews.

My Review

 

Apologetics

I love finding good books for kids that will keep their interest while teaching them a few things. When a life lesson is wrapped in a good story, it can be easier for children to understand without seeming preachy! And one series I’ve recently found is written by J. Warner Wallace. 

Wallace, a retired detective,  decided to investigate the claims of Christianity as he would a cold case. At the end of his investigation, Wallace found faith in Jesus! He has written about his investigations so that adults and children can see that faith is evidence based. Written for 8-12 year-olds, this series uses an investigation of a mystery to introduce detective principals and then applies those same principals to the claims of Christianity. Your children will learn to THINK as they explore evidence leading them to truth. In addition to the books, you can download activity sheets and note sheets that will take them through Cadet Academy. Plus there’s a parent guide to help you discuss each chapter with your child.  Parents might also want to read the adult versions of each book, Cold Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene and Forensic Faith.  Parents be sure to check out his latest release, Person of Interest. Mind blowing!

My Review

 

Theology

This is another hit by Marty Machowski. He has put a tremendous amount of thought and study behind this book. And quite frankly, I will be using this book often to help me explain theological truths to others. It’s a far more understandable resource than the systematic theology books I had to read in seminary! You’ll have no reason to avoid teaching theology to your children and you may learn something too!

The book covers various categories of theology: God, People, Sin, Christ, The Holy Spirit, End Times, God’s Word and more! Most explanations are dealt with in one or two short pages, with scripture and an illustration.  If you’re concerned about grounding your children in solid biblical worldview, you will need to take this resource seriously. Theology for children is within reach!

My Review

 

Selections for Christmas and Easter

Barbara Reaoch has several resources for you to use during the Christmas and Easter season.  Her devotionals include a daily Bible reading along with questions and a journal page to engage the family.  Her Christmas devotionals begin on December 1 and walk you through each day until Christmas Day.  The Easter devotional begins four weeks prior to Easter.  Her devotionals include:

• A Jesus Christmas – God’s Amazing Plan for Christmas (from the beginning!)
• A Better Than Anything Christmas – Explore How Jesus Makes Christmas Better (a look through the Gospels)
• A Jesus Easter – Explore God’s Amazing Rescue Plan (from the Old Testament to the New Testament)

She also offers Why Easter? and Why Christmas? targeted for younger children (ages 2-5). 

Darkest Night, Brightest Day allows you to begin celebrating the Easter season on Palm Sunday. You’ll begin using Darkest Night, with family devotionals for seven days. This side of the book takes you through the passion week as Jesus approaches the final week of his life, determined to complete his earthly mission. Then on Easter morning, you’ll flip the book over and begin reading through Brightest Day. Here the author, Marty Machowski takes your family through 7 more daily devotions covering the resurrection appearances of Christ, his ascension, and Pentecost.

 

For another unique Easter basket surprise include some Christian fiction.  Amon’s Adventures is a fictional story set in Jerusalem during the time of Christ.  Amon, a 13 year old, is caught up in a life and death mystery that sends him on a quest to discover the truth.  A stubborn lad, Amon and his friends encounter several people you’ll recognize from Biblical times.  This cleaver story is a look inside of what life might have been like during the days of Jesus.   I expect your pre-teen readers will not be able to put down the book!  I loved it!

There are other books in this series that have a Christmas theme.  Although I have not personally read these (yet), I expect they will be just as wonderful!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

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