📖

George Whitefield: Voice Across the Colonies

The Great Awakening and Colonial Culture

Day 43of 180
Week 9of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand George Whitefield's role in the Great Awakening

2

Explore how faith can unite people across different regions

3

Recognize the importance of sharing God's message

📖 Scripture Connection

Matthew 28:19

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

— Matthew 28:19 (WEB)

Illustrates the biblical call to spread God's message to all people, just as Whitefield did across the colonies

📦 Materials Needed

  • Large map of 13 colonies
  • Colored markers
  • Paper
  • Pencils
  • Picture of George Whitefield
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students around the map of the 13 colonies. Ask them to imagine traveling without cars, planes, or phones, and how difficult it was to communicate in the 1700s.

💭 Review Question: How do you think people shared important messages in colonial times?
2Teaching (10 min)

George Whitefield was a traveling preacher who spoke to thousands of people across the American colonies. He wasn't just a local pastor, but a powerful speaker who could gather huge crowds outdoors and in churches.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Whitefield could speak to 20,000 people without a microphone
  • He traveled thousands of miles on horseback
  • He preached a message of personal faith and God's love
  • He helped unite colonists who often lived very different lives
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What do you think made people want to listen to Whitefield?
  • How might his preaching be different from church services today?
  • Why is it important to share God's love with others?
3Activity: Whitefield's Journey Map (10 min)
hands-on mapping

Students will trace Whitefield's travel routes on a colony map, marking key locations and creating a visual of his ministry.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Use colored markers to draw Whitefield's travel routes
  2. Mark major cities where he preached
  3. Write interesting facts about each location
  4. Share your map with a partner
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Provide pre-marked route for students to color

Challenge: Research additional details about specific locations

4Closing (5 min)

Reflect on how one person can make a big difference by sharing God's message

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about George Whitefield today?
  • How can we share God's love in our own community?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us to be brave like George Whitefield and share Your love with others. Amen.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about how the Great Awakening changed schools and learning in the colonies

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding.”

— Proverbs 3:5 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Trust Walk - Students pair up and take turns guiding a blindfolded partner, learning to trust

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

George Whitefield was a key figure in the Great Awakening, a religious revival that emphasized personal faith and spiritual transformation

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Discuss the importance of spreading God's message
  • Help children understand historical context
  • Encourage curiosity about religious history
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find historical details challenging to understand

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Engagement with the story, curiosity about Whitefield's travels

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Research other Great Awakening preachers
  • Create a dramatic reading of a Whitefield sermon
  • Draw a picture of an outdoor revival meeting

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 44 →Back to History & Social Studies