By Susan Ciancio
This year, the March for Life is January 23, and the theme is “Life Is a Gift.” As parents, we know this is true. We see the gifts of our children each day. But there are many people who do not understand that children are gifts. That’s why we must work every day to teach this truth—to our children, to our friends, and to our wider communities. And this truth is why Nellie Gray started the March for Life in 1974, a year after Roe v. Wade was decided.
So as we prepare to march for life, we want to highlight four of our booklets (including one about Nellie Gray!) that can help you, as parents and educators, teach the fact that all life is a gift. Each of these downloadable booklets shows the beauty of preborn life.
1. The Power of One: Nellie Gray and the March for Life (high school)
Nellie Gray and a group of dedicated pro-lifers knew they had to do something when the Roe v. Wade decision was handed down in 1973, so on the one-year anniversary they held the first March for Life. Nellie Gray dedicated the rest of her life to saving babies and fighting abortion. In this booklet, students will uncover the history of the March for Life and learn how they can use their own talents and gifts to end abortion. The booklet ends with an activity to make a poster for the March for Life. If you’re not going this year, you can make a meme for social media or even a sign for your house to remind you to pray for preborn babies.
2. Life Is Precious (K-2nd grade)
This booklet instructs children about the truth of human development and caring for others while still respecting their innocence. It covers the following topics:
- Taking care of a new baby, both before and after birth
- Our uniqueness as individuals
- Standing up for what you believe in
- Defending the least of these
It is a beautiful way to help young children internalize the fact that life is a gift.
3. The Beauty of the Developing Human Being (middle school or older)
The Beauty of the Developing Human Being explores the science of the earliest moments of a person’s life and gives students a firm foundation regarding the fact that every human being’s life must be protected from creation until death. The booklet explores a baby’s development during each trimester and includes a beautiful chart that illustrates how a baby grows. It then culminates with activities to reinforce these concepts.
4. Dr. Jérôme Lejeune and Trisomy 21 (middle school or older)
In this booklet, students will learn about the greatest discovery of modern genetics—the cause of Down syndrome. Dr. Lejeune was a brilliant scientist, a saintly man, and an outspoken advocate for the “least of these.” Using every opportunity to speak on behalf of preborn babies and people with disabilities, Dr. Lejeune was a pro-life hero who sacrificed his career and worldly honors in order to speak the truth about the horrors of abortion.
Each of these booklets will help you and your children see that life is a gift that must be protected. And each will offer ways that you can help protect preborn babies. When we build this foundation, our children will be more likely to grow up understanding the fundamental truth that all life is valuable, regardless of age, ability, or location.