Lesson five - pages 10/11 Journey of the Magi

Aim for the book

To engage children in a discussion relating the Christian understanding of God to everyday life.

Learning objectives

• To know the difference between a journey and a destination.
• To be able to plan for and reflect on a class expedition.
• To understand that our lives can be compared to a journey.

Bible reference

Matthew 2.1-12

Background

Fabriano's painting The Journey of the Magi (Wise Men) captures the essential elements of pilgrimage. Rich and poor, young and old, are drawn to a place or, as in this case, a person - Jesus. There is a lot to explore in the picture but it would help to focus your discussion on journeys undertaken for a purpose.

The significance of this story in Matthew's gospel is that God's promises to the Jewish people were fulfilled, and men and women of all nations came to pay tribute to Jesus. The Wise Men or astrologers are a metaphor for this.

Ways of using this picture

• Look closely at the painting. Are all the people the same? How are they travelling? Who is at the end of their journey?
• Can you find the three Wise Men? What are they doing?
• Talk about journeys the children have made - they can be long or short. Focus upon preparations, anticipation, excitement or anxieties. Can journeys make us wise? What do we learn on long journeys?

Key words

• Together
• Journey
• Destination
• Planning
• Travel
• Adventure
• Discover
• Alone

Activity one - preparing for a trip

• You will need

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.25-37
Writing materials
A local destination to visit in the future that the children can plan for

• Start

Talk about going on a journey.
Tell the story of the Good Samaritan.

• Develop

Start preparing for your class journey.
What might happen that is good? What might happen that is bad?
What might you see along the way to help you? (signposts)

• End

Reflect on the discussion. What is the purpose of our journey?
Pupils to write briefly about their hopes and fears for the trip.

Activity two - have a good journey

• You will need

A local map
Materials to make a plan

• Start

Revise the plans you have made for your trip.
Look on the map to see your route and destination.

• Develop

Go on your trip listing the

• things you pass
• things you see
• people you pass
• people you see.

On your return, make a plan of your journey using symbols to show the items listed.

• End

Think about journeys themselves being important - not just destinations.

Activity three - off to church

• You will need

To arrange a visit to a local church.

• Start

Recap on your recent local trip.
Using the same steps as above, plan with the pupils a trip to the local church.

• Develop

Brainstorm about what the church visit might be like.
What will we see?
Who will we meet?

• End

Reflect on whether Christians believe God can only be found in a church..

Activity checklist

Activity one - preparing for a trip

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.25-37
Writing materials
A local destination to visit in the future that the children can plan for

Activity two - have a good journey

A local map
Materials to make a plan

Activity three - off to church

To arrange a visit to a local church

Web site links

For further information, look at the links section of this site.

www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/g/gentile/

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gentile/

http://sunsite.dk/cgfa/f/p-fabrian1.htm

http://sunsite.dk/cgfa/f/p-fabrian2.htm

© Pauline Davis, 2001

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