Lesson ten - pages 20/21 The flight to Egypt

Aim for the book

To explore real and visionary journeys encountered in life.

Learning objectives

• To know that Jesus was a refugee when he was a baby and took asylum in a foreign land.
• To be able to empathize with people today who are fleeing from an oppressive regime and are forced to leave their own homes.
• To understand that refugees have a very hard time both in the country that they leave and in their adoptive country.

Background

This biblical event revisits the importance of dreams but highlights the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as refugees. They have to flee; they have to leave home; they are fearful of what lies ahead; they are weak; and to escape the powerful they run away taking with them only what they can carry. The story is also a metaphor for the people of Israel being enslaved in Egypt before being led by Moses out of captivity to freedom. For the writer of Matthew's Gospel it was important that the story of Jesus should fulfil the prophecies of the Scriptures; this would demonstrate Jesus was the Messiah the Jews were waiting for.

Bible reference

Matthew 2.13-21

Key words

• Flight
• Refugee

Activity one - escaping

• You will need
  Picture from the book, In Journeys.
  A zig-zag book for each child made from A4 card cut lengthwise and folded to make four small pictures.
  A copy of the story of the Flight from Egypt from the Gospel of Matthew.
• Start
  Look carefully at the picture from the book together. What can the children tell from it?
  Reflect on the first sentence accompanying the picture: 'Jesus had to make a difficult journey when he was a baby.'
  Collect some words from the children that describe their feelings as they look at the picture.
• Develop
  Tell the story of the Flight to Egypt from Matthew chapter two in your own words, focusing on the four main events of the story:
  getting ready to leave;
  on the road;
  resting; and
  arriving in Egypt.
  Make zig-zag books showing these four scenes from the story, with a (picture and sentence) for each scene.
• End
  Children can share their work and compare their versions by showing their books to each other.

Activity two - a long journey

• You will need
  A box such as an A4 paper box.
  Disposable nappy.
  Feeding bottle.
  Warm clothes including hat and gloves.
  Toys for the baby.
  Large paper and pens for list.
  Blank labels.
  Art materials.
• Start
  Ask the children to describe a long journey that they have made - it might have been going on holiday or to see a friend or relation.
• Develop
  Retell the story of Joseph and Mary and Jesus' journey into Egypt.
  Think of how difficult it would be, without modern transport.
  Make a list on the large paper of all the items that they would need to take for the baby.
  Look at the picture again, and notice that the man in the picture is carrying a box on his head.
  What's in the box?
  What would Jesus need for the journey?
  Put all the items that you have collected into your box, and encourage the children to think of any more things that the baby would need.
  Write these onto the blank labels and put these in the box as well.
  In pairs the children can then draw a box (or have a template of one) and draw the items in it.
  Draw another for Mary and Joseph.
  Remind the children about the lack of space and how heavy the box would be to carry, and the lack of time to pack it properly.
• End
  Compare the boxes for Jesus and those for Joseph and Mary
  Draw a large version of the children's suggestions for Mary and Joseph.
• Assessment opportunities
  To be able to project their own ideas of what it would be like to be a refugee, and think about others' feelings and emotions.

Activity three - role-play journey

• You will need
  The picture from the book In Journeys.
  A large space to work in.
• Start
  Remind the children of the story of the Flight to Egypt.
  How was the journey going to be difficult?
  How do you think Mary and Joseph felt?
• Develop
  Divide the children into pairs. One of the pair to take the role of Joseph, and the other to be Mary.
  Discuss together and devise a conversation...
• Before the journey
  How do they feel about embarking on a long dangerous journey?
  How do they express their worries and the fears?
  How do they show their concern for each other?
  How do they show their concern for baby Jesus?
  What might Mary and Joseph say to each other?
• During the journey
  The children might discuss what their hopes and fears are for their precious baby.
  They could talk about this as people who are responsible for the child.
• End
  As the role-play develops, the children could interact with other pairs, and ask questions of Mary and Joseph, and then 'hot seat' them.

Web site links

There are numerous traditional images of this biblical story. For real contrast, look at Van Dyck's Rest on the Flight into Egypt at http://www.vandyck.co.uk/egypt.html

or Fra Angelico's Flight from Egypt at http://www.artofeurope.com/angelico/fra1.htm

Activity checklist

Activity one - escaping

Picture from the book, In Journeys.
A zig-zag book for each child made from A4 card cut lengthwise and folded to make four small pictures.
A copy of the story of the Flight from Egypt from the gospel of Matthew.

Activity two - a long journey

A box such as an A4 paper box.
Disposable nappy.
Feeding bottle.
Warm clothes including hat and gloves.
Toys for the baby.
Large paper and pens for list.
Blank labels.
Art materials.

Activity three - role-play journey

The picture from the book In Journeys.
A large space to work in.

© Graham Owen