Aim

To introduce the idea that Christians also see life as a journey.
To introduce children to the allegorical nature of The Pilgrim's Progress.

Preparation

Before the lesson photocopy one worksheet for each child.
Prepare photographs of a journey which you have made.

Lesson

Begin by sharing with the children a journey which you have made. Afterwards, encourage them to talk about their journeys. What have been the longest / most enjoyable / most dangerous journeys which they have made? Which journeys would they like to make?

Remind them that many people view life as a journey. Ask them to expand on this idea with reference to the Hindu tradition.

Following discussion, inform the children that many Christians also view their lives as a journey. Where do they think a Christian's journey might begin and end?

Show children a copy of the Pilgrim's Progress. Inform them that it is the most famous of the many religious books written by John Bunyan. Soon after it was written in 1676, it became a best-seller and has been translated into 200 different languages.

It is the story of one man's difficult journey from the City of Destruction to the City of Light. The man's name is Christian.

Share with children the opening of the Pilgrim's Progress, including Christian's encounter with Obstinant and Pliable.

What kind of story do they think it is? Is there such a place as the City of Destruction or real people named Obstinant and Pliable?

What other characters do the children think Christian might encounter on his way to the City of Light? Which will he meet on the straight path and which at crossroads or bridges?

Christian also encounters different places on his journey. What might these be?

Activity

Using the worksheet, which may be enlarged, ask children to put on the people and features which they believe Christian might encounter on his journey. Their people can be thumb-print drawings, on the lines of Mr. Men characters.

Invite volunteers to share their maps with the rest of the class. How will Christian respond to the different people and places he encounters on his journey?

How would they respond in similar circumstances?

Conclusion

Conclude with a period of stillness in which the children reflect on how they reacted to a difficulty which they encountered on a real journey or in their journey of life.