Ultimate Church Visit

Bible zone begins with a discussion about stories and special and holy books, and the importance of the Bible for Christians. Pupils hear a parable, or a Bible story, using a method of storytelling based on ‘Godly Play’. They are encouraged to wonder about the story and its meaning, and then to respond by expressing their own feelings about the story through drawing or writing.

Worship zone begins with thinking about the concept of worship, special places and the objects which help people to worship. Pupils discover the key features of a Salvation Army church and explore their significance. They also look at examples of different types of worship within The Salvation Army.

Community zone explores how The Salvation Army helps people in the community. Pupils learn how members of The Salvation Army put their beliefs into action. They also think about ways they could help their community and show kindness to others at home and at school.

International zone takes a speedy trip around the world, visiting (up to) five different countries where The Salvation Army is at work. In each country pupils think about what life is like, discover the difficult situations that people may face, and find out how The Salvation Army is helping.

In Symbol Zone, (aimed at KS2, ages 7-11) pupils take on the role of secret agents to uncover the meanings of some Salvation Army symbols. They also think about why we sometimes use signs and symbols instead of words, and design a flag which represents their own beliefs or things which are important to them.

Music zone introduces pupils to the musical instruments used in The Salvation Army. Pupils discover more about the history of music in The Salvation Army, as well as the range of music used in worship today. They also think about how feelings and beliefs can be expressed through music.

In History zone, pupils use their imagination to travel back in time, finding out about life in Victorian Britain and discovering the story of how William and Catherine Booth started The Salvation Army. Pupils explore artefacts, objects and clues from a time capsule or character bags, or take part in a drama in which they play different characters involved in the story.

In Uniform zone pupils think about why different people wear uniform and have the opportunity to dress up in a range of Salvation Army uniforms. Pupils trace the development of the Salvation Army uniform and think about why there are different uniforms for different cultures and climates, and for different occasions and jobs.

In Homelessness zone pupils reflect on what it might be like to be homeless and find out how The Salvation Army tries to help. They think about what makes a home and what they think is important in a home. While acknowledging that people can be homeless in different ways, the main activities in this zone focus on people who live on the street.