Godly Play - The Good Samaritan
Before the Biblezone session.
Learn the script off by heart.
Practise telling the story.
The text in the left column is the actions. The text in the right column is the words to say. Sometimes
actions and words are to be done at the same time, and this is indicated by an arrow. If the text is in
italics, then these words are suggestions, possible responses to children’s comments. The Godly Play
Foundation has produced some videos which are a helpful guide in setting the tone and style of the
storytelling. www.youtube.com/user/GodlyPlayFndn/videos
Setting the scene.
You may wish to set up a focal table behind you. This is a Godly Play resource featuring the Holy Family,
the risen Christ and a large candle.
During the Biblezone session
Take your time, don’t rush. Let the children engage with the story. Do not worry if there is silence or
if there is chat. Every group is different. Remember to focus everything on the story – no eye contact
unless directed by the script! Always hold objects and characters in the flat of your hand.
After the Biblezone session
Do not worry if the children appear to have a different understanding of the story than is traditionally
taught. The important thing is that they have experienced it in a way that is meaningful to them; they
are on a personal journey.
Pictures are from the storyteller’s perspective.
Creating the scene and asking questions
Actions
Settle the group into a circle.
Place the gold box in the middle of the
circle.
Speak gently, looking at the box.
Words
Look. The box is the colour of gold. Gold
is very precious and valuable. Perhaps
there is something valuable inside. There
could be a parable inside. Parables are
very valuable. They are worth even more
than gold.
The box looks like a present. You know,
there may be a parable inside, because
you were given parables as a present,
even before you were born. Even if you
don’t know what a parable is, it is still
yours.
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Actions
Open the box. Put the lid on its side, at
the front of the box, creating a wall and
blocking the children’s view of the contents.
Place the box to your side.
Take out the large brown fabric and place
in a crumpled mess in the middle of the
circle.
Words
The box looks old. Parables are also old.
They are older than you, and they are
older than me. They are even older than
your grandmother or grandfather; they
are almost two thousand years old.
I wonder if there is a parable inside. I
have an idea. Let’s look and see.
Hmm. I wonder what this could be.
Feel free to touch the fabric and examine
it. Have eye contact with the children, to
encourage them to respond.
I wonder what this could really be. There
is so much brown. There is no green at all.
Look, there is no blue. There is nothing
but brown. I wonder what it could be.
Give a little time for the children to suggest
ideas before giving some suggestions. Fold
or twist or wear the fabric depending on
the children’s suggestions.
A giant cookie to nibble on? A mountain to
climb? A choc ice to eat? A blanket to keep
you warm?
Gently smooth the cloth into a rectangle,
in the middle of the circle. Have the longer
side facing the storyteller.
Take out the long black strip. Lay it
diagonally across the underlay, starting
from the left corner, closest to the
storyteller.
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It is hard to know what this could really
be if there is only brown. Let’s see if
there is anything else in the box to help
us.
Now, I wonder what this could be. What
could it really be?
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Actions
Give a little time for the children to
suggest ideas. Touch the fabric in a way
to emphasise their ideas, – fingers jumping
over a ‘wall’ or swimming through a river.
Words
It could be a crack. Perhaps the whole
thing is going to break into two pieces? Is
it a fence? Road? River?
Let’s see if there is anything else to help
us.
Take out the city of Jerusalem – the larger
city. Place it flat in your hand – keeping
your hand open and flat, and show it to each
child. Place it at one end of the road, the
left corner nearest the storyteller, facing
towards the children.
Repeat with the second city, Jericho, and
place it at the other end of the road, on
the far right. Look back at the scene.
Run your fingers from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Take out the two black shapes.
Hold the shapes up to the light then hold
them over your eyes. Place the shapes on
either side of the road at the mid-point.
Take out the two robbers. Hold flat in both
hands, show to the children, and then place
each one underneath the black shapes.
Sit back, eyes cast down. When you and
the children are ready, begin.
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Oh, look. It is a road. It is going from
this place to this place. But there is
more.
Look at this.
I wonder what these could be. There is
no light in them at all. They are like
shadows.
Let’s see what else there is to help us
make the parable.
Now I think we have everything we need.
We’re ready to begin.
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Actions
Words
Telling the Story
There was once someone who did such
amazing things and said such wonderful
things that people followed him. As they
followed him they heard him speaking of
many things. Sometimes people asked
him questions.
One day a person asked him a question:
‘What is the most important thing in life?’
The person he asked said: ‘You already
know.’
‘That is true, I do,’ the person replied.
‘It is to love God and love your neighbour.’
The person paused a while and then
asked, ‘But who is my neighbour?’
Take out the traveller, place in your open
hand and show to the children.
Keep the traveller flat in your open hand
and place him at the Jerusalem end of the
road. Move him slowly along the road as you
speak.
The person he asked then told this
parable.
There was once a man who was going
from Jerusalem down to Jericho. As he
went along his way he was attacked by
robbers.
Stop at the mid-point of the road, between
the two black shapes.
Firmly place a robber diagonally on top of
the traveller.
They hurt him,
Firmly place the second robber on top,
making a cross shape over the traveller.
took everything that he had,
Remove the robbers, to the box or to the
side. Place the traveller ‘lying down’, at the
side of the road, near a black shape.
and left him by the side of the road half
dead.
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Actions
Show the priest to the children, flat on
your hand, and then slowly start his journey
from Jerusalem, down the middle of the
road.
Words
There was also a great priest of the
Temple who went on the road from
Jerusalem down to Jericho. As he went
along his way, he came to the place where
the person was who had been hurt, had
everything taken from him, and had been
left by the side of the road half dead.
When the priest arrives where the traveller
is, move him to the other side of the road
to the traveller.
When the priest came to him, the priest
went to the other side
Finish the journey to Jericho then remove
the priest from the scene.
and went along his way.
Show the Levite to the children, flat on
your hand, and then slowly start his journey
from Jerusalem, down the middle of the
road.
There was also someone else who worked
at the Temple who went from Jerusalem
down to Jericho. He was one of the
people who helped the priests. He took
care of the Temple and helped with the
music. He was called a Levite.
When the Levite arrives where the traveller
is, move him to the other side of the road
to the traveller.
When the Levite came to the place where
the person was who had been hurt, had
everything taken from him, and had been
left by the side of the road half dead,
he went to the other side,
Finish the journey to Jericho, then remove
the Levite from the scene.
and he went along his way.
Show the Samaritan to the children, flat
on your hand, and then slowly start his
journey from Jerusalem, down the middle
of the road.
There was also a person who went on the
road who did not live in Jerusalem. He was
visiting from a country called Samaria.
The people in Samaria did not like the
people in Jerusalem, and the people in
Jerusalem did not like the people from
Samaria.
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Actions
Words
Move the Samaritan to the traveller.
When the stranger came to where the
person was who had been hurt, had
everything taken from him, and had been
left by the side of the road half dead,
the stranger went to him.
Show the image of the Samaritan placing
the cloak over the traveller, then place it
on top of the Samaritan and the traveller.
The stranger put medicine on the places
where the person was hurt. He gave him
his coat to put on.
Show the last image, of the man travelling
with the donkey and then place it on top of
the pile.
He then put him on his donkey
Pick up the pile of figures in the flat of your
hand and move them slowly down the road,
stopping just outside Jericho.
and took him to a place to spend the
night.
The stranger even stayed with him all
night, and in the morning he gave the
innkeeper enough money for him to stay
there until he was well.
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Actions
Words
I wonder…
Sit back and ponder the parable.
When ready, line up all the figures to your
left on the fabric. Place the traveller
furthest away and separate from the
other characters. The covering pieces can
be returned to the box.
Place the priest next to the traveller. Pause
in case any child wishes to answer.
Now, I wonder, who was the neighbour to
the person who was hurt had everything
taken from him, and was left by the side
of the road half dead?
Repeat with each character. Be accepting
if the pupils give different answers or
disagree.
I wonder if it could be this one.
Move the traveller to join the other
characters and replace with a robber.
I wonder who is the neighbour to this
one? Ahh. That’s not so easy, is it?
Place each character next to the robber,
and ask if they are the neighbour to the
robber.
Could it be this one? How about this one?
Who is the neighbour to this one?
I wonder if it could be this one.
This one? Could it be this one? I wonder if
it could be this one?
Repeat with different combinations of
characters.
If is appropriate, extend the wondering.
Now I wonder what would happen if the
people in the parable were women and
not men?
I wonder what would happen if the person
finding the injured traveller was a child?
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Actions
Words
Tidying up
Carefully pick up each piece one at a time,
naming them, then place gently back in the
box.
Fold up the road and the fabric.
Here is the traveller.
The Samaritan.
The priest.
The Levite.
The two thieves.
The rocks.
The cities.
The road.
Close the box.
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