Family Activities

You are about to start an adventure of a lifetime! Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter as they discover the magical fairy tale world of Narnia! Their story starts in the outskirts of war-torn London during the war. They are sent by their parents to the country estate of the Old Professor so they will be safe from the bombs. There they try to forget about the horrors taking place in their home city by exploring the vast estate of the old professor. On beautiful, sunny day they are free to roam around outside. But on cold, rainy days they must amuse themselves in the great rooms that there never seem to be a shortage of. While playing hide and seek on one of these days, the youngest child, Lucy decided to hide in an old wardrobe in the spare bedroom. This old wardrobe was most unusual, for the deeper Lucy went to hide, the colder the wardrobe became until the soft fur of the coats gave way to brittle branches of trees. Lucy had just entered Narnia, the land of talking animals where it was always winter, but never Christmas.

C.S. Lewis wrote seven fairy talks called The Chronicles of Narnia. In them he combined his creativity and skill as a literary writer with his Christian beliefs to “steal past a certain inhibition which has paralyzed much of my own religion in childhood…By casting all these things into an imaginary world, stripping them of their stained-glass and Sunday school association, one could make them for the first time appear in their real potency.” (C.S. Lewis)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the first book of The Chronicles of Narnia. In it C.S. Lewis tackles the subject of good versus evil. Aslan, the Lion, represents all that is good. The White Witch, self-proclaimed Queen of Narnia, represents all that is evil. The children who enter Narnia though the wardrobe represent those who explore Christianity.

As you introduce your children (for the first time or the 10^th) to the magical land of Narnia, learn the parallels of this imaginary journey with those of a new Christian. For this book is much, much more than a fairy tale for children. It holds deeper meaning for adults as you, together with the children, discover the only way to combat the evil in the world and in our hearts is to call upon Christ for help. Only then can the evil force be overcome.

Chapters 1 – 2: Lucy & the Wardrobe
Scripture Reference: Psalm 119:105

Lesson 1 Outline:

1. Travel Log: Welcome to Narnia
2. Introduction of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Make a wall map mural if you wish to use to track the adventures of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy.
3. Read chapters 1 – 2 of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. As you read, you can add the Story Characters to your wall mural.
4. Interactive Activity: Drop the Handkerchief
5. A visit with the Professor: Welcome!
6. Bible Memory Game: Mr. Tumnus’ Relay
   1. Verse: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
7. Discussion

Parent’s Prayer to Prepare:
“Dear Lord, As I prepare for my children, please guide my words so that I will be Your instrument to teach my young child(ren) just what it means to be a Christian. Help me to open the “wardrobe” for them and to spark their curiosity about your Word and the abundant life You offer those who believe.”

Snack Idea:
Toast with Honey or Cake with Sugar on Top

Instructions: Cut several slices of bread in four. Put them on a cookie sheet and heat them until lightly toasted. Give a piece of bread to your child and let them put honey on it OR Bake a yellow cake mix. While cake is still warm, sprinkle the top with sugar.

Application: When Lucy went to Mr. Tumnus’ house, he served her toast with honey and cake with sugar on top.

Supplies:
1 piece of yarn for journal
1 handkerchief
2 sets of: jackets, scarves, hats, & umbrellas
2 chairs

1A. Travel Log: Welcome to Narnia

Create a handbook/journal, My Travels to Narnia for your child or they can make one themselves.

 Welcome to Narnia

1. Decorate the cover and write “My Travels to Narnia” for the title. They may want to put their name on it.
2. Page 1: Welcome to Narnia
   1. In today’s story Lucy had a nice long visit with Mr. Tumnus. Fill in the information for your Travel Log:
      1. My name is _______________________________.
      2. I have _____________ brothers and _______________ sisters.
      3. I have a pet named ______________.
      4. My school is _____________________.
      5. My favorite game is ____________________.
      6. My favorite T.V. show is _____________________.
      7. My favorite movie is _________________.
      8. My favorite singing group is ____________________.
      9. The person I most admire is ________________________.

1B. Introduction to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Read above, if you haven’t already

Lucy and the Wardrobe
Chapters 1 – 2 Summary

A long time ago, there were four children who were sent away from their home in London because of the war and the daily bombings of their city. They were sent to a big old house in the country belonging to an old Professor. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a story about what happened to Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter beginning on a very rainy day while they were exploring big, practically empty rooms in the sort of house you never seem to come to the end of.

Lucy was the youngest and was dragging behind while the other children wandered from one room to another. There were no closets in these old-fashioned rooms, just big wooden wardrobes with two wooden doors – the kind that have mirrors on them and that hold lots and lots of coats stored in mothballs. Back in one of the spare bedrooms, Lucy found one of these old wardrobes. Being a very curious child, Lucy opened it to see the old fur coats. She liked the touch and the smell of them, so she stepped inside to rub her face on all of them. Soon she discovered there was more than one row of these coats hanging behind the first, so she stepped way inside..being careful to not close the big wooden wardrobe doors behind her. As she stepped further inside reaching for the back of the wardrobe instead of feeling the soft fur of coats she felt the sharp branches of trees and snowflakes began to fall on her cheeks!

How strange, Lucy thought! As she stared through the trees in surprise, she saw a light far off and decided to find out what it was. After a short walk, she discovered the light was an old fashioned lamp-post. While standing under the light, a very strange person carrying an umbrella over his arm came rushing along carrying several brown-wrapped parcels and looking like he had just finished Christmas shopping. From the waist up this peculiar person looked like a man, but from the waist down his legs were shaped like a goat and he was carrying his tail over his arm so it would not drag though the snow. When he saw Lucy, a little human girl, he was so startled that he dropped all of his packages!

The faun, for that is what he was, introduced himself to Lucy as Mr. Tumnus. After inviting her to his house for cake and tea, he explains to her that she is in the land of Narnia where it is always winter but never Christmas. Calling her a “Daughter of Eve”, he told her story after story about the land and the people and soon the afternoon passed quickly. Lucy started to feel sleepy when Mr. Tumnus suddenly started to cry. He confessed he worked for the White Witch and was supposed to kidnap any human who entered Narnia and bring them to her castle. If he did not follow her orders, he would be turned to stone…or worse!

Lucy could not believe her new friend would do such a thing and convinced him to help her find her way back to the lamp-post and the path to the wardrobe.

1D. Interactive Activity: Drop the Handkerchief
Supplies:
1 handkerchief
1 chair for each member of the family playing minus one (optional)

Game Setup:
If you use chairs, set up chairs in a circle.

Directions:

1. All but one player sits in a circle with legs crossed.
2. The player that is not sitting is “It” and walks around the outside of the circle carrying a handkerchief. “It” drops the handkerchief behind one of the seated players.
3. The seated player jumps up and tries to tag “It” before “It” has a chance to fast walk (or run) around the circle to the space that the seated player just vacated. If “It” makes it to the spot, the replaced player becomes the new “It.” If “It” is tagged, “It” remains “It” and the game starts over.

1E. A Visit with the Professor

This is one of the most important parts of the study! The Professor takes that which C.S. Lewis has written in fairy tale form and makes is applicable to kids’ lives today. These major points are reviewed at the end of each lesson when your child goes through the Discussion Questions.

Ideas:
Get your husband to be involved during this time, if he’s available.
Read it like it’s a letter from the Professor.

Welcome!

Welcome! I am so glad you have come to visit me! It has been a long time since this drafty old house has experienced the laughter of children! Feel free to explore all the “secrets” found here and, as you do, I want to help you understand them!

Today you discovered a whole new world when you traveled with Lucy through the old wardrove in the spare bedroom upstairs. I bet you had quite an adventure as you found your way through those old coats to the magical world of Narnia! Narnia is a most incredible land and you will learn much about yourself in this enchanted world.

What does this have to do with you, you say? Well, let me tell you! You see, everything in Narnia has a special meaning…even the old wardrobe by which you entered this land. Even Lucy is representative of something in your world today. Let me explain.

Narnia represents Christianity. When Lucy first enters Narnia, she finds the land frozen. It is “always winter, but never Christmas!” Narnia has fallen under the power of evil forces (The Wicked Witch) and those who remain good in its world wait with anticipation for the coming of the true King, Aslan. (You will meet Aslan later in our journey though Narnia.)

The Wardrobe represents the Bible, God’s Holy Word. It is through its old doors (the ancient words written in the Bible) that we learn what it means to love and be loved by God. We will learn what it means to do that which is good.

The Lamp-post is what shows Lucy, and all others that visit Narnia, the way. It is the only light that greets a visitor in an otherwise grey and cloudy world. Under its light, things become clearer. In a sense, those who teach you how to study the Bible are providing you the light from which you can see the meaning of God’ Word more clearly.

Mr. Tumnus explains the prophesy of the land of Narnia. He tells Lucy why Narnia is “always winter.” He tells her how evil entered their beautiful land it will remain until the four thrones of Cair Paravel are filled. This means that he is foretelling the coming of Christ, our redeemer.

Lucy stands for all those who are just discovering the Bible and what it means to be a Christian. Simply put, Lucy is you and me! As she travels through Narnia, she is exploring the concepts and characteristics of Christian living. She represents spontaneous faith. She immediately falls in love with Narnia and all the good creatures who live there.
We will learn more about Lucy’s personality as well as those of the other children as we continue our journey, but for now I must leave you so you can be refreshed after your long morning! Goodbye, and I will see you later!

1F. Bible Memory Game: Mr. Tumnus’ Relay

Supplies:
1 set of clothes for each “team” – jacket, scarf & hat
1 umbrella for each “team”
1 chair for each “team”

Game Set-Up:

Mark a starting line with masking tape (indoors) or sidewalk chalk (outdoors.) Approximately five feet from the starting line put a chair with clothes on it…one for each team. Approximately five feet from the chair put the umbrella on the floor. *Remember to review the Bible verse several times with your child(ren) before playing the game! *

Instructions:

1. Divide into two teams or just see how fast you can to it one after another. Line up in straight line behind the starting line facing the clothes and the umbrella.
2. On “GO” the first player on each team runs to the chair, puts on the clothes, runs to the umbrella & stands it up with its point on the ground, puts his/her forehead on the umbrella hands , and as he/she runs around it, says the Bible verse.
3. Player then runs back to the chair, takes off the clothes, runs back to his/her team and tags the next player in line. He/She then goes to the back of the line and sits down.
4. Repeat steps #2 & #3 until all have completed the relay.
5. The team that completes the relay first (AND IS SEATED) wins.

Verse: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105

1G. Discussion Questions

One of the most important parts of this study is how each child applies what is learned to their own lives. Take time to discuss the lesson learned and what it means to them.

Questions:

1. Describe Narnia as it is presented in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
2. What does “it is always winter, but never Christmas” mean to you?
3. Tell me something that makes your world seem like “it is always winter, but never Christmas.”