Assembly 6: Humility

Treasure

by S Garratt

Hugs with my family, smiles from our neighbours, Playing with friends, the kindness of strangers. Cheering my team, singing a song, Learning new things, and getting along All of these things give me so much more pleasure Than any amount of riches and treasure.

The wonders of nature: white clouds in blue sky, The silvery moon, the heat of July, A perfect pink rosebud, a blackbird’s refrain, The sweet scent of lilacs, refreshing cool rain, Summer’s bright sun and winter’s ice-cold Bring me more joy than silver and gold.

Colossal whales and slow-moving snails, The freedom to roam through mountains and dales, Watching the sun set over the sea, Fields full of poppies, wind in the trees. To me, a forest of oak, beech and ash Is worth so much more than a pocket of cash.

My hands that help others, that carry and soothe, My ears that hear poetry, music and truth, My mouth that tastes mangoes and curry and cheese, Ripe strawberries, caramel, fresh-podded peas. My eyes that see beauty, colours and light My legs that can run, jump and dance, day and night The beat of my heart, laughter, good health Have more value to me than money and wealth.

Assembly 2 Friendship

Overview

An assembly that looks at the importance of friendship and what being a good friend trulymeans.

Key message

Having good friends is wonderful and important, but it is not always easy. Being a good friend and overcoming any difficulties is something that we need to work at sometimes.

Resources

• A recording of Nimrod from the Enigma

Variations by EdwardElgar, e.g. www. youtube.com/watch?v=d08YBZxMK_4 • A device to play the recordingfrom • Speakers • Optional:a picture of EdwardElgar • 10 sheets of A4card

Set-up requirements

Play the recording of Nimrod as the children enter the assemblyhall. Optional:display the text of the poems so children can follow them as youread.

Outline

1 Tell the children that you’re here today to talk to them about friendship.

Start by askingthem: • Does anyone recognise this piece ofmusic? • Can anybody name the title or composer?

Give the title of the piece and explain that it was written by a British composer called Edward Elgar.

The whole piece of music is made up of 14 parts. Each part was written for a friend of Elgar’s and is also about that friend– each part describes a different friend of Elgar’s. The one they heard was about Elgar’s best friend, Augustus Jaeger.

Reflect how lovely it would be to have a piece of music written for you and to have the talent to be able to celebrate your friends in thisway. 2 Ask the children about friends.

• What makes a good friend? • What does a good frienddo? • What qualities do theyhave?