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This mission is predominantly a role-play session which gives the children the opportunity to exercise their creative skills and in turn to learn about how The Salvation Army supports and works in local communities. It is designed to be used after the ‘People who Help us’ powerpoint.
Aims ● To gain an understanding of how and why The Salvation Army supports and helps people in the local community. ● To be able to recall ways in which The Salvation Army helps different people during the sharing session. ● To encourage the children to think creatively.
Setting up the mission It would be helpful if the teacher/adult leader separates the children into three equal groups prior to the session as they will know which children work well together and this will also help to reduce unnecessary waiting around for the children. If possible, it would be ideal for an adult to support each of the groups.
Resources needed
Curriculum ● a doll or teddyLinks dressed up as characters described below
Explain to the children that The Salvation Army works in many different places
across the world, helping different people in lots of different ways. Explain that today they will be finding out how The Salvation Army helps the people who live in cities and towns similar to the one you are in now. Explain that they will be meeting a series of characters in the town that need help and that we are going to see what we can do to help them.
Show a photograph of each place as you talk about it ● The Salvation Army centre – many corps/centres provide food and drink for people
during the week who are homeless or need someone to talk to.
● The Charity shop – The Salvation Army has lots of shops where they sell previously owned clothes, shoes etc to people who need them. This not only helps people who need clothes or shoes but also helps to raise some money for the corps/centre. page 1
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● Charity Shop - A selection of dolls clothes, a cash till, shopping bag, purse. ● Salvation Army Centre /Lifehouse - play beds and bedding. ● Coffee Shop - table chairs, tea set and play food.
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● The Coffee Shop - explain to the children that many Salvation Army Churches have coffee shops where people can come and have a drink and something to eat. Often people visit to meet up with friends. The coffee shop is a good place to meet.
Once the groups arrive in their areas Explain a little of each characters story and tell the children why they need help.
Discuss how they may feel how can we help them? What might they need?
For example: ● ● ● ●
A doll or teddy that doesn’t have a home. An old teddy bear who finds it difficult to walk and lives alone, a friend takes them in their car to the coffee shop. A doll whose house has been flooded and needs warm and dry clothes and someone to help them whilst their house is been repaired. Someone who has very little money but needs to buy some new clothes
Curriculum Links
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Short Plenary Session When all of the community areas are complete, invite the children to come back together as a group bringing their character. Encourage the children by praising their efforts. Let each group explain to the class what they did and how they helped their character. Explain that just as they have helped these characters the Salvation Army helps people with different needs in the community.
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When they arrive in each play corner, they will find a selection of toys and props for them to use. If there are adults at each area talk to the children clearly, one group at a time about their character and talk about how their area could be set up to help. Each group should be encouraged to set up their own area. (Be aware that you will need to be on hand to assist the children, especially if they are not sure what their area should look like, but this should mainly be a child-led activity – no preconceptions are either correct or incorrect.) Encourage the children to role - play in their area with their character as they are creating it.
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