In short
Themes: Sānatana Dharma; kindness; helpfulness; respect; care; reward.
Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, focuses on a story from the Hindu tradition called 'Krishna and the Fruit-Seller'.
Resources: The framework to download / print (pdf) and an image to display of the word 'Kindness'. Also have an empty basket on display as the children come into assembly.
The video
Hello, I'm Krissi and this is the amazing story of Krishna and the Fruit-Seller. Come on boys.
When the Lord Krishna was a little boy, he loved playing with his brother Balarama. One day, they were playing and laughing when they heard someone calling. 'Lovely fruit. Who'll buy my bananas? Peaches and plums, mangos and mandarins!'
It was a fruit seller. Krishna loved fruit and his mouth watered at the thought. Yum! So, he went off to find her.
'Delicious mangos, ripe and juicy, lovely and sweet.' Oh, the mangos, yummy scrummy! But, when he went to buy some, Krishna didn't have any money.
'Come and get your mangos, fresh today.' Krishna walked away thinking, 'What can I give her instead?' Then, Krishna saw a heap of rice grains on the ground. He gathered as much rice as he could carry in his little hands.
[GASPS] 'Thank you, that's so helpful. But don't worry about that bit, I don't need it. You can have it if you'd like.'
'Maybe, I could buy some fruit with that rice,' he thought, and he went all the way back to the fruit stall.
When he reached the fruit-seller, Krishna said, 'Please may I buy some fruit? I don’t have any money but will this rice be enough?' But the rice he had collected had slipped through his little fingers. The fruit-seller looked at Krishna and could see how disappointed he was.
'You, dear little boy, your hands were too small to carry the grain, you haven't enough to buy anything now. But I tell you what, you can have some fruit anyway.'
Krishna was so grateful for the fruit seller's kindness. He still wanted to give her his last few grains of rice. But when Krishna had left, the fruit seller looked into her hands. The grains of rice were not grains of rice but precious jewels!
The Lord Krishna had done it to reward the fruit-seller's kindness, which was very kind of him too. And it was very kind of you to help me tell this treasure story. Some of you may have heard it before, because it's a well-known Hindu tale. We'll see you again soon. Bye!
The story of Krishna and the Fruit-Seller is a traditional story from India that is important to Hindus. It is an inspirational story that encourages people to show kindness. It shows Krishna’s skilfulness and demonstrates God’s grace.
In the story Krishna rewards the fruit-seller’s kindness. Many Hindus believe this story shows how Lord Krishna loves everyone.This can help us to reflect on the value of kindness, what can happen when we show kindness to others, how we feel when we show kindness and how kindness can spread.
Duration: 2' 52"
Final words: 'See you soon! Bye!'
Video questions
- What did Krishna want to do when he saw the fruit? (To eat it)
- Why could Krishna not buy any of the fruit? (He had no money)
- What did Krishna think he could do with the rice? (Use it instead of money to pay for some fruit)
- Why did the fruit-seller let Krishna have the fruit, even though he had no money? (She felt sorry for him)
- Why were the fruit-seller’s hands filled with jewels? (Lord Krishna had rewarded her kindness)
Assembly framework (pdf) document
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
Kindness. image
Click to display image full size
Suggested framework
1. Entry
Play your chosen music and display the empty basket.
2.Introduction
Draw children's attention to the empty basket. Ask: I wonder what gifts you could fill this basket with?Explain that today the assembly will be thinking about the theme of kindness. Kindness can be a gift to others. Ask: I wonder when you have given the gift of kindness to someone? What did you do? How did it make them feel? How did it make you feel? I wonder how much your acts of kindness cost?Tell the assembly to think about the effect kindness can have on the giver and the receiver as they watch the story.
3. Play the video
The duration is 2’ 52” and the final words are: ‘We'll see you again soon. Bye!'
4. After the video - Time to talk
Lead a discussion about the story by asking the following questions. How did Krishna feel when:
- he saw the fruit?
- he realised he had no money to buy the fruit?
- he saw the grains of rice and thought he could trade them for fruit?
How do you think the fruit-seller felt when:
- she realised Krishna had no money?
- she saw Krishna’s face when she let him have the fruit?
- Krishna gave her the few grains of rice he had managed to keep in his hands?
- she saw her hands were filled with jewels instead of a few grains of rice?
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from BBC collections below.
6. Opportunity for reflection
Close your eyes…
Think about a time when you showed kindness to someone…
Now picture yourself looking into your hands and seeing them filled with something you like, as a reward for your kindness!
Every time you show kindness to someone, remember you are giving them a gift - like precious jewels - and that you will be rewarded for your kindness in the way that it makes you feel…
Imagine the empty basket that we started thinking about at the beginning being filled with your acts of kindness as we go through the week. Acts of kindness that could be a gift more precious than jewels!
7. Opportunity for prayer
Begin with your usual form of address (‘Dear God’, ‘Let us pray’, etc) and:
Thank you for the story of 'Krishna and the Fruit-Seller' teaching us the value of kindness.
Help us to always take the opportunities we are given to show kindness to others.
Thank you that we can give kindness freely and will be rewarded for our kindness.
Thank you for the amazing gifts we receive as a result of others’ kindness.
Amen.
Suggested songs
'All together as a family' (All about our school, no 15).
Some can dance and some can sing,
Some can fiddle on a violin.
Some can bat and some can bowl,
Some can tackle and score a goal.
Some can paint and some can sew,
Some can juggle and some can throw.
Some can throw, some can throw.
All that we can do or be
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
Some can run and some can swim,
Some do somersaults in the gym.
Some can ride or climb a tree,
Some are good at technology.
Some can teach and some can guide,
Some get everybody organised.
Organised, organised.
All that we can do or be
All together as a family.
All together as a family.
One for all and all for one,
All together we get things done.
We get things done.
All that we can do or be…
spoken 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
All together as a family.
Song: 'Chain of love' (All about our school, no 14. Vocal version)
- For the children of tomorrow
We’ve got to make it a better place,
Fill the world with love and laughter,
Make a fresh start for the human race.
(Chorus)
Chain of love, chain of love,
Circle the world with a chain of love,
Chain of love, chain of love,
Circle the world with a chain of love.
- No more war and no more hunger,
No more jealousy and hate,
Say goodbye to greed and sadness,
Make a change now or it will be too late.
(Chorus)
(Middle eight)
Circle the world, circle the world,
Circle the world, circle the world.
- Doesn’t matter where you come from,
Doesn’t matter where you’ve been,
Different race or creed or colour,
We are the same underneath our skin.
(Chorus)
Chain of love, chain of love,
Circle the world with a chain of love,
Chain of love, chain of love,
Circle the world with a chain of love.
Circle the world with a chain of love.
'Together' (All about our school, no 13).
- Work together, not alone,
Gather round and share a problem.
Work together, hand in hand,
Gather round and work things out.
Chorus
‘Cos together, we can work it out together,
We can ride the stormy weather,
As long as we’re together we’re strong!
- There’s a setback, don’t despair,
Gather round and share your feelings.
Why just worry on your own?
Gather round and work things out.
Chorus
- If there’s trouble big or small,
Gather round and find an answer.
If you stumble there’s a friend,
Gather round and work things out.
Chorus
