In short...
Themes: Indian folk tales; stories with a moral; trust; listening to wise advice.
Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, includes an Indian folk tale called The Three Fishes and focuses on the value of trust.
Resources: The framework to download / print (pdf) and an image to display of the word 'Trust'. You will also need images of acrobatics that require trust - eg of a human pyramid or a trapeze artist reaching to grab another’s hands.
The video
OMAR: Hello, I'm Omar and this is the fascinating story of The Three Fishes.
Once there were three fishes called Anang, Pratyam, and Yadhva.
Good day!
They lived in a pond and loved to swim around all day long with their friends.
Wee!
But one day, Anang heard two fishermen talking.
"Hey, check it out, I've never seen this pond before."
"Me neither, and look at all the fish! Let's definitely come back here with our nets and catch as many fish as we can."
"Yeah."
"Oh no, I've got to warn my friends. Hey, Pratyam, fishermen are coming. We've got to get to the other side of the pond as soon as we can. We'll be safe from the fishermen there!"
"Are you sure, because my friends and I, we really like this part of the pond, don't we? And we don't want to move."
"I'm sure. I heard them with my own ears. You have to trust me, because if we stay, we'll be caught."
"Okay, I trust you. Come on, everybody, let's go!"
"Hey, Yadhva, fishermen are coming. We've got to swim to the other side of the pond."
"Why should I believe you? It could be a trick. You probably want us to leave so that you can have this side all to yourself. Sorry, I'm not going anywhere."
"But you have to trust me or you'll get caught!"
"I don't trust you. I'm not moving."
So, Anang and Pratyam moved to the other side of pond with all their friends and family, but Yadhva stayed behind.
"Wee… Wee… Uh-oh, a little help here, guys."
Poor Yadhva. He should have trusted Anang. Pratyam was very grateful for Anang's advice and very pleased that he had trusted him. Life on the other side of the pond wasn't that bad after all.
That was an old story from India. Thanks for helping me tell it. See you next time. Bye!
This story is an old Indian folktale about the value of trust.
There are three fish in a pond, Anang, Pratyam and Yadhva. Anang overhears some fishermen who have observed that this part of the pond is full of fish and so would be a good location for fishing. Anang warns Pratyam and Pratyam trusts Anang, so the two of them move to the other side of the pond. Yadhva doesn't trust Anang and stays where he is. Later Yadhva is among the fish caught by the fishermen.
Pratyam has a number of important qualities: he trusts Anang and recognises wise advice when he hears it; he is also flexible enough to embrace change when faced with Anang’s information.
Duration: 3' 15"
Final words: 'See you next time. Bye!'
Video questions
- What are the names of the three fish (Anang, Pratyam and Yadhva)
- The three fish are happy living in their part of the pond. What happens to change this? (Anang overhears fishermen)
- What does Anang do? (He tells Pratyam and Yadhva they must move to the other side of the pond)
- What do Pratyam and Yadhva say about moving? (Pratyam agrees to go but Yadhva refuses - he thinks Anang might be trying to have the space all to himself)
- What happens to Yadhva? (He is caught by the fishermen)
Key links
Assembly framework (pdf) document
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
Image: the word Trust. image
Click to display image full size
1. Entry
Play your chosen music as the children enter and display images of acrobatics that require trust.
2. Introduction
Ask the children to look at the images and ask if they know what is happening in the pictures. Explain that to do these amazing tricks the acrobats have to practise and they need to trust their team. If you didn’t believe that your teammate would hold you up or catch you, you would not have confidence to do the tricks.
Ask the children to share some examples of times when they have put trust in others. Explain that the story that everyone is about to watch is about the value of trust.
3. Play the video
Duration: 3' 15". Final words: 'See you next time. Bye!'
4. Time to talk
You could begin by asking the Video questions above to aid children's recall of the story and their understanding of it. Then lead a discussion about trust by asking:
- Why does Pratyam trust Anang? How do you think Pratyam knew Anang’s advice was wise? (Perhaps Pratyam had experience of Anang being truthful and honest before. Perhaps Pratyam had a feeling that Anang’s advice was genuine)
- This story is about trust. Do you think people find it easy or difficult to trust people?
- Why should you be careful about who you trust?
- What makes you feel confident that you can trust another person?
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from BBC collections below.
6. Opportunity for reflection
Let's think about what it means to trust…
Think of a person that you feel you can trust…
What makes them worthy of trust…? Is it because you know they are honest and that they will do what they say they will do…?
Think quietly to yourself about the meaning of these words: 'When we are trustworthy, we inspire others to grow in confidence.'
How will you show that other people can trust you… today… and every day…?
7. Opportunity for prayer
Begin with your usual form of address (‘Dear God’, ‘Let us pray’, etc) and:
Thank you for stories that help us to think about trust.
Thank you for the people we know that we can trust and who tell us the truth.
Help us to find way that we can be trustworthy too.
Amen.
Suggested songs
'Build up' (All about our school, no 12)
Verse 1:
Every word you say, (wo-oh)
Every game you play, (wo-oh)
Every silly face, (wo-oh)
Every single place, (wo-oh)
You can build up,
spoken 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
Or you can tear down.
Chorus:
Build up one another,
Build up your sisters and brothers,
Build up one another,
Build up!
Verse 2:
Every joke you tell, (wo-oh)
Every name you spell, (wo-oh)
Everywhere you go, (wo-oh)
Everyone you know, (wo-oh)
You can build up,
spoken 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
Or you can tear down.
Chorus:
Build up one another,
Build up your sisters and brothers,
Build up one another,
Build up!
Build up!
Build up!
'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
Song: 'We will grow' (All about our school, no 10)
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
- Some things grow very quickly,
Sometimes they’re very slow.
Sometimes you can see What they’re going to be,
Sometimes you just don’t know.
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
- Sometimes it seems like magic
That happens every day.
But it’s all been planned,
Made by God’s own hand,
‘Cos creation it works that way.
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
We are growing together in love.
We are growing together in love.
