KS1 Assemblies and Collective Worship. Something to Think About: New school year

School Radio > Assemblies and Collective Worship
KS1 audio: Something to Think About / KS2 audio: Together

Themes: Returning to school; how it feels to do thing for the first time

Before the programme

• Look at the image of the pencil case. Make a list of other new things that might be needed for the start of school.
• Talk about how it feels having new things for the start of a new school year - teachers included!
• Talk together about things that have changed about your class compared to your previous class. How do you feel about these changes?

Programme content:

1. Welcome and introduction: Ben tells us about his ‘new things’ and gives us the ‘news’ about his summer holiday.
2. Vox Pops: Some listeners tell us their summertime headlines and what they are looking forward to over the coming school year…
3. Song: ‘Back in school again’ (All about our school, no 2). Encourage the children to join in with as much as they can.
4. Story: Stars in the sky - by Rachel Boxer, based on the story of Abraham, from Gene- sis 12. Read by Jonathan Keeble. Young Isaac is star-gazing. Abraham, his father - now an old man - retells his experi- ence of leaving his home in Haran to find a new land - a land that God promised would belong to him, and his family for many generations…
5. Reflection: On happy holidays and new beginnings…and the challenges of a new term. Ensure everyone is listening carefully and thinking quietly.
6. Opportunity for prayer: Children can turn their thoughts into their own prayer of thanks, or use the prayer included below.

After the programme:

Talk about the story

• Have you ever been on a ‘mystery’ journey?
• Why do you think Isaac and Abraham often looked at the stars together?
• How do you think Abraham felt when he heard God’s voice?
• What do you think was the hardest thing for Abraham and his family about leaving Haran?
• What was the hardest part of the journey?
• How do you think they all felt when they finally reached Canaan? Do you think they missed anything about being on the journey?
• Have you got any ‘family stories’?

Follow-up activities:

• Share holiday ‘news’ in news reporter style! Video it for your school archives, or to show the children at the end of their year to remind them how they’ve changed during the school year.
• Make a list of things that have changed and things that have stayed the same about school since you all changed classes. What challenges do you think there might be for the term ahead?
• Make a ‘feelings graph’, of how Abraham felt at key points in the story - eg hearing God’s voice; saying goodbye; travelling without a map, etc.
• Make a class charter and agree rules for good relationships together as a class community, es- pecially how to welcome those children who are completely new to your class and school. Make this into a display with children’s quotes.
• Look at the words of the song from today’s pro- gramme. What do they say are the good things about being ‘Back in school again’?

Optional prayer:

Dear God
It’s good to be back together again as we start this new school term. Thank you that even though many things have changed, there are also many things that have stayed the same. Thank you that we have our friends around us to help us. Amen.