More Assemblies for Primary Schools: Spring Term

Margaret Cooling

Rating:

As expected from the pen of Margaret Cooling, these three books of assembly material (also Summer and Autumn) are practical and easily adaptable for all types of school collective worship. Those looking for material of other faiths will not find it here as this is “broadly Christian” material.

Each book is divided into 11 groups with five or ten themes within each group. For example, the Autumn Term starts with Group A: Happiness. There are five assemblies – The Happiness Bag (an introduction to the week); Contentment; Delight; Happiness; Joy.  Each one-page assembly suggests: You Will Need; Introduction; Core Material; Reflection; Prayer.

Suggestions are given to introduce the subject, e.g. Delight – items in Happiness bag, like Angel Delight, Turkish Delight. The core material suggests verses from the Bible can be written out and used to illustrate the theme, “Delight in all the good things God has given you”, Deut 26:11.  Suggestions are then made as to how to reflect on the material and an optional prayer is included.

The usual Christian festivals are covered in exactly the same way and each book takes one of the Gospel writers to make five or ten assemblies, e.g. Luke Street, which suggests having nine doors, one door to be opened each day to discover stories from Luke.  Photocopiable illustrations are at the end of each book.

My only regret is that most schools are tied to the PSHE Seals Project and there is no longer freedom to use an excellent series like this.

Reviewer: Yvonne Werrett, Supply Teacher, Southend-in-Sea, Essex

Review posted on: 26 September 2008

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