Basic Assembly Structure

June 1, 2015Leave a comment

After years of doing assemblies, I have finally hit upon something of a formula. This may or may not work in your particular context, but hopefully will be of some use!

Timings are obviously very approximate.

5 mins	Hellos and game (based on the theme of the assembly) for one or two children to participate in up front Click here to see a Pinterest board of game ideas
5 mins	Storytelling e.g. acting out with the children, using props or from a good storyteller Bible
5 mins	Short talk about the assembly with an illustration if possible (including an example from my own life where appropriate) Click here to see a Pinterest board of object lesson ideas
2 mins	Short prayer (or reflection time if not a church school). Generally this works well with a lit candle.

Here are some assembly examples following this structure:

David and Goliath (Good to be me)

Abraham (Changes)

Advent Angel Game

June 1, 2015June 1, 2015Leave a comment

Each child has their own copy of the angel sheet. Children need to take turns to roll a dice and colour in the number they throw. The first child to colour in the whole angel is the winner! Each of the dice numbers appears a different number of times so, for example, there are more 6s than 2s so there is bound to be a winner at some point!

Click here for a printable pdf version.

8-11s: Psalm 139 Session Ideas

May 31, 2015May 31, 2015Leave a comment

Psalm 139 is full of wonderful images to explore. Here are some ideas for reflecting on what it has to say…

Reflect on the words of the psalm and write/ draw your responses in a wordcloud:

For a copy of the word cloud, click here.

Use clay to make symbols of what is special about you and thank God for truly knowing who you are.

Try this ‘Fearfully and wonderfully made’ craft and prayer activity:

Use finger labyrinths to reflect on how we might follow God’s ‘everlasting way’. Click here to find some labyrinths to print out or make and try.

Easter Story Pass the Parcel

May 31, 2015May 31, 2015Leave a comment

This is a good way to tell the Easter story in groups.

You will need: 5 pictures telling the Easter story: Palm Sunday, Last Supper, Gethsemane, Crucifixion, Resurrection

At the centre of the parcel, wrap up a big bag of mini eggs (so there is enough for each child in the group) and the picture of the resurrection.

In the next layer wrap up the crucifixion picture and a sweet,

The following layers should be…
Gethsemane, last supper and the top layer: Palm Sunday.
Each layer should also contain a sweet- this is important for later!

When you have the finished parcel you can play the game!

As the music plays, pass the parcel and whoever has it when the music stops unwraps the picture and the sweet. Discuss what the picture shows and start again. As each layer is opened, speak about the next part of the story and the picture. The children might even predict what comes next.

The final layer will reveal the resurrection picture and the big bag of sweets. Jesus died so that we could be set free from the bad things we’ve done and the he rose again to show that he was truly God’s Son It was amazing!!. He gives us hope and new life and wants everyone to know the good news, not just a few people. Tell the children that, yes, it really wasn’t fair that only some children got sweets and others didn’t. He wants everyone who knows the good news to share it, and at that point share the sweets with the children. Hopefully the point, emphasized by chocolate might stick!

Prayer Rockets!

May 31, 2015May 31, 2015Leave a comment

Here’s a fun way to get children to engage in thanking God and asking for blessing while also symbolically releasing their prayers into his hands.

First, get children to write and draw their prayers on a small slip of paper (about the size of an average till receipt).

Next, roll the paper tightly round a straw (the long straight part rather than the bendy part!) and secure it with sellotape. Fold the top of the paper over and secure it with some more sellotape. The paper will now have made a sealed pocket around the top of the straw.

Talk to children about releasing prayers to God and trusting in His love and His power. Say a short prayer, giving your prayers to God and then blow on the free end of the straw. Watch the prayer rocket fly as you release your prayers!

8-11s: Lord’s Prayer Session

May 30, 2015May 30, 2015Leave a comment

Here are some ideas for helping children to connect with the Lord’s Prayer.

Lord’s prayer ordering game– How well do you know the prayer?

Prayer printed out and cut into strips, mixed up so they can be put in the correct order. We made this a race!

‘Hallowed be your name’: Play names of God dominoes, exploring the different names and characteristics of God. Click here to print out the dominoes.

‘Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven’: Talk about road signs in this country- triangle signs are warnings and circle signs are orders. If God made some order signs to show how He wanted people to live, what would be on them? Let children draw them in the circles.