The Sun and the Wind

The idea that persuasiveness can be more effective than force.

by Jude Scrutton

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To think about the idea that persuasiveness can be more effective than force.

Preparation and materials

• This assembly includes a short play script that will need preparation by a group of children in advance.
• Characters:
  Narrator (could be teacher, or child who is comfortable with the size of the part)
  North Wind
  Sun
  Man (or could be woman)
• Props: The characters could hold the following props: a large cloud made out of white card, to represent the wind (to look like it is scudding along), and a large orange sun made out of card (e.g. using yellow and orange tissue paper).
  A coat is needed for 'Man' to put on and zip up.
• You will also need a flip-chart or OHP for listing ideas in the final section.
• See our resources section for more on drama in assemblies.

Assembly

1. Welcome the children and introduce the theme for the assembly - the retelling of a well-known fable by Aesop.
   
   Discuss who Aesop was. He was born as a slave, but became a philosopher who taught people by telling them fables. Ask the children if they know any of his fables - can they remember any from previous assemblies? Tell the children that today's fable is different, as the story does not use animals - the characters are the sun and the wind. Ask the children to think about the meaning of the story - what was Aesop trying to teach people?
   
   
2. Perform the play:
   
   Narrator: One day the North Wind and the Sun got into a heated discussion.
   
   North Wind: Don't be so silly, of course I am much stronger than you.
   
   Sun: No, you're not. It is I who am stronger than you.
   
   Narrator: This argument continued for some time, and still they could not reach a friendly solution!
   
   Sun: Prove that you are stronger than me.
   
   North Wind: Easy! You see that man over there?
   
   Narrator: The Sun and Wind looked towards a man digging and planting seeds in his garden.
   
   Man: It's a bit cold. I think I'll wear my coat (he puts on a winter coat).
   
   Sun: I see him.
   
   North Wind: I bet I am so strong I can force that man to take off his coat.
   
   Sun: I bet I can too! OK, you first.
   
   Narrator: The North Wind conjured up a forceful gust.
   
   Man: It's getting really cold. I think I'll pull up my zip.
   
   Narrator: The North Wind, seeing the man do up his coat, blew even harder to try to force the coat off, but the man kept his coat on.
   
   North Wind: It's no use, it won't budge. But if I can't do it, you won't!
   
   Sun: You just watch.
   
   Narrator: The sun began to shine with gentle warmth that made the man take off his jacket straight away.
   
   Man: British weather, always changing.
   
   Narrator: The sun began to shine with all its heat until the man in the garden stripped off to just his bathing suit and went off to swim in a nearby river (child should walk off at this point as if about to take off his/her top clothes).
   
   
3. After the play ask the children what the meaning of the story was. Value all their ideas.
   
   Ask them to think about times when they have used force. List them on the flip-chart. Ask them what might have happened if they had used 'warmth' or kindness.
   
   Finally, ask the children to think about what they might do instead of using force in the future.

Time for reflection

Lord,
Help us to always to stop and think,
before we use force,
let us consider warmth.
Kind words and deeds
will help us achieve
and make a new start
where force breaks apart.
Amen.

Song/music

'By brother sun' (Come and Praise, 78)
'Magic Penny' (Let's Sing, 2)