SCHOOL IS A
BUNCH OF FRUIT
By the Revd Guy Donegan-Cross
Suitable
for Whole School
Aim
To demonstrate the
difference between school as building and school as community.
Preparation and materials
- You will need some large building bricks and a pile of
fruit.
Assembly
- Tell the children you are going to build something from the bricks.
Ask them to put up their hands when they think they know what it is. Slowly
build a school, stopping periodically to see how many people think they know
what it is. You can drop hints, such as: that can be the climbing frame, here's
the gate where the mums and dads wait, etc. When it is completed, ask the
children to tell you what it is.
- Now say you are going to build another school. Take out a piece of
fruit, hold it up, and say, 'This is Julie.' Place it on the table. Take out
another, hold it up, and say, 'This is Fred.' Gradually build up a pile of
fruit, giving each one a name - you may like to take suggestions for humorous
impact! Point out how all the 'people' are different, but in this school they
all try to fit together to make an attractive and mixed fruit
bowl.
- Remind the children that both of these represent the school. Ask what
the difference is between them. One is a building, and one is a community - a
group of people.
- Ask the children: Does this group of people have to be inside this
building to be the school? Point out that school buildings are a very important
part of the school, but that you are still part of the school when you go on a
trip, and you are a member of the school when you're at home. So school is more
than just a place, it's something that you're part of and that's part of you -
that's what we mean by 'community'.
- Say that Jesus had something to say about this when he said: 'Where
two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with you.' He didn't want his
followers to think that they had to go to a special place to find him (although
many people do find churches to be special). He wanted them to know that
wherever they were, he was with them. Point out that wherever you are, you're
part of this school.
Time for
reflection
Dear God,
Thank you that we
belong together.
We are a community.
Amen.
Song
'Welcome'
(Come and Praise Beginning, 15)
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