Primary Current Assemblies



A CAT ON THE MAT

By the Revd Alan M. Barker

Suitable for Key Stage 1

Aim

To help children to reflect upon the importance of caring for pets with kindness and gentleness.



Preparation and materials

• Although this is a KS1 assembly it could be suitable for all-age cat lovers everywhere! It is particularly though not exclusively suitable for St Francis’ Day (4 October).
• You will need a copy of the children’s book Ginger Finds a Home by Charlotte Voake (2003, Walker Books).
• Some pictures of cats could be displayed or projected on to an interactive whiteboard.

Assembly

1. Begin by asking how many of the children have a cat (or cats) at home or in their neighbourhood. What are their names? What do they eat? How do they behave when they are hungry … and when they are full? Do any children help to care for a cat?
   
2. Reflect that many cats are lucky and are well cared for. Some, however, are unwanted and become ‘strays’ – meaning that they have no one to look after them and nowhere to live. Has anyone given a home to a stray cat?
   
3. Introduce and read the story Ginger Finds a Home.
   
4. Ask the children to consider how Ginger’s behaviour gradually changed after meeting the little girl. Invite them to observe how Ginger became tamer. At first he ran away when the little girl tried to stroke him, but after a while ‘he came when she called, and when she stroked him, he purred’. Invite the children to imagine and describe how Ginger felt going into the house. ‘He’d never been in a house before’!
   
5. The little girl was worried that she had frightened Ginger away. What made him come back? Emphasize the ways in which the little girl treated Ginger with kindness and gentleness.
   
6. Sing a song to the nursery rhyme tune, with appropriate actions.
   
   Pussy cat, pussy cat
   Words © Alan M. Barker 2007
   
   Pussy cat, pussy cat,
   why do you stray?
   Here is some dinner,
   please don’t run away.
   
   Pussy cat, pussy, can
   I stroke your fur?
   When you are happy
   then you’ll start to purr.
   
   Pussy cat, pussy cat,
   Why do you roam?
   There’s room for a pussy cat
   to share my home.
   
7. Reflect that, while many people would like to give a home to a stray cat or other animal, it is a big responsibility. Animals need to be properly cared for. They require feeding and attention every day especially when they grow old. They sometimes need to go to the vet for injections or medicine. Cats can live for over 15 years! It’s very important to remember this before giving any animal a home. Not to do so would be cruel.
   
8. Conclude by explaining that a very famous Christian saint is remembered for his gentleness and kindness towards animals. His name is St Francis. He called the creatures his brothers and sisters. It was a way of showing them respect. Like the little girl in the story and St Francis, we can show our respect for cats and other creatures through gentleness and kindness.
   
9. Sing a concluding verse to the song:
   
   Pussy cat, pussy,
   asleep on my knee.
   You’re special to God,
   and you’re special to me!

Time for reflection

Reflection

Think of any animals you know …

Pets, wild animals, animals in farms, animals in zoos.

Are you always kind and helpful?

Do you give pets the attention and care they need?

Can you do more for the animals around you, which share your world?

Prayer

Lord God,

Thank you for our pets

and for their company and friendship.

Help us to care for them well

and to treat them with gentleness and kindness.

Today and always.

Amen.

Song

‘From the tiny ant’ (Come and Praise, 79)