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Summer in the Garden

We live in a beautiful world

by Janice Ross

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To increase our appreciation of gardens and flowers.

Preparation and materials

Assembly

  1. Many people think that May is a lovely month because it is the beginning of summer. The days are lengthening, the sun is shining and there is time to play outside after school. During the earlier spring months of March and April, gardeners have been busy digging, pruning and sowing seeds. In May, we begin to see some early summer flowers poking through the soil.

  2. Explain that we are going to look at images of four different types of gardens.
    Ask the children to imagine that they are in these gardens and think about the following questions.

    - What can you see, hear and smell?
    - How does it feel to be in that garden?

    After each picture is shown, allow the children a few moments to imagine themselves in the garden and then invite a few children to share their reflections.

    Show the image of the cottage garden.

    This is a cottage garden. You might find this kind of garden in a little English village.
    Imagine that you are in this garden.
    What do you like about this garden?

    Show the image of the English garden.

    This is an English garden. You would perhaps need to visit a stately home or castle to see a garden like this.
    What do you like about this garden?

    Show the image of the flower garden.

    This is a flower garden. It has been planted to make maximum use of the large variety of summer flowering plants.
    What do you like about this garden?

    Show the image of the back garden.

    This is a back garden. Some of our homes may have small back gardens.
    What do you like about this garden?

    Now ask the children to vote on their favourite garden.

  3. The Bible tells us that when God made man and woman, he put them in a beautiful garden. He knew that a garden is the best place to unwind.

    God made all the beautiful plants and flowers. He knew that Adam and Eve would enjoy the tall, straight flowers and the small, creeping flowers; the bright pink flowers and the purple and orange ones. He knew that together, the flowers would make a glorious display. He knew that Adam and Eve would love the perfume of roses and lavender. He knew that they would need the shade of big, tall trees when it was very sunny. He knew that Adam and Eve would be soothed by the gentle sound of the busy, buzzing bees. God also knew that they would enjoy tending the garden, just like all keen gardeners today.

Time for reflection

Ask the children to close their eyes and imagine being in a beautiful garden. In the quietness, ask them to say thank you to God for three things in this imaginary garden.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for gardens.
Thank you that we are beginning to see signs of life in our gardens after the wet and dark winter.
Thank you for the variety of bright flowers you have made.
Thank you for the beautiful scent of roses and lavenders and sweet peas.
Thank you for the sound of the wind in the trees and happy birds and gurgling water.
Thank you for the feeling of peace we enjoy in a garden.
Thank you for all those who work in gardens to make them a place of beauty and joy.
Amen.

Publication date: May 2016   (Vol.18 No.5)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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