The Life of Mother Teresa

Assembly to accompany the book ‘A World of Difference’ by Bob Hartman, delivered free to schools in October 2017

Suitable for Key Stage 1

Aims

To consider the life of Mother Teresa.

Preparation and materials

• You will need the book A World of Difference by Bob Hartman, delivered free to schools in October 2017. The story of Mother Teresa is the first story in the book.

• You will need an image of Mother Teresa and the means to display it during the assembly. An example is available at: https://tinyurl.com/mkhdkv4

• Optional: have available a collection of foods (they needn’t be cooked!) that are popular with the children, such as fruit, pizza, rice, chocolate and so on. The children are going to vote for their favourite food, so you may want to add something that is likely to produce an unpopular response!

• Optional: you may wish to use this assembly to introduce a charity project within school.

Assembly

1. Ask the children if they have a favourite meal.

   Listen to a range of responses.

   Optional: show the collection of foods.
   
   Ask the children to vote for their favourite food by raising their hand, and then ask them the following questions.

   - How would you feel if you could never eat your favourite food again?
   - How do you think it would feel not to have any food day after day?

2. Ask the children to raise their hand if they have ever been to see the doctor.

   Point out that if we are sick, we can be taken to the doctor, who will give us medicine or advice that will help us get better.

3. Ask the children if they have ever felt sad.

   Point out that when we are sad, we want people who care about us to love us and be kind. These people are often our family, friends and teachers.

4. Explain that in some parts of the world, people live in places where there is little food, there are no doctors and, when they feel sad, there is no one to give them care and comfort.

5. Show the image of Mother Teresa.

   Ask the children to look at the picture and guess what job she did and what she was like.

6. Explain that about a hundred years ago, a lady called Agnes decided that she wanted to do something to help people who were poor and in need. This is her story . . .

7. Read the story of Mother Teresa found in the book A World of Difference, pages 5-12.

Time for reflection

When Mother Teresa saw all the people who were without food, clothes, homes and medicine, she decided to do something about it!

Ask the following questions, pausing to allow time for thought after each one.

- What about us? If we see people in need, do we help them?
- How can we help others today?

Optional: if appropriate, introduce a charity project or event that your school is going to support.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the food that we eat.
Thank you for the care that we receive when we are sick.
Thank you for all those who care for us.
Please help those who are hungry, who have no homes and who need a doctor.
Please help us to do everything we can to help others.
Amen.

Further resources

Further resources can be found at:

- Mother Teresa - description
- Mother Teresa - paper chains
- Mother Teresa - discussion questions
- Mother Teresa - extra activities

More resources about Mother Teresa are available at: https://tinyurl.com/y9erd78y