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Special Places

Do we have a special place of peace?

by Jill Fuller (revised, originally published in 2003)

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To consider travelling to special places and how a place can have symbolic meaning.

Preparation and materials

  • Be ready to describe a visit to a special place, including how you got there, who went with you, how you felt and what you did. If possible, have a souvenir from the place that you visited, such as a pebble from a special beach, a pressed flower, a football programme, a photograph and so on.

  • You may like to involve a child in speaking about his or her own special journey.

Assembly

  1. Discuss with the children the idea of having a place that is special to them.

    Ask the following questions.

    - Do the children have a special place?
    - Is there somewhere they like to go to be quiet or alone, a secret spot?

    Listen to a range of responses.

  2. Give examples of places that may be special for various reasons, such as the hospital or house where we were born, our first school, a favourite park where we like to play, a shed in the garden that we have turned into a playhouse and so on.

  3. Explain that there are some places that are special to groups of people: football stadiums such as Wembley, the homes of pop stars, war memorials and churchyards where people who are special to them are buried.

  4. Talk about a personal visit to a special place, including details of how you got there, who went with you, how you felt and what you did.

    Show the souvenir that you brought back, such as a pebble from a special beach, a pressed flower, a football programme or a photograph.

  5. Ask the children to listen to and think about this short poem.

    Special 
    by Gordon Lamont

    Special is something I carry around,
    A thought, a memory, hallowed ground.
    The football pitch, my favourite beach,
    A special place that I can reach.
    When I can’t go to my special place, 
    I turn to my thoughts and let them race.
    They fly, and in an instant I see
    My special place waiting for me.

Time for reflection

In a moment of quiet, think of places that have special memories for you. Picture the place in your mind and enjoy remembering it and why it’s special to you.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for special places,
Places where we feel peaceful and at rest.
Thank you for special places
That only I know.
Amen.

Song/music

‘Travel on’ (Come and Praise, 42)

Publication date: January 2018   (Vol.20 No.1)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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