David and Goliath

To reflect the issue of bullying and to discuss strategies for both bully and victim.

by Jude Scrutton

Suitable for Key Stage 2

Aims

To reflect the issue of bullying and to discuss strategies for both bully and victim.

Preparation and materials

• Children will need some preparing for their parts in the assembly.
• You need a collection of images of famous people (see point 2.).
• For a creative approach, make masks of Simon Cowell and other X Factor judges. Or you can use a historical figure the children have been studying (e.g. Hitler, Stalin).
• Maybe use a pictorial version of the David and Goliath story (from 1 Samuel 17).
• candle for Time for reflection.

Assembly

1. Start by asking the children if any of them know the story of David and Goliath. See if they can tell what happens in the famous Old Testament story. Make sure the key events of the story are retold and home in on Goliath’s bullying techniques (he was a big strong soldier, a giant of a man). Discuss how Goliath presents himself as a figure of power and authority and what his size represents.
2. Ask the children if they can think of any public figures who use their power and authority in negative ways? Show your collection of public figures who are considered to have a lot of fame and power, both positive and negative, e.g. David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Simon Cowell, the Queen, Hitler, Stalin …
3. Focus on one modern-day negative famous person of choice. Here it’s Simon Cowell.
   
   Three children take the parts of Simon Cowell and two of his companion judges. Someone with a particular talent comes forward and performs for them. (If you are using a historical figure, show something, like footage from YouTube, that shows their negative use of power.)
   
   ‘Simon Cowell’ says some very mean and hurtful things about the performer.
4. Now ask someone from the audience to come and teach Simon how to comment gently and with tact.
5. Ask the children why they think Simon is so mean to the contestants. Ask them why the producers of the TV show let them get so far in the competition and allow them to perform in front of millions of viewers on TV only to be ridiculed.
6. Then ask if any of them have ever felt belittled or even victimized in the playground. Ask them for their feelings. Discuss how we can be a hero like David from the Bible story – not by fighting back with a catapult but by standing up for ourselves, believing in ourselves and rising above it.

Time for reflection

Light a candle and ask the children to think about when they’ve felt picked on or made to feel small. How could they deal with that situation in a good way?

Prayer

Help us to make the most of our talents in life,
and enable us to rise above people who want to belittle us.
Amen.

Song/music

‘He made me’ (Come and Praise, 18)