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Jubilee

To mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee and reflect on the nature of Jubilee.

by Gordon Lamont

Suitable for Key Stage 2

Aims

To mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee and reflect upon the nature of Jubilee.

Preparation and materials

  • None.

Assembly

  1. Ask about the Queen's Jubilee to gain a general picture of the children's understanding. Some possible questions are: Who is celebrating her Jubilee? When, and why on that date? What is meant by 'coronation'? How many years is it since the coronation? Do you know of any special celebrations in your area?

  2. Ask the children what they know of life in Britain fifty years ago. If appropriate, link this in to the history topic 'Britain since the 1930s'. Have some of your own knowledge ready to feed in. You might mention many fewer cars and roads, much less television (only one channel until 1955), no computers in homes, very little plastic, and so on.

  3. Explain that the word Jubilee originally comes from the Old Testament part of the Bible. It has been used in different ways over the years but it always has something to do with a special celebration and it often means a time to be thankful and look towards the future.

    For the Jewish people of the Old Testament Jubilee came every seven years. Jubilee was a time when rich people forgave debts, so that those who owed money could start again.

  4. Suggest that, in some ways, this Golden Jubilee is a bit like that. Fifty years is a long time and a lot has changed. Now we're at the start of a new century. What would the children like to be celebrating in fifty years' time? What good things would they like to help to make happen? Lead into a time of reflection.

Time for reflection

Start with some maths: what age you will be in fifty years' time? How do you picture the world then? What would you like to be celebrating? An end to poverty and hunger; an end to war; perhaps people living together peacefully; maybe even on other planets? What do you want the world to be like?

Say a silent prayer - ask for one good thing for the world in 2052.

Publication date: 2002   (Vol.4)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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