Valuing Our Senses: Sight

An assembly from the Culham St Gabriel archive

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To appreciate the gift of sight, that we can see the wonders of the world.

Preparation and materials

• Have available some images of the seven wonders of the world and the means to display them during the assembly. 

Assembly

1. Show an image of one of the seven wonders of the world and explain what it is. Then make some comments about why you think it is a 'wonder'. Repeat once or twice more for further wonders.
   
   
2. With the remaining images, give an explanation, then ask the children why people might call these things 'wonders'. Do the children think they are wonderful? Why?
   
   
3. Develop the idea that we have five senses to explore and appreciate the world around us. Eyes are for seeing – the sense of sight – noses are for smelling, ears for hearing, mouths or tongues for tasting and hands or bodies for touching.
   
   
4. Mention that we have been thinking about seven of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world. Which senses have we been using? Are these the most important senses when thinking about these things?
   
   
5. People who cannot see will be able to experience them in different ways. What sorts of ways? Would we use other senses if we were actually visiting these places? 

Time for reflection

There are so many beautiful things in our world, far away and close to home. We are so lucky to be able to see and enjoy them. Let's make sure we don't just take them for granted!

Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the wonders of your world.
We love to see the animals and birds that surround us.
We delight in looking at the beautiful plants in the parks and in our gardens.
We cherish being able to see our families and friends.
Thank you for our sense of sight and all the beautiful things we can see.
Amen.

Follow-up activity

1. Encourage (older) children to think about which of their senses they use or value the most.
   
   
2. Listen to the story of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10.46–52) or watch or read it as presented in The Storykeepers, Episode or Book 4, Ready, Aim, FIRE!. What would you miss if you were blind?
   
   
3. What 'wonders' are there to see in your world?
   
   
4. The Guide Dogs charity’s website is at: www.guidedogs.org.uk You could gather images and information to discuss the use of dogs to help blind and partially sighted people to live independently.
   
   
5. The school’s nurse or doctor could discuss how we can look after our eyes and our sight.

Music

'He gave me eyes so I could see' (Come and Praise, 18)