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Harvest

Being thankful

by Rachael Crisp

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To reflect upon what harvest is and how we can show our thankfulness to others.

Preparation and materials

  • You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Harvest) and the means to display them. Alternatively, the items on the slides could be brought into school.

Assembly

  1. Explain that you want the children to look at some pictures and try to spot the connection between them.

    Show Slides 1-11.

  2. Ask the children some questions about the foods on the slides. Examples could include the following.

    - Have you ever eaten this food?
    - Did you like the taste?
    - How might this food be cooked?

  3. Ask the children what they think all the pictures have in common.

    Listen to a range of responses.

    Common answers will probably be that they are all fruit or vegetables. Encourage the children to think more widely by asking questions about where the different foods come from.

  4. Go back through the slides and ask the children, ‘How do the foods grow? Underground? Above ground? On a tree or a bush?’

    Listen to a range of responses.

  5. Point out that the season of autumn is when many people celebrate harvest. Some churches and organizations hold harvest festivals to celebrate the crops being harvested. Christians and people of other religions believe that it is important to thank God for his gifts to them.

  6. Ask the children whether they are thankful for anything at the moment.

    Listen to a range of responses.

    If possible, share your own example of something that you are thankful for.

  7. Explain that today could be an opportunity for everyone to reflect upon what they are thankful for. We might be thankful for our brother, our grandmother, our friend, our home, our favourite toy . . .

  8. Harvest time is also a great time to think about other people and the ways in which we might be able to help them. Explain that churches, schools and other charities often organize food collections at this time of year. The food is then distributed to people who are in need.

    If your school, local church or food bank is collecting food, give out the information and encourage the children to take part.

Time for reflection

Ask the children to think about the things that they are thankful for.

Point out that often, we don’t take the time to say thank you. Ask the children to think about ways in which they could thank someone they are grateful to today. Maybe they could thank them by writing a thank-you letter, drawing a picture or even just saying thank you! Alternatively, we could do something kind to show that we are thankful. For example, we could donate a toy to a charity shop, give some of our pocket money to charity, help someone to carry something heavy, tidy our bedroom or ask someone new to play.

Encourage the children to carry out one of these tasks this week.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the celebration of harvest.
Thank you for our food.
Thank you for the rain, the soil, the sun and the farmers who grow our crops.
Help us always to remember to say thank you.
Please help us always to think about the needs of others.
Amen.

Song/music

‘Autumn days’, available at: https://youtu.be/yCgQyrfVdGA (2.41 minutes long)

Publication date: September 2021   (Vol.23 No.9)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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