Chase the Clouds Away

Kindness matters

by Janice Ross (revised, originally published in 2014)

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To consider the value and effect of kind words and actions.

Preparation and materials

• You will need some large, grey cloud shapes cut out of card, some brightly coloured kites cut out of paper and a large board that you can attach them to.
• You will also need the following sentences on pieces of paper that will fit within the outlines of the cloud shapes.
  
  – I’m really sleepy.
  – My friend was unkind to me this morning.
  – I can’t do it!
  – My friend isn’t speaking to me.
  – My tummy hurts.
  – I forgot my packed lunch.
  – You can’t play with us.

Assembly

1. Ask the children questions such as, ‘Where has the sun gone? Where are the warm breezes?’
   
   Talk about the weather at this time of year, discussing the cold, shorter days.
   
   Explain that many people can feel a bit gloomy during winter.
   
   Show the large, grey clouds and attach them to the board.
   
   Point out that if the snow comes, it often cheers us all up!
   
   
2. It isn’t just the time of year and the weather that can make us feel gloomy or sad. Sometimes, we just feel that way when we get up in the morning. Yesterday, we might have felt really happy, but today, we feel a bit miserable. Maybe there are some children and adults in assembly today who feel a bit miserable.
   
   There can be many reasons for us having times when we feel sad or unhappy. Ask the children to think about some of them.
   
   Show the pre-prepared sentences to the children and stick each one onto a cloud shape.
   
   Ask the children to consider each sentence. Can they identify with any of the sentiments that are expressed? There may prove to be lots of sad, gloomy clouds floating about!
   
   
3. Say, ‘I wonder what can chase these gloomy clouds away. Can we help?’
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   When someone suggests an act of kindness, kind words or empathy, praise the child for that suggestion and ask him or her to stick one of the colourful kites over a grey cloud.
   
   Repeat this with each helpful suggestion that the children make until you have displayed all of the kites.
   
   
4. Explain that a good way to remember this lesson is to learn the following rhyme.
   
   The kind things that we do and say
   Chase the sad, grey clouds away.
   
   Ask the children what they think this means.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.

Time for reflection

Encourage the children to be on the lookout over the next few days for anyone who might need a kind word or deed. Then, they can be like kites and chase the gloomy clouds away!

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that you always know when we are feeling sad and gloomy, and that you also know why.
Help us to be aware of others who are feeling like that.
Help us to brighten up their day with a kind word or deed.
Amen.

Song/music

‘Let’s go fly a kite’ from the film Mary Poppins, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNSler7jBWs (3 minutes long)