You Are Appreciated!

Appreciating those around us

by Hannah Taylor

Suitable for Key Stage 2

Aims

To consider the importance of appreciation and how we can show it to others.

Preparation and materials

• You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (You Are Appreciated) and the means to display them.

Assembly

1. Sometimes, we get so busy that we rush through each day without noticing how many people help us as the day goes by. It can be so easy to forget to say thank you to people who have been kind to us in some way.
   
   
2. Ask the children to think about their day so far. Ask them to think back to getting up, having breakfast, coming to school and arriving in their classroom.
   
   Ask the children, ‘Who has helped you so far today?’
   
   Maybe someone dropped them off at school. Maybe someone made their breakfast, or their packed lunch. Maybe someone held a door open for them or picked up something that they had dropped.
   
   Ask the children whether they can think of their own suggestions.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
3. Explain that you don’t want the children to answer the next question; you just want them to think about it: did anyone say thank you?
   
   
4. Ask the children whether they know what the word ‘appreciation’ means.
   
   Show Slide 1 and read out the definition.
   
   Appreciation is the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something. If someone does something nice for us, it can give us a feel-good moment that can bring a lot of positivity to the rest of our day.
   
   Let’s imagine what would happen if we took the time to thank that person, whether face to face, by message or through a thoughtful gesture. Thanking someone reflects the positivity back to them and creates a wonderful domino effect for everyone around us.
   
   
5. Show Slide 2.
   
   So, why should we show appreciation?
   
   Appreciation is a great way to brighten someone’s day, but there are many more reasons why we should show appreciation to others.
   
   Showing appreciation can:
   
   - help us to feel valued
   - bring happiness to others
   - bring happiness to ourselves
   - build trust and respect in our relationships
   - increase our effectiveness and productivity
   - help us to value the good things in our lives
   
   
6. It can often be helpful to consider how we might feel if someone showed appreciation for something that we did.
   
   
7. Show Slide 3.
   
   This leads us on to how we can show our appreciation.
   
   There are many ways in which we can show appreciation, and it doesn’t matter how big or small the gesture is.
   
   - We can thank people for what they bring to our lives.
   - We can tell someone when they are doing a great job.
   - We can listen and show interest.
   - We can give the gift of our time.
   - We can celebrate successes.
   - We can make small gestures such as baking goods and helping with chores.
   
   
8. Show Slide 4.
   
   Encourage the children to make appreciation a daily habit. Next time we spot someone or something that we are grateful for, let’s say thank you. If we do, we will see how it brings positivity into different aspects of our lives, both at home and at school.

Time for reflection

Let’s think of someone who has helped us recently. Let’s aim to say thank you to them.

Pause to allow time for thought.

Let’s think about who we are grateful for right now. How can we show them this today?

Pause to allow time for thought.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for all the amazing things that we have to be thankful for.
Thank you for all those who always look out for us.
Thank you for our family and friends.
Please help us to look for ways to say thank you.
Please help us to be grateful.
Amen.

Song/music

‘You’re welcome’ from the film Moana, available at: https://youtu.be/79DijItQXMM (2.48 minutes long)