Mobiles

by Gordon and Ronni Lamont

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To consider the idea of community and how important this is for us.

Preparation and materials

• You will need a mobile phone.

Assembly

1. Hold up your mobile and ask how many people have at least one mobile in their family (don't ask how many people have one of their own as this is likely to lead to some children feeling left out and others playing one-upmanship!).
   
   
2. Ask what kind of things a mobile phone is useful for and elicit responses such as: chatting, texting, emergencies, keeping in touch and so on.
   
   
3. Ask the children to listen to the following poem:
   
   Andrew Malone liked to live alone
   He liked to keep his door closed
   If anyone called he was not at home
   Or so everyone supposed.
   For if you phoned Mr Andrew Malone
   His telephone would ring and ring
   He never answered, never came to the phone
   So people gave up calling him.
   But Mr Malone had a great desire
   For gadgets and technical toys
   He wanted the best, with specs ever higher
   Buttons, screens and lights were his joys.
   So he had to have a mobile phone
   With each model his collection grew
   But there was one little problem for Mr Malone
   He'd spent so long being alone
   And ignoring the ringing of the phone
   That now there was no one to talk to.
   
   
4. Talk about the fact that although mobile phones get better and better and fancier and fancier every year, they're no use at all if you don't communicate with other people. Point out that we are sociable creatures and that we work best when we communicate with other people, when we work with others and have fun with others.
   
   
5. Point out that phone calls, mobile or land line, cost money. How can you make the very best use of this fantastic communication tool? How can you work with other people today and communicate better with them?

Time for reflection

Reflection:
I don't want to be like Andrew Malone,
never talking to people and never at home.
And if I see someone who is alone
I want to offer them friendship - I might even phone!

Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you that you made us to care for each other
and to communicate with one another.
Help me to be a good friend today.

Amen.

Song/music

'Shalom' (Come and Praise, 141)