Making a Difference
We can all make a difference
by Alexandra Palmer
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To encourage us to think about how we can make a difference.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Making a Difference) and the means to display them.
- Optional: you may also wish to use the extension activity (Making a Difference - Extension Activity) that accompanies this assembly.
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Ask the children, ‘What does the word “MAD” mean?’
Pause to allow time for thought and, if appropriate, discussion.
Listen to a range of responses.
Suggestions will probably be based around getting cross, or not thinking straight. - Show Slide 2.
Explain that, in this assembly, we’re using ‘MAD’ as an acronym. An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letter of other words to form a word of its own. For example, ASAP stands for as soon as possible.
Ask the children what they think MAD might be an acronym for.
Listen to a range of responses. - Show Slide 3.
Explain that MAD stands for make a difference. - Show Slide 4.
Ask the children, ‘What do we mean when we say “Go MAD and make a difference”?’
Listen to a range of responses.
The answer is that making a difference means changing something. Going MAD and making a difference means not just sitting there, doing nothing, but getting up and doing something, even if it’s the smallest of things like opening a door for someone. - Show Slide 5.
Suggest that we can make a difference in four main areas of our lives.
First, we can make a difference in school.
Ask the children how we can do this.
Pause to allow time for thought and, if appropriate, discussion.
Listen to a range of responses.
Answers might include sharpening pencils for the teacher, holding open a door, inviting someone to play with us, handing out books in the classroom, tidying our tray, tidying up the playground equipment or helping to find something that is missing. - Show Slide 6.
We can make a difference at home too.
Ask the children how we can do this.
Pause to allow time for thought and, if appropriate, discussion.
Listen to a range of responses.
Answers might include tidying our bedroom without being asked, washing up the dishes, helping to make breakfast, doing the vacuuming, playing games with our family members without falling out, doing our homework when we are asked, complimenting the adults who look after us and tidying away our toys. - Show Slide 7.
We can also make a difference in our local community.
Ask the children how we can do this.
Pause to allow time for thought and, if appropriate, discussion.
Listen to a range of responses.
Answers might include litter-picking in our local area, helping out elderly neighbours, playing nicely with equipment in the local park, fundraising for local charities and donating any toys or books that we no longer use. - Show Slide 8.
Lastly, we can make a difference in the wider world.
Ask the children how we can do this.
Pause to allow time for thought and, if appropriate, discussion.
Listen to a range of responses.
Answers might include becoming a pen pal and fundraising for global charities such as Water Aid. There could also be answers that involve learning more about the global environment - such as the rainforest - and avoiding buying food that involves destroying it.
Time for reflection
Show Slide 9.
Ask the children, ‘Is it easier to make a difference by yourself?’
Pause to allow time for thought and, if appropriate, discussion.
Listen to a range of responses.
Show Slide 10.
If the children haven’t already mentioned it, point out that it is usually easier to make a difference when we work together as a team. We often achieve far more when everyone comes together as a team.
Show Slide 11.
Explain that the importance of teamwork is something that Jesus knew about. That’s why he gathered the disciples, his team of 12 men, around him. Jesus knew that after he had finished God’s work on earth, the team would carry on and work together to spread the good news about God’s love for all people and continue to help the sick and the poor.
Ask the children to think for a moment about how they might make a difference today.
Pause to allow time for thought.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for all the many ways in which we can make a difference.
Thank you that we can make a difference at school by getting along with our friends.
Thank you that we can make a difference at home by helping out.
Thank you that we can make a difference in our community by looking after our local environment.
Thank you that we can make a difference to people who are struggling in the wider world by fundraising.
Please help us always to make a difference.
Amen.
Extension activities
- Give each child a copy of the sheet that accompanies this assembly (Making a Difference - Extension Activity). Ask them to fill out the remaining blank boxes with ideas about how they can make a difference, and then cross them off when they’ve completed them.
