Let’s Do the Little Things
Making a difference
by Lydia Parkinson
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To consider that the little things we do matter very much.
Preparation and materials
- You will need a leader and four children to take the spoken parts in the two stories in the ‘Assembly’, Steps 4 and 6. Alternatively, the stories could be narrated by the leader.
Assembly
- Ask the children to think of a situation that has worried them or made them frightened. Point out that, within the school community, there will be people feeling like this today.
- Ask the children to think of a situation in the world that seems so big that they can’t do anything to make it better.
Explain that sometimes, situations can seem so enormous that they make us feel a bit helpless. We can feel like we can’t make a difference, no matter what we do.
Explain that in today’s assembly, you want to consider that we can all do something. - Explain to the children that you are going to tell them two stories. While they are listening, you would like them to think about what the stories might be trying to teach them.
- Story 1
An old man was walking along the seashore at dawn. Up ahead, he noticed a young man who was picking up starfish from the beach, where they had been stranded by the receding tide, and throwing them back into the water.
The old man asked the young man, ‘Why are you doing that?’
The young man replied, ‘If I don’t, the starfish will be stranded and the heat of the sun will kill them.’
The old man replied, ‘But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish. What difference does it make?’
The young man stooped down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea. As he did so, he said, ‘Well, it makes a difference to that one.’ - Ask the children what they think this story is trying to teach us.
Listen to a range of responses. - Story 2
Two mice were sitting watching the snow fall and settle on the branch of a tree.
The first mouse asked the second mouse, ‘How much does a snowflake weigh?’
The second mouse replied, ‘A little less than nothing.’
Both mice continued to watch the snow falling. Gradually, the snowfall lessened, and then stopped. A final snowflake fell on the branch of the tree. The branch creaked, snapped and fell to the ground.
The first mouse exclaimed, ‘So, a little less than nothing can make a big difference!’ - Ask the children what they think this story is trying to teach us.
Listen to a range of responses.
- The stories make the point that we should do what we can to help, and that little things can make a big difference.
Time for reflection
Remind the children that ‘every little helps’. At the time, a small action may not seem to make an enormous difference and change the world. However, it will make some difference, however small.
Ask the children for some ideas of what they could do to make a difference in various situations:
- at home
- in school
- in the playground
- in the world
You may wish to take some of their ideas and use them for a school project.
Prayer
Dear God,
You have made us all different,
And given us different skills and abilities.
Please help us to play our part in making the world a better place.
Thank you that we have the chance to make a difference at home, in school, in the local area and in the world.
Please help us to play our part, no matter how small it may seem.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Faith as small as a mustard seed’ by Doug Horley, available at: https://youtu.be/HPylxzfN-Oo (2.08 minutes long)
