All different, all special
To think about and celebrate our different talents and abilities.
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To think about and celebrate our different talents and abilities.
Preparation and materials
- Prepare some children to demonstrate a particular talent or ability that they have. The greater the variety the better, e.g. the hula hoop, saying the 9 times table, playing an instrument, singing, homemade cards, ballet dancing, etc.
- You will need the equipment required for the children to demonstrate their abilities e.g. hula hoop, musical instrument, etc.
Assembly
- Explain that the children are in for a treat this morning as they watch a few of their friends demonstrate something that they enjoy. Help the children you have arranged to complete the demonstrations and encourage the assembly to show their appreciation.
- Talk about how all of us enjoy different things and are good at different things, like we’ve seen. Then explain that some of us are good at things that are not so clearly visible. If possible give a couple of examples of children who have done things recently that were kind, caring or polite, e.g. looking after another child who was crying because they hurt themselves in the playground. Being good at seeing someone in need and helping - that is a very special talent!
- In a letter that is part of the Bible (1 Corinthians 12), one of Jesus’ followers, Paul, talks about us all being part of a body. Discuss with the children how every part of a body is very important, whether it's an eye, an ear, or foot, etc. Explain that just as every bit of our bodies is important to us, so each one of us is important to everyone else, and Christians and followers of other faiths believe that each of us is important to God.
- You could expand this by saying that Christians believe that God has made us all different. Life would be very dull if we were all exactly the same. God wants us all to use the gifts he has given us to the absolute best of our ability.
Time for reflection
Reflection
Think about something that you enjoy or that you are good at.
Think about how you are special and unique –
there’s only one of you, no one else is exactly the same.
How could you use your gifts and abilities to help other people?
Make a decision to try your best to use the talents and abilities that you have been given.
Are there any abilities that you wish you had?
How can you work to develop these?
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that you have made me special.
Thank you that there is nobody else in the whole world who is just like me.
Please help me to use all the gifts that you have given me
and to try hard in everything that I do.
Amen.
Song/music
‘He’s got the whole world in his hands’ (Come and Praise, 19)
