How to use this site    About Us    Submissions    Feedback    Donate    Links   

Assemblies.org.uk - School Assemblies for every season for everyone

Decorative image - Primary

Email Twitter Facebook

-
X
-

Magic veg

To explore the idea that in life we reap what we sow.

by Josh Carter

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To explore the idea that in life we reap what we sow.

Preparation and materials

  • Materials needed: 6 pieces of fruit or veg (suggested: carrot, parsnip, potato, banana, orange, coconut); large container/bucket; soil (enough to fill the container); 3 packets of seeds which match the first 3 vegetables; watering can with water.
  • The types of fruit and veg listed above work well, but so long as you have 3 things that normally grow in soil and 3 things that don’t, it will work.
  • Before the assembly you will need to hide ALL the fruit and vegetables in the soil so that no one would realize there is anything in it. Arrange the fruit and veg in the container in a way that will help you during the assembly, i.e. the ones that normally grow in soil towards the bottom. It is well worth practising this assembly before performing it.

Assembly

  1. Explain that today you will be doing some gardening. ‘Sow’ the three types of seed in the container, e.g. carrots, parsnip, potatoes. Make sure that the children know what type of seeds (vegetables) you have planted.
  2. Water the soil with the ‘magic water’ and explain that this special water speeds up the process of growth so that we don’t have to wait ages for the vegetables to grow.

    Ask the children to remind you what types of vegetables were ‘sown’ and then say that we are going to see if the magic water has worked.
  3. This next part needs to be practised beforehand. You are going to ‘reap’ from the soil three different fruits that were not sown, e.g. banana, orange, coconut. Each time you pull one of them out act very surprised and say that there must be something wrong with the magic water.
  4. Explain to the children what a surprise it was to have reaped what we did not sow. In nature it is impossible to plant carrots and reap bananas. The same is true in our lives. We cannot reap what we have not sown.
  5. Give examples from our everyday lives and behaviours, perhaps including a personal experience that has happened to you. Be sure to include both positive and negative examples.

    A smile: if we think that no one smiles at us, think about how many times we smile at other people.
    Working hard at school: if we work hard then we will reap the reward of learning new things and have good test results.
    If we are kind to others, others will be kind to us. But if we are nasty, what might happen?
  6. Now water the soil again and ‘reap’ what was ‘sown’ from the seeds.

Time for reflection

Reflection

In nature you reap what you sow.

You cannot sow grass seeds and expect to reap pineapples.

In life you reap what you sow.

You cannot be unkind to others all the time and then expect them to be kind to you.

What will you sow today? Helpfulness, kindness, fun …?

 

Prayer

Dear God,

Please help us to remember that in our lives we reap what we sow.

Help us to put this into practice when we are with our friends, at home or at school.

Amen.

Song/music

‘The pollen of peace’ (Come and Praise, 145)

Publication date: July 2007   (Vol.9 No.7)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
Print this page