Facing up to bullies
To think about facing worries no matter how big they may seem at the time.
by Jenny Tuxford
Suitable for Key Stage 2
Aims
To think about facing worries no matter how big they may seem at the time.
Preparation and materials
- Rehearse groups of children to say the rap.
- Get different, separate, groups of children to make a tableau/still picture to sum up each verse – they can form these as the rap is spoken.
Assembly
David and Goliath
- The Philistines were waiting,
On a mountain side,
To fight their foes, the Israelites
Across a valley wide. - Goliath was a Philistine
A giant of a man.
He roared, ‘Who’ll come and fight me
And kill me – if he can! - Find a man to match me,
If you’ve anyone so brave,
And if he beats me – ha-ha-ha,
Then I will be your slave.’ - Goliath said this every day,
With a very ugly grin.
The Israelites had no one
Who could hope to win. - Now David was a shepherd boy,
Whose father one day said,
‘Take this food up to the camp –
Our army must be fed.’ - So David went to see them,
Taking with him cheese and bread.
And so it was he came to hear
The words the giant said. - ‘I’ll fight the man,’ cried David
The shepherd to the king,
‘For with my God to help me
I can do anything.’ - Goliath wore a coat of mail,
His weapon was a spear,
He took one look at David
And laughed as he drew near. - ‘You’re just a puny little boy.
Shepherd, mark my words:
I’ll kill you in an instant
And feed you to the birds.’ - The man was like a mountain,
When he spoke the people shook.
Not David, though, he calmly took
Five smooth stones from the brook. - No coat of mail for David,
No helmet for his head,
Just a shepherd’s sling and pebbles
From the river bed. - The boy ran to the giant
And carefully took aim.
He fired the pebble from his sling
And down Goliath came! - The ammo hit the giant
Squarely on the head.
He gave a howl of agony
And there he was – stone dead! - The Israelites were cheering,
The band began to play.
The Philistines picked up their swords …
And quickly ran away! - A shepherd boy had killed a man
With pebbles and a sling.
He knelt before the throne of Saul –
One day he would be king.
Time for reflection
Reflection
It must have been very frightening, fighting someone as big as Goliath.
Fortunately we’re not called upon to face actual giants, but sometimes the problems we have to face can seem huge at the time. Perhaps you’ve been bullied, or you have a friend who has. What do we do if we’re being bullied? (Talk to an adult.)
What do we do if we see someone being bullied? (Talk to an adult.)
Remember: Goliath was far bigger and stronger than David, but David was the one who won in the end.
Prayer
When life is getting tough, help me to remember David.
When people are picking on me, help me to talk to an adult.
When life is tough for others, help me to be a good friend.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Only a boy called David’ (Junior Praise)
