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Making mistakes (3)

To develop an understanding of the words ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’

by Janice Ross

Suitable for Key Stage 2

Aims

To develop an understanding of the words ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Preparation and materials

  • You will need some Geostrips, brass connecting pins, and photos of triangular-shaped structures. These can be pictures taken around your school or can be of structures such as bridges, electricity pylons or roofs taken from the internet or books.

Assembly

  1. Ask for volunteers to make some shapes using the Geostrips. One can make a square. Another can make a rectangle. Another can make a hexagon.

    Explain to the children that we want to test these shapes for strength. We will do this by pushing the sides. Have another volunteer come to do this.

    Ask if anyone knows any way in which we could strengthen these structures. Hopefully someone will suggest adding diagonal strips to make triangle shapes.

    Test the shapes again. Are they any stronger now?
  2. Explain to the children that a triangle is a very strong structure which is used a lot in the construction industry. Search for evidence in the assembly hall.

    Now look at the photos, if they are taken around the school. Can the children identify the places? Or look at some pictures of other triangular structures.
  3. Explain that what we have learned about structures is going to help us with our lessons about making mistakes. Hold up one Geostrip. Mark at the top ‘G’ for God and mark at the bottom ‘ME’.

    The Bible tells us that God loves me and knows that I am human. He knows that I make mistakes, sometimes little unimportant ones that just affect me, sometimes very big ones that hurt other people.

    Because God is not human, God wants to forgive me for all the mistakes I make.
  4. Hold up a second strip. Mark the top ‘G’ for God and mark the bottom with an initial of one of your friends, e.g. ‘Mrs T’.

    As above, say: God loves Mrs T and knows that she is human. He knows that she makes mistakes, sometimes little unimportant ones that just affect her, sometimes very big ones that hurt other people.

    Because God is not human, God wants to forgive Mrs T for all the mistakes she makes.
  5. Join the two Geostrips together at the top, at the Gs. (You should have two dangly Geostrips!) Ask the children if they can remember how to make a strong structure.

    Join them with a third Geostrip to make a triangle. Point to the relevant parts of the triangle when you are saying the following.

    What does this mean? Mrs T is loved by God. I am loved by God. Mrs T makes mistakes but God forgives her. I make mistakes but God forgives me.
     
    Now I can forgive Mrs T when she makes mistakes and Mrs T can forgive me when I make mistakes.

    That way our lives stay strong and solid.

    Can anyone suggest what would happen if we didn’t forgive each other our mistakes?

    Undo the third side of the triangle and see the dangly structure!
  6. The Bible tells us this in the Lord’s Prayer. Can anyone identify which part?

Time for reflection

Reflection

Imagine a triangle. God’s name is at the top. Your name is at the end of one side. Whose name would you put in the other corner?

The Bible tells us that God wants us to learn to forgive the mistakes of others and to build a strong life.

Prayer

Pray the Lord’s Prayer together.

Song/music

‘Kum ba yah’ (Come and Praise, 68)

Publication date: March 2009   (Vol.11 No.3)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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