Flowers
To appreciate the beauty of flowers especially in the springtime.
by Jan Edmunds
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To appreciate the beauty of flowers especially in the springtime.
Preparation and materials
-
It would help to collect about half a dozen different kinds of spring flowers (have a vase of water ready for the children to put them in). Alternatively find some pictures of flowers for the children to identify. Keep them out of sight to begin with.
- An OHP would be useful to share the poem.
Assembly
- Tell the children that you have something very special to show them but they must guess what it is. Give them clues such as: These are some of nature’s beautiful treasures; they are colourful; they brighten up our classroom or our homes; many of them have a wonderful fragrance; people like to give them on birthdays, anniversaries or on St Valentine’s Day.
By this time the children will have probably guessed what you are hiding. Bring out your flowers. Ask the child who gives you the correct name for each one to come and hold it. When all the flowers have been named there is a good opportunity here to name and learn the parts of a flower. - Can anyone think of any other occasions when flowers are given? (The children are usually full of ideas!) Ask the children holding the flowers to put them into the vase and to go back to their places.
- Invite your audience to read the poem with you.
Flowers
By Jan Edmunds
There are colours galore in the garden today,
The scent of the flowers brings the bees out to play.
There are flowers that cling and climb up the wall,
Daisies so tiny and sunflowers so tall.
There are flowers we pick to show that we care
These are the treasures we all have to share. - Optional questions: What brings the bees out to play? Which flowers are tiny? Which flowers are tall? Why do we sometimes pick flowers?
Time for reflection
Reflection
In the springtime the first flowers are a sign that the cold winter is nearly over and the better weather is on the way. The golden daffodils at Easter time are a wonderful sight. After the flowers have died they come again the next year as beautiful as ever with the promise of new life. This reminds us of the Easter story. (This could be expanded.)
Jesus loved flowers. He said that they were more beautiful than the very wealthy King Solomon dressed in his finest robes (Luke 12.27).
Prayer
We thank you, God, for the beauty of flowers.
To give flowers shows that we care in any language.
Flowers can brighten our day and fill our hearts with gladness.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Think of a world without any flowers’ (Come and Praise, 17)
