Making a team

Working together towards success

by Alan M. Barker

Suitable for Key Stage 3

Aims

To consider some aspects of successful teamwork.

Preparation and materials

• If possible, showing images of the World Cup logo and England Manager, Roy Hodgson, will support this assembly (check copyright).
• The key words ‘skills’ and ‘attitude’ could also be displayed, with appropriate pictures.
• For the ‘Song’, you might like to show and sing along to ‘Together we aspire’, about teamwork, which is suitable for Key Stage 2 and can be found at:    www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNjhnWUwzI

Assembly

1. Introduce the assembly by noting that:
   
   – the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be played in Brazil in July
   – England is one of 32 nations to have won a place in the tournament
   – the football matches will be played in 12 host stadiums and watched on television and the Internet by millions of people across the globe
   – the draw for the fixtures has already been made – England is in Group D, together with Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica, and the first match will be against Italy, with kick-off at 6 p.m. on Saturday 14 June
   – England Manager, Roy Hodgson, has had the difficult task of choosing just 23 players to go with him to Brazil.
   
   
2. Invite the children to consider how they would choose a strong team.
   
   In discussion, establish that both skillsand attitude will be important.
   
   
3. Some of the following points might be highlighted.
   
   – It is vital that those who have been chosen are able to play to the highest standard.
   – The team requires players with different skills. The squad includes goalkeepers, defenders, midfield players and strikers. Not all members of a team play from the same position. 
   – A positive attitude is vital. Those who belong to winning teams encourage one another.
   – The best players support the aims of the whole team and don’t just think of themselves. Team members train and practise together.
   – The squad includes both experienced and new players. Teams change and develop.
   
   
4. Invite everyone to consider the importance of teamwork within the school community. Everyone is a part of the squad! As a new term/week begins, practising different skills, working together and encouraging one another will be important keys to success.

Time for reflection

Think of a team or group to which you belong  . . .

– a football, netball or gymnastics team
– a music, dance or drama group 
– a science or other group, the school council.

What team skills and values have you learned?

Take pride in belonging to this school. Consider what it might mean for everyone to work together as a team today.

Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You chose twelve people as your team of followers and helpers.
May we succeed, as they did, by helping one another,
working and learning together, today and every day.
Amen.

Hymn

‘Give it all you’ve got’ (Songs for Every Assembly, Out of the Ark Music, 1999)
‘Together we aspire’