How to use this site    About Us    Submissions    Feedback    Donate    Links   

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

Decorative image - Secondary

Email Twitter Facebook

-
X
-

Boomerangs

It’s coming back!

by Rebecca Parkinson

Suitable for Whole School (Sec)

Aims

To consider that what we ‘give out’ to others affects us too.

Preparation and materials

  • You will need a boomerang (made out of card if necessary) and a hula hoop.

    You will also need to prearrange for someone to demonstrate how to spin the hoop forward in such a way that it returns to them.

  • Have available the YouTube video ‘How this guy became a world champion boomerang thrower’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 10.03 minutes long and is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdWcl6dt2h0 (you will only need to show the video from the start to 1.04 minutes)

Assembly

  1. Show the boomerang.

    Ask whether any of the students know what the item is called and what it does.

  2. Show the YouTube video ‘How this guy became a world champion boomerang thrower’ from the start to 1.04 minutes.

    Explain that, although it takes a lot of practice, a boomerang can be thrown so that it will turn back on itself and return to the thrower.

  3. Show the hula hoop and ask the prearranged person to demonstrate how it can be spun forward in such a way that it returns to them.

    You may wish to ask several students to have a go and see who can throw it the furthest from them and still get it to return.

  4. Explain that in some ways, the boomerang and the hula hoop are similar to the actions that we take in our lives. The way in which we treat others can come back to affect us.

    For example, if we are unkind to others, they are less likely to be understanding of us; if we never share, people are unlikely to want to share with us.

    However, the opposite is also true. If we are kind to others, they are likely to treat us kindly; if we are polite, people will tend to speak to us in a similar way; if we are generous, people will share with us.

  5. Point out that even smiling at someone can change their day from a sad one, where they feel as if no one cares about them, to a happy one where they feel cared for and loved. Point out that many older people live alone and sometimes have little contact with the outside world. A smile can make a big difference to their lives.

Time for reflection

Challenge the students to think about what they ‘give out’ to others. Encourage them to treat others in the way that they would like to be treated. Remind them that they can share happiness through something as simple as a smile.

In the Book of Matthew, there is a section called the Sermon on the Mount. In this passage, Jesus teaches some important lessons. Matthew 7.12 states, ‘So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.’

Jesus is saying that we should treat other people in the same way that we would like them to treat us.

Song/music

‘Getting on with life’ by Philippa Hanna, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOv5yhxJ1I0 (4.14 minutes long)

Publication date: October 2021   (Vol.23 No.10)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
Print this page