Anger Issues!
What should we get angry about?
by Alexandra Palmer
Suitable for Key Stage 3
Aims
To consider good and bad reasons for us to become angry.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Anger Issues!) and the means to display them.
- You may wish to ask a student to read the Bible passage 2 Kings 5.1-14. Alternatively, you may prefer to use the YouTube video ‘Naaman (2 Kings 5.1-14)’, in which case you will also need the means to show it during the assembly. It is 0.57 minutes long and is available at: https://youtu.be/B9PKmFt3prw
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Ask the students, ‘Are there things that we should get angry about?’
If possible, pause to allow discussion with a partner or in groups, and then listen to a range of responses.
Ask the students, ‘Is it wrong to get angry?’
If possible, pause to allow discussion with a partner or in groups, and then listen to a range of responses.
Explain that different things make us angry, but it’s important to think about whether it’s OK to be angry about some things, or whether being angry is always wrong. - Explain that you are going to show five slides. Each slide shows two different scenarios. You want the students to decide whether either of the scenarios would make them feel angry.
Tell the students that you would like them to communicate their answers by giving a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down.
If possible, with each decision, pause to allow discussion with a partner or in groups. Then, listen to a range of responses as to why the students have chosen that option. - Show Slide 2.
Explain that, in some parts of the world, children have to walk a very long way to school. - Show Slide 3.
Tell the students that, unfortunately, many children around the world don’t get the chance to go to school because they have to earn a living from a young age. - Show Slide 4.
In some countries, children who go to school have to clean their classrooms themselves, after lessons have finished for the day. - Show Slide 5.
Many schools around the world don’t have access to the internet to help with learning in the classroom. Many schoolchildren don’t have books to write in or pens to write with. - Show Slide 6.
It’s always great to have lots of friends. However, it’s important to help other people join in and to make sure that no one is feeling left out or being bullied. - Introduce Naaman’s story from the Old Testament. Naaman had leprosy, an infectious skin disease that didn’t have a cure in biblical times.
Read, retell or invite a student to read the story of Naaman found in 2 Kings 5.1-14. Alternatively, show the YouTube video ‘Naaman (2 Kings 5.1-14)’ (0.57 minutes long).
Time for reflection
Ask the students the following questions.
- Did Naaman need to get angry?
- Do we sometimes get angry about the wrong things?
Pause to allow time for discussion and reflection.
Explain that sometimes, it’s good to get angry about things. For example, we might feel angry about somebody being bullied or about people living in poverty. Our anger can make us want to do something about the problem. Jesus sometimes showed this type of anger. It’s called righteous anger, and it happens when we get angry about something that is morally wrong.
Ask the students, ‘What things might be considered morally wrong?’
Pause to allow time for discussion and reflection.
Explain that we need to stop and consider carefully what we get angry about. Naaman was angry about having to do something that he thought was beneath him. He thought that Elisha should have given him an easier option. When we experience this sort of anger, we need to stop and think about our attitude. Sometimes, we need to rethink, forgive and move forward. If we hold on to our anger, we might end up hurting ourselves and our mental health.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for our emotions.
Thank you for the times when we get angry about things that are morally wrong.
Thank you that we can make a stand when we know that things are right or wrong.
Please help us to know when we have used our anger in the wrong way.
Please help us to say sorry and forgive others when they make mistakes.
Thank you that you always want to forgive us.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Inside Out emotion theme songs’, available at: https://youtu.be/fmMUCMesVtE (5.32 minutes long)
