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AIM
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To use the forthcoming half term as an opportunity for self-evaluation and reflection.
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PREPARATION
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You will need:
- A whistle - with volunteer member of staff to blow this at the start and at an appropriate mid point (see below)
- A calendar (optional)
- Some music for entry and exit
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INTRODUCTION
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Play some music as the children enter the hall / worship area. After turning the music off, allow a few moments of silence. The whistle should be blown - preferably by someone unseen. After the whistle, the leader should read the following:
'Jo had waited such a long time to play for the school team and now at last the day had come. He had been so excited when he got up that morning. He had made sure that he had everything for the match - his kit all clean and ready to wear - the new boots that he had got for his birthday and which he had worn a few times to break them in. The opponents were quite a good team - they had a good goal scorer, a girl called Kate - and Jo knew the goalkeeper as they lived in the same street. It was Kate who had scored the goal. Their goalkeeper had done his best to stop it but the ball had swerved into the net and there it was - 1-Nil... Jo walked slowly off the field...'
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DEVELOPMENT
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Ask the children to think about how Jo would be feeling as he walked off the field - the children will no doubt explore feelings of disappointment and possibly failure. After receiving some responses, wait a few seconds and then give a signal for the whistle to blow again. Ask the children why the whistle has blown for a second time and establish that although they might have thought, from the story, that the game had ended, it was in fact only half time. Ask the children what they think the teacher would have said to Jo's team during half time. Establish concepts such as encouragement, not giving up, determination, doing their best, etc.. Explain that you do not have the end of the story and so you don't know what happens in the second half.
Take out a calendar and identify the dates for the forthcoming half term. Explore with the children ideas relating to half term being like half time - an opportunity to rest and think, perhaps, about what they have done during the first half of the term and what has happened in the world. Can they recall things that have been in the news since they came back from holiday after Christmas? Have they kept their New Year resolutions? Have they worked hard? Have they been kind? Have they made mistakes? Have they not done as well as they might have done? Explore the idea that half term, like half time, is an opportunity for everyone to have a rest and to think about, and get ready for, the next half term. It is a chance to put things right and to do better.
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PRAYER AND REFLECTION
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In a few moment of silence, give opportunities for the children to reflect whilst listening to the following:
Thank you for all the opportunities we have had to learn new things during the first half
of this term.
Thank you for friends at school and at home who help us when things are difficult.
We are sorry for those times when we haven't worked hard enough and when we may have been unkind.
Help us, during half term, to enjoy the rest and to come back to school determined to do our best in all we say and do.
Amen.
Play some quiet reflective music as children leave the worship and encourage them to think about something they are determined to do after half term. Suggest that children might like to complete Jo's story and that you will share some of the endings with the school after half term.
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LINKS WITH OTHER AREAS OF THE CURRICULUM
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| ENGLISH |
Complete Jo's story. Older children could share their versions with younger children. |
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