A 'What If' Monster  by Ruth Kenward & Richard Neil - 5 to 9 yrs  (1m 54s)

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Theme  -  Sharing problems
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Story  -  by John & Ruth Kenward  (approx 6 mins)

Extract:  
Shazia was a happy girl who never worried about a thing, until one Sunday her mum got a phone call.  ‘That was your Auntie Parveen,’ Shazia’s mum said. ‘She’s broken her leg and she can’t walk!’  ‘Poor Auntie Parveen!’ said Shazia. ‘How will she look after her children with a broken leg?’  ‘I’ll have to go and stay with them to help for a while,’ answered her mum.  ‘But what about me?’ asked Shazia. ‘You’ll be fine,’ said her mum. ‘Dad will look after you.‘

After breakfast on Monday, it was odd not having mum to walk her to school, but she went with her friend’s mum, and that was ok. Everything felt fine, until the teacher told the class that the school dentist was coming next Monday! The teacher reminded the children to clean their teeth twice every day.  ‘We don’t want to have any nasty fillings, do we?’ she said.  Shazia began to worry. ‘What if I forget to clean my teeth?’ she thought to herself. ‘I don’t want fillings!’  For the rest of the day, she worried about getting holes in her teeth.

On Tuesday, the teacher gave the children a spelling list to learn for homework. ‘Next week,’ she said, ‘you’ll be having a test to see how many of these words you can spell.’  The words looked difficult and Shazia began to worry. ‘What if I can’t learn them?’ she thought to herself. ‘Mum isn’t here to help me!’ For the rest of the day, she worried…

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward & Richard Neil

In the song, anxiety is imagined as a ‘what if’ monster, and confidence as a ‘what if’ buddy. The ‘what if’ monster puts doubt in our minds, and needs to be replaced with the ‘what if’ buddy of confidence - which can take the form of a good, kind friend.  This unusual, quirky song is a brilliant tool to help young children understand anxiety – and they love shouting at the ‘what if’ monster to go away!  (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1. Can you remember all the things Shazia worried about?

2. Why do you think Shazia was worrying more than usual?

3. Why had her mum gone away?

4. Who were Shazia’s ‘what if’ buddies?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Don't Open The Box' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

Every Step Counts by Ruth & John Kenward - 5 to 9 years old (KS1)

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Theme  -  Perseverance 
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Story  -  by Ruth & John Kenward  (approx 6 mins)

Extract:
When Lucy was born, one of her legs was shorter than the other. When she was a tiny baby that didn't matter, but by the time she was two it was obvious that Lucy couldn't walk very well. She went to see a special leg doctor. 'When Lucy is six,' the doctor said, 'she'll need an operation to make her legs the same length, otherwise the limp will get worse, and she'll have pain in her back and hips.'

By the time she was four, Lucy's limp was worse, but in spite of that she was a bundle of energy, running everywhere, always on the move. Best of all she loved playing football with her big brother and her dad. Because of her limp, she usually chose to be in goal, and she was getting very good at doing saves. 

By the time she was five, one leg was much shorter than the other. Lucy began to think people were staring at her- although they hardly ever were. 'I don't like my limp,' she complained. 'Why can't I be like everyone else?' The doctor gave her a special built-up shoe to wear on her shorter leg, which helped her not to limp. She was pleased at first, but by the time she was six she was fed up with it.

'I hate my big shoe,' she said, miserably. 'Why can't I be like everyone else and wear normal shoes? I want shiny red ones, like Kerry's.' Kerry was Lucy's best friend. Lucy's mum and dad decided it was time to tell her about the leg operation...

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Song  -  by John & Ruth Kenward  

With its rather ‘toy soldier’ feel, this song encourages children not to give up when things seem hard.  Every step means you’re moving on.  (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points - samples

1.  What do you think was the hardest thing Lucy had to put up with? 

2.  Even when she was tiny Lucy wasn't a girl who gave up easily, was she?  How do you know?

3.  If we know someone has a problem, how can we help them when they feel like giving up?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'You Gotta Try' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

First Day  by Ruth Kenward - 5 to 11 yrs - KS1, KS2  (1m 52s)

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Theme   -  Moving from secure to unknown, going to a new school 

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Story  -  by Ruth Kenward  (approx 7 mins)

Extract: 
Glenn and his sister Tess started at St. John’s Infant School when they were four, but now Glenn was seven, and Tess was five. St. John’s was like a second home to them. They’d known all their friends ever since playgroup. But one day something happened that changed everything. When Glenn and Tess raced through the door after school Dad was out, which was unusual. Since his office closed down Dad had no job, so he was usually in when they got home from school. 

‘Where’s Dad?’ asked Glenn. 
‘Has he gone out to do the shopping?’ asked Tess.  
‘No, it’s better than that,’ said Mum, with a big smile. ‘He’s got an interview for a job!’  ‘What’s a nintervoo?’ asked Tess.  So Mum explained.
‘An interview is when someone goes to talk to people who might give them a job. Dad thinks he’s got a good chance of getting this one!’  
‘Great!’ said Glenn.  ‘I hope he does get the job!’
Mum sighed. ‘So do I,’ she said. 

Mum was just about to get beans on toast ready for tea when Dad came charging through the front door, all excited.
‘I got it!’ he shouted. ‘I got the job!’
‘Yay!’  shouted the children, jumping up to hug their father.
‘Forget the baked beans,’ Dad told Mum. ‘We’re going out to celebrate!’ 

First they went and had a delicious meal in a restaurant, and then – even though it was nearly bedtime – they went out ten pin bowling! The children couldn’t remember having such fun on a Friday night ever before! But next morning they discovered there was bad news to come...

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward   

A new environment is a challenge.  This song encourages children that having a friendly, smiling manner and positive approach will soon have them feeling at home.  An excellent song for the end of the school year, with a lovely upbeat feel. (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  What was the golden rule the family made up to help them make a new start?

2.  Why is the golden rule a good idea? 

3.  What did it feel like on your first day at this school?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Time To Move Along' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

Hold On! Slow Down!  by Ruth Kenward - 5 to 7 yrs - KS1  (2m 08s)
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Theme  -  Self-control, hurrying, rushing

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Story  -  by Ruth Kenward  (approx 6 mins)

Extract:
Speedy Sam and Hurrying Holly were twins who often got into trouble because they did everything in such a rush that they forgot about sticking to rules!  Holly was so impatient, she did everything at the speed of light, and Sam always wanted to be first, so he was no better. Their mum was forever saying ‘Hold on!  Slow down!’  But the twins weren’t very good at taking their time. They didn’t seem to know how to slow down!

One day, Sam and Holly were excited because Grandma was going to take them to the park.  Mum had given them both some money to buy ice cream, and now they were by the front window, impatiently waiting for Grandma’s car to drive along the road. ‘There she is!’ Sam shouted, jumping up. ‘I saw her first!  And I’ll be ready before you!’ 

Sam grabbed his ice-cream money and ran; Holly chased after him. They both raced to get their coats, then...

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward  

Children love the use of different tempos in this song, which has a speedy verse with a contrasting, laid-back chorus.  Wonderful for reinforcing school rules about running in corridors etc., as this song has a way of getting stuck in children’s heads!  (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  What were Mum and Grandma always saying to Sam and Holly?

2.  If Sam had walked to the ice-cream van, what would have changed?

3.  The twins didn’t seem to know how to slow down. What might help them to learn?

4.  Sometimes it’s dangerous to be in a hurry. Can you think of an example?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Don't Open The Box' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

How Can I Make A Difference?  by Ruth Kenward & Richard Neil - 5 to 7 yrs - KS1  (1m 25s)
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Theme  -  One person can make a difference 
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Story  -  by Ruth & John Kenward  (approx 6 mins)

Extract:
Poppy was a girl who always felt as if she was invisible.  No-one really noticed her.  She didn’t have any brothers or sisters, so her house was a quiet place, and Poppy was a quiet person.

One day after school, Poppy was watching cartoons and then the news came on.  She usually found the news boring, but this time she was actually watching when her mother came in and switched it off.

‘Tea-time,’ said her mum.  ‘Hey, Mum, I was watching that!’ Poppy said. ‘Please turn it back on!’  Her mum shrugged and pressed the remote control again.  ‘You don’t usually like the news,’ she said.

But Poppy was concentrating.  On the screen, a reporter was talking about some children, who she could see in the background.  These boys and girls had no mums or dads.  They had nobody to care for them so they lived in an orphanage, which had cold draughty rooms and not even any curtains on the windows.  The children looked very sad, and they were very quiet.  

‘They look so sad!’ said Poppy.  ‘And they’re like me.’  Poppy’s mum looked shocked. ‘Like you?’ she said.  ‘You’re not an orphan!’  
‘No, but they’re quiet, like me,’ said Poppy, quietly.
‘Oh I see!’ said her mum. 
‘Could one of them come and live with us?’ asked Poppy. ‘Then I’d have a brother or a sister!’ 
‘I don’t think so!’ said Poppy’s mum, laughing.  Poppy looked cross. 
‘But that’s not fair!’ she protested.  ‘They need a home, and I need a brother or sister.’ Poppy’s mum hugged her.  ‘Life isn’t always how we’d like it to be,’ she said. ‘Perhaps you’d feel better if you tried to help.’  
Poppy pulled a grumpy face.  ‘What can I do?’ she asked.  ‘I’m only little.  I can’t make a difference…’   
‘You can try!’ said her mum.  ‘See if you can think of a way.’

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward & Richard Neil  

Very easy to teach and learn, this song has a simple message about making things better in our own small way, by doing the right thing. (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  Why did Poppy think she couldn't help those children?

2.  What was the first thing Poppy did to make a difference?

3.  How did Poppy’s small plan become so big? 

4.  If Poppy came to our school, why do you think she might make a good friend?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Just A Single Candle' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

Let's Say No  by Ruth Kenward & Richard Neil - 5 to 7yrs - KS1  (1m 41s)

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Theme  -  Dealing with bullying 
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Story  -  by John & Ruth Kenward (approx 5 mins)

Extract:
Billy couldn't wait for playtime. 'Who's playing football?' he would shout on his way to the playground. Lots of children would always run to join him, and within minutes they'd be racing round the football pitch. If you were watching, you'd think everyone was having a great time - but things aren't always as they seem.

Billy began his school life as a kind and friendly boy, but somehow, by the end of Year 2, he'd become something quite different. He'd turned into Billy the Bully. Since he was very small, Billy had always enjoyed football. The trouble was, as he became bigger and stronger, he started to act as if he was the best footballer in the school. He got into bad habits, deliberately knocking other children over if they got in his way, and being nasty to them if they made mistakes. He was selfish, always wanting to take the goal kicks, the corners, and the throw-ins. No-one dared argue with Billy. They were frightened of getting shouted at, or even hurt.

In the summer term a new boy, David, joined the class...

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward & Richard Neil  

A very simple song to discourage bullying and to teach children some things they can do to feel stronger. (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  In what way was Billy being a bully?

2.  Was Billy really as tough and strong as he pretended to be?  How do you know?

3.  Why didn't the other children help Billy when he asked them to?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Stand Up For Yourself' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

No-one Likes A Bighead by John & Ruth Kenward - 5 to 7yrs - KS1  (1m 41s)
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Theme  -  Pride, showing off, relationships
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Story  -  by John & Ruth Kenward  (approx 5 mins)

Extract:
Bryony was good at nearly everything she did. Unfortunately, she was also very proud. Byrony was always telling everybody how clever she was. 'I was the only one in the class to get all the spellings right this week,' she told the children on her table. 'I must be the best speller in the class!' Her friends nodded, but didn't say anything. They were getting fed up with her showing off all the time.

Bryony was beginning to notice that her classmates didn't say much when she told them things she'd done well - so she showed off even more to try and get them to say how good she was. 'I'm the fastest runner in the class,' she announced to the children in the reading corner. 'Nobody can run faster than me.' Everybody knew she was fast at running but they were fed up with her boasting. She was always so proud of herself that they started to call her 'Bryony Bighead' behind her back.

One day a man from the zoo came to visit the school...  
...The zookeeper asked for a volunteer –  a brave volunteer – to help him bring out his special guest for the day.  ‘I’m brave!’  shouted Bryony, her hand stretched high in the air...  

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Song  -  by John & Ruth Kenward  

A song about over-confidence, and how it doesn’t help people make good relationships - as the title suggests!  Easy to teach and learn, particularly useful for assembly and PSHE purposes.  (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  What do you think a bighead is?

2.  Do you think Bryony was brave in the end? How do you know?

3.  What do you think turned Bryony into a show-off?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Pride Goes Before A Fall' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

One Day At A Time by Ruth and John Kenward - 5 to 7 years (KS1)

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Theme  -  Dealing with difficult problems 
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Story  -  by Ruth & John Kenward  (approx 7 mins)

Extract:
Aliesha and Jacob were twins. They lived in a cosy house with their mum and dad, and a ginger cat called Geronimo. Although the twins obviously weren't identical, because Aliesha was a girl and Jacob was a boy, they did look very alike. They both had brown hair and brown eyes, and were exactly the same height. Both of them liked the same food, the same TV programmes and the same games. 'We're twins!' they would say proudly, whenever they met someone for the first time...

...The twins had begun to notice that when a bad thing happened, it only happened to one of them at a time. This was good, because it meant that if something bad happened to Jacob, Aliesha was there to cheer him up, and if it happened to Aliesha, Jacob was there to cheer her up. 

For example, when they were three, Aliesha had lost her favourite Teddy. One day she took him shopping, but that turned out to be a bad idea. Somehow the little teddy got dropped. Although they looked all over the place, Bertie couldn't be found. Aliesha cried and cried. 
'Poor Aliesha,' said their mum, 'sad things happen, but you won't be sad forever.'  'Yes I will!' cried Aliesha.
'Just take one day at a time.' said Mum. 'Things will get better.'  And of course they did.  

It wasn’t until the twins were six that something horrible thing happened to them both at the same time. Every night at bedtime, the twins would stroke Geronimo the cat and say goodnight. But one day after school Geronimo fell over and lay on the floor making a funny noise. The twins ran for their mum. ‘Mum!’ they shouted. ‘Come quick!’ But when they got back he was lying absolutely still. The twins were shocked. 
‘Is he dead, mum?’ asked Aliesha. 
‘I don’t know,’ Mum replied...

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Song  -  by John & Ruth Kenward  

A gentle song to encourage young children that things do get better, if you can be patient and take one day at a time.  (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  Why was it good that they usually took it in turns to have bad things happen?

2.  What did Mum always say when bad things happened?  Was she right?

3.  What does it mean to 'take one day at a time'? 
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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Growing Pains' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

Round The Corner by Ruth Kenward - 5 to 7yrs - KS1  (1m 54s)

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Theme  -  Finding positives in bad times
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Story  -  by John & Ruth Kenward  (approx 5 mins)

Extract:
Harry was having a hard time. Everything seemed to be going wrong. First there was the accident in the playground. He was walking round a corner when suddenly a football came flying past and he tripped over it, twisting his ankle badly. 'Ow!' he cried out. 'It really, really hurts!' Harry was a brave boy, but his ankle hurt so badly it made him cry.

He had to go to the hospital for an x-ray, and the doctor told him good news and bad news. The good news was that his ankle wasn't broken, but the bad news was he'd have to rest for a while to help it get better.
'But I'll miss our class assembly!' he said, 'and I've got a special part in it!'
'Look on the bright side,' the doctor replied. 'You can play all day!'

Back home, with a large bandage wrapped around his sprained ankle, Harry settled down to play with his racing cars. It was fun to begin with, but then disaster struck...

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward

You never know what’s round the corner: it could be scary or fun - stormy or sun! But if we don't step round each 'corner' in our lives we might never get to see what lies ahead - which might be treasure at the rainbow's end!  A catchy song with an unusual theme. (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection points  -  samples

1.  Which bad thing do you think was the worst?

2.  What good thing was waiting round the corner for Harry?

3.  How can you help yourself to look on the bright side in life?
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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

Step Away From The Chocolate  by John & Ruth Kenward
   - 5 to 11 yrs - KS1, KS2  (1m 54s)
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Theme  -  Resisting temptation
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Story   -  by Ruth & John Kenward  (approx 6 mins)

Extract:
Do you like chocolate? Well, Tico didn’t like chocolate. Not at all. He adored it!  Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate… any kind of chocolate! But Tico was only allowed it at the weekend, apart from chocolate biscuits, which he was always allowed every day after school.

One Friday afternoon, he was in the supermarket with his mum, doing the food shopping. His mouth watered as they passed the chocolate buttons. He stopped and picked up a packet, imagining them all sweet and melting in his mouth! Mmm! 

‘Tico!’ Mum called, from right down the other end of the supermarket aisle. ‘Step away from the chocolate!’ ‘But Mum…’ he whined. ‘No,’ she said, ‘Step away from the chocolate! Saturday is chocolate day.’ Tico sighed, putting the chocolate buttons down. Never mind, he thought, at least there would be an extra chocolate biscuit when they got home, as his treat for helping with the shopping.

Back in their kitchen, when all the food was unpacked, Tico said ‘Mum, please can I have my chocolate biscuit now?’ ‘Of course you can, Tico,’ his mum replied. ‘Thank you for all your help.’ Tico ran to the biscuit tin, and took out a chocolate biscuit. Then he had an idea...
‘Mum,’ he said in a very good-boy voice, ‘d’you think I’ve been good?’  His mother smiled. ‘Yes you have,’ she said. ‘Go on, you can have two if you like.’ 
‘Yay!’ said Tico, dipping his other hand into the tin.

He went to munch his chocolate biscuits happily in front of the TV. ‘Yummy!’ he thought, as he wiped his mouth afterwards. ‘But I wish I could have just one more…’ He glanced into the kitchen, where he could see the biscuit tin on the table, with its lid still off... 

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Song  -  by John & Ruth Kenward 

It’s hard to find many songs suitable for infants on the theme of temptation or greed, but this song does it brilliantly, covering both temptation to eat unwisely and the temptation to steal. (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  Was Tico’s mum unfair to stop him eating chocolate biscuits every day?

2.  Do you have rules at home or at school about unhealthy food? Are they fair?

3.  When you’re tempted to do something wrong what might you do to help yourself to stop?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Temptation' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

Stick To The Rules by Ruth Kenward & Richard Neil - 5 to 7 yrs - KS1  (1m 43s)

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Theme  -  Abiding by rules 
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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Live Together' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

The Blame Game by Ruth Kenward - 5 to 9 yrs - KS1, KS2  (2m 09s)

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Theme   -  Resolving conflict
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Story  -  by Ruth Kenward  (approx 6 mins)

Extract:
...Now you have to understand that Bailey and Joseph had never been in trouble before. Can you imagine how they felt, the very first time they’d actually been caught doing something naughty?  As they stood up and walked to the window, everyone was watching, so they felt very embarrassed. They wished everyone would stop staring.  Mrs. Jamal told the rest of the class to get back to their farmyard pictures, which they did, but the boys still hated being in trouble, and they started blaming each other. 

‘It was your fault!’ whispered Bailey, angrily. ‘You made me laugh!’
‘You started it!’ Joseph hissed at him. ‘And you crashed your car into mine!’
‘It was alright until you made your car explode!’ Bailey said, glaring, but Joseph was straight back at him. ‘You knocked the glue off the table, and Miss would never have noticed otherwise!’
‘I’m not playing with you anymore.’ Bailey said. 
‘I’m not playing with you either!’ Joseph replied.

But they hadn’t noticed Mrs. Jamal coming over, and she had heard every word... 

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward 

The song gives the message that blaming others only makes things worse, and that using the ‘sorry’ word can go a long way towards mending relationship difficulties.  (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  Do you know what the special word is?

2.  Does saying 'sorry' work if you don't mean it?

3.  Why do people play blame games?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'One Step Closer' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

Think About... by Ruth Kenward - 5 to 7 yrs - KS1  (1m 34s)

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Theme  -  Choosing a good way to live 
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Story  -  by Ruth Kenward  (approx 6 mins)

Extract: 
George was a boy who liked to please himself. He did what he liked, and said what he liked. He didn’t really stop to think about what he did or said, and how it might affect the other people around him.

Take Monday, for example. As usual, George didn’t feel like getting out of bed. ‘George!’ his mum called. ‘It’s time to get up!’  But George just snuggled further under the covers.  
‘I’ll get up in a minute…’ he thought, and he turned over and went back to sleep.

The next thing George knew, his brother Adam was opening the bedroom door, then shouting down to their mother: ‘Mum! George is still asleep!’ Then came the sound of feet thundering up the stairs.

Their mother pushed past Adam and pulled back the bedding.
‘Get out of that bed!’ she shouted.  ‘All right Mum, don’t panic!’ George called after her, rudely, as she rushed back downstairs with Adam behind her...

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward  

Everything we choose in life makes us who we are.  This appealing song manages to convey such a huge subject matter in very simple words. (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  George was only thinking about himself. Who else should he have been thinking about?

2.  If George had thought before he was rude to his mum, why would the day have ended better?

3.  What advice would you give George to help prevent another day being like this?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'the Books Of Life' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

This Is The Place Where We Live by Ruth Kenward - 5 to 7 yrs - KS1  (1m 34s)

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Theme  -  Building a better world
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Story  -  by Ruth Kenward  (approx 6 mins)

Extract:
Freddie loved playing in the adventure playground, which was in the park at the end of his road... Mums and dads would sit on the benches and chat with each other, while Freddie and his friends would swing on the rope swings, race along the walkways, clamber up the climbing frames, jump off the platforms and wriggle through the tunnels. 

It was great to have an adventure playground so close to home, but it was growing old and tatty. Some of the equipment was a bit wonky, it all needed a good coat of paint, and there was often litter lying about. The playground belonged to the council, but sadly they didn't have enough money to look after it properly. The whole neighbourhood was a bit of a mess, and money was needed for lots of other important things.

'Money doesn't grow on trees,' said Freddie's dad. 'If it did, I'd pick lots of money off those trees and take you and Mum to live in a palace! But this is the place where we live, and we're stuck with it.' 

One day, when they were at the adventure playground, Freddie jumped off a high platform onto the ground below and landed awkwardly. He fell forward and had to stop himself with his hands. 'Ouch!' he gasped. 'That hurts!' Looking down, he realized that he'd landed on a smashed bottle. One of his hands was bleeding from a deep cut, and Dad had to take him to the hospital to have stitches. 

Another time when they went to the park, there was graffiti all over the tunnels, and part of the climbing frame was broken. Somebody had even tipped a load of rubbish right next to the gate. 'That's the last straw!' said Dad. 'I'm going to ring the council to complain.'...  

As soon as they got home, Dad was on the phone. ‘The playground isn’t safe anymore!’ he said. But when he finished the call he looked even more cross than he was before!
‘I don’t believe it!’ he said. ‘They’re going to close the adventure playground!’

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward  

A simple song to encourage young children to take care of their environment. Lyrical, easy to learn and useful alongside environmental projects. (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  By the end of the story the whole neighbourhood was involved mending the playground.  Who got it all started? 

2.  Before the playground was mended some people were doing graffiti on the tunnels and dumping litter. Why do you think they did that?  

3.  The whole of planet Earth is our neighbourhood! What can we do to take care of it?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Come With Me' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.

'Your Way Or My Way'  by Ruth Kenward - 5 to 7 yrs - KS1  (1m 44s)

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Theme  -  Dealing with different points of view

Story  -  by Ruth & John Kenward  (approx. 6 mins)

Extract:
It was Friday afternoon and the children were having 'choosing time'. Katie and Adam headed over to the reading comer where there was a huge box of dressing up clothes. 
'I'm going to be a princess,' Katie told Adam, as she pulled out a shiny white dress with silvery patterns on it. 'And' she added, 'I'm going to have a big party with lots of guests.'
'That's a good idea,' said Adam, 'and I'll get all the party food ready.'  'Great!' said Katie...

...Realising she was going to take ages, Adam decided he’d dress up too. Rummaging around in the dressing-up box, he found a policeman’s costume. ‘I know,’ he thought, ‘I’ll dress up as a policeman and be the princess’s bodyguard. That’ll make it more fun!’ 

At last Katie decided she looked like a proper princess, and she turned to Adam. ‘I’m ready now,’ she said. ‘But why are you being a policeman?’
‘I’m going to be your bodyguard,’ Adam explained, ‘because that’s what princesses have.’
Katie frowned and sat down grumpily. ‘But it’s my party,’ she said, ‘and I don’t want a policeman.’
Adam stood looking at her crossly. ‘But I’m a bodyguard policeman! That’s what princesses have!’  ‘I don’t care,’ Katie retorted, ‘I don’t want one.’  ‘Well,’ said Adam crossly, ‘policemen are more important than princesses anyway.’  Katie folded her arms. ‘No they’re not,’ she huffed, ‘so you can’t come.’ 
‘Why do we have to do it your way?’ Adam asked, but Katie just turned her back on him...

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Song  -  by Ruth Kenward  

A useful song to help children learn about sharing and taking turns, and making good relationships.  (Sample on the audio player above.)

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Reflection Points  -  samples

1.  Who do you think was most to blame when they were arguing?

2.  How did the teacher help Adam and Katie to sort things out?

3.  How do you sort out disagreements when you're playing with your friends?

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This assembly is from 'Assemblies Alive KS1'. There is a parallel assembly for KS2 'Talk It Through' with the same theme in 'Assemblies Alive KS2'.