CLASS ASSEMBLIES FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Educational Printing Services  ISBN 1 905637 14 4
RRP £17.50  Available at enquires@eprint.co.uk      
Tel 01254 882080.

Published on 30th April 2007, this is the third book by Hazel Bennett, author of  ‘The Ultimate Teachers’ Handbook’ and ‘The Trainee Teacher’s Survival Guide,’ published by  Continuum International.

This wide-ranging and practical book includes a chapter on tips for presenting  successful assemblies, followed by 36 delightful scripts, for Key Stage 2 classes to perform.

The scripts cover all the main world religions, Black History and 10 secular scripts from Boudicca to Mother Teresa. Written in a mixture of prose and humourous rhyme-and-mime verse, each playlet is designed to involve every member of the class in the speech and action.

Educational Printing Services  ISBN 1 905637 14 4
RRP £17.50  Available at enquires@eprint.co.uk      
Tel 01254 882080.

'A whole year’s worth of weekly assemblies catering for our multicultural society, all in witty, highly original rhyme, with plenty of production tips. Sparkling with good humour, informative and fun – this is a real gift for
hard-pressed teachers . . .’

Women Writers’ Network News, Kate Nivison.

 ‘Superb scripts in which every child plays a valued role. The rhyming aspect motivates and excites the children, enhancing the confidence and esteem of all, resulting in an excellent performance.’

Rochelle Waghorn, class teacher, who has successfully used some of them.

Extract from assembly script for the Chinese New Year

Emperor                 
The seasons come and the years go.
They are passing quickly and we do not know
How many years have come and gone
Or how many years the world will go on.

Narrator                 
He was so interested, he spent his leisure
Thinking up a way to measure
And name the years as they passed.
Another new year was approaching fast.
                 
Emperor                  
Gather round, I have worked it out at last.
Send  messages out across the entire
Land to each animal in the Empire.
Tell every creature there’ll be a race
At a specially chosen place.
It’ll  be a straight part of the river bank
And every animal of every rank
Will come together at the chosen time
Along the bank, in a straight line.
I’ll choose a place where the river is wide
And they can race to the other side.
As each one reaches the opposite bank,
We’ll line them up in order and rank
And name our years after the winners.
That’s the prize for the best twelve swimmers.

Narrator                 
And so they sent out a proclamation
Across the entire Chinese nation.
(People move back and the creatures, in masks, enter.)

Emperor’s messenger
Gather round, all you animals with ambition.
The Emperor’s having a competition.
If you want some glory and fame
The first twelve of you will have your name
Honoured forever  and for all time.
Just go to the river and get into line.
When the signal is given you fly or swim
To the other side, and if you win
You’ll go into the Chinese zodiac
And every twelve years the people will track
The order in which you finished the race.
Now line up everyone! Find a space!