Assembly for 7–11 year-olds
Aims
- To consider the range of different types of books that we use every day.
- To think about why books are important.
- To introduce the Box Tops for Books scheme.
Preparation
- Collect examples of as many different types of book as possible, e.g. picture book, children’s novel, grown-up novel, reading scheme book, joke book, puzzle book, dictionary, recipe book, instruction manual, biography, encyclopaedia, Highway Code, syllabus, information books on history or science etc., holy book, atlas etc.
Starter
- Ask the question ‘How many different types of book can you think of?’. After some thinking time, begin taking suggestions. If you have that type of book, ask a child to come and hold it up. If not, ask someone to write it on a flip chart.
- Count up how many you have got and talk briefly about the many different purposes they represent: to tell stories, to amuse, to teach, to set out rules, to help with worship, to give new information etc.
- Ask ‘Where can you find a collection of books like this?’. Talk about the library and the need to keep adding new and exciting material for everyone to read.
Story/Information
- Books can be very important to people. Talk about a book that has meant a great deal to you during your life, and invite one or two other members of staff to do the same.
- Older children, or a child from each class, could hold up and name their favourite book.
- Introduce the Box Tops for Books scheme as a way of adding more books to the school library. Explain what children will be collecting and how the scheme will work. If possible, display examples of the sorts of book you will be aiming to purchase.
Reflection
- Finish by asking children to reflect on the book that means most to them. Why is it important? Do they have a favourite story that they love re-reading or is it a book to refer to when following a hobby or interest?
Assembly ideas for 5-7 year-olds