Forgiveness. KS3&4 Assembly. Letting go: learning to forgive

Transcription

1 Forgiveness KS3&4 Assembly Letting go: learning to forgive

2 Oasis 9 Habits KS3&4 Assembly Forgiveness Letting go: learning to forgive Length: minutes Aims To understand more fully what forgiveness means To identify how we can show forgiveness and to recognise the impact being forgiving has on others To have opportunity to consider how faith and belief in God impacts people s sense of forgiveness This assembly has been written for KS3&4 to help students think about how we learn to forgive as part of the development of the habit of forgiveness. Importantly, this assembly may raise pastoral issues so we suggest it is shared with appropriate staff in case students wish to discuss issues that it raises. KS3&4 Assembly Forgiveness Letting go: learning to forgive 3

3 KS3&4 Assembly Forgiveness Letting go: learning to forgive Resources Video of Desmond Tutu talking about the power of forgiveness Selection of pictures or examples of broken things that can be fi xed and with resources to fi x them such as: A sock with a hole in (needle and thread) A book with a ripped page (sellotape) A mug with a broken handle (superglue) - keep away from children! A bike tyre with a puncture (puncture repair kit) PowerPoint slide of a definition of forgiveness: To stop feeling angry or resentful towards (someone) for an offence, fl aw, or mistake (Oxford Living Dictionaries) Letting Go Awe & Wonder Resource Beacon by RY X available to download from itunes Large cardboard box covered in sticky tape (sticky side up) or large piece of card covered in sticky tape with string or cord to drape around wearer. A large supply of cotton wool balls Explain Content 1. Broken Show the students a selection of things that have been broken that can be fi xed, such as: A sock with a hole in (needle and thread) A book with a ripped page (sellotape) A mug with a broken handle (superglue) - keep away from children! A bike tyre with a puncture (puncture repair kit) Discuss with the students; Has anyone ever broken a bone? How long does it take to heal? How does that repair happen? What do you learn from this in terms of other things that get broken in our lives? Often, with a broken bone, there will be a scar or an ache and though these things fade over time they can be a reminder that a break happened. KS3&4 Assembly Forgiveness Letting go: learning to forgive In life we know that relationships can break too. Sometimes they can be little breaks, sometimes big ones. When this happens, it can really hurt us. Someone might say or do something that means that you don t want to be in a friend with them anymore. Sometimes you do want the relationship to work and you work together to make the relationship better again. This takes time and it takes intention and it takes energy. 4 5

4 KS3&4 Assembly Forgiveness Letting go: learning to forgive 2. When a relationship goes wrong One of the things that needs to be considered is forgiveness and letting go of the negative feelings and emotions that rise up when we have been hurt. Show a PowerPoint slide of a definition of forgiveness: To stop feeling angry or resentful towards (someone) for an offence, fl aw, or mistake: (Oxford Living Dictionaries) 3. The Power of Forgiveness Now watch this clip shows Desmond Tutu talking about the power of forgiveness following the end of Apartheid in South Africa. You may need to provide some backdrop and context for the students to understand apartheid etc Unforgiveness sticks! For this next part of the assembly you will need a target (a large box with arm holes and a head hole) or a large sheet of card, covered in sticky tape and the sticky tape needs to be sticky side up. 5. A Balloon and us Hold out the balloon and start to blow air into it. Then explain that forgiving someone can be like blowing into an imaginary balloon. As you blow, you blow in all your thoughts, like feeling resentment or cross or anger or embarrassment or even feeling disappointed about what has happened. Now lay the balloon to one side and invite the students to imagine themselves blowing up an imaginary balloon themselves and blowing in all the things that have made them feel angry or cross or hurt. Then invite them to imagine tying a knot into the balloon. Explain that we can hold onto the balloon which is like not forgiving or we can let it go away when we are ready and watch it disappear. When we let our anger go like this it can help if we imagine saying something like, I do not like or appreciate your words or actions but I am willing to let it go because it doesn t help me to hold onto these feelings. Ask When we do this how do you think it might help us to feel? KS3&4 Assembly Forgiveness Letting go: learning to forgive Invite a member of staff (choose wisely!) to put the box on or wear alternative card version. Psychologists seem to agree that forgiving is good for our well-being. But letting go doesn t always happen immediately, it is a process and needs to be thought about as it is your choice. Then invite 2 volunteers to come to the front of the assembly. Explain that their task is to throw as many cotton wool balls as possible at the target. The one with the most amount of cotton wool balls that stick in one minute is the winner. Discuss together: Can you think of what this game might have to do with forgiveness? Do you ever fi nd that when things happen to us that hurt us it can be really diffi cult to let go? Why do you think this is the case? Explain But if you want to forgive someone it could be a way to make you feel better if you are feeling cross or angry. It is important to know that forgiveness doesn t mean that what has happened is ok. It does not condone what has happened, it doesn t mean that you forget what has happened. It doesn t mean that there is no need for apology or for justice in some cases. It also does not mean you need to be in relationship with the person that has hurt you. Remember that bullying is not acceptable, so remind the students that if they are being bullied, they must tell a member of staff that they trust and remind all the students that any bullying will be dealt with. 6 7

5 KS3&4 Assembly Forgiveness Letting go: learning to forgive 6. Challenge and Reflection. Reflection Questions What difference do you think forgiveness might make in your own life? Is there anyone that you need to apologise to today? How will you do that? If you have a belief in God, what could you ask God to help you with regarding what matters most in your life? Awe & Wonder Show the Letting Go Awe & Wonder Resource. You will need to embed the following track Beacon by RY X onto the Awe & Wonder Resource. Prayer God Help us when we are dealing with diffi cult feelings and emotions. Help us to be able to forgive others. Help us to learn to live in a way where we are able to be kind and loving towards others and seek their best at all times. Amen. Remind students again about talking to talk to a member of staff about any issues that assembly has raised

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