FLOWERS, LEAVES, SEEDS

These are powerful visual aids and can be used in a number of ways.

E.g.
1) In spring or summer, place a vase at the front of the hall. Children may choose to come forward and place a flower in the vase. As they do so, they could say a word, name, phrase or short prayer, depending on the theme of the assembly.
Only children who want to do so should take part.
Remember, lead by example; maybe an adult could be the first to do this.
At the end, everybody could prayer for the people, wishes etc. mentioned.

2) During harvest or spring, children can come forward to plant seeds or berries in a container of soil, with a prayer such as, "Lord, I offer my (joy, patience, courage, hope, faith etc.)." The school could respond with, "Lord, may it grow."

3) On All Souls' Day in November, place a pile of dead leaves on the floor. Children, who wish to, come forward, pick up a leaf, touch the Bible with it, say the name of a deceased friend or relative, then place the leaf beside the Bible.
At the end, everybody says a prayer for these friends and relatives, maybe the Eternal Rest.

4) In Advent, display a Christmas tree. Children come forward and attach paper leaves to the tree. Names, needs, petitions, prayers etc. could be already written on these leaves.
This could be spread over several assemblies, by choosing a different theme each day, e.g. world needs, personal needs, sorry prayers, New Year resolutions etc.

SYMBOLS

Visual aids help to make things clearer in lessons and can do the same in assemblies.

E.g.
1) Have a collection of objects at the front of the hall, e.g. statue, picture, crucifix, candle, flower, Bible, key, stone, birthday card, photo. food etc. (depending on the theme of the assembly).
Children come forward and choose one symbol. They say how it reminds them of (God, themselves, an event etc.)
At the end, everybody could pray silently, inspired by one of the symbols.

2) During a Communion service, the ciborium or chalice could be passed around before it reaches the priest. Each person could raise it prayerfully, or (in their imagination) place a person, intention, or hope into it.

CANDLES

Light is a powerful symbol. Candles can be used in a number of ways in assemblies.

E.g.
1) In a darkened room, maybe with background music, pass around a lighted candle.
The children can either pray aloud or silently, when the candle reaches them.
Alternatively, the whole group can pray for each child as the candle reaches them.

2) Candles may be lit at the front of the darkened hall, one at a time, thus making the room brighter and brighter. As the candle is lit, a person's name or an intention is mentioned, depending on the theme of the assembly.

HOPES AND FEARS

'The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.'
These lines are from the carol 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'. They could form the basis for an assembly.
Children could be asked to suggest hopes and fears - either their own, or general worldwide ones. These could be written in two columns on a whiteboard at the front of the hall.
Which column is longer?
Choose one hope or fear and pray for it as a school.
Choose another and pray for it privately.

This could also be done with lines from other popular hymns and carols.

STONES

Find a Bible text about stones, (use the Bible search engine on our Home page).
Stones are placed on a table at the front of the hall by children.
The individual child, or the whole school, could accompany this with a short prayer such as, "Lord, take away my heart of stone/anger/fear/envy etc. and replace it with a heart of kindness/love/peace/gentleness etc.

WATER

Water is another powerful symbol. It can be used in several ways in assembly.
The children can be sprinkled with it, as during some Masses.
The children could bless themselves with water on entering the hall. Several bowls of water would be needed at the entrances for this.
It can be used during a renewal of baptismal promises.
Hands could be washed, inspired by the washing of feet in John 13.

The above require quite a lot of organisation and should be done reverently. Background music is helpful here.

The effect is greater if it is seen as a special event, relevant to the assembly or time of year.