Assembly ‘Christmas Unwrapped’
‘Christmas Unwrapped’ assembly was written by an SU Scotland worker and the assembly detail shared for use by others in a Secondary school setting.
The assembly text below can also be viewed as a Word document as well as the Powerpoint quiz and separate image for use:
Christmas Unwrapped Assembly Detailed Notes Christmas Unwrapped Assembly Detailed Notes
Christmas Unwrapped Assembly Quiz Christmas Unwrapped Assembly Quiz
Image
Year Groups: S4-5-6
Christmas Unwrapped
Rationale
During the Christmas Season there are high expectations that people should be happy and celebrating, yet statistics show that suicides and family breakdowns are common at this time of year.
Aim
To encourage pupils to reflect on the meaning and purpose of Christmas and Advent
Objectives
To reflect on ways to provide a ‘happy Christmas’
To consider the Christian beliefs behind the celebration of Christmas
To discern the origins of many of our Christmas practices
Links to CfE
- I can explain the contribution of Christian beliefs to the development of Scotland, now and in the past. (RME4-01b)
- I can demonstrate my developing understanding of moral values through participating in events and projects which make a positive difference to others. (RME3-02b)
- Through investigation of and reflection on Christian traditions, practices and customs, I can explain the significance of these for Christians across a range of Scottish Christian Traditions. (RME 3-03a)
- I understand that people can feel alone and can be misunderstood and left out by others. I am learning how to give appropriate support. (HWB 4-08a)
- Through contributing my views, time and talents, I play a part in bringing about positive change in my school and wider community. (HWB 4-13a)
- I understand and can demonstrate the qualities and skills required to sustain different types of relationships. (HWB 4-44b)
Stimulus
- Have a quiz based on various aspects of Christmas (5mins)
Guided Discussion
- The quiz referred to several different aspects of Christmas – crackers, Christmas songs and carols, Mary, Joseph, Bethlehem, King Herod, Christmas dinner, winter, ‘Merry Christmas’, Immanuel, baby Jesus, manger, Christmas football match, wise men, presents, Father Christmas, Rudolph, angels. Separate these into 2 lists according to whether they are part of the biblical version of the Christmas story or whether they are part of local traditions.(3 mins)
- Midwinter festival – pagan – Christian significance added in – Jesus wasn’t born on 25th What has Christianity brought/ what has society brought. Who was Jesus – past the baby to the man – significance of the Son of God (5 mins)
- The way God experienced first Christmas contrasts with the way we experience Christmas now search the Schoolswork.co.uk site for “Christmas Video” – this will give a number of possible resources https://www.schoolswork.co.uk/ (4 mins)
Reflection
- Individually list things you like about Christmas, things you dislike about Christmas. (3 mins)
- Why might Christmas be difficult for some people? (5 mins)
- Distribute copies of various poems:
Christmas is Really for the Children – Steve Turner
Christmas 1970 – Spike Milligan
Cold Christmas – Madge Brawn
– what does each one say about Christmas? Do you agree with the poet? What would you say about Christmas in a poem? (10mins)
Response
- Advent – time of preparation for Christmas, getting into the right frame of mind. How can you use advent to ensure that people around you will have a happy Christmas? Advent challenge/church urban fund advent/advent conspiracy/ https://www.muminthemadhouse.com/2014/11/11/alternative-advent-calender-24-acts-kindness-kids/ (10 mins)
- Read ‘The people who walked in darkness…’ (Isaiah 9:2,6,7)