Facing History Approach to Assemblies
Assemblies are a critical part of the school day. Regular assemblies provide an opportunity to bring your students together in order to introduce important issues and share your school’s values and priorities. Utilised correctly, assemblies have the potential to build an inclusive and supportive school community.
At Facing History, our assemblies have been designed to introduce students to significant annual and/or historical events, whilst supporting them to become empathetic and critical thinkers. Each assembly also provides students with opportunities to share their thoughts with each other, helping them to develop oracy and listening skills. The assemblies last for approximately 20 minutes, but can be adapted to suit your specific timing requirements.
Facing History assemblies do not require specialist knowledge and are suitable for use in a S1-4 , KS3 and KS4 assembly or in tutor time/PSHE. Some assemblies have been adapted from existing Facing History lessons and resources available on our website, while others have been newly created.
Assemblies in September
There are three assemblies available for use in September.
Change Starts With Me
The start of a new academic year is the perfect time to encourage your students to set goals for the year ahead and to consider how they can achieve their goals. This assembly encourages students to set both academic and personal goals. Additionally, they are asked to think about how they can be a vehicle for change. This assembly encourages young people to envision the change they would like to see reflected in their communities and beyond, and to think about how #ChangeStartsWithMe.
International Day of Democracy
International Day of Democracy takes place on 15th September and is an opportunity for young people to think about the role of a democracy. In this assembly, students will be asked to consider what they know about the UK’s democracy, and will watch a video on Parliament and how it works. They will also have the opportunity to reflect on how they can have a say in how the country is run.
European Day of Languages
European Day of Languages takes place on 26th September. It is an opportunity for us to celebrate languages and to encourage young people to learn a new language. The theme this year is ‘Languages for Peace’. During this assembly, students will have the opportunity to reflect on this theme, and discuss a poem and an extract from a blog post. They will also have the opportunity to discuss and reflect upon the benefits of learning a language with a partner or in small groups.
Notes for Use
Download the student-facing slides here. While you may need to modify these to meet the needs of your students, please note that Facing History and Ourselves does not endorse any changes that alter the presentation's content or original layout.