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 KS3-4 or S1-4 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 April
There are four assemblies available for use in April.
World Autism Awareness Month
What is World Autism Awareness Month and why does it matter? World Autism Awareness Month occurs in April and is an opportunity to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism, and to foster worldwide support. This assembly encourages students to reflect on their treatment of others, teaches them about what autism is and shares stories of the experiences of people with autism. It also asks young people to consider what they can do to help create a caring and inclusive society.
Earth Day
What is Earth Day and why does it matter? Earth Day takes place yearly on April 22nd and is an opportunity to reflect on how we ensure our behaviour is sustainable. The theme for this year’s Earth Day is ‘Our Power. Our Planet’. This assembly teaches young people about what renewable energy is and why it is important. Students also have an opportunity to create an Earth Action Day Pledge and outline something that they will do in order to reduce their emissions.
Stephen Lawrence Day
What is Stephen Lawrence Day and why does it matter? This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the death of Stephen Lawrence, a teenager murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. Stephen Lawrence Day, which falls on April 22nd, is an opportunity for us to consider how we can challenge racism within our communities. This assembly helps young people consider how we define racism and provides information about Stephen Lawrence, his death and the legacy he has left behind.
Shakespeare Day
What is Shakespeare Day and why does it matter? Shakespeare Day takes place yearly on April 23rd and is an opportunity to celebrate the life and work of William Shakespeare. This assembly gives young people the chance to reflect on why Shakespeare’s plays are still relevant today and the impact that Shakespeare has had on the English language. Students also get the chance to read and watch a monologue from the play ‘As You Like it’ and reflect on its message and universal themes.
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 & Ourselves does not endorse any changes that alter the presentation's content or original layout.
