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 August
There are three assemblies available for use in August.
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 the World's Indigenous Peoples
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples takes place annually on 9th August. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about, and protect the rights of, Indigenous Peoples around the world. In this assembly, students reflect on the meaning of indigenous, before watching a video about how Indigenous Peoples support the world’s ecosystems. Students are asked to reflect on the challenges that Indigenous Peoples face and to consider what they can do to stand up for Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
South Asian Heritage Month
South Asian Heritage Month takes place from 18th July to 17th August and is an opportunity for us to learn about and celebrate South Asian histories, cultures and communities. Whilst the majority of schools will be off on their summer break during these dates, many schools will be celebrating South Asian Heritage Month early and this assembly will help schools who are hoping to celebrate this event with their students. The theme for this year’s South Asian History Month is ‘Roots to Routes’. After reading an account by Safirah Irani of her family’s journey from Pakistan to the UK, your students will have the opportunity to think about why it is important to remember family histories and heritages.
World Humanitarian Day
World Humanitarian Day takes place on 19th August, and is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the aid workers who devote (and sometimes endanger) their lives to help others. The theme for 2025 is #Strengthening global solidarity and empowering local communities. It highlights the importance of working with communities as partners, decision-makers and agents of their futures.
In this assembly, students reflect on the meaning of humanitarian and the importance of recognising humanitarian workers. Students then learn about why community-based humanitarian initiatives are important by watching a video about South Sudan. Finally, students reflect on how they can behave in humanitarian ways in their own lives.
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.
