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 or KS3-4 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 January
There are four assemblies available for use in January.
Making a Difference
How can young people make a difference in their local communities? The New Year is often a time of reflection and change. This assembly guides students to think about how they can make a difference within their school community and their local community. Students are given information about young people who are currently making a difference and are challenged to do the same.
World Religion Day
What is World Religion Day and what can young people do to promote religious tolerance and harmony? World Religion Day takes place annually on the third Sunday in January – this year it falls on Sunday 19th January. This assembly shares information about world religions, draws on statistics released by the Home Office in relation to religious hate crime, and prompts young people to consider what religious tolerance means and looks like. Students explore the words of the late MP Jo Cox to consider what the term ‘more in common’ actually means, and reflect on what they can do to promote religious tolerance both within their school community and their local community.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Who is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and what is the significance of his legacy? Martin Luther King day takes place annually on the third Monday in January – this year it falls on Monday 20th January. This assembly gives students information about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the challenges he faced. This assembly gives students the opportunity to listen to Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech and guides them towards considering the kind of world they want to live in and what responsibility they have in bringing about such a world. Finally, this assembly also includes an additional whole school challenge in the form of a found poem to help continue discussions about Dr. King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
Burns Night
What is Burns Night and why is it celebrated? Burns Night is held to recognise and celebrate the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who lived in the eighteenth century (1759-1796). It is celebrated yearly on 25th January, Burns’ birthday, by holding a dinner during which people eat the traditional Scottish food haggis and listen to recitals of Burns’ poetry. This assembly teaches students about who Robert Burns was and encourages them to reflect on the power of poetry, before introducing them to Burns’ famous poem ‘To a Mouse’.
Holocaust Memorial Day
What is Holocaust Memorial Day and why should we remember the past? Holocaust Memorial Day takes place annually on 27th January. The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 is ‘For a Better Future’. This assembly guides young people to consider the importance of the theme, the need to learn from the past and the role everyone must play in countering identity-based hatred. Students also have the opportunity to watch a video in which Kurt Klein, who emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1937, recalls how Nazi policies and propaganda affected his life at school. They then reflect on their role and the role of education in securing a better future, in which all human beings can live free from violence and thrive.
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.
