Assemblies for Autumn Festivals

This book is packed with tried-and-tested assembly ideas for the first term of the school year.

Ideal for whole school assemblies, the four themes of Harvest, Saints, Remembrance and Advent each have at least two assemblies to choose from.

Different styles of presentation are suggested, from interactive storytelling and drama to music and visual aids.

Martin Cox has taught at primary level for over 20 years but is still surprised when he meets people he taught who introduce him to their children! He loves being in the classroom and taking assemblies. His first book, A Busy Time for Angels, a big book for the Literacy Hour published by John Hunt, was a retelling of the Christmas story from Mary's viewpoint. He has also had songs and carols published, for example, in Carol Praise.

From The Association of Christian Teachers' website - July 2008

Resources for Collective Worship are always in demand. Martin Cox's volume of 27 ready-to-use ideas for festivals and feast days will certainly help to meet that need.

Each Act of Collective Worship has an easy to use format with Bible links, key information for teachers, suggestions for visual aids and resources and ideas for exploring the theme which include music and prayer.

I really liked the grid of themes at the beginning which clearly divide the book into sections of Harvest, Saints, Remembrance and Advent.

A wealth of curriculum links helps to extend the Collective Worship into the rest of school life, not just RE, PSHE and Citizenship (the usual suspects) but also relating to Science, DT, ICT, Music, Art and English.

The appendices contain useful information such as Bible references, a musical concordance, together with cross-curricular links.

As Jo Fageant, RE Adviser for Oxford Diocese, writes in the foreword to this book, 'Let's hope Martin will also tackle the spring and summer terms.'

Reviewer: Lizzie McWhirter, RE Adviser for Coventry Diocese

This is a book to rush out and buy. It contains 27 ready to use acts of worship, plus national curriculum and literacy links. The book could have been written specially for Church schools as it mirrors the church calendar and includes Saints days often providing more than one assembly to match the day. Each act of worship has a Biblical link and ideas for activities and visual resources as well as suggestions for music and hymns/songs.

I particularly liked the two assemblies for Michaelmass, the simple and very short act of Remembrance for Remembrance Day and the five Advent Assemblies. I hope Spring and Summer are in the pipeline because this is a book that you will turn to over and over again.

Reviewed by Liz Wolverton

From: The Church Times - 21 September 2007

A final present for harassed primary-school teachers, even at this early stage in the year, wondering where the next assembly is coming from. If not exactly a life-saver, it is a way of avoiding Sunday-evening panic.

From: Home and Family - Autumn 2007

Unless it is part of your job to take school assemblies, children's services, Sunday School or holiday clubs, you might easily pass over this book thinking it is not for you. It is indeed an excellent resource for professionals aiming to engage the interest of Key Stages 1 and 2 pupils, with its Bible links, key information for teachers, suggestions for visual aids and resources. its ideas for exploring the theme will no doubt be well used.

But - look again if you are an MU branch leader looking for a fresh approach to branch prayers or a deanery service. Look again - if you are a parent or grandparent of primary school children, for there is much to occupy a wet holiday afternoon whilst gaining a useful insight into the complexities of KS1 and 2 school work. As a grandmother of four in this age group, I found the section on the cross-curricular work of RE, literacy, art, citizenship, English, science, numeracy, ICT and history fascinating and a helpful entree into this age group's school world, giving us a lot to talk about.

A worthwhile investment of less than GBP8, especially as this includes photocopy permission.

Reviewed by Rachel Stowe.

From: www.christian-teachers.org.uk - 30 July 2007

Resources for Collective Worship are always in demand. Martin Cox's volume of 27 ready-to-use ideas for festivals and feast days will certainly help to meet that need.

Each Act of Collective Worship has an easy to use format with Bible links, key information for teachers, suggestions for visual aids and resources and ideas for exploring the theme which include music and prayer.

I really liked the grid of themes at the beginning which clearly divide the book into sections of Harvest, Saints, Remembrance and Advent.

A wealth of curriculum links helps to extend the Collective Worship into the rest of school life, not just RE, PSHE and Citizenship (the usual suspects) but also relating to Science, DT, ICT, Music, Art and English.

The appendices contain useful information such as Bible references, a musical concordance, together with cross-curricular links.

As Jo Fageant, RE Adviser for Oxford Diocese, writes in the foreword to this book, "Let's hope Martin will also tackle the spring and summer terms."

Reviewed by Lizzie McWhirter, RE Adviser for Coventry Diocese

From: RE News - Summer 2007

This is a useful resource for key stage 1 and 2 teachers seeking some new ideas for next autumn term's assemblies drawing on Christian themes. The assemblies provide material on autumn festivals and saints, and can be used both chronologically and thematically (under the headings Harvest, Saints, Remembrance and Advent). Each assembly topic is provided with a context-setting theme, Bible links, background information for the teacher, suggestions for visual aids and resources, ideas for exploring the theme, suggestions for songs, and a prayer. In addition, some teachers may wish to extend the assembly topics to include cross-curricular work and the resource suggests some ideas for how this might be achieved in each of the four main themes: Harvest, Saints, Remembrance and Advent.

• View related titles
• View other titles by Martin Cox
• Send us your review of Assemblies for Autumn Festivals