Barriers Rationale We all meet barriers and obstacles in our life — our attitude to these barriers will determine whether they stop us in our tracks and remain a barrier or whether we have the resources within ourselves to overcome and transform them. Title Barriers Aim SENSING CHALLENGE, SENSING VALUES, SENSING A CHANGED QUALITY IN AWARENESS Children will understand that they will all meet barriers in their lives, and that these barriers must be faced up to, and that they can be transformed Objectives By the end of the assembly pupils will: * Understand the difference between external and internal barriers * Understand that internal barriers are more difficult to see and more difficult to deal with * Consider and challenge the world’s view of ‘success’ through viewing and discussing an excerpt from Robots the Movie Link with 5–14 Art: graffiti wall, junk modelling Link with ACfE Successful learning Confident individuals Is this part of a series Masks, Rituals and Tribes; Barriers; Pathways Introduction This Assembly outline is suitable for a full school assembly or for a departmental group. Pupils will meet obstacles on the way to Assembly. They will overcome some; be directed around others; be re-routed when they meet others to ‘sign’ the experience ahead. Stimulus * Video/Powerpoint presentations of external barriers for example gates, doors, walls, no parking signs, no entry, police cordons, superheroes facing force fields for example Harry Potter in The Prisoner of Azkaban * Video/Powerpoint presentation of internal barriers. For example, disfigurement, disability, addiction, disadvantage (not having a parent) * A biopic of people who have faced and overcome such barriers to help them understand that such difficult situations can be transformed, for example Simon West * Video excerpt from Robots the Movie where Rodney is told: ‘You can shine no matter what you’re made of.’ Guided Reflection Some barriers in life are there for our protection and should be respected. Some barriers are there because we have put them there – through fear, lack of trust, having been let down in the past or by our view of what the world expects and accepts People we meet can also be a barrier to us and stop us from developing and growing and overcoming our barriers by being unkind and putting us down. Many barriers that we put up can be pulled down through transforming our mind set and setting new values for life. Response In class groups: * Pupils can make a graffiti wall reflecting what they think are barriers to their happiness * Pupils should reflect on why they have these perceptions and where they come from * Pupils can view the full video Robots the Movie and discuss further * Pupils can make a junk model (in groups or individually) – turning ‘rubbish’ into something beautiful Evaluation (a) Observation of pupils during assembly; discussion with pupils post assembly. Evaluation (b) Discussion with Staff Consultative Committee and with whole staff group at appropriate points in school quality assurance process. Barriers Running Order Running Time Mins Activity Personnel Resources Action 0-7 7 Classes negotiate their way to assembly past various barriers Adult manning each obstacle Furniture Signs/ Signposts 7-11 4 Video 1 of external barriers Facilitator to introduce the idea of barriers DVD Player Projector 11-16 5 Video 2 presenting internal barriers Facilitator adding commentary/reflection DVD Player Projector Written Script 16-22 6 Biopic of someone famous who has overcome such difficulties Facilitator could involve pupils in discussion at this point if this would be helpful DVD Player Projector 22-27 5 Excerpt from Robots the Movie Facilitator making the link that it’s not what we look like on the outside that is important DVD Player Projector Robots the Movie DVD 27-30 3 Guided Reflection Facilitator Written Script Pupils return to class Pupils return to class Response activity/activities planned by class teacher Learning and Teaching Scotland — Religious Observance Template Submitted by The Church of Scotland 2007