Door mat

 

https://www.upworthy.com/gayest-neighbor-response

What do you see here? What is it, where is it? What do you think this story is about?

A man called Clay came back to his flat one night to find a neighbour had placed this door mat outside their front door and Clay had to walk past it to get to his front door.

Clay felt offended by the doormat and wrote a stern letter to his neighbours.

Why do you think Clay was offended?

Why would someone put a door mat like that outside their front door - what are they showing, are they being serious?

What do you think was in Clay's letter?

Clay said, "I don't like that at all!"

"I don't like it because it implies that MY place is not the gayest place in town!"

Why was Clay offended?

Was he really offended?

What's going on here?

What do you think Clay did next?

Clay ordered his own "Gayest place in town" doormat and put it outside his door. He also wrote "2nd" on a note and taped it to his neighbour's door mat.

Why did he do that?

How do you think the neighbours felt when they saw the note?

Clay wrote a letter to his neighbours:

"Hello downstairs Gaybours..."

(why is he writing gaybours instead of neighbours?)

"I'm writing to let you know that I find your doormat to be extremely offensive. I personally believe that MY apartment is the gayest place in town." Clay then challenged his neighbours to a competition to find out who could make their apartment the real gayest apartment in town.

How do you think the neighbours replied?

Do you think they were angry?

Do you think Clay was really angry?

Just consider for a moment- can an apartment be gay? Can a table be gay? A pencil? What's going on here in this conversation?

The neighbours replied "You're on!"

What do you think happened next?

Both Clay and his neighbours starting posting about their apartments on social media to celebrate Pride month and thousands of people joined in the game. 

What do you think the neighbours looked like? (Clay had not met them before)

The neighbours were called Cara and Lauren. Some people were surprised that the neighbours were women.

Why do you think some people were surprised?

Who do you think won in the end?

Clay put up rainbow flags and more signs, and Cara and Lauren covered their down in rainbow tinsel. Cara and Lauren won. 

The two neighbours have said they plan to do the competition again next Pride month so this may become an annual event.

What is this story about?

Are Clay, Cara and Lauren making fun of gay people by doing this?

Why do you think it went viral?

Some people might say the neighbours should not have doormats like that on show as it goes against their own beliefs; how would you respond?

Is there anything we can learn from Clay, Cara and Lauren?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British value is this about?

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Power of being different

      

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gkdpegqkjo

What do you see in the picture, what do you think this story is about?

Daisy-May Demetre lives in Birmingham, UK. and her legs work in a different way.

How do Daisy's legs work?

Daisy-May is an amputee.

What is an amputee?

Daisy has an interesting job. What do you think Daisy's job is?

Daisy is a model. She has appeared in fashion weeks across the world and is about to model during Birmingham Fashion Week in September.

Why might some people be surprised that Daisy is a model?

Daisy-May says she wants to encourage amputees to be confident and "go for whatever they want" in life. "You're disabilities shouldn't define you, you can believe in anything."

Why do you think Daisy-May says that? 

How might someone feel defined by their disabilities?

Are there other ways people might feel defined?

Daisy-May says strutting on the catwalk was a statement to represent the "strength, beauty and power of being different"

What does that mean? How can being different give you strength, beauty and power?

"I don't need perfect legs to walk a powerful path. The only thing I need is courage, and I've got plenty of that."

What is a powerful path?

I wonder why Daisy-May says her legs aren't perfect... who decides what perfect is? What would you say to Daisy-May?

Do you think if you met Daisy-May you should mention her disability? If Daisy-May is proud of her difference, would she want you to mention it?

What do we say in our school about being different?

Which law in the UK protects Daisy-May?

Who else is protected in that law?

What can we learn from Daisy-May?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British Value is this about?

To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every Friday, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

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Empty Shelves

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/edeka-german-supermarket-empty-shelves-racism-diversity-largest-chain-a7908551.html

What do you see here, where do you think it is, what do you notice about the shelves?

Do you recognise the language on the sign?

A supermarket in Hamburg, Germany, emptied shelves of all foreign-made produce.

Why do you think they did that?

What was the impact of taking out all foods not made in Germany?

They did it for a day to help people think about racism.

Why is this about racism?

Shoppers at Edeka store were able to see how many goods were made outside of Germany, and many shelves were empty. The shop put up signs saying, "This shelf is pretty boring without diversity."

Why put that sign up?

What are the shop trying to show their customers?

Is that a good way to start a conversation about racism? 

A spokesperson from Edeka said, "Edeka stands for variety and diversity. In our stores we sell numerous foods which are produced in the various regions of Germany. But only together with products from other countries is it possible to create the unique variety that our customers value."

What do you think they mean by unique variety?

How can a shop stand for variety and diversity?

- Where does the food that we buy come from? Does it all come from England?
- Why don't shops in England sell only food that is made in England, and shops in Germany sell only food that was is made in Germany?
- What does this demonstrate about different people around the world and how we live together?
- Some people think that if we have different skin or live in different places or have different faith, that we can't get along. What do we say in our school?
- What can we learn from Edeka?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

- Which British value is this about?

To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every Friday, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

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Poster

 

https://www.today.com/parents/teacher-remove-everyone-is-welcome-here-sign-rcna196282?fbclid=IwY2xjawKvgRpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETA4NGRTdVA2dmo1ODh4aFE3AR51bM11ZSlgCUrHh0m_PCSZtuBxZFIWQzfG9xL2JQFJko9MlpR3A5bki_c2Qg_aem_mZjGDcMXe-i2F4VdEv93tw

What do you see here, where do you think this sign is, what do you think the story might be?

Sarah Inama is a y6 teacher in Idaho, USA. She has posters on the walls of her classroom. One is shown above, the other says, "Everyone in the classroom is welcome, important, accepted, respected, encouraged, valued and equal" Her posters have been up for the last 5 years.

Why do you think Sarah has these posters on her classroom wall?

Do you think it's ok to have these posters on a classroom wall? 

What do you think this story might be about?

At the start of the year. Sarah was visited in her classroom by the principle and vice principle. They told her she had to remove the posters.

What reason do you think they gave? 

Sarah was told that her posters were controversial and needed to be taken down.

What does controversial mean?

What reason do you think they had for calling the posters controversial?

Sarah was told there was a district council policy that said classrooms must respect the rights of people to express differing opinions and decorations are to be "content- neutral and conducive to a positive learning environment"

What do you think this means?

What do you think content neutral means?

What do you think a positive learning environment is?

Why do you think Sarah's principle believes the posters are not content- neutral or positive?

Can you see both sides to this debate?

Sarah removed the signs.

Why do you think she did that?

What would you say to Sarah?

After a weekend thinking about it, she put the signs back up on Monday and emailed her principle to tell him.

What are the two sides of this argument? (You could argue Sarah is standing up for her rights, on the other hand she has been told by her boss not to have the posters up...)

The school district had a meeting where council officials offered to buy Sarah alternative posters as long as they didn't have the same messages as her current posters.

Sarah has been given till the end of the year to remove her posters "or face further action"

What do you think further action might be?

The school district released a statement. 

What do you hope is in the statement?

"While classroom decorations can contribute to the atmosphere, a truly welcoming and supportive environment is built through meaningful relationships and positive interactions between staff and students, not posters on the wall. Our focus is on fostering kindness, respect and academic achievement, so that every student can thrive in a distraction-free learning environment."

Approved classroom decorations include the American flag, maths tables, the US constitution (like our British values), student artwork, club information and school achievements.

"The policy is designed to ensure that no one group is targeted or offended by the display of certain items."

Can you understand the point of view of the district?

Do you agree a supportive environment is built through relationships and not posters?

Can you understand Sarah's point of view?

What would you say to the district council?

What message would you give to Sarah? What do think she should do?

What do we say in our school about these kind of posters?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British Value is this about?

To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every Friday, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

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Pride 2025

 

 

The Mystery of the 1957 Gay Wedding Photos

What do you see in the photos? Who do you think they are and what do you think they are doing? When do you think the photos were taken?

A few years ago, a museum in Los Angeles appealed for help to identify people that were photographed in 1957. The photos show a wedding between two men. There are photos of the men cutting a cake, exchanging rings, opening gifts and dancing. 

Why do you think the museum was interested in these wedding photos?

Where are the men getting married? Why are there only a few people, why isn't it in a church or a hall?

In 1957 being gay was illegal in the US and all over the world. So the two men in these photos were breaking the law. Everyone else at the wedding was also breaking the law and could have been arrested if the police found out it was happening.

Why do you think being gay was illegal in 1957?

Why are things different today?

If the law says you can't get married, do you think the men are doing the wrong thing here?

Taking photos was very different in 1957.

How were photos different in 1957?

How would the two men have got these photos?

You couldn’t make photos yourself in 1957; there were no phones. You had to take the photo on a camera and then take the film out of the camera and send it to a photo shop. The shop would develop the photos for you, and you would pick them up when they were ready about a week later. Each photo had to be developed individually meaning the person in charge would see them. 

What is the problem here for the two men in the photos?

What do you think happened to the photos?

The person in the shop who developed these photos would not give them back. The couple never saw their wedding photos. 

How / why could the person in the shop do that?

Imagine how you would feel to never see your wedding photos..

Why didn't the two men complain, demanding the photos were returned?

What might the person in the shop be worried about if they were seen to develop the photos and give them back?

The photos sat in the store room at the back of the shop for 50 years and were forgotten. Los Angeles museum hoped by sharing the pictures they could return the wedding photos to the couple, who will now be 80 or 90 years old. 

We don't know if the men were found. Do you think it is likely?

It's interesting that the person at the shop kept the photos and didn't throw them away - can you come up with an explanation for this?

What do you see in this photo, taken last weekend in the UK? 

Today things have changed for gay people compared to 60 years ago. Today many countries, including the UK have laws to protect LGBT people. 

What is the law in the UK protecting LGBT+ people? (the equality act 2010)

Who else is protected in that law?

The photo shows Birmingham Pride which was held on bank holiday weekend. Today, Pride events are held every year in cities all over the world.

Why do so many cities hold Pride events today, what is Pride for?

Do you think Pride is needed?

If we showed the Birmingham Pride photo to the men at the wedding in 1957, what would they think? How would you explain to the couple in 1957 what is happening in this photo, why it is happening and how has life has changed for LGBT people in 60 years?

Today there is a huge Pride event in Los Angeles every year. Do you think the two men in the photo are on the parade today? How do you think they feel about it? 

Why is this about No Outsiders? 

Which British value is this about?

KS1 version of this assembly here

To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every Friday, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

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Osprey

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj42e5rrve0o

What do you see in the picture, what do you think the story is about?

Three ospreys have been caught on a livestream camera on the Scottish borders nesting together. The three birds, two females and one male, are hatching four eggs together.

Why do you think people are surprised about this?

What would people normally expect to find in a nest?

Forestry and Land Scotland are monitoring the next using cameras. Previously, one of the females, who they called Mrs O, nested there, and this year she has been joined by another female.

Why do you think the other female osprey joined Mrs O?

Mrs O flies off to find food and when she returns, she shares the food with the other female. The male osprey also hunts for food and shares it with the two females when he returns.

Researchers saw Mrs O sitting on the eggs when the other female flew in and nestled beside her and offered her food from her beak.

What does that suggest about the relationship between the three birds?

How would you describe the relationship?

Researchers are watching the three birds work together to incubate the eggs.

What does incubate mean?

The nest behaviour with three birds together has not been caught on camera before now and researchers are excitedly watching to see what happens.

The eggs are expected to hatch within a few weeks.

Who do you think will look after the chicks?

Why do you think researchers are excited? Are different families exciting?

What does this suggest about people and their stereotypes around families? 

Would you be excited at our school just because someone had a different family to you?

What is a family?

What would you say to the researchers about their excitement - what are the two sides to this question?

What do we say about families at our school?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British value is this about?

To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every Friday, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

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Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

Statue

 

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/mar/16/anger-male-sculptor-commissioned-statue-suffragist-edinburgh-elsie-inglis

What do you see in the picture, where do you think this is, what do you think the story is?

Edinburgh in Scotland has many statues; monuments to famous people from history. Like this one of Adam Smith, a famous Scottish economist and philosopher who lived from 1723 to 1790. 

A group of campaigners say there is something missing from the collection of statues.

What do you think is missing?

There are no statues of women in Edinburgh.

Why do you think that is?

In 2017 a fundraiser was launched to create a statue of Scottish Suffragist Elsie Inglis. Elise was one of the first women to graduate from Edinburgh University and founded a free hospital and milk bank for Edinburgh's poorest women. During the war, she served as a medic and established a fleet of women-run hospitals. The picture at the top of this page shows the planned statue was unveiled earlier this year. But now there is disagreement about the statue because the campaigners are unhappy.

Can you guess what campaigners are unhappy about?

The sculpture has been named as Alexander Stoddart. Alexander is very experienced and has been commissioned to sculpt the statue. He already has 5 statues in Edinburgh including the one of Adam Smith.

Why do you think the campaigners are unhappy about Alexander creating a statue of Elise Inglis?

Natasha Phoenix is one of the campaigners and also a sculptor. She says the commission is a "cultural embarrassment" and should have been given to a woman.

What is a cultural embarrassment\?

Why do you think campaigners say a woman should have been commissioned?

What are the two sides of this debate? 

Natasha says, "It's incredibly important that women's stories are told through the female gaze."

What do you think Natasha means by "the female gaze"?

Do you agree?

The proposed statue shows Elise in a military uniform standing upright and alone on a pedestal. Natasha says this design lacks Elise's qualities - warmth, compassion and spirit. Natasha thinks Elise should be shown in a more caring stance, perhaps with another woman and a baby.

What do you think of these two ideas? Why do you think Alexander chose to put Elise in a miltary uniform?

What are statues normally wearing? Why is that?

What is your opinion, who do you agree with?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British value is this about? 

To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every Friday, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging