Lots of children in my school are talking about what is happening in Israel this week and many are worried about it. Some children are scared about war happening here. I have tried to create an assembly to help children make sense of the world and conflict.
What does the map show? What countries do you recognise?
What do you know about the history of Europe? Have countries in Europe always co-existed peacefully?
How many battles ands wars do you think there have been in Europe in the last 1000 years?
This wikipedia page lists over 800 battles and wars that took place in Europe in the last 1000 years.
What does that figure show about people throughout history?
Have battles and wars been fought here in England? Who was England fighting against for most of the Middle Ages in to the 1700s?
England and Scotland had many battles throughout history with many lives lost. The biggest battle is thought to be the Battle of Flodden in 1513 in Northumberland. Thousands of soldiers (who were ordinary people) were killed including the Scottish King James IV.
Is England at war with Scotland today? What does this show about wars?
The largest battle on English soil was the battle of Towton in North Yorkshire, in 1461 during the Wars of the Roses. This battle was to change the King of England; Edward IV deposed the current King Henry VI to become King. An estimated 12,000 people died in the battle.
What can we learn from history? Why are all those battles not still going on today in Scotland and in Yorkshire?
Does hope exist? How can peace be achieved?
Oliver Jeffers has written this short story about battles and borders. In the story, Oliver writes about our big earth being divided into smaller bits: "It seems we humans have always fought each other over space." In the story, Oliver takes his two young children on a trip through space in his car and as they look in to the rear view mirror, they see earth going back in time and people fighting over land throughout history.
What do you think this story is about, why did Oliver write it, what can we learn from this story?
What is happening today in the news today? How does war affect people?
It's ok to feel anxious or worried about things happening in other parts of the world. You are not the only person to feel this way and adults also feel worried or upset sometimes.
Is there an easy answer to war? If there was, would there still be wars today?
What can we do when we hear about wars in other places?
We can listen to different opinions and share our feelings. We can listen to and help people around us who are affected. We can make sure everyone knows they are welcome here and everyone is safe, whatever they believe and whoever they are. In our school, we welcome different ideas and opinions; sometimes we can change our mind and sometimes we don't, but we can still listen and consider the views of others. In our school we can disagree and still get along. We can co-exist and respect each other even if we disagree.
What does co-exist mean?
Why is this about No Outsiders?
Have a moment of reflection to think about all those affected by the situation today.
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