Ice skating

 

https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/09/16/same-sex-ice-dancing-team-breaks-new-ground-in-finland/

What do you see in the picture? Where are they? What sport is this, what do you notice about the two people? What do you think this story is about?

The photo shows Millie Colling and Emma Aalto (both 19 years old) who are competing in Finland this year in the ice skating championship.

There is something different about this championship - a rule has been changed this year to allow something for the first time. 

What rule do you think has been changed?

This year for the first time ever, skaters can compete in pairs that are the same gender.

Millie says she and Emma are best friends that want to skate together. Usually skaters have to be a man and a woman but this year skaters can be called Skater A and Skater B.

Why do you think skaters have had to be different genders before now?

Can you think of any reason this won't work if the skaters are the same sex?

Earlier this year, retired Olympic champions, Madison Hubbel and Gabriella Papadakis performed together, hoping to help break gender stereotypes in sport.

What are gender stereotypes in sport?

Do gender stereotypes in sport matter? (explain why/ why not)

Mille says there is a common misconception that same sex skaters are gay or lesbian. But she says that's not the case and you don't have to be in a same sex relationship just because you compete together.

Why do you think some people think that?

Emma says, "The point is to be opening possibilities for everyone not just for gay and lesbian people. Ice dancing with a same sex partner is not necessarily any different."

What does opening possibilities mean?

In a partnership that was male and female, who would usually do the lifting? How do you think this works if the couple are the same sex?

Mille explains, "One of us leads, one of us follows, one lifts, one of us is lifted. We have quite similar body mass so technically there are some differences but we still do the same content."

"Every partnership is different. Every couple has their strengths and weaknesses. Ice dance is a really individual sport - each couple is unique and we're just another unique couple."

If the couple qualify in Finland, they will not be allowed to take part in the national competition in December because the rules haven't been changed for that competition yet.

Why enter a competition if you are not allowed to compete in the final? 

Mille and Emma say they do not expect to win; "we're just excited to get out there. You can be whatever you want to be on ice."

Why do you think ide dancing makes them feel like that?

If they don't think they can win, should they still enter, what's the point?

What can we learn from Millie and Emma?

Why is this about No Outsiders

Which British Value is this about?

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, 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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Being British

 

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/mosque-sends-powerful-message-after-32372270?fbclid=IwZnRzaAM5J5hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHked6ont5Abc0JEH8y2ryXF-SdyAlVtwXbujN9zj_8s7jezk--r60pTLECXQ_aem_A4Tt5sbcQhi3fFCStPOrwg#ertkb9t4d897a347vxouqjzg6085x4dl

What do you see in the picture, where do you think it was taken, what do you notice about the people in the photo? What do you think the story is here?

Last week a man attached a union jack to railings outside a Mosque in Birkenhead. He was seen on CCTV; he did it at night and didn't ask the Mosque first.

Why do you think he did that?

When Ibrahim Syed arrived at the Mosque the next morning, he found the flag and made a decision.

What do you think were the options for Ibrahim?

Ibrahim chose to hang a Union Jack in the window of the Mosque.

Why do you think Ibrahim did that?

Ibrahim said about the person who put the flag outside the Mosque, "We think he thought the flag would be offensive to people who are Muslim but that's not how we see it at all."

Why might someone think a union jack was offensive to Muslims?

Ibrahim says that's not how they see it; how do you think Ibrahim sees the union jack?

Ibrahim said, "We decided we needed to reclaim our narrative of being British and being Muslim and our claim as much as anybody's to the Union Jack." 

What do you think Ibrahim means by "reclaim our narrative of being British and being Muslim"?

"We thought what could send a powerful message is if we could display a Union Jack in our window to show we are British, we do belong and this is as much our flag as anyone else's"

Why is that a powerful message?

Do you think flags are important?

Why do you think Ibrahim wants people to know he is British and he belongs?

What can we learn from Ibrahim?

What do we say in our school about different religions?

Which British law protects religion and belief? (who else is protected in the law?)

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British Value is this about?

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, 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

 

Cart

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/boy-dwarfism-personal-lunch-cart-b1951058.html

https://www.upworthy.com/boy-with-dwarfism-struggled-to-get-his-lunch-so-a-cafeteria-worker-made-him-a-souped-up-cart-ex1

What do you see in the picture, where was it taken, what are they doing, what do you think this story is about?

Julian is 6 years old and lives in America, He has lots of things in common with the other children in his class; he particularly loves Super Mario and taekwondo. All the children in his class also have differences ad one of the things that makes Julian different is that he has achondroplasia with is a common form of dwarfism. This means has a different height to most of the other children in his school.

In what ways are we different in our school?

Julian's Dad says, "Julian was born in to a world that just, in some ways, is not built for him." Julian goes to a school that wasn't built for his height.

What does this mean?

Can you think of daily challenges that Julian might face because of his different height?

What can be done about it? Should the school be rebuilt? Should Julian go to a different school?

One of the challenges for Julian was lunch time. Julian was struggling to transport his lunch on a tray  from the cafeteria to the benches. 

The school had an idea; they used an upside down milk crate and a trolley and made Julian a cart to wheel his lunch to his seat. Here is a picture of the cart.

What do you think if it?

Would you want to use this?

Is the school doing the right thing here?

 

One of the cooks at the school, Enedelia, saw Julian and his cart and thought she could make a better cart. She also realised that when Julian got to the cafeteria each day to choose his lunch, his head just came up to the counter; he couldn't see anything.

What could be a solution here?

Enedelia's husband, James, is a metal worker and that night they worked out a plan.

What is a metalworker?

What do you think was the plan?

Enedelia and her husband wanted to make Julian a cart that he would be proud to push around.

Why does Julian need a cart he can be proud of? It's only a cart to get lunch!

James and his team at work created a new cart for Julian with adjustable handlebars like a motorcycle and a stool inside so that he can see the countertop. It also had flame decorations and it's own licence plate with "Julian" on it.

Julian's parents couldn't believe people made this for free for their son. They were pleased that Julian was now independent and did not have to be helped by a member of staff. Julian loved it. 

Why do you think Enedilia and James made this for free?

Do you think Julian needed it?

Is independence important? Explain your answer.

Why can't someone else carry Julian's lunch for him?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British Value is this about?

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, 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

Trousers

 

https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=33531

What do you see in the picture, what is this person doing, can you guess what this story might be about? 

This girl has her hands in her pockets. Why is that a story?

8 year old Georgia is from Ipswich, UK and was shopping in Sainsbury's for trousers. She was shocked to find all the girls' trousers has fake pockets. But when Georgia went in to the boys section, the pockets were real. Georgia bought boys trousers instead.

Is it ok for Georgia to wear boys clothes?

Are clothes gendered?

This story follows a similar story from 2021 about a girl in America, Kamryn Gardner who wrote a letter about pockets on jeans. 

Kamryn wrote to Old Navy store about the girls jeans they were selling after she noticed the pockets were sewn shut. They were fake pockets! Kamryn realised that this was the case for a lot of pockets on clothes for girls. Meanwhile Kamryn had a 9 year old brother and noticed his trousers did have real pockets.

Why do you think stores in the UK and the USA sell clothes for girls without pockets? What is the assumption here?

Why do boys need pockets?

What is this an example of?

You could argue girls don't need pockets because they often carry a handbag or purse. Do you agree?

Kamryn remembered her learning in school about persuasive writing.

What is persuasive writing, when do you use this?

Kamryn wrote to Old Navy store:

"Dear Old Navy,

I do not like that the front pockets of the girls jeans are fake. I want front pockets because I want to put my hands in them. I also would like to put things in them. Would you consider making girls jeans with front pockets that are not fake, Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely, 

Kamryn Gardner

What do you think of Kamryn's letter? Is it persuasive? What makes it persuasive?

Do you think Old Navy store replied?

What do you think they said?

Old Navy did reply and said,,

"The Old Navy Kids product team appreciate your information. It's great feedback for us as we develop new product."

What do you think of this reply? Are Old Navy store committing to changing their trousers for girls?

No change happened for Kamryn. In the UK, Georgia also received a reply which didn't really promise any change. Georgia started a petition at her school and sent it to Sainsburys.

This year when Georgia returned to Sainsburys, she found they had changed their trousers for girls, and they all now had real pockets.

Why do you think Sainsbury's changed their minds?

What can we learn from this story?

Why is is it about No Outsiders?

Which British Value is is about?

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, 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

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