Friday, 27 February 2026

Eiffel Tower

 

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/general/general/the-eiffel-tower-will-soon-have-72-women-s-names-engraved-on-the-monument-who-are-they-and-why/ar-AA1Wgrww?ocid=BingNewsVerp

https://agerpres.ro/2026/02/02/romanian-born-microbiologist-among-72-women-scientists-honored-on-eiffel-tower-frieze--1524268

What do you see in the photo, where is it? What else do you notice? What do you think this story might be about?

The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated for the 1889 World's fair. When the tower was opened there were engravings of names on the first floor. 72 people had their name engraved. 

Who do you think these people were? 
Why do you think their names were engraved on the Eiffel Tower?

72 scientists had their names engraved in 1889. These were people who it was felt had left their mark in science. 

Can you think of any scientists whose names might be there?

The names included people like Michel Foucault, a French philosopher, Augustin-Jen Fresnel, a French physicist who invented the wave theory of light which was eventually used in the first lighthouses, and Augustin-Louis Cauchy, a French mathematician.

What protected characteristic do all these people have in common?

Last year it was announce that 72 further names would be added to those already engraved on the Eiffel tower, "To paint a more complete version of scientific history."

What does that mean- how can history be incomplete?
What do you think is planned?

72 names of female scientists will be added this year. These will include mathematicians, physicists, oceanographers, physicians. Their names will be added on a strip just above the existing frieze. 

    

Why do you think women's names were missed off in 1889? Did the designers just forget?
Can anyone think of female scientists?
Some people say that women's contributions to science have been erased from history or relegated to the background. Why do you think that is?

The names to be added include Marie Curie, who pioneered radioactivity and Rosalind Franklin, the first woman to circumnavigate the globe in the 18th Century; she made advances in botanical research. Anita Conti was an oceanographer whose work transformed our understanding of the seas.

The aim is to shine a light on inspiring role models for a new generation and remind us that research has never been the preserve of a single gender.

What does that mean?
One might argue that the Eiffel tower is an historical monument built for its time. Should we be altering it 140 years later? Why not build a new monument and include women's names? What do you think? Can you see different points of view here?
 
The Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said, "Soon young girls gazing at the Eiffel tower will be able to aspire to become doctors, mathematicians, chemists, biologists, computer scientists, engineers, physicists, astrophysicists, or climate scientists. We need scientists and women to shape the future of our world."

Why not boys? Do you think Anne is right to highlight just girls in this way?
Why is this about No Outsiders - who is the outsider in this story?
What has this story got to do with us in our school?
Which British Value is this about?

 Do you want this assembly as a power point with Oracy sentence stems? 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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Thursday, 19 February 2026

Plane baby

 

https://www.upworthy.com/when-can-babies-fly-on-planes-ex1

What do you see in the picture? Who you you see? Where are they? What do you think this story is about?

Passengers on a flight recently were surprised to receive a little zip lock bag with sweets inside. It wasn't a gift from the airline, it was a gift from one of the other passengers. They handed the bags out to all the other passengers before take off. There was also a note in the bag.

Why give out a small bag of sweets to passengers before a flight?
What do you think the note read?

The note read, "It's my first flight. I made a deal to be on my best behaviour- but I can't make any guarantees. I might cry if I get scared or if my ears start to hurt. Here are some treats to make your flight enjoyable. Thank you for being patient with us. Have a great flight."

Who do you think wrote the note?
Why write it?
Why can't they guarantee to be on their best behaviour?
How do you think the gift made passengers feel?

The story got a lot of reaction online. Many people felt the gift showed the parent was being considerate by apologising to everyone before flight in case their baby screamed. 

What do you think?

Others responded to the note with frustration. 

Why do you think some people felt frustrated?

Some people felt frustrated that the the parent felt they had to do this. Imagine getting a baby ready for their first flight and all the things you have to do, and now you're also making up 50 sweet bags for strangers!
"This is so sweet but also kind of breaks my heart that we live in a world in which parents feel the need to do that."
"That poor parent probably spent nights awake, nervous about that flight, thinking about ways to keep strangers happy."
"Just because some people have shamed parents in to believing that they need to apologise for their kids' absolutely normal behaviour. What an absolute gem of a parent."
"That parent took up valuable carry on luggage space for those treats."

There are different points of view here. Another argument is that it is not fair on passengers to suffer a screaming baby on a ten hour flight..
On the other hand, how do young children learn to behave if we don't take them out in public?

Many people supported the parent saying it was not their responsibility to make others feel comfortable on board:
"No parent should be apologising. Adults control their emotions, babies not."
"Dear new parents, no you don't have to do this. Your babies have the right to exist. We all know babies cry. We know you do your best."

One commented that a crying baby is far more stressful on the parent than on other passengers who can just crank up the volume on headphones."

What do you think?
Did the parent do the right thing?
How would you respond if you were on that plane?

Why is this about No Outsiders - who is the outsider in this story?
Which British Value is this about?

 Do you want this assembly as a power point with Oracy sentence stems? 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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Friday, 6 February 2026

Peace walk - Mental Health Week



https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/rescue-dog-leading-19-buddhist-monks-on-2300-mile-peace-walk-across-the-us/

What do you see in the picture, who are they, what do you think they are doing and what do you think this story is about?

The picture shows a group of 19 Buddhist monks on a peace walk.

What is a Buddhist monk? Is that a job? How does a person become a monk?
What do you think a peace walk is?

Do you notice anything else on the walk with them?

An abandoned dog has joined the monks. They have named the dog Aloka and he has walked with them for hundreds of miles. First across India and now they are walking 2300 miles across America finishing at Washington DC.

What is in Washington DC, why do you think the monks are finishing there?

Their goal is...

Why do you think they are doing this? What do you think the goal is?

Their goal is to promote unity and compassion.

What is unity, what is compassion?
How can a walk promote community and compassion?

A governor in Texas said, "When I heard about this 2300 mile walk, I was amazed. It really touches the hearts and minds of people. We live in a time when the noise often drowns out understanding, where division can feel louder than unity - but this is what the community and interfaith solidarity looks like."

How can a walk touch hearts and minds, what does that mean?
What does "The noise drowns out understanding" mean? What noise?
The governor says, "Division can feel louder than unity" How can you feel division?
What do you think interfaith means?

The monks are expecting the walk to take.....

How long do you think it takes to walk 2300 miles?

They are expecting it to take 110 days. 

How many miles are they expecting to walk each day? How can you work that out?

(20 miles each day)

Along the way the monks are experiencing warm welcomes from members of the public. A store in Texas gave the monks free ice cream, Doctors in Alabama gave the monks free check ups. Large crowds gathered everywhere to cheer them on and give them free meals.

How do you think people feel when they see the monks?
Why are so many people going to see them?

People also love meeting Aloka. The monks say, "Aloka is a very good boy helping to carry the message of peace and harmony, and watching over us all the while."

This week is Children's Mental Health week across the UK; 

What is Mental Health?

This year the theme for Mental Health week is "This is my place". 

What do you think that means?

Organisers say, "When we feel accepted and valued, we grow stronger in our minds and bodies."

How does feeling accepted affect our mental health?
Why is is this story about mental health? Who is feeling accepted in this story?

One argument is that a peace walk won't change anything - who is it for?
What do you think? 

What do we say at our school about Mental Health?
Why is this story about No Outsiders?
Which British Value is this about?

Do you want this assembly as a power point with Oracy sentence stems? 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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