What can the world learn from the poppy fields of Flanders? This Remembrance assembly, taken from 21st Century Assembly and Classroom Activities by Will Ryan, answers this important question.
The download contains a script outlining the history of WW1 and prompts students to reflect on what we should learn from it.
Remembrance assembly
This KS2/3 Remembrance assembly recounts the story of Willie McBride, a young soldier who volunteered in 1914 and lost his life at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
Through the lens of the song The Green Fields of France by Eric Bogle, it reflects on McBride’s experiences and the futility of war, questioning the true impact and legacy of such conflicts.
This assembly script is especially powerful to teach around Remembrance Day as it not only honours those who sacrificed their lives but also encourages students to think critically about the:
- consequences of war
- lessons humanity should have learned
- importance of peace
This Remembrance Day assembly encourages empathy and a deeper understanding of the reasons for remembrance. It also encourages reflection on what the world can learn from past conflicts.
Questions to consider
- Do you think the Great War was really justifiable?
- What would you want to say to the politicians who caused it?
- What should we learn from the story?
Will Ryan has worked in schools in South Yorkshire for over 40 years as a teacher, headteacher and local authority adviser. He is a speaker and associate of Independent Thinking Ltd. Browse more Remembrance Day activities.
