Autumn 1
AGE: Primary |
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THEME: Autumn (1) |
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AIM: |
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| To explore the ideas of trust and change, looking at how something old can be lost and replaced by something as good - or even better. | ||||
PREPARATION / RESOURCES: |
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STORY: |
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Once there were two trees standing at the edge of a park at the top of a tall hill. In the springtime the trees woke from a long winter's sleep well rested and ready to begin another year. On some days the sun shone and their branches lifted themselves to bask in its gentle warmth. 'How happy I feel,' said the first tree to the other, 'And lucky, that after a dark and cold winter I can enjoy the warmth of the sun's golden rays.' On some days there were spring showers. The rain would dance on the trees' branches and run down their trunks in glistening streams. 'How exciting the weather is,' said the first tree, 'the water quenches my thirst and makes me feel alive. Each day I get rained on I feel I can reach a little bit higher into the sky. How lucky we are to have the rain!' On some days the gentle winds blew the branches of the trees. The first tree said, 'I am so happy on windy days. I feel as if I am dancing as the wind helps carry my heavy branches around my trunk. It is so special to hear the pretty rustling of my leaves in the wind. How I do love the spring!' The second tree listened patiently. It was younger than the first tree and had much to learn. In early spring both tree grew new, shiny, bright leaves. Proud of their signs of spring, they held them up to the sunshine to collect the light and warmth of the sun's rays, they lifted them to the rain, collecting the water to quench their thirst and help them grow, and they held tight to them, lovingly protecting them from the springtime winds. Their leaves grew bigger, their colour darkened and the trees felt stronger. As summer arrived the trees used the leaves they had so carefully grown to help those around them. Birds made nests in their branches using the leaves for shelter. Children and families played and rested beneath them, enjoying the shade provided by their leafy canopies. Sometimes the sun was so warm on their leaves that the two trees looked at each other for support. It was tiring being in the sun for such long days. Each night they rested in the cool that came with darkness, gathering strength for the day ahead when they knew they had work to do, sheltering and protecting those around them. The second tree watched the first tree and learned patience while they waited for the coolness of the evenings. The second tree learnt about caring for those who needed its help, protecting those who settled in and below it, and, along with the first tree, enjoyed the warmth of the golden sun and the happy sounds of the people and animals nearby. Then autumn came. The days became cooler. It rained and the wind blew. One day, as its branches were tossed and shaken by the wind, the second tree felt itself lose a leaf. It watched the leaf float to the ground. Worried, it thought, 'I must hold on to my leaves more tightly in this weather. Nobody will want a tree without leaves!' But no matter how hard it tried, as the autumn wore on the little tree lost more and more leaves until its branches were almost bare. One day the second tree turned to the first tree and said, 'I'm so sad. I'm no use at all. I've lost all my leaves and I've tried so hard to keep them - it took such an effort to grow them and now they're all gone. Whatever shall I do?' The first tree looked at the second tree and smiled. 'Do you remember how we had to be patient in the hot sunny summer?' it asked, 'Try once more - if you are patient something wonderful will happen in spring.' The second tree worried and worried. There was nothing to lift to the sun for its warmth or to the rain for its drink. Nobody made their home in its branches and nobody came to rest and shelter beneath it. Try as it might to remember the words of the first tree, the second tree could only think of what it had lost. It went to sleep with a heavy heart, full of despair and concern. The winter was long and cold. Snow fell, sending flurries of snowflakes dancing around the sleeping trees. The cold winds whistled between their empty branches. Spring and summer seemed a long way off. One morning, though, the air was warmer and the tree woke once more. The second tree was pleased to see its friend the first tree but its happiness quickly disappeared when it looked at its branches and saw that there were still no leaves. As the days wore on, however, the second tree began to grow new buds and small leaves began to form. Turning to the first tree, the second tree smiled. 'Thank you!' it said, 'you told me something good would come in springtime. I lost my precious leaves but now I have new ones to replace them.' As it looked at the new leaves, the second tree could see that they were bigger, shinier, more beautiful than those it had had the year before. The second tree had grown and was now the tallest tree in that part of the park. It felt proud to have such magnificent leaves and looked forward to the new year ahead. It had learnt many lessons: losing something you treasure is not always a bad thing - often one thing will be replaced by another. It had learnt to enjoy sharing its good fortune with those around it and it had learnt the value of a good friend. |
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DEVELOPMENT: |
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After a few moments for absorbing the story, ask the children to consider where we turn to for help and advice in life. Brainstorm ideas, discussing groups of people who are particularly appropriate for helping in specific situations. There might be an opportunity to address issues such as bullying or racism through this discussion. Share the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). He was happy with his life, making lots of money even though he lost his friends. After seeing Jesus, Zacchaeus was happy to lose his money and change his life. Encourage children to identify how and why Zacchaeus' losing his money resulted in positive changes. Children might like some quiet time to think about areas of their lives they would like to change or improve. Can they think of what is standing in the way of that change? Do they have to trust and be patient that the change will come in time, or do they need to lose something (fear, lack of confidence, pride?) before the change can happen? What areas of their lives can the children identify that they are happy with and they would not like to change? Can the children identify something special to them about each season? Can they make a plan or promise for something they hope to change for the better by the time next year starts? |
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REFLECTION: |
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How does change make us feel? Is it something we embrace or something that scares us? Why? Are all people the same? Who do we trust? What is it that makes us trust them? How does it feel to be trusted? Is it a right or a privilege? What was it that made Zacchaeus trust Jesus? Do people still show that level of faith today? If so, how? |
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PRAYER: |
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Dear Lord, Thank you for all of our good fortune. Help us to understand that, as one thing comes to an end, another is waiting to begin. Help us to rise to new challenges and look for the good in all we do. Let us welcome change and growth, that we may be better, happier, more trusting and caring people as we change and grow. Amen. |
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SONGS: |
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These songs can all be found in The Complete Come and Praise, BBC Educational Publishing: No.47 'One more step along the world I go' No.106 'It's a new day, there's hope' No.113 'To ev'rything, turn, turn, turn' |
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FOLLOW-UP IDEAS: |
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