Autumn 2
AGE: Primary |
THEME: Autumn (2) |
AIM: |
| To explore the ideas of optimism, change and loss. |
PREPARATION / RESOURCES: |
|
STORY: |
|
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. Spring was a happy time for the two trees, as their new leaves began to grow, animals and birds made their homes in and around them, and children came back to play in the park and rest beneath them. The second tree enjoyed being with its older friend who often taught it important lessons. As the last year had come to an end, the second tree had learnt that even though it lost its leaves it grew new ones to replace them. The sun shone and the trees enjoyed the early spring warmth. The gentle April showers gave the two trees plenty to drink and the winds let their branches dance lightly. But every time the wind blew, the second tree worried that the time had come when it would lose its leaves again. The second tree would hold its branches stiffly, clinging on to each leaf. The first tree knew that as sure as its leaves would fall, new leaves would come again in springtime. It loved the feeling of the wind in its branches and the sound of its leaves gently rustling as they were blown. The animals seemed to enjoy the sound and movement too and flocked to its branches to make their homes. When the summer came, the first tree seemed to be the one most often chosen for those looking for some shade where they could rest and unwind. The first tree was happy and enjoyed each day. It relaxed in the calm and quiet of early mornings and late evenings and revelled in the happy bustle of life around it during the warm summer months. The second tree watched its friend and how it enjoyed everything it did, and all there was around it, but try as it might the second tree could not join in. The tree could only worry about autumn and losing its beautiful leaves. It missed out on the wonderful sound of children playing happily. It missed the birdsong. It barely even felt the warmth of the summer sun. By autumn the second tree was exhausted. The autumn winds arrived and the leaves on the trees' branches began to fall off. The first tree laughed as the wind tickled it and happily let go of the leaves that had been with it all summer, knowing that the winter was a chance to rest. It accepted the change gladly. The second tree grumpily clutched the leaves to its branches but nothing could stop them going. As winter arrived, the second tree was cross and tired and seemed unaware that a whole year had passed without a happy memory. The next spring, the first tree watched happily as its leaves began to grow. This year they were not as bright a green as the year before, but it was so happy to feel the warmth of the sun after the long, cold, winter that it did not worry. The spring rains came and the first tree lifted its few leaves, delighting in the feeling of the raindrops bouncing off them. When the wind blew the first tree laughed. Some of its leaves blew away in the breeze but the tree smiled, enjoying the way the wind helped it to move its aching body. The second tree watched the wind blowing the leaves away from the branches of its friend and scowled. It felt as though the wind was playing tricks on them - everyone knew that trees don't lose their leaves until autumn. The first tree smiled gently at the second tree. 'What happy memories I have from my years on this hill. Let us welcome and enjoy each season together.' When the second tree thought of its memories from last year, it did not feel happy and tried to listen to the words its wise friend spoke. As the summer arrived the second tree was more popular with the wildlife and visitors to the park. The first tree was rather bare and spindly and provided little shelter but it was pleased to see how well its friend was used. The summer had started well for them both. The first tree was still able to enjoy the dancing squirrels scurrying from tree to tree and it listened happily as families shared picnics nearby. The sun that year was hot; there was little rest or shelter for the trees. The first tree watched some of its leaves turn yellow and brown, burnt by the hot summer sun. 'Well, after all these years of enjoying the warmth and light of the sun I can hardly complain if it takes the beautiful green from some of my leaves.' The second tree was beginning to panic. 'Now the sun is joining the wind in trying to steal our leaves,' it thought, 'I shall hold on to mine even tighter.' Both trees were quiet and tired as autumn arrived. The first tree had bare branches early in the season, and while the second tree still had many leaves, it was tired after a busy year of looking after them. One night there was a terrible storm. Great rain drops poured from the sky, strong winds tore between the trees and the second tree had to try with all its might to stay standing. In the morning the second tree looked around in surprise. Its friend the first tree was not where it always stood! Tired and weak, it had blown down. The second tree was all alone. The second tree thought of all the things the first tree had shown it: how to enjoy each day thinking of happy memory as night fell, all about the seasons - how winter was good for resting, how spring was an exciting time of new life, how summer was special for sharing ties and spaces with those around us, and how autumn was a time of change and preparation, ready for new starts and new years ahead. Suddenly the second tree felt sad. Rather than enjoy its time with its wise friend it had been so bothered about keeping its leaves that it had not noticed all the good times they had shared... nor had it noticed the changes in its friend. The tree made a promise to itself to learn from the first tree and enjoy all the good things in its life. It looked at the park covered in leaves and branches from the storm and noticed a small, trembling little tree nearby. Gently it called out 'The storm is gone. Look how all the old leaves have left us in one short night. How wonderful to be ready for our new leaves to grow in the spring. We shall be taller next year and will have so much to do when the birds come to nest in our branches and the children play beneath our boughs.' The little tree looked up and knew it had found a friend, someone to share the good and bad times with. After a hard night being blown by the winds and knocked by hailstones and big fat raindrops, it felt happy and safe. As the second tree settled down ready for its winter rest, it thought again of its friend the first tree. Although they no longer stood next to each other, it could remember so many special times they had shared and those memories made it feel as if the first tree was still there. The second tree knew there were changes ahead but also knew that next year it would try to enjoy each day, experiencing new things with new people and searching for happy memories each evening as night fell. 'What a special time autumn is...' it thought, 'so much to remember and so much more to look forward to.' |
DEVELOPMENT: |
|
For a long time before it happened, Jesus knew that part of God's plan for him was that he would die. How easy it would have been for him to give up, to feel depressed and to put himself first. Instead, Jesus carried on doing wonderful things - teaching, caring for others and making the most of what he had. Look at some stories of healing and teaching from the Bible to raise children's knowledge and awareness of how special Jesus was. There is change in our lives too, but rather than worrying about things coming to an end, we should try and enjoy them and live each day to the full. After Jesus died, what happened to his friends? Did they spend all their time feeling sad because of what they had lost? Read the story of Peter and John healing the lame beggar (Acts 3:1-10). Even though Jesus had gone, his friends remembered what he had taught them and lived their lives joyfully, using what they had learnt and helping others. Our world is a wonderful place. Read the Creation story from Genesis (Genesis 1) and encourage children to identify some specific examples of what they are glad God created, and give reasons for their choice. Repeat the activity identifying features of each season that the children are grateful for. Use some of the children's ideas in a closing prayer. |
REFLECTION: |
| Sometimes it is hard to appreciate how special the things we have are until we no longer have them. Read the words of the song 'Think of a world without any flowers' and provide time for the children to reflect at an individual level on how beautiful our world is and how fortunate we are. When it rains we can see the raindrops. When it is sunny we can see blue skies and the sun in the sky. But when it is windy we can only see what the wind does - we cannot see the wind itself. We cannot see God, but by looking at the beauty of the world around us and the kindness of people who love and care for us we can feel God's presence and love. Encourage an understanding that different people see the presence of God differently. It can be hard to believe something that we cannot see; people who do believe have trust and faith. Both these give people a feeling of happiness and security. Encourage children to think about their own feelings and to tolerate and respect differences between their own beliefs and those of others. |
PRAYER: |
|
Thank you, Father, for all the good things in my life. Help me to think of a happy memory each day as I go to bed, which helps me understand my good fortune. There are many people all over the world with less than I have, but it is so easy to take my position for granted. I do wish for new things, but I am also grateful for what I have. Change is part of my life - changing my home, my friends, my school - and sometimes I find it scary. Help me to trust you. Knowing that you are there caring for me helps me to feel stronger. Amen. |
SONGS: |
| These songs can all be found in Someone's Singing Lord, A & C Black: No.12 'I love the sun' No.15 'Think of a world without any flowers' No.52 'Who can see the great wind blow?' No.54 'Look for signs that summer's done' |
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS: |
|
Children can identify things they can do that they used not to be able to do, and things that they look forward to doing when they are bigger and older. Try to help them identify a greater number of things that they enjoy about being as they are now. Display ideas around a title 'Why I'm glad to be me'. GEOGRAPHY Children can look at their own environment and draw comparisons with a contrasting environment. It is easy to take our wildlife and surroundings for granted; encourage children to identify things they are glad to have in their own locality as opposed to the contrasting example they have looked at. |