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Following a visit to The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool, I developed this comprehension exercise based around the guided tour of this unique Cathedral. The text revolves around the construction of the building, as the present Cathedral is actually the fourth attempt by the Catholic Church in the North West of England to build a mother church for the Liverpool diocese – and the culmination of a story that stretches back over a century. Along with the text, which was intended for a Year 4 cohort, but could be easily adapted for older or younger children. There are 3 levels of differentiated questions. Lower Attaining - 6 questions with scaffolded answered writing frames. Middle Attaining - 7 questions no scaffolding Higher Attaining - 8 questions no scaffolding (some higher order thinking skills required comparison and difference) All ability groups have the same extension. Extension: Can you design a cathedral meeting the same requirements using your imagination?

What do Christians believe? Jesus is ‘The Light of the World’. In the run up to Christmas, we are looking at William Holman Hunt’s painting ‘Light of the World’. The following pack includes 3 levels of differentiated worksheets that examine the theme of light and William Holman Hunt’s painting, as well as PPT, (full animated with transition), which explains the idea of Jesus at the light of the world with the following questions to support the children knowledge and understanding. Look at William Holman Hunt’s painting ‘Light of the World’. Don’t give children title of painting, in small groups let them explore the image. Questions to scaffold could be ‘Who do you think the person is in the picture? Who might be behind the door? What is the painter trying to show us? Then give children the title, ‘Light of the World’ and explain how Christians believe that Jesus is the Light of the World – He shows us the way, warns us of danger, lights up our lives etc.

This assembly focuses on a lesser-known part of the Easter story, namely Maundy, or Holy Thursday: The washing of the disciples’ feet. During the assembly, children will learn about Jesus’ total self-giving by reflecting on the story from John’s Gospel 13.1-17, 31b-35. During the story, Jesus was a special guest, but no one offered him water to wash his feet. Instead, Jesus got up from the table, took off his coat, tied a towel around his waist, poured some water into a large bowl, and began to wash his friends’ feet, drying them with a towel. To prepare for this assembly, there is an opportunity in the script for children to imagine being a disciple of Jesus and retell the story of the washing of the feet as if they were one of the characters involved. The script has a running time of approximately 20-30 minutes, including a hymn: ‘Make me a channel of your peace’, which is freely available online. The script can accommodate up to thirty children, and dressing them in traditional clothes would add to the story’s impact. Extract: Jesus shared a Last Supper with his friends the night before he died. On the topic of self-giving, we heard how Jesus took the bread and wine, blessed them, and gave them to his friends. In this story from John’s Gospel, we hear of something else that happened at that Last Supper. Jesus was at supper with his friends. He got up, put a towel around his waist, poured some water into a bowl and he washed their feet. His friends were tired, and their feet were swollen and dirty from their day’s travelling, because of the heat and dust, people had to wash their feet very often.

The focus of this collective worship/assembly script is celebrations, particularly around the theme of marriage, as one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic church. (This could easily be edited for another Christian denomination, or another celebration such as prize giving). This collective worship/assembly could be led by a teacher or performed solely by the children and depending on the use of music or hymn would not exceed 15 minutes in running time. Extract: We have been looking at the topic: Celebrations A celebration is a time when we perform a ceremony to recognise, reflect, and rejoice on a special occasion. There are many special occasions: Birthdays, New Year, Chinese New Year, Graduation, and Prize Giving.

This assembly focuses the importance of family . During the assembly, children will learn about from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The main message of Ephesians is that believers in Christ are reconciled not only to God, but to each other. They are to maintain unity of purpose within their families and church, while resisting the temptation to fall into the sin of the world surrounding them. To prepare for this assembly, there is an opportunity in the script for children to write statement about what is important in their families. For example, “What is important to my family is sharing.” Alternatively, if you are pressed for time, you can use the statements provided in the script. If your school has been fundraising there is space to adapt this script to state for whom and why, alternatively it can be deleted. The script has a running time of approximately no longer than 20 minutes, including a hymn: ‘Everybody’s building’, which is freely available online. The script can accommodate up to thirty children or less, or could be led by a teacher. Extract: What is important to my family is giving. What is important to my family is being together. Show your love for your family by telling them you love them. Cheer your family up when they are down. Scripture has a lot to say about what is important for living together. This reading is from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

This script is for an Easter assembly and covers the events leading up to Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection on Easter Sunday, which is the most important festival for Christians. The script includes three eyewitness accounts of the Easter story: Simon helped carry Jesus’ cross up the hill. A Roman soldier took a prisoner to his death. Mary Magdalene discovered Jesus had risen from the dead and instructed her to inform the disciples. There are 8 concluding statements that promote a gratitude mindset. For example, “If you are healthy today, you are more blessed than millions dying this week.” Finally, the script asks us to remember our blessings, the true message of Easter, and to celebrate in the Good News that Christ is Risen! The script is designed for Key Stage 2 and can accommodate 30 children, but it can be edited to suit more or fewer participants. Its running time is around 20-30 minutes, but it can be edited. There are two poems mentioned in the script, which cannot be reproduced since they are not owned by the author. However, they should be available online, or you can substitute them with similar ones. The script suggests singing a hymn, “Christ, Be Our Light,” by Bernadette Farrell, but again, this cannot be reproduced. The hymn is merely a suggestion and can be edited or removed depending on time restrictions. Finally, the script includes a fully animated and transitioned PowerPoint presentation to provide a backdrop to the assembly. Script Extract: Good morning and welcome to our assembly. Lent is six weeks, lasting 40 days excluding Sundays, leading up to Easter. This period commences on Ash Wednesday and ends with Holy Week. Easter is the most important festival for Christians. Lent is a period of introspection and prayer during which Christians recall the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the desert. They also strive to reconcile with God before celebrating Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.

This assembly could be arranged to take place during a Jewish festival or as part of a school’s diversity and equality initiative. The purpose of this assembly is to introduce children to the Jewish faith, including the belief that there is only one God who created the world. Children will also learn about the teachings of the Torah and the Ten Commandments, which were given to Moses by God. The script was written as an introduction to Judaism for a Catholic primary school audience. It has an approximate running time of 15-20 minutes and can accommodate up to thirty children. Before the assembly, several children should be asked to compose their Ten Commandments and insert them into the script, encouraging them to think about God and their behaviour towards others. The assembly also includes the Jewish song of greeting and parting, ‘Shalom my friend’. The song is readily available online, by search the term ‘Shalom my friend’. Extract: Welcome to our Assembly, which this week is on Judaism. Judaism is the religion of people who are Jews. It is one of the oldest religions in the world. Jews believe in one God. They believe that God is a spirit. There are two signs which Jews often use. One is a special candlestick with seven arms, which is called a menorah. The other is a star which has six points. It is sometimes called the Star of David.

This assembly centres around Laetare Sunday, also called “Rejoice Sunday”. It is the fourth Sunday of Lent, which is a time for Christians to reflect, repent, and prepare for Holy Week and Easter. During the assembly, the children will learn about the promise of hope that Jesus offers us. His death on the Cross means that we can receive forgiveness of sins. They will reflect on what Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). The assembly discusses the spiritual significance of the Gospel reading by sharing “The Lesson of the Butterfly” and emphasizing how difficult experiences can make us stronger. In life, we often receive what we need, rather than what we desire. The story of the butterfly teaches us that even after its difficult transformation, it emerges as a beautiful creature that adds wonder to any garden. Despite the struggles it has endured, the butterfly does not become bitter. The script has a running time of approximately no longer than 20 minutes, including two hymns: ‘Christ be our light’ and ‘Come Gather’. Both hymns are freely available online. The script encourages children’s participation and requests volunteers to read the highlighted parts marked in yellow. The script is supported with fully animated and transitioned PowerPoint slides. Extract: We gather to begin our prayer time with the Sign of the Cross. Last Sunday, 10th March, the Church celebrated Laetare Sunday. Laetare means “Rejoice” and we are rejoicing because we are halfway through Lent! And we have even more to rejoice about. Jesus, the light, has come into the world ‘so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.’ (John 3:15) …During the season of Lent, it can be difficult to witness the immense suffering that Jesus endured, but I have a meaningful story to share that helped me understand why we may face struggles at times. The story is called “The Lesson of the Butterfly”. After watching for several hours, a man observed a small opening in a cocoon as a butterfly struggled to force its body through the little hole.

This lesson on baptism was designed for a class of 6-7 year-olds in an Archdiocese school as part of a formal school inspection. The lesson received glowing praise from the inspectors, noting the interactive approach, the clarity of teaching, and the engaging use of technology. The lesson focused on introducing children to the sacrament of baptism through storytelling, visual aids, and a child-friendly reenactment. Included: Lesson Plans PPTs Script The lesson began with an engaging PowerPoint presentation outlining the key elements of baptism, using simple language and colourful illustrations. The slides highlighted the significance of water, the Holy Spirit, the baptismal candle, and the anointing with oil, all presented in a way that was easy for young children to understand. It included opportunities for the children to participate by asking questions and sharing any experiences they had witnessed with baptisms in their families. Following the PowerPoint presentation, the class participated in a short, fun role-play exercise where the children acted out a baptism. This hands-on activity helped solidify their understanding of the sacrament. The children took turns playing different roles: priest, parents, godparents, and the baby being baptised. Inspectors praised the lesson for its creativity, engagement, and the children’s evident enjoyment.

This PPT explains the four parts of the Catholic Mass: Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, and Concluding Rites. Each section includes key prayers, actions, and meanings to help the children understand the flow of the Mass. It was aimed at an able Year 1 class. The activity sheet includes a matching exercise, sequencing task to arrange parts of the Mass in order.

A short PPT based around the theme of special people, recognising that the parish family gathers to celebrate Mass on Sunday. This presentation is aimed at Year 1 KS1 and has an adapted worksheet for two levels of ability with a word bank including key vocabulary.

This assembly will bring to life the story of Jesus calling His first disciples, showing the importance of faith, trust, and following Him. The script has an approximate running time of 15-20 minutes and begins with an introduction, gospel reading, reflection, message and concluding prayer.

This Ash Wednesday assembly helps children understand the significance of the day and the start of Lent. It begins by explaining the meaning of the ashes and their connection to repentance and renewal. The script includes a scripture reading Matthew, 6:16-18 about Jesus’ teachings on prayer, fasting, and giving. Children are encouraged to reflect on how they can grow closer to God through kindness, self-discipline, and helping others. Ending with a quiet prayer of reflection inviting the children to think about their Lenten promises.

Title: Ash Wednesday: A Journey with Jesus Running Time: - 10 minutes Audience: 5-7 year olds (Classroom or Assembly) Format: - Gather - Listen - Respond - Go Forth Description: - The script introduces the young children to Ash Wednesday in an engaging and simple way. It begins with a warm welcome (Gather), where the children are invited to reflect on God’s love. The story (Listen) a short reading from Matthew 6:6. A brief, child-friendly explanation follows, helping children understand that Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent - a special time to grow closer to God. In the (Respond), children participate in a short reflective activity, such as tracing a cross on their hand or sharing one kind action they can do during Lent. Finally, they are sent forth (Go Forth) with a simple prayer and blessing, encouraged to show kindness and love as they begin their Lenten journey. Extract: *Classroom Collective Worship: Ash Wednesday – KS1: A Journey with Jesus Gather: (Invite children to sit in a circle or quietly at their desks.) Leader: “Today is a very special day called Ash Wednesday. It is the beginning of Lent, a time when we get ready for Easter. Let’s take a moment to be still and quiet, thinking about how much God loves us.” (You may light a candle or display a cross to set a prayerful atmosphere.) Leader: “Let’s make the Sign of the Cross together.” (Children join in: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”)

This collective worship based on John 21:1–19, structured into the four subsections: Gather, Listen, Respond, Go Forth. It is written simply so it can be delivered by either children or adults. Includes a fully animated and transitioned PPT and script with moments for reflection and questioning. In John 21:1–19, the risen Jesus appears to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. After helping them catch a large number of fish, He shares a meal with them. Jesus then speaks to Peter, asking him three times, “Do you love me?”— reflecting the three times Peter had denied Him. Each time Peter says yes, Jesus tells him to “feed my sheep,” showing that Peter is forgiven and is now being trusted to lead the Church. This Gospel teaches us about Jesus’ mercy, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of love and responsibility in following Him. Includes Bidding Prayers and Hail Mary This assembly encourages the children, to look for ways to be kind, helpful, and brave in sharing good news.

This assembly or class collective worship (prayer & liturgy) is based on “Jesus, the Bread of Life” (John 6:44–51). Divided into subsections: Gather, Listen, Respond and Go Forth, it gives the children the opportunity to listen to scripture, reflect and ask question about how they can live out the Word of God. In John 6:44-51, Jesus teaches that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, and those who believe will have eternal life. He reveals Himself as the living bread from heaven offering His flesh for the life of the world. The children also have the opportunity to decorate and describe how they can live out the message of Jesus on bread templates, perhaps to do one kind thing today to “feed” someone else with love — maybe through a smile, a helping hand, or kind words.

Theme: The Holy Spirit gave Paul new life and happiness Learning Objective: Describe how the Good News of the Holy Spirit shapes the lives of Christians today Discover how a man once filled with anger was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit into a joyful, unstoppable messenger of hope. Through drama, discussion, and a brilliant flashlight object lesson, pupils will explore how faith can light up even the darkest times. Real-life scripture reflection (2 Corinthians 6:3–10) Engaging object lesson with a flashlight and “spiritual batteries” Personal reflection tasks and discussion Creative writing for a BBC-style Newsround segment: “A Whole New Way of Living” A fun plenary quiz and sharing circle to shine with joy! It’s a dynamic, hands-on RE experience that helps pupils relate Paul’s journey to their own lives. Perfect for building empathy, encouraging resilience, and deepening spiritual understanding. Includes lesson plan, PPT, support sheets.

This vibrant and reflective 15-minute collective worship assembly is designed especially for Catholic primary school children aged 5–11, but can be easily adapted for use in other Christian denominations. Rooted in John 20:1–9, the assembly invites children to encounter the most glorious, awe-inspiring, and life-changing message of all: Jesus Christ is risen! The assembly is thoughtfully structured around the four key elements of Catholic collective worship: Gather – Welcome and prepare hearts for worship Listen – Hear the Gospel account of the Resurrection Respond – Reflect through prayer, song, and stillness Go Forth – Take the joy of Easter into everyday life Key Features: Fully animated PowerPoint presentation with smooth transitions Gospel Reflection tailored to a young audience Thought-provoking bidding prayers written for and by children Beautiful Easter-themed imagery to enhance understanding Links to joyful hymns via YouTube, including: “This is the Day” “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” Closing prayer with a reverent Hail Mary Suitable for delivery by either children or an adult

Engage your primary school children with an inspiring 10-minute collective worship presentation based on the timeless story of the Good Samaritan! What’s included? PowerPoint Presentation: Colourful, child-friendly slides that bring the story to life Complete Script: Easy-to-follow, engaging narration designed for teachers or leaders Interactive Elements: Questions and prompts to encourage reflection and discussion Perfect Length: Runs for approximately 10 minutes—ideal for busy school assemblies Why choose this? Helps teach kindness, compassion, and empathy in a memorable way Suitable for all primary ages with simple language and relatable examples Ready to use—no prep stress, just download and present! Make your next collective worship meaningful and fun with this ready-made Good Samaritan resource.