a lesson in obedience

(An assembly which is geared towards children who are fairly new to school.  It can be told as a story or acted out by the pupils themselves)

This was Little Red Hen’s second week at school.  Her feeder school had been High Farm*(a local school), but it was now time to leave there and come to a real school.  Her behaviour there wasn’t all that good but she blamed it on being cooped up all the time.  Here she could fly free and make new friends, but she was always egging them on to do mischievous things.

She bumped into some others on her way to school.  “Who will fly over the fence with me, and we can reach the playground quicker?” she clucked.

“Not I” said the cat

“Not I” said the rat

“Not I” said the pig

For the cat, the rat and the pig knew it was wrong to do that - and so did Little Red Hen.

“Then I’ll do it myself” she said “They’re not a very friendly bunch.”  She heard a whistle blow and looked over to see that a teacher was waving vigorously at her.  “Well at least the teachers are friendly” she thought, and waved back.

Then she heard a bell ring.  It was time to go in, and she knew the quickest way to her classroom, even though it was a little risky.  “Who will come with me and run in through the Main Entrance?”

“Not I” said the cat

“Not I” said the rat

“Not I” said the pig

For they knew it was wrong to do that…. And so did Little Red Hen.

“Then I’ll do it myself” she sneered.  She ran in, but she was marched out by a teacher and had to go round to the side door, and was late for registration.  Fancy getting wrong for such a “poultry” little thing - she grumbled.

Later on a playtime she tried to make friends again.  “Who will fight with me on the log?” she cried.

“Not I” said the cat

“Not I” said the rat

“Not I” said the pig

For the knew what would happen if they got involved in fun fighting.

“Then I’ll fight someone else” she clucked.  Off she went to “peck” on someone and was immediately sent to detention.  She was beginning to feel very hen-pecked!

At lunchtime it was raining and she thought of a marvellous game.  “Who will chase me in the classroom and in the corridors?”

“Not I” said the cat

“Not I” said the rat

“Not I” said the pig

For they knew it was wrong to do that - and so did Little Red Hen.

chickens - chick, chick chickens!” she yelled.  “I’ll run around myself!”

The dinner nannies weren’t very pleased with her and the feathers began to fly as she was escorted to the headmaster’s office, and she was beginning to think she had no pluck left.  She would never make friends, no-one wanted to play with her.

She thought I’ll try one more time to be nice and she invited the others to fool around instead of doing their lessons that afternoon.  “Who will help me have fun in this lesson?”

“Not I” said the cat

“Not I” said the rat

“Not I” said the pig

For they wanted to learn and they knew it was wrong to distract others, and so did Little Red Hen.

“Then I’ll do it myself” she complained, and began to do some silly things - and she was W.A.S.P.E.D. (withdrawn from the lesson!)

“It’s no use” said Little Red Hen, “Nobody likes me.  The teachers don’t like me, I have no friends. They’re all horrible and I don’t like this school.  I wish I’d never left the Farm.  Will no-one play a game with me?” she sighed.

“I will” said the cat

“I will” said the rat

“I will” said the pig

“Really!” said Little Red Hen

“Yes” they replied.

Cat:-     “You’ll get on much better with everyone if you just behave yourself!”

Rat:-     “If you’re friendly everyone else will be friendly.”

Pig:-     “And if you’re good the teachers won’t be so annoyed with you!”

“YES!” said Little Red Hen. “I’ve got some friends.  This is a nice school after all.  Let’s move it!”

(Song of “Move it”)  They all (run, slink, crawl, trot) out in time to the music. The children wore plastic animal masks, which can be obtained from toy shops.