In short
Themes: Adventurousness; trust in God; excitement; bravery; risk.
Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, focuses on a story from the Islamic, Jewish and Christian faiths.
Resources: ; an image to display of . Also have artwork to display showing Moses parting the Red Sea to project (see Related links).
The video
KRISSI: Hi, I'm Krissi and this is the exciting story of Moses crossing the Red Sea. Hi.
KIDS: Hi.
KRISSI: There once was a man called Moses, a good and honest man, and he was leading a big group of people called the Israelites away from Egypt on a journey into the unknown.
Ah, a map. Thank you.
Ah, the unknown. This way! Oh, no, sorry, this way.
As Moses led the people through the sandy desert, they were in a hurry, because they were not alone on their journey. They were being chased by soldiers.
SOLDIER: Over there! Quick march!
KRISSI: Come on!
This way! No, sorry, this way.
And then, Moses and the people got stuck. Woah, they'd reached the sea, the Red Sea! It wasn't actually red, that was just its name.
KIDS: [LAUGH]
KRISSI: They couldn't go forwards, and they couldn't go back.
SOLDIER: There they are! Forwards on the double!
KRISSI: They were running out of time. And that was when something amazing happened. Moses raised his stick over the water and suddenly a great wind blew…
…and then the sea parted.
KIDS: Wow!
KRISSI: Well, the people had never walked across the seabed before, but with Moses leading them, they decided to be adventurous and trust him. Follow me!
The people hurried across the dry path between the two walls of water. There were so many of them, it took a long time to cross.
When at last they'd all made it, Moses joined his people. He put up his hand again and the sea covered up the path. So, now the soldiers couldn't chase them anymore.
KIDS: Yay!
KRISSI: By following Moses and being adventurous, they had walked through the sea. So then, they danced and were happy.
Thank you for helping tell this treasure story. It's from the Bible, the Quran and the Torah. See you again soon.
ALL: Bye!
This story can be found in the Torah, Bible and Qur’an.
Moses (Moshe / Musa) was a good, honest man who was leading the Israelites out of Egypt. But Pharaoh - the ruler of Egypt - had changed his mind about freeing the Israelites and they were being chased by his soldiers through the desert. Moses and the people were trapped with The Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptian soldiers following behind. Moses raised his stick over the water and a great wind blew which parted the sea. Moses led the Israelites along the seabed between the walls of water. Once safely on the other side, Moses brought the water back down. The Israelites were then safe from the soldiers.
Moses and the Israelites trusted in God which helped them to be adventurous and take a risk. This can help us to reflect on the value of adventurousness.
Video questions
- What group of people was Moses leading? (The Israelites)
- Where did Moses lead them first? (Through the desert)
- Why did they get stuck? (They reached the Red Sea and couldn't cross it)
- What amazing thing happened next? (Moses raised his stick and the sea parted creating a path)
- Where had the people never crossed before? (They'd never crossed across the sea bed before)
- Why could the soldiers not follow the Israelites? (Moses raised his stick and the sea covered up the path)
Key links
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
Click to display the image full size.
1. Entry
Play your chosen music and display artwork depicting the story of 'Moses and the Parting of the Red Sea' as the children enter.
2. Introduction
Invite children to ask ‘I wonder…?’ questions based on the art - eg ‘I wonder how high the sea was on either side of the path.'Ask: 'What does adventurousness mean?' (Trying something new; taking a chance; being brave; taking a challenge; not being certain of outcomes; figuring out the world.)Ask: ‘Have you tried something new recently which has developed your sense of adventurousness?’Explain that everyone will watch a short video about a great leader called Moses and, while watching, to think about the meaning of the word ‘adventurousness’.
3. Play the video
The duration is 3’ 31” and the final words are: ‘See you again soon! Bye!’
4. After the video – time to talk
You could ask some or all of the Video questions above to consolidate pupils recall of the video and their understanding of it.
Then lead a discussion by asking questions, as follows:
- What unusual foods have you tried to show your adventurousness?
- What adventures have you found tricky and wanted to give up? How did it feel when you reached your goal?
- Are there times when it is better not to be adventurous?
- What are some of the times when we have to think very carefully before taking a risk?
- How do you think the Israelites felt when they were safely on the other side on their way to a new land promised by God?
- Moses trusted in God. How do you think this helped him to take the risk of crossing the Red Sea?
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from 鶹Լ collections below.
6. Opportunity to reflect
We’ve heard today how the Israelites were led out of Egypt by Moses and how he parted the sea to ensure his people could escape…
And we’ve thought about the word ‘adventurousness’…
Think of three ways in which you have developed your sense of adventurousness… Perhaps you rode a bike for the first time…or perhaps did something on your own for the first time without help…
Think about how good it felt to achieve your goal…
What adventures would you like to go on in the future…?
7. Opportunity for prayerBegin with your normal form of address (‘Dear God’, ‘Dear Lord’, ‘Let us pray’, etc) and:
Dear God,
Thank you for the bravery and trust in you which was shown by Moses.
Thank you that Moses was able to lead his people from a life of slavery to a life of freedom.
May we learn from his example to listen to you and try our best in our own lives to make the world a better place for others.
Please keep us safe on our own adventures through life.
Amen.
Suggested songs
'Together' (All about our school, no 13).
- Work together, not alone,
Gather round and share a problem.
Work together, hand in hand,
Gather round and work things out.
Chorus
‘Cos together, we can work it out together,
We can ride the stormy weather,
As long as we’re together we’re strong!
- There’s a setback, don’t despair,
Gather round and share your feelings.
Why just worry on your own?
Gather round and work things out.
Chorus
- If there’s trouble big or small,
Gather round and find an answer.
If you stumble there’s a friend,
Gather round and work things out.
Chorus
'He who would valiant be' (Come and Praise, no 44)
He who would valiant be
'Gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy
Follow the Master.
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.
Who so beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound -
His strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might,
Though he with giants fight:
He will make good his right
To be a pilgrim.
Since, Lord, thou dost defend
Us with thy Spirit,
We know we at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away!
I'll fear not what men say,
I'll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim.
The Lord's my shepherd - Come and Praise, no 56
Related links