Assembly date

Assembly topic

Background information and suggestions

Global Citizenship focus

January

Social Justice Day*

Focus on people who have worked for equity in their lifetimes, e.g. Mahatma Gandhi, Olaudah Equiano, Aung San Suu Kyi, the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa or Nelson Mandela.

SJE, G & I, D, SD, PCR

4 January

Ogoni Day

International Day to celebrate the Ogoni people of West Africa. Ogoni leader and peaceful activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and others were executed in 1996 for their beliefs and actions in defending Ogoni culture, land and environment.

SJE, D, SD

15 January

Martin Luther King Day

Focus on King's 'I have a dream' speech and ask pupils what they want the future to hold.

SJE, D, PCR

27 January

Holocaust Memorial Day

Use a children's book exploring diversity or, for older pupils, the diary of Anne Frank as an introduction to the issues. Discuss the reasons for and consequences of xenophobia.

SJE

February

Globalisation Day*

Focus on the interdependence of countries around the world, and how this affects us in our everyday lives.

G & I, D, SD

February

Our Wonderful World Day*

Base the assembly on one or more of the 630 UNESCO World Heritage sites. 150 countries worldwide have signed an agreement to conserve these sites, which are of outstanding value. Some sites are natural and others made by human endeavour. They include Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia (Ayers Rock), Robben Island in South Africa and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.

G & I, SD

March

All Different, All Equal Day*

See 'What's my job? and do other work on challenging stereotypes, finding similarities between people.

SJE, D, SD

Early March

World Book Day

Share stories and poems from different traditions. Engage a storyteller or author, especially one who uses a range of languages, dialects, or accents.

SJE, G & I, D, SD, PCR

8 March

International Women's Day

Focus of the life of someone who has promoted respect and equality for women, e.g. Emmeline Pankhurst, Mary Seacole, Mary Robinson, or invite a local businesswoman or a woman community activist to speak about her work.

SJE, G & I, SD

Second week in March every two years

Red Nose Day

Explore the reasons for the situations for which money is being raised. Show pupils examples of positive and negative media coverage linked to 'charity'. Prompt pupils to find out more about the issues.

SJE, G & I, SD

Second Monday in March

Commonwealth Day

Hold a world knowledge quiz about an aspect of the Commonwealth, e.g. focus on one country, or on famous people and places of the Commonwealth. Tell the pupils in advance, so that those who wish to can do some research in preparation.

G & I, D, SD

April

Disability Awareness Day*

Celebrate the achievements of a famous disabled person, e.g. David Blunkett (MP), Evelyn Glennie (musician), Professor Stephen Hawking (scientist), Tanni Grey-Thompson (athlete). Invite a speaker to raise issues of disability with the pupils.

SJE, D, SD

April

Appropriate Technology Day*

Look at different examples of transport, house-building or toy-making around the world.

G&I, D, SD

May

Self-esteem Day*

Celebrate the achievements and talents of pupils and staff in the school, e.g. through presentations.

SJE, D, SD

Early May

International Dawn Chorus Day

Talk about the protection of bird life and bird habitats. Launch a bird survey of the grounds or local area.

SD

5 June

World Environment Day

Investigate a local or global environmental issue, perhaps with the support of the Local Agenda 21 Officer or conservation worker.

G & I, SD

Second half June

Refugee Week

Focus on the difficult situation many refugees are in when they have to leave their homes quickly, or on the contribution made to our society by refugees. Invite a refugee speaker to talk to the pupils or read a testimony from a refugee or asylum seeker.

SJE, G & I, D, SD, PCR

July

Creativity Day*

Celebrate visual and performance art, drawing on a breadth of traditions.

G & I, D, SD

September

Sustainable Development Day*

Look at definitions of sustainable development and what they mean for children.

SD

October

Black History Month

Celebrate Black History. Contact the Local Education Authority for local initiatives. There are many influential black people in history, e.g. Cleopatra, Noor-un nisa Inayat Khan, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela.

SJE, G & I, D, SD, PCR

Mid October

World Food Day

This could introduce many facets of food: the variety of food we eat; where it comes from; the pros and cons of local and global production; healthy eating; whether the people who produce our food get a fair deal.

SJE, G & I SD

Second Monday in October

Columbus Day

A national holiday in America where there is a strong movement to refocus it as a national holiday honouring Native Americans, thus celebrating the colonised rather than the colonisers.

SJE, G & I, D, SD, PCR

Annually in October

Geography Action Week

Contact the Geographical Association for ideas and activities

SJE, G & I, D, SD, PCR

October

One World Week

Contact the One World Week for a week of educational activities and celebration of world issues following an annual theme.

SJE, G & I, D, SD, PCR

November

Indigenous People Day*

Discuss what can be learnt from the wisdom and traditions of indigenous people, and how we can support them to maintain their chosen lifestyles.

SJE, G & I, D, SD, PCR

11 November

Remembrance Day

Bring red and white (for peace) poppies and describe their significance. Read the work of a war poet. Discuss the contributions of black and Asian communities to the war effort. Think about the many conflicts happening in the world today and remember the people affected by them.

SJE, G & I, D, PCR

October/ November

International Children's Day

Base the assembly on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

SJE, G & I, D, SD

December

Peace and
Co-operation Day*

See the Co-operation activity on this site.

SJE, PCR

10 December

Human Rights Day

Look at the work of the UK High Commission of Human Rights, or at what the new European legislation means in practice, or focus on a particular case study.

SJE, G&I, D, SD, PCR

1 December

World AIDS Day

Challenge stereotypes and focus on practicalities: explain that you cannot contract HIV/AIDS from talking or hugging, and tell pupils what to do if they find a used needle.

SJE, G & I, D, SD