Take a look at this week's assembly and classroom resources here A picture can give children plenty to talk about before a single word has been read. It’s why every Picture News session begins with the main poster image, encouraging children to look closely, share what they notice and wonder what story might sit behind it. This week, that feels particularly fitting. The Bayeux Tapestry has been telling a story through pictures for almost 1,000 years. Its arrival in London provides a fascinating starting point for children to consider why we share stories, the different ways we choose to tell them and what those stories can reveal about our lives. Exploring the Bayeux Tapestry in a primary school assembly The Bayeux Tapestry may be centuries old, but the questions surrounding its arrival in London are happening now. Why bring such an important piece of history to the UK? What might people gain from seeing it for themselves? And what are the potential disadvantages of moving something so old and precious? These questions give children more to consider than the historical facts alone. They can explore why we value links to the past, why preserving and sharing them matters and whether making history accessible is worth the challenges that can come with it. The assembly resource use a current news story to encourage children to question, form opinions and consider different viewpoints. PSHE, Media Literacy and classroom discussion in primary schools News stories can contain lots of information, and understanding what really matters is an important skill for children to develop. Being able to identify the main idea, pick out key details and explain what a story is about helps children make sense of the information they encounter. This week’s Media Literacy activity puts this into practice by challenging children to explain the Bayeux Tapestry news story in just 30 seconds. By choosing three key words, identifying the main idea and comparing their choices with a partner, children practise deciphering information, deciding what is most important and communicating their understanding clearly. This week's Media Literacy resource help children identify key information, explain the main idea and compare their understanding with others. Questions to support classroom discussion • Why do you think the Bayeux Tapestry has remained important for almost 1,000 years? · What might be the advantages and disadvantages of moving an important historical object? · Why might pictures have been chosen to tell this story? · Are pictures a good way to tell a story? Why? · What other ways can we share stories about the past? · What makes a story from your own life important or interesting to share? Using current events in primary school assemblies and lessons The Bayeux Tapestry may have been created almost 1,000 years ago, but its arrival in London gives children a current reason to explore something that remains relevant to all of us: how can we share our stories? From interpreting a story told through pictures to considering the experiences they would choose to share themselves, this week’s resources encourage children to think about how stories help us communicate, learn about the past and understand the lives of others. The reflection page supports the final part of the assembly, helping to draw together learning about why every story can be important and the different ways our experiences can be shared. Explore this resource further here
