Primary Current Assemblies



IF I COULD MAKE A LAW . . .

By Gordon Lamont


Suitable forKey Stage 2

Aim

To celebrate and consider the achievements of young filmmakers with something to say.



Preparation and materials

• Browse the short films made by young people at: www.makewav.es/story/485967/title/lightscameraparliament2013winners
• Choose a film that you think will be of interest to the children and ensure you have the equipment to show it to them during the assembly. None is more than three minutes long.
• Note that the details for the competition – ‘Lights, Camera, Parliament!’ – can be found at www.parliament.uk/education/in-your-school/lights-camera-parliament
  and this is where details of future competitions will be posted.

Assembly

1. Show the film you have chosen and ask the following questions.
   
   – What do you think of the suggested law – is it a good idea?
   – Why do you like it?
   – Can you see any problems with it?
   – What did you think of the film itself? Was it well made and did it get its point across clearly?
   – Was there anything you particularly liked or disliked about the film?
   
   

2. Explain that the films were produced as entries for an annual competition run by Parliament and the Makewaves organization. The competition gives young people the opportunity to tell Parliament about a law that they would like to make in a three-minute film.
   

3. Suggest that a good law is hard to make! That is because it should be clear, easy to understand and change something for the better. It should also be fair for everyone and not just suit one particular group.  

Time for reflection

Is there one law that you would like to make?

Spend a few moments thinking about your law – remember that it needs to be clear, easy to understand and should change something for the better.

It should also be fair for everyone and not just suit one particular group.

After a pause, ask for any suggestions, if time allows. Alternatively, suggest that the children think about this in class and/or you’ll come back to it in a later assembly.

Songs

‘Morning has broken’ (Come and Praise, 1)