Assembly Objective:
Why do we need other people? This assembly examines the idea that human flourishing requires more than the basics of survival and, from a biblical perspective, explores Jesus’ teaching on how love for other people is a demonstration of the church and a sign of good community.
Film:
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney Paramount, 2023, certificate 12). Click here to buy the DVD online.
Bible:
John 13:34-35 (NIV UK)
Supporting Values Education:
The values of Respect and Tolerance presuppose an understanding and appreciation of beliefs held by different people. This assembly helps pupils think about the importance of community as it relates to the church, and more widely within society.
OPENING ACTIVITY
What Do You Need? (Game)
In advance of the assembly, gather a selection of objects representing the five categories found in Maslow’s simplified hierarchy of needs* (physiological needs, safety, love, esteem and self-actualisation). The following items are suggested:
Physiological: a water bottle, tin of beans, a tin opener, a tent, a hot water bottle, a jumper or coat.
Safety: a fire extinguisher or blanket (only remove from its place if safe and legal to do so!), a bicycle helmet, a wallet or purse, a pair of glasses, a set of house keys.
Love and belonging: a photo of a family, a Valentine’s or birthday card, a friendship bracelet, a letter.
Esteem: a certificate of achievement (cycling proficiency, pupil of the week, employee of the month etc), a passport or travel ticket.
Self-actualisation: a medal, an exam certificate, a book, a paintbrush.
Display the items at the front of the assembly and invite two volunteers to come to the front and help you with a task. Tell the volunteers that they have three minutes to arrange the objects in order of importance to the survival of a human being.
Set a timer and play some music as they arrange the objects. If appropriate you can invite the rest of the assembly to help their colleagues by shouting out help.
When the time is up, ask the larger group if they agree with the order created. If not, what suggestions would they make to change it?
Explain that in today’s assembly you are going to think about what human beings need not just to survive but to flourish, or succeed. Use the objects to introduce Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, explaining that a psychologist called Abraham Maslow invented a way of classifying what people need. A simple version of his theory begins with basic survival (eating, drinking, breathing, shelter) and moves through safety (feeling secure, having a job, having somewhere permanent to live, having money), love and longing (friendship, family, finding a partner, feeling connected), esteem (being respected, having achievement recognised, having freedom) until finally, it reaches the final category, self-actualisation (having the opportunity to be the most you can be, having options). Stress the point that Maslow thought that for a human being to flourish they needed each category.
Ask the group to look at the objects again. If they had to divide the items into two piles – essential and non-essential – what would they pick? Ask how many students would feel sad to lose things like the ability to travel, or the option of friendship and family.
Living well is not just about surviving, and that’s what you’re going to reflect on in this assembly.
Thank your volunteers by awarding them a small prize and giving them a round of applause – telling them as you do that they might like to think of which of the five needs this meets (Esteem).
* https://www.thoughtco.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4582571
If this activity is too hard to coordinate, or you think that your group won’t understand it, you could play a simplified version using four signs:
This helps meet my basic needs.
This keeps me safe.
This shows I’m loved.
This shows I’m valued by others.
Display a selection of objects, asking students to match the object to the description.
FILM CLIP
Play the clip from Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney Paramount, 2023, certificate 12).
- Start time: 02:05:46
- End time: 02:15:38
- Clip length: 9 mins and 8 seconds
The clip begins with Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller Bridge) falling from a Nazi aeroplane. They parachute to the ground where the Battle of Syracuse is raging. The plane has travelled back in time to 213BC. Teddy Kumar (Ethan Isidore), who is in a different plane, tells his companion that they must find Indy and Helena, as they are his friends. Meanwhile Archimedes (Nasser Memarzia) finds the crashed Nazi aeroplane and takes a wristwatch from a soldier to fit on his dial. Indy and Helena land and he is distracted by the fact that he is witnessing history. Helena realises that Indy doesn’t want to return to the present day but that unless he gets back, he will die, and will change the course of history. As she argues with him, a Roman soldier approaches and tries to kill them. He is stopped by Archimedes and his apprentice. Indy tells him in Greek that they have travelled 2000 years but hadn’t expected to meet the great Archimedes. As Helena becomes more frantic, she reasons with Archimedes that this is his time, and that Indy must go home to his own time. Indy still refuses and says he needs to do this. She replies, ‘Me too’ and punches him. The screen fades to black. We then see in a New York apartment. Indiana Jones wakes up and sees Archimedes’ dial. Helena appears and he tells her she should have let him stay. She tells him he would have changed the course of history and that he is meant to be here. ‘For who?’ he asks. At this point Teddy and Marion (Karen Allen) arrive in the apartment with groceries. She reveals that someone told her he was back. Indy’s friend, Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) also arrives with his grandchildren, and Helena suggests they all go out for ice cream, leaving Indy and Marion alone.
TALK
Scripted Talk
Download the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny PowerPoint for use with this talk.
- [PowerPoint slide 1]
- I wonder what you need to survive? Some people are very easy to please – they just need the basics of food, water and the occasional bar of chocolate to keep them happy – and others need a huge suitcase of clothing, tech, shoes and bagfuls of snacks just to go away for an overnight trip.
- (If you used the Opening Activity, refer back to Maslow’s hierarchy).
- [PowerPoint slide 2]
- To survive, human beings really only need air to breathe, food and water to keep them alive, shelter from the weather, the chance to sleep when they are tired and clothes to keep them warm. Life, though, isn’t just about surviving.
- [PowerPoint slide 3]
- Most people would like to thrive or flourish. These are words that mean that they would like to grow and achieve and live a good life.
- To live a good life, you need more than just baked beans and water. Take suggestions for what else you might need to make a good life – friends, a job, family, money, a partner, children, a home, freedom, status, accomplishment.
- [PowerPoint slide 4]
- In today’s assembly we’re going to watch a clip about a famous adventurer. He is someone who has survived a number of sticky situations. He is someone who has accomplished a lot in his life. He’s a professor, he’s very knowledgeable about history, he has travelled extensively. Can anyone guess who the adventurous archaeologist is? He wears a distinctive hat and carries a whip.
- [PowerPoint slide 5]
- It’s Indiana Jones. As a young man, Indiana Jones has had many adventures, but in the clip we’re about to watch he’s old. He is in the midst of a battle with some evil Nazis over a time travel device that he believes has been invented by a famous Greek mathematician and philosopher from the past – Archimedes. Indy and his goddaughter, Helena, have just leapt from the Nazi’s aeroplane and are about to land in Greece in 213BC. Let’s find out what happens next.
- [PowerPoint slide 6]
- Watch the clip. Why do you think Indiana Jones wanted to stay in Greece? He could learn about Archimedes and see history happen. Helena knew that if Indy stayed in Greece, he would die. He was injured and needed medical help. She also knew that if he stayed, he would change history, and that might have terrible consequences, but Indy was not happy about returning to the present day. In fact, Helena has to take some drastic action to get Indy on to the plane.
- [PowerPoint slide 7]
- In the present day, Indy had his basic needs met. He had food to eat, a place to stay and medical help to make him well again. But life is not just about surviving, it’s about thriving and flourishing. Did you notice what he said to Helena when she told him he was meant to be here? ‘Who for?’.
- To thrive and flourish, Indy needed people around him. His basic needs were met, and he had accomplished a lot in his life, but he was in danger of being sad and lonely. Helena knew that this was Indy’s great fear, so she contacted his friends, and his old flame, Marion, to come and remind him of the fact that he was loved.
- [PowerPoint slide 8]
- Human beings have a remarkable ability to survive. When natural disasters like earthquakes occur, there are often amazing stories of people being found under the rubble days later. When people have to flee their homes because of war or some other form of attack, they can survive on very little. People living in refugee camps often have to survive with the most basic items. To thrive and flourish, though, humans need to have connection with other human beings.
- [PowerPoint slide 9]
- This is called community. We find community with our families, our friends, the people who we meet at school and where we live. Christians believe that in order to thrive and flourish human beings also need connection with God.
- [PowerPoint slide 10]
- Christians believe that community with God is only possible because Jesus died and rose from the dead. Jesus died so that human beings can thrive and flourish by being in community with God and with other people.
- [PowerPoint slide 11]
- People need people, and people need God. Shortly before Jesus died he had a final meal with his friends, and gave them some advice on how to live well. This is one of the statements Jesus made at his Last Supper:
- [PowerPoint slide 12]
- ‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’
- [PowerPoint slide 13]
- Jesus knows that he is not going to be with his followers much longer, and he wants them to be clear about how they will thrive and flourish as followers of God, and as human beings. Jesus tells them to love each other in the same way as he has loved them – Jesus loved them so much that he was willing to die for them. He also tells them that other people will notice how well they love each other, and they will know that they are followers of God.
- [PowerPoint slide 14]
- Loving other people and being part of a community is challenging. Loving other people doesn’t mean that we will always like them or that they won’t annoy us. Think about Indiana Jones. He was probably pretty grumpy and stubborn, but Marion, Helena, Sallah and the others still loved him and wanted to be his community of people.
- [PowerPoint slide 15]
- Jesus didn’t just want his disciples to love one another when they felt like it, or only to love the people who were easy to be around. Loving other people the way Jesus meant, might mean choosing to help them when they’re in trouble or ill. It might mean putting them first. It might mean forgiving them when they cause offence. Loving other people is hard work sometimes!
- [PowerPoint slide 16]
- For Christians, loving other people – in church and outside of church – is how they show other people that they follow Jesus, but it’s also how they show God that they love Him.
- [PowerPoint slide 17]
- Sometimes in schools, we talk about ‘the school community’. The school community is a description of all the people who attend, teach, study and work around our school. It includes teachers, students, cleaners, school crossing patrol people, catering staff, visitors. It’s important to respect one another, but I wonder if we can decide to look out for each other, to help each other and forgive each other in a way that makes people sit up and notice our school community.
Headings and Bullets
Download the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny PowerPoint for use with this talk.
- [PowerPoint slide 1]
- Survival. (If you used the Opening Activity, refer back to Maslow’s hierarchy).
- [PowerPoint slide 2]
- The basics:
- Air.
- Food and water.
- Shelter.
- Sleep.
- Clothes.
- Life, though, isn’t just about surviving.
- [PowerPoint slide 3]
- Thrive and Flourish.
- Words that mean that they would like to grow and achieve and live a good life.
- Take suggestions for what else you might need to make a good life – friends, a job, family, money, a partner, children, a home, freedom, status, accomplishment.
- [PowerPoint slide 4]
- A famous adventurer.
- Has survived a number of sticky situations.
- Has accomplished a lot in his life.
- He’s a professor, is knowledgeable about history, has travelled extensively.
- He wears a distinctive hat and carries a whip.
- [PowerPoint slide 5]
- Indiana Jones.
- As a young man, Indiana Jones has had many adventures, but in the clip we’re about to watch he’s old.
- He is in the midst of a battle with some evil Nazis over a time travel device.
- Indy and his goddaughter, Helena, have just leapt from the Nazi’s aeroplane and are about to land in Greece in 213BC.
- [PowerPoint slide 6]
- Watch the clip.
- Why does Indy want to stay in Greece?
- He could get to know Archimedes and see history happen.
- Helena knew that if Indy stayed in Greece, he would die.
- He was injured and needed medical help.
- She also knew that if he stayed he would change history.
- Indy was not happy about returning to the present day.
- [PowerPoint slide 7]
- Indy’s basic needs are met.
- He had food to eat, a place to stay and medical help.
- But life is not just about surviving, it’s about thriving and flourishing.
- To thrive and flourish, Indy needed people around him.
- He was in danger of being sad and lonely.
- Helena contacted his friends, and his old flame, Marion, to come and remind him of the fact that he was loved.
- [PowerPoint slide 8]
- Human beings are remarkable at survival.
- Natural disaster survival.
- Refugee survival.
- To thrive and flourish, though, humans need to have connection with other human beings.
- [PowerPoint slide 9]
- Community.
- We find community with our families, our friends, the people who we meet at school and where we live.
- Christians believe that in order to thrive and flourish, human beings also need connection with God.
- [PowerPoint slide 10]
- Jesus makes community with God and people possible.
- Christians believe that community with God is only possible because Jesus died and rose from the dead.
- Jesus died so that human beings can thrive and flourish by being in community with God and with other people.
- [PowerPoint slide 11]
- People need people, and people need God.
- Shortly before Jesus died he had a final meal with his friends, and gave them some advice on how to live well.
- This is one of the statements Jesus made at his Last Supper.
- [PowerPoint slide 12]
- John 13:34-35.
- ‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’
- [PowerPoint slide 13]
- Thrive and flourish by loving other people.
- Jesus tells them to love each other in the same way as he has loved them.
- Jesus loved them so much that he was willing to die for them.
- He also tells them that other people will notice how well they love each other, and they will know that they are followers of God.
- [PowerPoint slide 14]
- Loving other people and being part of a community is challenging.
- Loving other people doesn’t mean that we will always like them or that they won’t annoy us.
- Think about Indiana Jones – he was probably pretty grumpy and stubborn.
- Marion, Helena, Sallah and the others still loved him and wanted to be his community of people.
- [PowerPoint slide 15]
- Loving other people the way Jesus meant.
- Choosing to help them when they’re in trouble or ill.
- Putting them first.
- Forgiving them when they cause offence.
- Loving other people is hard work sometimes!
- [PowerPoint slide 16]
- Church is Jesus’ community.
- For Christians, loving other people – in church and outside of church – is how they show other people that they follow Jesus.
- It’s also how they show God that they love Him.
- [PowerPoint slide 17]
- Our school community.
- The school community is a description of all the people who attend, teach, study and work around our school.
- Teachers, students, cleaners, school crossing patrol people, catering staff, visitors.
- It’s important to respect one another.
- Can we decide to look out for each other, to help each other and forgive each other in a way that makes people sit up and notice our school community?
Photo copyright for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny PowerPoint: Slide 1 Pixabay.com / Slide 2 Air Eli DeFaria Sleep Igordoon Primus Shelter Daiga Ellaby Food Pixabay.com Clothes Andrej Lisakov Water Pixabay.com / Slide 3 Beans Pixabay.com Water Pixabay.com / Slide 4 Walt Disney Studios / Slide 5 Walt Disney Studios / Slide 6 Walt Disney Studios / Slide 7 Walt Disney Studios / Slide 8 Pixabay.com / Slide 9 Friends Pixabay.com Prayer Pixabay.com / Slide 10 Church service Pixabay.com / Slide 11 Josh Applegate / Slide 12 Pixabay.com / Slide 13 Pixabay.com / Slide 14 Helena Walt Disney Studios Sallah Walt Disney Studios Indy and Marion Walt Disney Studios Teddy and Marion Walt Disney Studios / Slide 15 Man Pixabay.com Homeless Person Pixabay.com Wheelchair Josh Appel / Slide 16 Joel Mott / Slide 17 Grempletonian / Slide 18 Pixabay.com
RESPOND
Prayer
Lord, help me to be a peacemaker.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is error, the truth;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Amen.
Reflection
- [PowerPoint slide 18]
- There is a famous prayer said to have been written by St Francis of Assisi. It’s unlikely that he actually wrote it, but the prayer is a good reminder that we can each make our community a better place by loving other people well.
- Display the slide with the prayer on it, and read it aloud if you wish.
- Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is error, the truth; where there is doubt, the faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Invite pupils to spend a moment looking at the slide and thinking about what they can do to make the community better.
YOU WILL NEED:
- A copy of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney Paramount, 2023, certificate 12). Click here to buy the DVD online.
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny PowerPoint.
- Selection of survival objects for Opening Activity plus a small prize for the volunteers.
Ethos Education 
