Ask any middle schooler about assemblies, and they’ll label them as boring or a waste of time. After all, who would want to hear the headmaster repeat the same old sermon, song, or announcement before heading to the classroom every day? It can quickly become monotonous, and the only thing that will capture your kids’ attention is a twist to the usual assembly activities. But how is that possible? Read along and discover 41 middle school assembly activities that will foster a positive school culture and engage your students like never before.
1. Exercising
A few exercises early in the assembly will steer your students in the right direction, enhance their metabolism, boost mental and physical energy, and refresh their minds. You can shuffle exercises on different days to ensure that they learn something new and don’t get bored with the same activities day in and day out.
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2. Host Anchor Selection
Another excellent activity would be assigning assembly duties to a single class daily. A representative of a specific class can be nominated for each day to control the assembly and even partake in announcing daily news.
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3. Presentation
Make assemblies fun and engaging by asking your students to give presentations on general or informative topics of their choice. This way, your kids will conquer their speaking fears and polish their communication skills.
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4. Principal’s Speech
A principal is the prime leader in a school environment, and a leader must lead by example. As a result, assemblies can become intriguing when the principal gives motivational speeches and addresses your students frequently. Since a principal’s presence is highly valued, your students may rush to join the assembly and hear what their leader says.
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5. Student Recognition
Instead of merely clapping for a student’s achievements in classrooms, recognition should be given in an assembly. Not only will this increase your students’ confidence, but it’ll also motivate your other kids to participate in activities that may receive similar recognition one day.
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6. Movie Touches
Many schools now organize homecoming themes in an assembly based on a popular movie. Choose a movie or television theme that’s popular among your students and create an assembly based on it. Not only will it be fun, but it may get your kids more engaged; helping them then better remember the other announcements shared!
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7. Animal Awareness
Assemblies can get interesting when they’re focused on a particular topic, such as animal awareness. Since middle schoolers adore animals, you can research a particular animal and discuss related facts and issues in an assembly speech.
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8. Quiz and Rewards
Quiz competitions can be conducted in assembly halls to promote science and research in your school. The tests must be complex enough so that only a few of your students can crack them, and high scorers should be given a reward. This will encourage everyone to join the competitions—and not miss the assembly.
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9. Student’s Message
Chances are your school’s student body has several unheard concerns. Invite your kids to share their thoughts in the assembly and provide suggestions on how to improve the school system. They can also wish their friends a happy birthday or share their experiences from a study competition after getting permission from the headmaster.
10. Anti-Bullying Day
Bullying is a significant societal concern and must be prevented. An anti-bullying assembly is a great start and will ensure that your students are well-informed about bullying’s harms. If possible, try to conduct this assembly speech in October, since it’s National Bullying Prevention Month.
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11. Kindness Day Campaigns
Your school—like every school—should focus on developing excellent habits in students. For this, consider organizing a Kindness Day assembly speech that’s all about “spreading happiness”. From appreciation and happy notes to high-five Friday and doling out smiley stickers for good behavior, this assembly would be a great way to kickstart numerous kindness activities in your school to foster a positive culture.
Learn More: Think Kindness
12. Red Ribbon Week
According to one report, more than 1 in 20 eighth-grade students consume alcohol. It’s a big concern, and schools should have an assembly speech to create awareness about drug consumption harms. Since it’s a negative topic, it’s best to bring in someone from outside during Red Ribbon Week (a drug-free week in the US) who can teach middle schoolers about the harms of drug use.
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13. End-of-Year School Assembly
Finals are over, results are out, and your students are about to embark on a long holiday! Bring in someone to conduct an exciting end-of-year assembly on a character-building topic that will positively affect your school’s culture and impart strategic takeaways to your learners.
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15. Minefield
Another popular team-based game to try in an assembly is Minefield. In this game, each group will help their blindfolded member cross a path full of obstacles. The first team to cross wins a reward. This game is excellent since it will develop your students’ teamwork skills.
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16. Tug of War
Tug of war is an amazing competitive game. Organize this game between different classes or other groups. Groups of students will stand holding a long rope, with each team trying to pull the other team over a dividing line. This classic game might be as much fun for observers as it is for the participants!
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17. Balloon Game
Here’s another competitive game to make assemblies more enjoyable for your kids. To begin, divide your students into 4-5 groups and give each team a different colored balloon. The team’s objective is to keep their balloon in the air without touching it with their hands. Whichever team succeeds in keeping the balloon up for the longest time, wins!
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18. Singing Assembly
One way to kick off assemblies is by singing. Not only does this activity improve the immune system, but it also increases self-esteem and improves students’ moods. Play different songs each day to avoid monotony.
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19. Science Demos
Engage your students in exciting assemblies by hosting mysterious science demos, including explosions, rainbow projections, concoctions, and lightning sparks. Not only will this keep your kids interested, but it’ll also spark their scientific curiosity!
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20. Safety Day
Most of your middle schoolers are likely unaware of outside dangers, such as accidents, theft, bicycle safety, kidnapping, etc. Therefore, conducting a safety day assembly and hosting activities that highlight various safety tips is a practical and proactive idea.
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21. Multicultural Celebration
Why not infuse your school with the vibrant hues of diversity? Guide your students to proudly highlight their cultural roots through cuisine, clothing, and cherished traditions. Let the universal languages of music and dance weave a tapestry of belonging as you curate an assembly where diversity is highlighted.
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22. Career Day
Imagine being able to pick the brain of an industry expert! Your students can gain insider career advice if you invite a professional to share their own journey at an assembly. Lawyers, engineers, artists- who will spark that “aha” moment for the majority of your middle schoolers? This is a precious opportunity to shape your kids’ aspirations and awaken deeper passions.
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23. Environmental Awareness Campaign
Our Earth is crying out for compassionate caretakers. Rally your students to be voices for the trees and champions for the seas by arming them with facts and inspiring them with dreams of a sustainable future. To wrap up your assembly, guide them on how to go about spreading awareness today to protect the planet tomorrow.
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24. Poetry Slam
Words wield immense power when spoken from the heart. Open the stage for your students to voice who they are and what they believe in by sharing pieces of original poetry at your next assembly.
Learn More: YouTube
25. Magic Show
The word “impossible” will vanish from your students’ vocabulary after witnessing a magician’s illusions! Their mystifying tricks will shatter assumptions and spark curiosity with ease. Laughter and gasps of disbelief will undoubtedly fill your auditorium as your students try to unravel each perplexing act.
Learn More: YouTube
26. Peer Mentoring Session
There is brilliance in learning as a community. Initiate a mentoring program between older and younger students and allow this to guide your next assembly—they can motivate one another while sharing triumphs and challenges. Talk about empowering one another with new perspectives and shaping a culture of mutual growth and support.
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27. Digital Art Showcase
Artistic talent meets the digital age! Equip your students to create inspirational animations, graphics, and audio to be showcased at a school assembly. Their innovative works will highlight issues close to their generation’s hearts, and displaying their tech-infused creations will provide a platform where young voices shape important narratives.
Learn More: The Art of Education University
28. Historical Reenactment
The past becomes the present when your students step into the shoes of pioneers, freedom fighters, and visionaries. Get them to research different time periods to enrich their understanding and empathy. Then, host an assembly where they reenact pivotal moments to educate the rest of the school.
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29. Student Council Election Speeches
Let your students find their political voices! Invite candidates who are running for student council to deliver speeches on making positive school changes. As they make their case to their peers, skills in public speaking, persuasion, and leadership will bloom.
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30. Virtual Field Trip
Let imagination be the only limit to where curiosity can take your students! Virtual trips allow them to travel through space, traverse the inside of volcanoes, or roam in ancient civilizations. And since you don’t have to worry about arranging transportation, why not invite the whole school to enjoy this assembly?
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31. Debating Club Showcase
Nurture the orators and thought leaders of tomorrow! Your students can sharpen their rhetorical skills by engaging in impassioned debates on issues that hit home. Plan a unit on debating with your students, and then give them a chance to show off their skills at your next school assembly.
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32. Interactive Math Games
Let’s make math fun! Plan an assembly that features games challenging your students to solve puzzles and brainteasers. As they collaborate and compete, unfamiliar math concepts will click into place.
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33. Chess Tournament
Only the most strategic intellectuals will emerge victorious here! Rally the best chess minds in your school to face off in a battle of wits. Your students will need to flex some serious mental muscle to outmaneuver opponents across the ever-famous checkered battlefield. Cunning, foresight, and logic will determine who conquers this challenge and comes out on top at your next assembly!
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34. Talent Show
The stage is set for your students to mesmerize their peers using their unique abilities! A talent show-style assembly will provide a platform for all your middle schoolers to finally share their hidden talents. They’ll experience the thrill of performing while the audience erupts in awe and applause.
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35. Spelling Bee
A literate mind is an empowered one! Cheers will erupt for your students who can accurately assemble words that most have never heard before. Mastering this vocabulary marathon will allow able learners to demonstrate their exceptional command of language. So, let the letters fly at your next assembly!
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36. Cooking Demonstration
Host an assembly where a skilled chef shares simple recipes that your students can replicate at home. They can even invite student helpers to come up on stage and assist them in demystifying the process of whipping up nutritious meals.
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37. Guest Speaker Series
Accomplished role models have journeyed where your students seek to go. Invite authors, athletes, activists, astronauts, and other guest speakers to share valuable advice with your middle schoolers. Hearing their stories firsthand will undoubtedly ignite big dreams, and your students will gain compass points to chart their own fulfilling journeys.
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38. Meditation Session
Still the restless mind before awakening it. Guide your students through calming breathing techniques and visualization exercises to ground them in the present moment. This focus and serenity will enable them to access inner wisdom and fully engage with each learning opportunity that the new week presents.
Learn More: Mindfulness for Teens
39. Robotics Demonstration
Why not ask your students from the robotics club to exhibit robots that they’ve designed and programmed at your next assembly? Smooth, precise movements will dazzle their peers and spark a heap of questions about mechanics and coding. This glimpse of future tech will surely inspire those interested in pursuing a STEM journey.
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40. Dance-Off
Get your learners up and moving in a dance showcase that’s equal parts talent show and Zumba class. Upbeat music and high energy are all you need to prompt your middle schoolers to coordinate creative routines that will surely be met with thunderous applause!
41. Book Swap Event
Have your students bring in pre-loved books and organize a book swap to fill the space of your next assembly. As they exchange titles and take home “new-to-them” stories, watch their love and enthusiasm for reading grow.
Learn More: Mineral Point Unified School District
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