• Optional: Cotton balls

• Familiarize yourself with the games and songs listed in Posters for Chalice Children, under Resources in the Introduction, and the new songs and games suggested for this session. You can also research more circle games or songs about weather, or make up your own weather-related words to a common tune.
• Prepare to teach the children to build a rainstorm. The children in Julie Rogers' class and the Perpetuum Jazzile group demonstrate on YouTube.
• Hear the tune of "It's Raining, It's Pouring" on this YouTube video.
• If you don't know the tune of "One Misty, Moisty Morning," you can watch this video on YouTube.
• Display any posters you have made.

Gather in a circle on the floor.

Play the games and sing the songs. Keep the pace brisk to help the children stay focused.

Welcome, Chalice Children

Ask the children to stand, as they are able, in their places. Sing "Welcome, Chalice Children" to the tune of "Little Rabbit Foo-Foo":

Welcome, Chalice Children,

We are Unitarians.

Jump into the circle,

Jump, jump, jump.

Welcome, Chalice Children,

We are Universalists.

Jump into the circle,

Jump, jump, jump.

Welcome, Chalice Children,

My name is [leaders' and children's names, in turn].

Jump into the circle,

Jump, jump, jump.

Alternate verses:

We are Chalice Children!

Welcome to our circle!

We are Chalice Children!

Clap, clap, clap!

We are Unitarians!

We are Universalists!

Welcome to our circle!

Clap, clap, clap!

We are Chalice Children!

Let's all welcome [name of a child in the group]

Welcome to our circle!

Clap, clap, clap!

Create a Rainstorm

Teach the children how to "make a rainstorm:" Rub two fingers together. Rub hands together. Snap fingers. Clap two fingers on palm. Clap hands. Slap hands on thighs. Stomp feet.

To make the rainstorm subside, do these actions in reverse order.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Teach the children this song, in honor of today's theme:

It's raining, it's pouring,

The old man is snoring.

He went to bed and bumped his head

And couldn't get up in the morning.

A Wind Game

Have the children pretend to be the wind by blowing cotton balls across the floor.

One Misty, Moisty Morning

Teach the children this song, in honor of today's theme. You can also have them act out the song; at the "How do you do?" lines, have them bow to one another and shake hands:

One misty, moisty morning,

When cloudy was the weather,

I chanced to meet an old man

Clothed all in leather.

All clothed in leather,

With a cap under his chin.

"How do you do?" and "How do you do?"

And "How do you do?" again.

Lead more Circle Time songs and games, as time allows.

Find a Friend at Church

"Find a Friend at Church" is sung to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell." Have the children gather in a circle. Have one child walk around the outside of the circle while the first two lines of the song are sung. The child then chooses a friend. The two friends hold hands and skip around the circle while the remainder of the verse is sung. The first child returns to the circle, and the game is repeated with a second child walking outside the circle. Continue until all have had a turn to choose a friend.

I'll find a friend at church.

I'll find a friend at church.

Heigh ho, the derry oh,

I'll find a friend at church.

We'll skip around the room.

We'll skip around the room.

Heigh ho, the derry oh,

We'll skip around the room.

Variation: Instead of "skip," ask each child to choose an action, such as run, walk, hop, or jump.

If any child might find jumping and standing difficult, substitute other actions, such as clapping, stepping, or wiggling, or sing the songs from a seated position.