Session 9: Kindness is the Key

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Love Connects Us, Grades 4-5

In This Section

Introduction
From Love Connects Us

You cannot shake hands with a closed fist. — Indira Ghandi Love is not a doctrine. Peace is not an international agreement. Love and Peace are beings who live as possibilities in us. — Mary Caroline Richards, poet, potter, and philosopher Our sixth Unitarian Universalist Principle affirms “the…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Love Connects Us

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Story — The Christmas Truce 10 Activity 2: Multi-Legged Race Game 15 Activity 3: Conflict Resolution Skits with Alternate Endings 20 Faith in Action: Congregational Peace Crane Mobile Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Making Peace…
Spiritual Preparation
From Love Connects Us

Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for about five minutes, perhaps repeating a word or phrase to separate yourself from the activities of the day. When you feel settled and relaxed, consider: In what kinds of situations do you most often…
Welcoming and Entering
From Love Connects Us

Materials for Activity Card stock in various colors Scissors, including left-handed scissors Hole punch String or yarn Pencils and color markers Preparation for Activity Create a peace sign template with card stock….
Opening
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and matches or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Peace sign ornaments cut from card stock (see Welcoming and Entering) Markers, pens, and pencils Preparation for Activity Set up chalice….
Activity 1: Story - The Christmas Truce
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “The Christmas Truce” Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group….
Activity 2: Multi-Legged Race Game
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Lengths of rope, about two- to three feet each-one for each pair of participants Preparation for Activity Make sure you have an open space long enough for a race, wide enough for the whole group to stand abreast, preferably with a soft surface-i.e….
Activity 3: Conflict Resolution Skits with Alternate Endings
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Conflict Resolution Scenarios Timepiece (minutes) Optional: Simple props Preparation for Activity Print out Leader Resource 1 and cut the two scenarios apart Description of Activity Participants create a skit to portray a conflic…
Closing
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and copy as a handout for all participants (or, email to parents). Description of Activity Explain that the session is almost over and that we will now work together as a…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Love Connects Us

Reflect on and discuss with your co-leader(s): How did the timing go today? What might we do to make it work better? What worked well? What didn’t? What connections did we make with the participants? What connections did the participants make with each other? How was this evident? How could we…
Faith In Action: Congregational Peace Crane Mobile
From Love Connects Us

Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, How to Fold a Paper Crane Leader Resource 3, Make a Paper Crane Mobile Origami paper in a variety of colors Pens and/or markers Four wooden chopsticks (or dowels, for a larger mobile) Sewing needle and thread Table and chairs Preparation for Activity Arra…
Alternate Activity 1: Making Peace Signs
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Fine-point washable markers Construction paper in a variety of colors Preparation for Activity Set out markers and paper on work tables. Plan how you will form pairs. Be ready to make a triad if needed. Decide where you want the children’s peace…
Alternate Activity 2: Sharing Joys and Concerns
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Ball of yarn Optional: Scissors, including left-handed scissors Description of Activity In addition to building community through sharing information about important events in participants’ lives, this version of sharing joys and concerns uses a…
Taking It Home: Kindness is the Key
From Love Connects Us

You cannot shake hands with a closed fist. — Indira Ghandi Love is not a doctrine. Peace is not an international agreement. Love and Peace are beings who live as possibilities in us. — Mary Caroline Richards, poet, potter, and philosopher IN TODAY’S SESSION… we explored peacemaking, and how…
The Christmas Truce

Gail Forsyth-Vail

From Love Connects Us

When the Great War, which we now call World War I, started in Europe, many young men were eager to fight. Just out of school, they joined up with their schoolmates to go off on an exciting adventure. War seemed glorious in the fall of 1914 when young men from the British Empire went to France to…
Leader Resource 1: Conflict Resolution Scenarios
From Love Connects Us

Scenario A Christopher comes to school wearing a bright pink hat. Jesse tells him he looks like a queer and should take off the hat. Christopher wants to wear his new hat, and resists….
Leader Resource 2: How to Fold a Paper Crane
From Love Connects Us

Dr. Aaron Quigley, Professor, University College Dublin. Used with permission.1: Fold along the diagonal. 2: Fold along the perpendicular. 3: Open the left side to form a pocket. 4: The paper looks like this now. 5: Turn over and repeat the process. 6: The paper looks like this now….
Leader Resource 3: Make a Paper Crane Mobile
From Love Connects Us

You will need: A large number of paper cranes (see Leader Resource 2) Four chopsticks (or wooden dowels) Approximately three yards of 1/4-inch ribbon A spool of thread, and a needle Scissors Optional: Hot glue gun Directions 1. Tie the chopsticks into the shape of a square, using short pieces of…
Find Out More
From Love Connects Us

Talking about Conflict and War The University of Michigan Center for Research on Learning and Teaching offers guidance for talking about the Iraq War with college students. The ideas and suggestions can be adapted to help you lead discussion with participants in this session. Peace Activities T……

Download all of Love Connects Us (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 9: Kindness is the Key

Tapestry is Sunsetting

Shop Books & Gifts

All the Beating Hearts

Get Inspired for Worship

Chalice Lighting

Find Faith Development Tools

Red Bud