Session 1: Love Surrounds Us

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Love Surrounds Us, Grades K-1

In This Section

Introduction
From Love Surrounds Us

We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love. — Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Catholic nun and missionary This first session makes kindergarteners and first graders aware of their capacity to “do small things with great love.” They learn that they are each an instrument…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Love Surrounds Us Song 10 Activity 2: Story — The Wise Sailimai, A Muslim Tale from China 20 Activity 3: The Love Bowl 15 Faith in Action: Love Notes 20 Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Mapping the Community 15 Alternate Activity 2:…
Spiritual Preparation
From Love Surrounds Us

“Love” is a word that surrounds adults in both joy and pain. Think about your journey with the word love. Write the word in both cursive and print on a piece of paper. Center your mind on places where love has caused pain in your life. Center your mind on places where love has brought joy to your…
Welcoming and Entering
From Love Surrounds Us

Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle A multicolored cloth to cover centering table Ribbon sticks or wrist ribbons in a container (See Opening) Permanent markers List of participants Preparation for Activity Arrange a small centering or worship table w…
Opening for Session 1
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle A multicolored cloth to cover centering table 1/2-inch dowels, 18 inches long Spools of 1/8-inch ribbon in the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet Duct tape Containe…
Activity 1: Love Surrounds Us Song
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Rote Teaching — Love Surrounds Us Song Preparation for Activity Print out Leader Resource 1….
Activity 2: Story, The Wise Sailimai, A Muslim Tale from China
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “The Wise Sailimai — A Muslim Tale from China” A basket for props Props: A small hammer, a hand mirror, a black pan (perhaps cast iron), a picture of the ocean (Leader Resource 2), and several pieces of metal Four sheets of blan…
Activity 3: The Love Bowl
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A large, brightly colored plastic bowl Description of Activity This activity helps participants think about the love in our world and in our lives that surrounds them and which they surround. Gather children in a circle, on the floor or in chairs.
Closing
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 5 minutes Description of Activity Invite everyone to gather in a circle and hold hands….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Love Surrounds Us

Think about the participants who participated in the session today. How did they grow in knowledge of one another? Which participants will need more help? Which participants can work independently? Reflect on your effectiveness in presenting this week.
Faith In Action: Love Notes
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity A clothesline and clothes pins Construction paper in a variety of colors Color markers Heart stickers Envelopes Preparation for Activity Cut construction paper into 6x8-inch pieces. Hang the clothesline in a place where all can see and reach it.
Alternate Activity 1: Mapping the Community
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity The addresses of the participants in the session A map of your community Preparation for Activity Obtain a map of the area where your congregation is located, large enough to show street names….
Alternate Activity 2: Love Is...
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity 11x17-inch paper for all participants Books with photographs of people A variety of crayons and/or color markers Preparation for Activity Obtain a variety of books with photographs that show people from all parts of the world. Write “Love Is… “…
Alternate Activity 3: Helping Hands Chart
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Poster board or foam core, and markers Construction paper in multiple colors Sticky tack or removable-glue glue sticks Preparation for Activity Make a poster board or foam core chart….
Taking It Home: Love Surrounds Us
From Love Surrounds Us

We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love. — Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Catholic nun and missionary IN TODAY’S SESSION… The participants talked about how love surrounds them and how, as Unitarian Universalists, they are instruments of giving love in the world. In…
The Wise Sailimai, A Muslim Tale from China

Sarah Conover, Freda Crane

From Love Surrounds Us

A Muslim folk tale from Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs, A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents collected and adapted by Sarah Conover and Freda Crane (Spokane: Eastern Washington University Press, 2004); originally from Mythology and Folklore. Begin by saying, “Today we will hear a…
Leader Resource 1: Rote Teaching, Love Surrounds Us Song
From Love Surrounds Us

To the tune of “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.” Lyrics by Ruth Gibson, in Treasure Hunting Take Two, self-published by Gaia Brown and Ellen W. Schneider.The rote teaching method for singing involves these steps: Sing the entire song to participants as they listen….
Leader Resource 2: Ocean Picture for Story
From Love Surrounds Us

Print the picture to use as a prop for the story. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From Love Surrounds Us

Recommended Books For Every Child: United Nations Children’s Fund (New York: Phyllis Fogelman Books) Love Is… by Wendy Anderson Halperin (Aladdin Books, 2003)…