Session 15: Caring for the Earth

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

The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope. — Wendell Berry, 20th-century American poet and essayist The theme of this session is “We can do many things to show…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Story — Brave Enough 10 Activity 2: Johnny in the Ink Pot 10 Activity 3: Recycled Photo Album 30 Faith in Action: Planting Trees Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Planet Earth Paper Mache 30 Alternate Activity 2: Monster Mouth 20…
Spiritual Preparation
From Love Surrounds Us

It can be easy to take our earth for granted. We would rather not think about the fact that if the earth is destroyed, we are also destroyed. Think about the things you do each day to help protect the earth. Do you recycle? Do you turn off electronic devices? Do you use daylight rather than lamps…
Welcoming and Entering
From Love Surrounds Us

Materials for Activity Ribbon sticks (or wrist ribbons) in a container (Session 1, Opening) Drawing paper and crayons Preparation for Activity If you have not previously made ribbons sticks or wrist ribbons for each child do it now as per instructions in Session 1, Opening….
Opening for Session 15, Caring for the Earth
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Ribbon sticks (or wrist ribbons) in a container (Session 1, Opening) Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Session 1, Leader Resource 1, Rote Teaching — Love Surrounds Us Song Cloth for centering table (if possible, violet…
Activity 1: Story, Brave Enough
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Brave Enough” Optional: “Brave Enough” coloring sheet, and crayons Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to tell it to the group. Optional: Download, print, and copy the coloring sheet for “Brave Enough.”…
Activity 2: Johnny in the Ink Pot
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity This active game encourages participants to think of ways to help the environment. Explain that you will be playing a game like Charades that some children play in England. The game will be about ways to help the environment. Choose one child to…
Activity 3: Recycled Photo Album
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Empty cereal boxes Large brown grocery bags — at least two for each participant One-hole punch Scraps of yarn, construction paper, and colored tissue paper Glue Scissors Color markers Optional: Assorted buttons and/or wiggly eyes Preparation for…
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. Did they learn what it means to protect the earth? Were participants able to identify why it is important to care for the earth? Did participants understand how we can recycle everyday items into art? Did participants learn that…
Faith In Action: Planting Trees
From Love Surrounds Us

Materials for Activity Information about various tree-planting campaigns Poster paper and markers, and masking tape Can or box for collecting money Preparation for Activity Explore tree-planting options at the Arbor Day Foundation; membership in the Arbor Day Foundation is $10 and members receive…
Alternate Activity 1: Planet Earth Paper Mache
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Balloon A platter or bowl to hold balloon steady Newspaper strips Flour, water, and a shallow dish Tissue paper in blue, green, and brown A paper clip and fishing line or thin string Preparation for Activity Plan to work on this project over two…
Alternate Activity 2: Monster Mouth
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Brown paper grocery bag Scissors Markers Stapler Old newspaper and magazines Rubber bands Masking tape Preparation for Activity Set out materials where participants can reach them….
Alternate Activity 3: Poster, Seventh Principle
From Love Surrounds Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Poster — Seventh Principle Crayons and/or color markers Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 1 for all participants. Set crayons/markers at work tables. Description of Activity Distribute the handout. Invite children to think about an…
Taking It Home: Caring for the Earth
From Love Surrounds Us

The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope. — Wendell Berry, 20th-century American poet and essayist IN TODAY’S SESSION… the participants learned about the…
Brave Enough

Noreen Kimball

From Love Surrounds Us

There was once a girl who loved to write stories and poems. She often wrote about the land and birds around her home. Her name was Rachel Louise Carson and she was born in 1907. When Rachel grew up she became a writer and a scientist. Rachel wrote wonderful stories and she always explained the…
Handout 1: Poster, Seventh Principle
From Love Surrounds Us

Unitarian Universalist Seventh Principle We can do many things to show love for the earth. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From Love Surrounds Us

Rachel Carson The National Women’s History Museum website has a https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/rachel-c… Carson biography and bibliography. Projects, Games, and Stories about the Environment For more ideas and resources for teaching children about the environment,…