Session 1: The Big Questions

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Riddle and Mystery, 6th Grade

In This Section

Introduction
From Riddle and Mystery

Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt. — Paul Tillich Big Question: Where do we come from? This first session introduces the concept of big questions….
Session-at-a-Glance
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity Minutes Opening 10 Activity 1: Big Questions in Song 15 Activity 2: WIT Time — Our Own Answers 5 Activity 3: Interactive Story — Turtles 5 Activity 4: WCUU — First Broadcast 20 Faith in Action: Economic Justice Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts 10 Alternate Activity 2:…
Spiritual Preparation
From Riddle and Mystery

With everything set to go, carve out a meditative moment for yourself. Relax. Take several deep breaths. Explore your understanding of where we come from. Then search your sixth grade memories. How would you have answered the question then? How have your ideas developed since? Why?…
Opening
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Kid for the Day bag or box, card stock cut into uniform size pieces for all participants and pencils or markers Handout 1, Today’s Big…
Activity 1: Big Questions in Song
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Timepiece Singing the Journey; the supplement to the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: A recording of the song, and a music player Preparation for Activity On a sheet of newsprint,…
Activity 2: WIT Time - Our Own Answers
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Timepiece that shows seconds Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Preparation for Activity Read about WIT Time in the Riddle and Mystery program Introduction. Post several sheets of blank newsprint….
Activity 3: Interactive Story - Turtles
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “Turtles” Preparation for Activity Print out the story. Practice reading or telling it aloud, paying attention to the leader instructions. Description of Activity Present the story. As you read aloud or paraphrase the script,…
Activity 4: WCUU - First Broadcast
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Microphone(s), video camera(s) and tripod(s), real or simulated For studio set Newsprint or a large roll of paper Color markers; or washable paints, paint brushes, and clean-up supplies Painter’s tape or masking tape Leader Resource 2, WCUU Script…
Closing
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Adapt the Taking It Home section and copy it for all participants….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Riddle and Mystery

Meet with your co-leaders after the session to reflect on it. How was your mix of discussion and action? Did you involve all youth fully and meaningfully in your sessions despite any limitations they might have? Do you feel the youth have a sense of the importance of big questions? Identify and…
Faith In Action: Economic Justice
From Riddle and Mystery

Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, UU Principles and Sources Leader Resource 3, Economic Justice Continuums Bell, tingsha chimes, or other sound instrument Optional: Quiet background music and music player Optional: Paper and pens/pencils for seated variation of continuum activity Optional…
Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Small notebooks for all participants Pencils/pens Masking tape A large bag or box to store notebooks Preparation for Activity Obtain inexpensive notebooks (or, folders and loose paper) and a bag or box to hold them between sessions….
Alternate Activity 2: Challenge Question
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Description of Activity Challenge questions guide a deeper inquiry for especially thoughtful individuals and groups. Remind the group of the last line spoken by the woman in the story: It’s turtles all the way down….
Alternate Activity 3: Turtle Shell Art
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Paper plates-two for each participant Narrow-tipped, washable markers in a variety of colors Stapler or tape Newspaper to protect work surfaces Handout 2, Turtle Shell Art Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 2 for all participants….
Alternate Activity 4: Questioning Fun
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Collections of riddles and other jokes involving questions, as well as UU jokes Preparation for Activity Gather examples of riddles, games and other amusements that involve questions. You might do an Internet…
Alternate Activity 5: Corner Questions - Sorting Questions Out
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, and markers and tape Leader Resource 4, Corner Questions Preparation for Activity Make four large signs: RELIGION / SELF / SCIENCE / FRIENDS & FAMILY. Post the signs in the room’s corners, high enough to be seen throughout the room….
Taking It Home: The Big Questions
From Riddle and Mystery

Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt. — Paul Tillich Talk about the quote. Paul Tillich was a religious philosopher who lived from 1886 to 1965. He seems to be saying that being…
Turtles
From Riddle and Mystery

Adapted from an anecdote told in A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking (Bantam, 1988), Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein (Penguin Group, 2007) and other sources. What if I ask you where everything comes from? What will you say? Leader: Invite responses.
Handout 1: Today's Big Question
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Kid for the Day: You have two jobs. The first is getting your group excited about hearing today’s Big Question. The second is announcing the question. 1. Say to the group, “Give me a drum roll!” Then wait for a minute while the drum roll builds….
Handout 2: Turtle Shell Art
From Riddle and Mystery

Here is how to do your Turtle Shell Art project: 1. Get two paper plates and drawing supplies like markers. 2….
Leader Resource 1: UU Principles and Sources
From Riddle and Mystery

Create a poster of the Unitarian Universalist Principles and another poster of the Unitarian Universalist Sources. There are seven Principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person Justice, equity and compassion in human…
Leader Resource 2: WCUU Script
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Anchor: Today’s WCUU program is a news report about Unitarian Universalist ideas on where we come from. Your job is to read your lines and keep the show moving as this script describes. [Director: Cue the station break.] [Director: Cue the Anchor.] Anchor: This is WCUU, Wisdom of the…
Leader Resource 3: Economic Justice Continuums
From Riddle and Mystery

1. I believe one of the biggest questions people should ask is how to achieve economic justice in the world. 2. I think there is economic justice in the world right now. 3. I believe it’s everybody for themselves. Everybody should work to get as much money as they possibly can and keep it for…
Leader Resource 4: Corner Questions
From Riddle and Mystery

Should I go out for the soccer team this year? Why does the universe exist? Why does water boil when you heat it? What happens when you die? Why doesn’t so-and-so like me? Why do I look the way I do? Should I believe in God? What’s the best way to cut sandwiches? Side to side or corner to corner?
Find Out More
From Riddle and Mystery

Read “Home grown Unitarian Universalism,” an article in UU World, Spring 2008 by William J. Doherty, for more ideas to extend this session at home. The National Public Radio program, “Present at the Creation: The Quiz Show,” offers informati… on the history of quiz shows. For more about quiz and…

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 1: The Big Questions

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