Tapestry of Faith: Signs of Our Faith: A Program about Being UU Every Day for Grades 2-3

Alternate Activity 3: Conservation Is Stewardship

Description of Activity

Children help conserve the congregation's resources.

Ask the group if their family has ways to save money. Do they use cloth to wipe up spills instead of using paper towels? Are they careful to not waste food? Do they walk to places when they can, instead of using a car? Affirm that saving money and other resources is a way to be a good steward.

Lead a tour of the congregation and help children think of ways conserving resources could save money. Make sure the children know that the congregation pays for water for lavatories, cooking, and cleaning; electricity for lights, computers, and other appliances; and gas, oil, or an alternate fuel source for heating and cooling so people will be comfortable indoors. Shutting off lights when you leave a room and closing outside doors left open unnecessarily are ways to conserve electricity and fuel. Are there drippy faucets or running toilets that need repairing? Maybe the congregation pays to throw away trash, or could earn money by returning bottles for deposit money. Look for opportunities to re-use or recycle.

If ways to conserve resources are found, help the group follow through on taking action. You might post a list of the conservation ideas in your meeting space. Send the ideas to the Building Committee, too.

Thank children for being good stewards.