Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

• Stoles
• Craft materials
• Optional: Leader Resource 1, First Emblem
• Optional: Children's symbols of themselves (Session 1, Activity 3)

Preparation for Activity

• Print copies of Leader Resource 1 and cut out a First Emblem image for each child, including extra for newcomers. Alternatively, copy for all participants an emblem of your own design that symbolizes "The way I act is a sign of the faith that is inside me."
• Optional: Gather and set out craft materials for children to create their own emblems for "The way I act is a sign of the faith that is inside me." Possible images include a large "I" or a simple drawing of a wooden pole, to reference the Session 3 story of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations' journey. You can plan to have each child draw a simple, self-portrait and/or use the symbol for themselves they created in Session 2. Find suggestions for guiding this process in the Before You Start section of this program's Introduction.

Description of Activity

Children add an emblem to their stole.

This emblem represents "The way I act is a sign of the faith that is inside me." It is based on the experiences children have had in the first unit of this program (Sessions 1-4).

Remind children that the stole is a symbol that they are growing as leaders in the congregation and in their UU faith. Say, in your own words:

The first few times we have met to study Signs of Our Faith, we have talked about signs of faith that each one of us can do on our own. Each of us can show leadership. Each of us can decide what we love about the Unitarian Universalist religion or about coming to our UU congregation. Each of us has our own big questions about life and looks to our UU faith in our own way to look for answers. Today, you may add an emblem to your leadership stole. This emblem shows that the way you act is a sign of the faith that is inside you.

Lead children to make emblems (optional) and attach the emblems to their stoles.

Have children help put away the craft materials they have used. Invite them to put on their stoles to wear during the Closing ritual.