Tapestry of Faith: Sing to the Power: A Social Justice Program for Children Grades 4-5

Introduction

Have a bias toward action—let's see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away. — Indira Gandhi

The power of fire is the power of action. When we work from fire power, we move forward to do what we can, even if we cannot see a way to fix the whole problem at once. The children learn about Bill McKibben and 350.org, a worldwide organization fighting climate change. Participants think creatively about power sources that do not contribute to climate change and consider how they might change their own habits and those of their friends to slow the climate change which threatens the world's ecosystems.

Goals

This session will:

  • Introduce climate change and explore how different actions we take can fuel or cool it
  • Demonstrate alternate forms of energy, through making a solar-powered oven or devising a way to move a penny with wind power
  • Encourage use of positive action, informed by creative thinking, to effectively confront large, complex problems
  • Promote "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part," our seventh UU Principle.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Learn how Bill McKibben founded 350.org to combat climate change, and how 350.org has engaged people around the world, including many Unitarian Universalists
  • Experience the inspiration of others' actions to solve a shared problem
  • Explore alternative energy sources, by making a solar-powered oven or using wind power to move a penny
  • Identify ways they and their friends can take action to combat climate change.