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

Activity 2: Adding Fire Symbols to the Circle of the Elements

Activity time: 12 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Circle of Elements Mural Instructions (Session 1, Leader Resource 3)
  • Paper, poster board, or fabric
  • Paper or fabric and appropriate drawing tools (crayons, markers, permanent markers, or fabric paint), and tape or glue sticks
  • Optional: Magazines to cut up, scissors (including left-handed scissors), and glue sticks
  • Optional: Found objects or images that might represent fire

Preparation for Activity

  • Gather materials. Provide images such as flames, the sun, a volcano, and a flaming chalice. Include items or images in the colors red, yellow, and orange, and items that are shiny or sparkly.
  • If you will be using permanent markers or fabric paint, spread out newspaper to protect work surfaces.
  • Set out materials on work tables for children to prepare drawings or decorations to post in the "fire" quadrant of the Circle of Elements mural.
  • Optional: Set up a station where an adult can guide participants' use of a glue gun.

Description of Activity

This activity adds to the Circle of Elements mural. You may have chosen to display the complete quartered circle in Session 1, or you may be adding the third, top right quarter of the circle in this session. In either case, for this activity, invite participants to decorate the top right, "fire" quarter with symbols of fire.

Invite participants to create fire pictures, symbols, or collages on a sheet of paper or fabric, which you can then attach to the fire quarter of the mural. You may invite or assist participants to attach three-dimensional items directly to the mural using hot glue. Explain how you will help participants use the glue gun, if you have one.

Post participants' artwork or help them do it. Save several minutes to engage the group in clean-up.