Tapestry of Faith: Moral Tales: A Program on Making Choices for Grades 2-3

Taking It Home: We Are All One

Part of Moral Tales

Rain does not fall on one roof alone. — Cameroonian proverb.

IN TODAY'S SESSION...

We heard the story, "We are All One," and tried to imagine what various living beings — human and non-human — might say to us if we could understand them. We made a web together and learned about the seventh Unitarian Universalist Principle, "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. TALK ABOUT...

Ask your child to tell you about the web the group made in Moral Tales. Draw them out about how and why the group made the web together. Talk briefly with your child about their understanding of the Unitarian Universalist seventh Principle, "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Share your own thoughts and beliefs.

Ask your child to tell you about the game, "We are All One." Take turns pretending to be different animals or plants. Imagine together what they might say if they could speak.

EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. TRY...

A FAMILY RITUAL

Gratitude circle. Gather around a chalice or candle. Light the chalice or candle, and have each family member light another candle from it (with assistance, as needed). Take turns naming things that humans receive from nature using the phrase, "I am grateful for ( )." End the gratitude circle by saying together, "In this web of life, we are all one," and blowing out the candles.

A FAMILY GAME

Go on a nature walk together and challenge yourselves to find as many examples of interdependence as you can. Possibilities include bird nests in trees, spider webs on grass, bees pollinating flowers, and tree roots in the soil. In a city, go to a neighborhood park for the nature walk. Or, look for signs of plant and animal life such as grass poking through gaps in the sidewalk, pigeons or gulls seeking food, or window and rooftop gardens in window sills and on rooftops.

FAMILY DISCOVERY

Learn together about nature and its cycles, food chains, and ecological systems. Your local library probably has many books about ocean, rainforest, desert, savannah or forest habitats. Recommended reading from the Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole are The Magic School Bus Gets Eaten: A Book About Food Chains and The Magic School Bus Hops Home: A Book About Animal Habitats.