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

Activity 5: Making A Bundle Together

Part of Moral Tales

Activity time: 15 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Color markers
  • Craft sticks, enough for each child's bundle of craft sticks to include one for each child in the group
  • Optional: Extra sticks for children to do this activity with their families at home
  • Rubber bands

Preparation for Activity

  • Obtain crafts sticks (popsicle sticks), enough to provide each child with the number of sticks equal to the number of participants in Moral Tales. For example, if there are ten children in the group, each child will need ten sticks.

Description of Activity

Distribute the craft sticks and markers. Tell the children:

We are going to make bundles of sticks, with each bundle containing a stick for every child in the group.

In this activity, you will acknowledge something special about each child in the group and then engage them in a hands-on project that demonstrates how together they make a strong "bundle."

Go around the room, with either yourself, volunteers in the group, or the child himself/herself saying some positive things that each child enjoys or does well. Examples: Sarah has a warm smile, Darren plays with everyone, Joe draws beautiful pictures, and Nadia is a good leader. After each child has spoken, or been spoken about, ask everyone to write that child's name on one of their craft sticks. (You may need to spell some names aloud.) Then, children can draw a smiling face and add some features, such as hair or something the person is wearing.

After the children have each decorated a stick for every participant, give them each a rubber band and invite them to make a bundle of sticks, as was mentioned in the story. Allow the children to take their bundles of sticks home as a reminder of the people in the group and of the story.

When the children all have their bundles, say in your own words:

These bundles remind us that we are all stronger when we stick together, caring for one another and respecting each other and sharing our strengths.

If you send the children home with ten extra sticks they will be able to demonstrate the story for their families, which is suggested in the Taking it Home section.