Tapestry of Faith: Wonderful Welcome: A Program for Children Grades K-1

Taking It Home: The Gift Of Learning Together

Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it.

— Theodore Roosevelt

IN TODAY'S SESSION... The children explored the intangible gift of learning together. They heard a story about a rooster that did not know how to do its job —waking up the farmer and the other animals. The other farm animals attempt to teach the rooster what to do. Ultimately, the rooster realizes that he knew how to crow all along, but he needed his friends to help him learn. The children learned a new weaving skill and experienced learning from and with each other.

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Talk about... what it means to learn together. What are some of the things you learn together as a family? What else would you like to learn together?

EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try... Choose an activity that the family has never tried before and learn about it together. For example, if you have never cooked as a family, choose a recipe that could involve all members of the family. You may want to try to weave something together. Use the instructions from Activity 4 of this session to make a belt together. If you give the belt to an extended family member or a friend, make sure you let that person know they are also receiving an intangible gift — the gift of learning together.

A FAMILY ADVENTURE

Visit a working farm in your area. There might be a dairy barn or goat farm near you that offers tours. When you go, find out how the different parts of the farm work together.

FAMILY DISCOVERY

Younger and younger children are accustomed to doing research online and this is a great way to learn together. Sit down with your child(ren) at a computer and research a topic together. You might investigate places where you all want to travel, animals you have always wondered about, a sport you would like to learn, the history of your own family's ethnic group(s), or upcoming schedules of family activities in your local area. If you find out about a course you can all take together, such as a local ecology or an ethnic dance course, consider signing up!