Faith CoLab: Tapestry of Faith: Windows and Mirrors: A Program about Diversity for Grades 4-5

Activity 5: Window/Mirror Panel - Choose to Be UU

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • All participants' Window/Mirror Panels
  • Leader Resource 1, Chalice Template
  • Optional: Items that symbolize your congregation, such as a postcard with a picture of your church, an order of service, a worship notice in a local newspaper, etc., for children to cut up and include on their panels
  • Basket(s) of Window/Mirror Panel materials:
    • Sheets of Mylar (R) in several colors, shiny gift wrap, aluminum foil and other reflective paper
    • Sheets of plain or construction paper
    • A variety of drawing and writing materials, including color markers (permanent markers work best on Mylar)
    • Glue sticks, tape (including double-sided tape) and scissors, including left-hand scissors
    • Optional: Stick-on sequins, a hole-puncher, yarn, ribbon, scraps of fabric and a variety of old magazines to cut up

Preparation for Activity

  • Use the Leader Resource to make a few handouts and/or card stock templates. Some children may want to cut out and decorate a paper chalice, some may want an intact chalice shape to trace on paper, fabric, etc. or directly on their Window/Mirror Panel and others may like to work creatively with one or more of the shapes that comprise the chalice.
  • If this will be the last Windows and Mirrors session, finalize plans for a group exhibit of the children's Window/Mirror panels. You may wish to make a flyer announcing when and where the artwork will be on display for the congregation, or add the information to the Taking It Home handout. Consider developing Alternate Activity 3, Window/Mirror Panel Group Exhibit, to extend this session or hold another meeting for children to participate in creating the group display.

Description of Activity

Ask the children to bring their Window/Mirror Panels to work tables. Distribute Window/Mirror Panel basket(s). Say something like:

Every time we have been together, we have exploring what it means to have a Unitarian Universalist view of the world and of ourselves. Today we explored our Unitarian Universalist identity. Everyone came up with their own way of understanding and defining a UU identity for themselves.

The flaming chalice is a symbol we all use for Unitarian Universalism. It can still be that, yet mean something different for each of us. Find a way to let the chalice represent your own personal UU identity on your Window/Mirror Panel.

Distribute the handouts and/or templates you have made from Leader Resource 1. Invite children to trace the whole chalice shape or the individual parts onto Mylar or another material, using whatever colors they like, and attach it to their Window/Mirror Panel in some way. (You might suggest they can use the chalice in its intact form to represent Unitarian Universalism simply or express with the pieces how they feel about their own Unitarian Universalist identity.) You can also give an option for children to use other symbols for your congregation if you have brought some. As children work, invite small group conversation. Give a warning with enough time left for everyone to clean up and for a few volunteers to share their work with the larger group.

If this is the last Windows and Mirrors session, explain how and when the children's panels will be displayed together. You may wish to develop Alternate Activity 3, Window/Mirror Panel Group Exhibit, for an extension of today's session or an additional meeting, to engage the children in making the group display.