Faith In Action: Sowing Seeds of Beauty (60 minutes), Session 12: Beauty in Nature
In "World of Wonder," a Tapestry of Faith program
Materials for Activity
- Dry red clay and compost, perennial wildflower seeds suitable for your local climate, large bowls, and water
- Cookie sheets
- Closing song lyrics from Session 1
- Optional: Brown lunch bags and markers
- Optional: A copy of the book Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Preparation for Activity
- Consult with the religious educator to schedule this event and decide how to distribute seed balls to the congregation.
- Decide how many seed balls to make, and purchase materials (or obtain donations).
- Recruit volunteers to help, including some to take photographs or video.
- Place seed balls ingredients at work tables.
- Optional: Set up a table with brown lunch bags and markers
- Optional: View an instructional video on making seed balls, on YouTube.
Description of Activity
Children make seed balls to give the gift of nature's beauty to their families, friends, and co-congregants.
Have participants sit at work tables with adult volunteers. Allow children to do as much of the work as is feasible. They can take turns measuring and mixing the ingredients. Include everyone in forming the seed balls. Have volunteers take pictures or video during the event.
To make the seed balls, mix together (with your hands) in a large bowl:
- 5 parts dry red clay
- 3 parts compost
- 1 part seeds (perennial wildflower seeds suitable for your climate)
- 1 part water
The mixture should be easily shaped into 1 inch balls (you do not want the "dough" to be too wet). Put the seed balls on cookie sheets or trays to dry.
Optional: Children may wish to decorate brown lunch bags with messages such as "spread beauty," or pictures of flowers.
Optional: Have a volunteer read Barbara Cooney's story, Miss Rumphius, about a woman who spreads beauty by sowing lupines.
In closing, ask the World of Wonder children to lead participants in the song, "We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands." Distribute seed balls to the congregation, perhaps during coffee hour. If you have decorated brown lunch bags, provide these to congregants to hold the seed balls.
Plan to share the photos or video with the children next time the group meets.
This work is made possible by the generosity of individual donors and congregations. Please consider making a donation today.
Last updated on Friday, May 17, 2013.
Section Navigation
- About the Authors
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Introduction
- Resources
- Session 1
- Session 2
- Session 3
- Session 4
- Session 5
- Session 6
- Session 7
- Session 8
- Session 9
- Session 10
- Session 11
- Session 12
- Session 13
- Session 14
- Session 15
- Session 16
- List of Handouts
- List of Stories
- List of Leader Resources
- Entire Program
- Entire Program (Paper-Saving Version)
Updated and Popular
Popular New Searches
For Newcomers
Learn more about the Beliefs & Principles of Unitarian Universalism, or read our online magazine, UU World, for features on today's Unitarian Universalists. Visit an online UU church, or find a congregation near you.