Tapestry of Faith: Sing to the Power: A Social Justice Program for Children Grades 4-5

The Power of Growth: Introduction

Only in growth, reform, and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found. — Anne Morrow Lindbergh

The power of the earth is the power to bring forth new life and nurture growth. In an individual, growth power can foster change in oneself and in the wider world. The story of Mark Covington, who created a thriving community garden in his economically depressed Detroit neighborhood, illustrates the link between earth power, personal growth, and the growth of community. Participants consider the sources of their food and acknowledge how easy it is to become disconnected from the earth as the source of our sustenance. By decorating pots and planting herbs, children reconnect with the earth as the medium for growth. They create an herb garden or pot for someone else, to remind them that part of their own growth is reaching out to others.

Goals

This session will:

  • Demonstrate that food comes from the earth and encourage intentional choices about what to eat
  • Offer strategies for ethical eating
  • Develop participants' self-concepts as people with gifts to share
  • Connect our seventh UU Principle to choices around eating.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Respond to a story about a man who is transforming his economically depressed Detroit neighborhood with a community garden
  • Explore the sources of their own food and consider the impact of locally versus globally produced food
  • Experience tangible connection to earth, through planting herb seeds in clay pots
  • Appreciate how their gifts can connect them to others
  • Understand that there are many kinds of growth, from the literal growth of plants to the growth of one's identity as a leader and the growth of community through joint action.