Tapestry of Faith: Chalice Children: A Program about Our Unitarian Universalist Community for Preschoolers

Taking It Home: Teddy Bear Party

If you will show me compassion, then I may learn to care as you do. —from "When I Am Frightened," Hymn 1012 in Singing the Journey

IN TODAY'S SESSION . . . the theme was, "Chalice Children are all different, but we care about one another and celebrate together." This session concluded Teddy Bear Month by engaging children (and their teddy bears) to celebrate their friendship together.

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER . . . Read some of the books suggested in this session:

  • Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears? by Carmela LeVigna Coyle, illustrated by Mike Gordon, 2012. Follow along as two ragtag, everyday super heroes don capes to play in the mud, save their stuffed animals from certain peril, conquer the vegetables at dinner, and overcome darkness at night.
  • The Teddy Bears' Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy, illustrated by Alexandra Day, 2000. A picture-book version of the classic teddy bear song, with endearing pictures by the popular illustrator of Good Dog, Carl.
  • Patrick in a Teddy Bear's Picnic and Other Stories by Geoffrey Hayes, 2011. Geisel Award-winning author Geoffrey Hayes delights young readers with these easy-to-read stories about Patrick Brown, a puddle-jumping teddy bear whose biggest challenge is avoiding naptime . . . until he has to contend with Big Bear.
  • Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman, 2012. Bear has come up with the perfect way to say thanks—a nice big dinner! There's just one problem: Bear's cupboards are bare! What is he to do?

EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try . . . before your family leaves for home today, invite your child to show you where the Chalice Children held their Teddy Bear Parade. What did they see there? What did they find out?

A Family Adventure. Host your own Teddy Bear Picnic outdoors, weather permitting, or indoors on a blanket. Teddy bears seem to like Teddy Grahams!

A Family Discovery. Your child and their teddy bear may both be wearing chalice necklaces when you pick them up today. Explore the many images of chalices available as clip art at the UUA website. Which are your favorites?

A Family Game. Listen and dance to Anne Murray singing "The Teddy Bears' Picnic," or to "Bare Necessities" from the movie The Jungle Book, on YouTube.

A Family Ritual. Extinguish a dinner-time chalice using the words and movements used to close each session of Chalice Children. An adult can say each line, then repeat it with the children:

We gather the warmth of love, [bring hands near the flame, then gather them to your heart]

The light of truth, [bring hands near the flame and then gather them to your heart again]

And the energy of action [bring hands near the flame and then gather them to your heart again]

Into our hearts as we blow out the chalice. [blow out the flame]

Back into the world of do and say, [hold world in cupped hands]

Carry it forward into the dawning day. [arms overhead, hands together making the sun]

May we remember: Here at home, we care for one another.