Think of your small group as a detective agency and the following events as mysteries to be solved. Make up a story to explain what caused one of the mysteries numbered 1-5. Then, make up a story to explain mystery number 6. If you have more time, return to mysteries 1-5 and choose another to solve.

To the Kid for the Day: You have two jobs. The first is getting your group excited about hearing today's Big Question. The second is announcing the question. 1. Say to the group, "Give me a drum roll!" Then wait for a minute while the drum roll builds....

Where previously there had been nothing, now there was something. Within a black hole, a "singularity" developed. What's a "singularity?" It's an area in a black hole where the density is so great the pressure squeezes bits of finite matter into a piece of infinite matter. Do you understand that?

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Oval wooden beads large enough for youth to write on and string for all participants Paper and pencils for all participants Scissors (including left-handed scissors) and fine-point permanent markers to share Optional: Trays or bowls to hold beads o...

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity DVD, The Awakening Universe, and DVD player/monitor Preparation for Activity Obtain and test equipment to show a DVD. Preview the 15-minute DVD. Consider showing it from where the screen is visually empty and the narrator says "Imagine nothing."...

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Material from The Great Story website, or a computer with Internet connection Preparation for Activity Explore the website. Familiarize yourself with its descriptions of life's origin and evolution. Select material to share with the youth....

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Scratch-Art paper, and scratch tools such as toothpicks (round is better) for all participants A copy of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition Optional: Large sheets of black construction paper and pastel or chalk crayon...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Optional: Write the challenge question on newsprint, and post. Optional: Browse the Internet and see what you find to share. Description of Activity Challenge questions guide a deeper...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy(ies) of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: A recording of the song, and a music player Preparation for Activity Decide how best to present the song "Life Is the Greatest Gift of All," Hymn 331 in Singing ...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Bag or box containing participants' Big Questions notebooks (see Session 1, Alternate Activity 1, Notable Thoughts) Blank notebooks for new participants Pencils or pens Masking tape Preparation for Activity Retrieve participants' Big Questions...

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3, Where I Stand on Life Preparation for Activity Review and print out Leader Resource 3....

Activity time: 17 minutes Materials for Activity Microphone(s), video camera(s) and tripod(s), real or simulated For studio set Backdrop made in Session 1 Painter's tape or masking tape Leader Resource 2, WCUU Script Paper for On-Air People's name cards, markers and string or tape Timepiece A cop...

Materials for Activity A copy of the story "A Garden Is Born (Evolution)" Preparation for Activity Read and print out the story. Description of Activity Gather the group and read or tell the story. At its conclusion, ask for reactions: How do you feel about the theory of evolution?...

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Writing paper and pencils for small groups Leader Resource 1, Mysteries Timepiece A poster of the Unitarian Universalist Sources, or, copies of Session 1, Leader Resource 1 Optional: Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Optional: Newsprin...

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Playing Detective 20 Activity 2: Story — A Garden Is Born (Evolution) 8 Activity 3: WCUU — Wonder of the World 17 Activity 4: WIT Time — Taking a Stand 7 Faith in Action: Planting New Life Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts 5 Alternate...

Out of the stars in their flight, out of the dust of eternity, here have we come. — Robert T. Weston Big Question: How did life begin? Where are the youth who have never wondered why they exist, where life comes from, what lies beyond the first known causes? Session 4 applied faith and belief to...

Copy, divide, and distribute appropriate parts of this page to these Activity 4 On-Air People: Atheist, Theist, Agnostic, Humanist, Mystery Seeker, God as Love-ist, and Pagan. Atheist — You do not believe God exists.. You try to live by the UU Principles. You like searching through the UU Sources...

To the Co-Anchors: Today's WCUU program talks about the beliefs of different people gathered in the UU tent at an International Camp of Faith. Your job is to follow the script, read your parts, and otherwise keep things going....

Make a copy of this page with enlarged type. Cut the terms and definitions apart so they can be given to (or pinned or taped on) each youth. Theist — Believes God exists Atheist — Believes God does not exist Agnostic — Says God might or might not exist Humanist — Says people's...

Make a copy of this page with enlarged type. Cut the lines apart so they can be placed in various points of your meeting room. YOUR PARENTS YOUR MINISTER YOUR FRIENDS YOUR SCIENCE TEACHER YOUR OWN INNER SELF...