Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A light source such as a slide projector, a spotlight or a lamp with a high wattage bulb and no shade Optional: Large white cloth or paper, and tape, tacks or string to position the material as a screen Preparation for Activity You need a screen fo...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, The Real Gift Optional: "The Real Gift" coloring sheet, and crayons Preparation for Activity Print out and read the story. Prepare to read or tell it to the group. Optional: Print the coloring sheet and copy for all participants.

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity The Wonder Box (empty) Everyone's imagination! Description of Activity This activity involves imagination and interaction that model an important concept: A physical gift doesn't matter nearly as much as the feelings of giving and receiving. If...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box Cardboard box with fitted lid. It should be large enough to hold various items such as stuffed animals, books, etc. Decorative wrapping paper or foil Optional: Ribbons, stickers, glitter and other decorations Preparation for Activity Make...

Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leaders.How do I feel about today's session?What parts of the session worked well?What can we learn from the experience of this session?What preparations do we need to make for the next session?

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box poster Large sheet of poster board Scissors Optional: Ribbons, markers and other decorating materials Heart stickers (or a drawing of a heart, and tape or glue stick) Copies of Taking It Home for all participants Preparation for Activity...

Activity time: 60 minutes Materials for Activity Empty coffee cans with snap-on plastic lids for all participants Paper, markers, stickers and other decorations Tape and glue sticks Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Dry beans Preparation for Activity To pair children with adult partners, plan...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Print the opening words on newsprint. Post the newsprint where the children will be able to see it when they...

Materials for Activity Name tags and markers Small heart-shaped stickers for name tags Preparation for Activity Make a name tag for each child in the group and set these on a work table, with extra name tags, markers, and stickers for new children and visitors....

Every day we have multiple opportunities to be welcoming. As a leader you will model welcoming behavior every time you meet with this group. Reflect on how you recognize the intangible gift of loving welcome. How you have experienced welcome — as a child and as an adult — may influence how you...

Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before the sun came out. You cannot touch the clouds, you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day....

What becomes of the colored girl? The muses of song, poetry and art do not woo and exalt her. She has inspired no novels. Those who write ... seldom think of this dark-skinned girl who is persistently breaking through the petty tyrannies of cast into the light of recognition. – Fannie Barrier...

One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion. — Simone de Beauvoir, 20th-century French author A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

The law of heaven is love. – Hosea Ballou IN TODAY'S SESSION... We focused on early Universalist preacher Hosea Ballou as an example of someone in history who translated Unitarian Universalist beliefs into faithful action. The children learned about the first Unitarian Universalist Principle,...

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There are seven Principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote: ...

Wonderful Welcome provides a standard opening and closing ritual to use in each session. Keep Openings and Closings simple so participants can remember them from session to session. Use the ritual to provide continuity for participants with discontinuous attendance. If you can display it for the...

In our era the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action. — Dag Hammarskjold IN TODAY'S SESSION... Children were introduced to the central idea of the Faithful Journeys curriculum: Unitarian Universalists express faith in our actions and behaviors. We began the journey...

Be aware of the flow of each session and maximize time for "teachable moments" as group interest allows. A session isn't a race, and shouldn't feel like one. On the other hand, participants need to feel excited about attending and being part of the group. By meeting their need for challenge,...

For each session, you need a Wonder Box and a poster representing the Wonder Box. Instructions for both appear in Session 1. See the advance planning chart below to prepare to fill the Wonder Box and add to the Wonder Box poster each time you meet. When you cannot obtain the suggested item or a...