"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." — Native American Proverb "Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach." — Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author and...

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity An audio recording of the Ray Bradbury short story, "A Sound of Thunder" A computer with Internet connection, and an audio player Preparation for Activity Obtain an audio recording of the story "A Sound of Thunder," included in R is for Rocket by R...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Participants' journals, and writing instruments Participants' clipboards with anklets (Workshop 1, Activity 3, Practice) Beads, and waterproof markers and/or other decorations Extra clipboards and string/hemp, and sciss...

Materials for Activity "Bicycle Rack" newsprint sheet from Opening Description of Activity Youth discuss ethical challenges they have faced. If someone shared an experience in check-in or during any workshop activities that the group would like to explore further, do so now. This could be...

Materials for Activity Plain cloth shopping bags Fabric paint Stencils of the congregation's logo, chalice, or other artwork Preparation for Activity You can purchase plain cloth bags from many vendors, including Michael's craft stores and websites The Cloth Bag Company and EcoBags.

When Joseph Jordan (pronounced Jerden) was born in Virginia in 1842, slavery was still legal. Most people of African descent were treated as property, like horses or dogs. They were bought and sold; they had no rights. Whether enslaved or free, people of color were not treated with respect....

Materials for Activity Drawing paper and drawing implements including color markers, multicultural skin tone markers, crayons, and/or color pencils Description of Activity Tell the group: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, one of our faith ancestors, said, "The respect that is only bought by gold is n...

Activity time: 120 minutes Materials for Activity DVD of the film Easy A (PG-13, directed by Will Gluck, 2010) DVD player and digital projector or large monitor Preparation for Activity The movie deals with sexual topics. Preview it to determine its suitability for your group. Test electronic...

Materials for Activity "Bicycle Rack" newsprint sheet from Opening Description of Activity Youth discuss ethical challenges they have faced. If someone shared an experience in check-in or during any workshop activities that the group would like to explore further, do so now. This could be...

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Participants' journals, and writing instruments Participants' clipboards with anklets (Workshop 1, Activity 3, Practice) Beads, and waterproof markers and/or other decorations Extra clipboards and string/hemp, and sciss...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A large, soft ball or a small pillow Preparation for Activity Read Alternate Activity 3, which offers an extension of this activity. If you have time, you may wish to substitute Alternate Activity 3 here....

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Participants identify positive and negative aspects of the virtue of respect. Invite youth to sit for a moment and think about "respect" as a virtue....

Materials for Activity A variety of costumes and props Optional: A video camera Optional: A computer with Internet connection Preparation for Activity Two options are suggested for creating respect videos: live actors on film or cartoons created using software available on the Internet....

A retelling of stories from the Ramayana, an ancient Hindu text. Perfect daughter, perfect wife, perfect mother. This is the way Hindus revere Sita. How could she not be virtuous and noble? Sita was the reincarnation of the goddess, Lakshimi. Hindus pray to Sita for moral strength, loyalty, and...

A retelling of a European Jewish wisdom tale.Once there was a man whom the entire village knew to be a gossip. He could not wait to share the juiciest piece of gossip with whoever would listen. It did not matter to him if the stories he spread were true, or not—he never stopped to ask. One day,...

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Participants examine a moral decision step-by-step. Tell the group that there is a classic story about St. Godric, a Christian holy man known for his kindness to animals. Invite them to use the story to play a game, "You Are St. Godric." You, St.

Activity time: 15 minutes Description of Activity The group debates human nature. Here are questions for the group to debate: Are people born good? Are we inherently good? Or do we need to be taught virtues? If practicing virtues makes us better at achieving them, does that mean we are not born...

Materials for Activity "Bicycle Rack" newsprint sheet from Opening Description of Activity Youth discuss ethical challenges they have faced. If someone shared an experience in check-in or during any workshop activities that the group would like to explore further, do so now. This could be...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Blank paper and writing instruments Optional: A copy of the Unitarian Universalist Principles Preparation for Activity Optional: Write a few complicated sentences on slips of paper. Description of Activity Youth discuss the damage gossip can do....

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Participants' journals, and writing instruments Participants' clipboards with anklets (Workshop 1, Activity 3, Practice) Beads, and waterproof markers and/or other decorations Extra clipboards and string/hemp, and sciss...