Adapted by Lynn Ungar from a story by Jerrilyn Jacobs on the My Hero project website and information on the Free the Children website. You could say it all started with a little thing. Craig Keilburger watched his older brother Marc get excited about a science project when Marc was 12 years old.

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Ball of yarn Optional: Scissors, including left-handed scissors Description of Activity In addition to building community through sharing information about important events in participants' lives, this version of sharing joys and concerns uses a...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Large roll of plain paper Pencils and color markers Masking tape or painter's tape String and scissors Preparation for Activity Determine a hallway or meeting room in your congregation that gets significant traffic and get permission to place the...

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity A piece of light-colored fabric, approximately 2x3 feet, for each participant Pencils for all participants Colorful permanent markers and scissors (including left-handed scissors) to share Yarn, fine hemp cord, or embroidery floss; and sewing needl...

Activity time: 10 minutes Preparation for Activity Make sure you have an open space large enough for the group to sit in a circle in chairs or on the floor. Learn the rules of the game so you can easily and smoothly explain it to the group. Description of Activity Craig Keilburger is just one...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "Craig Keilburger and Free the Children" Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Review the discussion questions and choose those you think will best help the children share their...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home Optional: A rug made by a participant in Activity 3 Preparation for Activity Download and adapt the Taking It Home section and copy as a handout for all participants (or, email to parents). Description of Activity Explain that the...

Description of Activity Fundraising with a talent show or benefit concert can give children a fun and empowering way to join the tens of thousands of children and adults worldwide supporting Free the Children....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and matches or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Hand ornaments cut from card stock (see Welcoming and Entering) Pens, pencils, or markers Preparation for Activity Set up chalice....

Materials for Activity Card stock in various colors Scissors, including left-handed scissors Hole punch String or yarn Pencils or markers Preparation for Activity Create a sample hand ornament: Trace your own hand on card stock, cut out the shape, punch a hole in the top, pass a piece of yarn...

Adapted from an Aesop's fable.One summer's day, a Grasshopper was hopping about in a field, chirping and singing to his heart's content. Hard-Working Ant passed by, struggling with the weight of a kernel of corn she was taking to the nest. "Why not come and sing with me?" said Grasshopper....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Preparation for Activity Learn "From You I Receive, To You I Give," Hymn 402 in Singing the Living Tradition, so you can teach it....

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3, Beaded Bookmarks Colorful hemp cord, embroidery floss, or yarn Beads of a size appropriate to the thickness of your cord, floss, or yarn; wide, shallow containers to hold beads Sewing needles appropriate to the size of your cord ...

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Straw Loom Bookmark Instructions Variegated (multicolored) yarn Drinking straws, six for each participant (preferably milkshake straws, which are both longer and wider than a standard straw) Sewing needles, one for each participa...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of your congregation's member directory Leader Resource 1, Volunteer Treasure Hunt Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: List(s) of congregational committees and their members Optional: Paper and pens/pencils Preparation for Activity Review...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "The Ant and the Grasshopper" Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Review the discussion questions and choose those that will best help the children share their interpretations of the...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home Optional: Bookmarks made in Activity 3 Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and copy as a handout for all participants (or, email to parents). Optional: Invite a few participants to make a bookmark to hand on the...

Preparation for Activity Talk with congregational leaders who are responsible for the area(s) in which you wish participants to volunteer. Find out what the children can do, and when they might do it. Arrange the service opportunity, including additional adult supervision, as needed....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and matches or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Heart ornaments cut from card stock (see Welcoming and Entering) Pens, pencils, or markers Preparation for Activity Set up chalice....

Materials for Activity Card stock in various colors Scissors, including left-handed scissors Hole punch String or yarn Pencils or markers Preparation for Activity Create a sample heart-shaped ornament to attach to the Rainbow Wall Hanging: Cut a heart shape out of card stock, punch a hole in the...