Faith Curricula Library: Tapestry of Faith: Love Will Guide Us: A Program for Grades 2-3 that Applies the Wisdom of the Six Sources to the Big Questions

Introduction

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean.

Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Love Will Guide Us, Grades 2-3

The sun never says to the earth,
“You owe me.”
Look what happens with a love like that.
It lights up the whole sky. — Hafiz, Sufi poet

Participants learn from the third Source of Unitarian Universalism, “wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life.” A story from Sufism, a mystical facet of Islam, demonstrates responding to negativity with gentleness and love. The Sufi faith encourages a personal relationship with the divine, exemplified by the dancing of Whirling Dervishes. The children experience a dancing meditation—not in imitation of the Whirling Dervishes, but to find movement of their own.

Goals

This session will:

  • Introduce the third Source of Unitarian Universalism, in child-friendly language “the ethical and spiritual wisdom of the world’s religions”
  • Introduce the Sufi religion
  • Empower children to respond to difficult situations with love.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Hear a story from the Sufi tradition that models responding to meanness with kindness
  • Experience a calming dancing meditation
  • Practice transforming negative situations and attitudes with positive words.