Session 2: Awesome Love

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

In This Section

Introduction
From Love Will Guide Us

I want to be a dogfish and catch a leaping catfish with whiskers as long as the stream. And I want to be the rain trinkling down on the world telling it it’s springtime. — Noah Frank, Grade 2, Lakeshore Elementary School, California This session explores the first Unitarian Universalist Source,…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Love Will Guide Us

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 7 Activity 1: Rain Sticks 15 Activity 2: Story — We Got Here Together 15 Activity 3: Our Nature Story 15 Faith In Action: Worm Bin Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Sharing Joys and Concerns 7 Alternate Activity 2: UU Sources Constellation 10…
Spiritual Preparation
From Love Will Guide Us

Read the poem below. Then, consider for a moment the vastness of the universe and all the events that occurred for the earth to form, the oceans to fill, the sky to look blue, and the grass to grow….
Welcoming and Entering
From Love Will Guide Us

Materials for Activity Name tags Markers or crayons Preparation for Activity Set up tables and chairs. Place name tags and markers on the tables. Description of Activity This activity is appropriate when participants do not arrive in a group but arrive individually before the session begins….
Opening
From Love Will Guide Us

Materials for Activity …
Activity 1: Rain Sticks
From Love Will Guide Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Cardboard paper-towel tubes Paper grocery bags Aluminum foil Glue sticks or tape; pencils, crayons, and markers; stickers Dried beans, unpopped popcorn, or uncooked rice or tiny pasta Preparation for Activity Make a sample rain stick: Trace the end…
Activity 2: Story - We Got Here Together
From Love Will Guide Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “We Got Here Together” A large basket Objects related to the story-items which are beautiful, small, and appealing for children to hold, such as a snow globe; a photo of an unusual sea creature, like a sea cucumber; a blown glas…
Activity 3: Our Nature Story
From Love Will Guide Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Construction paper for all participants Items from nature such as leaves, rocks, sticks, pine cones, etc. Markers, color pencils, and crayons Preparation for Activity Place items on work table(s) where all the children will be able to see and touch…
Closing
From Love Will Guide Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Source Star — Our Sense of Wonder Pencils or markers Taking It Home Optional: Session 1, Handout 3, Our Sources Lyrics Optional: A recording of the song “http://smallscreen.uua.org/videos/before-you-start-for-love-will-guide-……
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Love Will Guide Us

Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. Share your thoughts with any other team leaders and your religious educator. You might find it helpful to consider these questions: Were all children actively engaged?…
Faith In Action: Worm Bin
From Love Will Guide Us

Materials for Activity Two 8- to 10-gallon, opaque plastic storage bins with lids A manual (or electric) drill with 1/4- and 1/16-bits, and safety goggles Newspaper A small bucket filled with dry dirt Red worms, 1 lb….
Alternate Activity 1: Sharing Joys and Concerns
From Love Will Guide Us

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity Felt candle-and-flame board (see Session 1, Alternate Activity 1) A basket of felt “flames” and a basket of felt “candles” Optional: LED/battery-operated tea lights or candles Preparation for Activity If needed, make a felt board by stapling or nail…
Alternate Activity 2: UU Source Constellation
From Love Will Guide Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, UU Source Constellation — Our Sense of Wonder Leader Resource 1, UU Source Constellation Answer Sheet — Our Sense of Wonder Night Sky display and push pins, tape, or sticky tack (Session 1, Opening) Gold and silver star stickers Pencils…
Alternate Activity 3: Bubble Sculpture
From Love Will Guide Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Bubble solution: a large bowl and a spoon; and 4 1/2 cups of water, 1/2 cup of dishwashing soap (preferably Dawn), and (optional) 1/2 cup of corn syrup or glycerin Drinking straws, preferably paper, for all participants, plus a few extra Shallow…
Taking It Home: Awesome Love
From Love Will Guide Us

I want to be a dogfish and catch a leaping catfish with whiskers as long as the stream. And I want to be the rain trinkling down on the world telling it it’s springtime. — Noah Frank, Grade 2, Lakeshore Elementary School, California IN TODAY’S SESSION… Children listened to a magical, bedtime…
We Got Here Together
From Love Will Guide Us

“We Got Here Together,” by Kim Stafford, is reprinted by permission of the author from We Got Here Together, by Kim Stafford, illustrated by Debra Frasier, published by Harcourt Brace in 1994….
Handout 1: UU Source Constellation - Our Sense of Wonder
From Love Will Guide Us

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 1: UU Source Constellation Answer Sheet - Our Sense of Wonder
From Love Will Guide Us

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 2: Source Star - Our Sense of Wonder
From Love Will Guide Us

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From Love Will Guide Us

The website Henry Hikes has adaptations of stories and reflections by Henry David Thoreau, geared toward children, along with colorful illustrations….