ACTIVITY MINUTES Opening 5 Activity 1: What Is a Poem? 10 Activity 2: The Poet's Tools 15 Activity 3: Building a Poem 25 Faith in Action: Creative Engagement with Tough Issues 15 Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Five Questions 10 Alternate Activity 2: Covenant Building 10...

Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry. — Muriel Rukeyser The primary activities of this first workshop provide the orientation and vocabulary that will engage and support participants as they move into the program curriculum and deeper into poetry. Activity 2, The Poet's Tools, contains a...

All fifteen workshops in Poetry have the same structure. Between an opening and a closing ritual, participants engage in up to four activities. Most workshops revolve thematically around one or more central poems, which participants hear and explore in one of the activities....

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations covenant to affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free an...

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will. — George Bernard Shaw In Today's Workshop... We explored the importance of imagination when creating justice in the world. We learned about climate change and the...

Take a moment to think of the great teachers you have had. They probably shared some important characteristics. They gave and received respect; they had unbridled excitement about their subject (sometimes bordering on outright glee); they loved teaching; and they loved their students. Now, think...

Two special elements of the program need additional explanation: the Poetry Slam and the choral reading. How to set up a poetry slam What is it? A poetry slam is a performance in which poets read their work and are judged. In the Poetry Slam featured in Workshops 12-15, the competitive element is...

As soon as your program has been scheduled, prepare a calendar of the dates for each workshop. The more co-leaders and parent volunteers you include in the program, the more useful a calendar will be. Post the calendar in your shared meeting space and duplicate it for each adult participant....

Peace begins with yourself, with the way you treat your family, your friends, your communities, your country—but it does not stop there. Peace that begins in the hearts of children can cover the whole world. — Mayerly, 14, Colombian Children's Movement for Peace In Today's Workshop... We learned...

Please complete and return to a Families leader. 1. What is your overall rating of the program? Circle one. Excellent Good Average Fair Poor Comment: 2. What is your overall rating of the photo-documentary project? Circle one. Excellent Good Average Fair Poor Comment: 3....

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Food and beverages CD player and CDs (optional) Preparation for Activity Prepare snack or arrange for participants' families to donate celebration snack. Follow up with a reminder e-mail....

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint and markers Handout 1, Participant Feedback Form Pencils/pens Preparation for Activity Photocopy Handout 1, Participant Feedback Form, for all participants Description of Activity Tell participants that it is important to sit back and...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Photographs of photo-documentary opening Description of Activity Invite participants to reflect on the opening of the Families display. Share and circulate photographs of the opening. Use the following prompts as you see fit: How was the experience...

Close the program: Facilitate the return of participants' materials. Keep family photos display. If the program is repeated, groups can build on each year's participants' work. Check in with families and congregation members about their perspectives on the Families project....

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. — Buddha In Today's Workshop... We explored what is meant by abundance and scarcity....

Activity time: 5 minutes Preparation for Activity Prepare a closing reading (optional). Description of Activity Gather participants in a closing circle. Pragmatics: Arrange for the return of participants' materials If needed, arrange a time to dismantle the display together Invite participants to...

Activity time: 90 minutes Materials for Activity Photo albums or scrapbooks Photo sleeves (optional) Pens Preparation for Activity Contact your congregation's religious educator and ask whether this would be a useful activity (see Description of Activity). Invite her/him to assist with the project.

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and matches Newsprint and markers Description of Activity Gather participants in a circle and welcome them. Invite volunteers to offer chalice lighting words....

Materials for Activity Photographs of photo-documentary opening (optional, but needed later in the session regardless) Preparation for Activity Print photographs taken at the opening. Description of Activity Informally display photos. Encourage casual conversation.

Reflection is one of the most important skills in life. Perhaps Socrates said it most poignantly when he said that an unexamined life is not worth living. This last session with the group offers a chance to look at all you have accomplished. It might be easy for some to find fault or look at the...