Session 9: Right and Wrong

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Riddle and Mystery, 6th Grade

In This Section

Introduction
From Riddle and Mystery

I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after. — Ernest Hemingway There must always be a remedy for wrong and injustice if we only know how to find it. — Ida B. Wells Big Question: How can I tell right from wrong? Sixth graders may not…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: What to Do? 12 Activity 2: Story — The Thief Within 7 Activity 3: WCUU — Brain Art 23 Activity 4: WIT Time — Group Covenant 10 Faith in Action: Feeding the Hungry Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts 5 Alternate Activity 2: Song — Building a…
Spiritual Preparation
From Riddle and Mystery

Carve out a meditative moment for yourself. Relax. Take several deep breaths. Remember a recent moment when you wanted to decide the right way to act. Was it easy to know? What tests did you apply to help answer the question? Did you rely on spiritual or religious sources? How did you ultimately…
Opening
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Handout 1, Today’s Big Question and (optional) a plain envelope “Today’s Big Question” sign Kid for the Day bag or box, with extra card…
Activity 1: What to Do?
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 12 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Ethical Challenges Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Print out Leader Resource 1, Ethical Challenges, and cut into slips. If you expect to form more than four groups of three or four, print out multiple copies.
Activity 2: Story - The Thief Within
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “The Thief Within” Preparation for Activity Print out the story and prepare to tell it to the group. Description of Activity Read or tell the story, “The Thief Within.” Engage participants in discussion: What happened?…
Activity 3: WCUU - Brain Art
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 23 minutes Materials for Activity Microphone(s), video camera(s) and tripod(s), real or simulated For studio set Backdrop made in Session 1 Painter’s tape or masking tape Leader Resource 2, WCUU Script — Brain Art Handout 2, Three-Course Meal Color pencils or fine-point markers;…
Activity 4: WIT Time Group Covenant
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Copy of group covenant Description of Activity Ask the group how the balance of right and wrong seems to be in this Riddle and Mystery group. Are they content with the way they and others behave? Do youth and…
Closing
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Adapt the Taking It Home section and copy it for all participants….
Faith In Action: Feeding the Hungry
From Riddle and Mystery

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Paper and pencils Optional: A computer with Internet access Preparation for Activity Decide which activity you will do. Optional: If a computer or the Internet is not available, print out information about the organizations to share with the group.
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Riddle and Mystery

Meet with your co-leaders after the session. How was the mix of discussion and action? Have you helped participants strengthen their ethical decision-making skills during this session? Do they seem comfortable with the freedom UUs have in response to many big questions?…
Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Participants’ Big Questions notebooks (see Session 1, Alternate Activity 1) Notebooks for new participants Pencils or pens Masking tape Description of Activity Notable Thoughts is the first Alternate Activity in each session….
Alternate Activity 2: Song - Building a New Way
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy(ies) of Singing the Journey, the supplement to the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: A recording of the song and a music player Preparation for Activity Decide how best to present the song “Building a New Wa…
Alternate Activity 3: Challenge Question
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Microphone(s), video camera(s) and tripod(s), real or simulated For studio set Backdrop made in Session 1 Painter’s tape or masking tape Leader Resource 2, WCUU Script – Brain Art Handout 2, Three-Course Meal Color pencils or fine-point markers;…
Alternate Activity 4: Learning About Confession
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Preparation for Activity Invite your minister or another adult in your congregation with knowledge about a religious confession or atonement practice to speak with the group. Prepare the adult to present about the religious practice clearly, briefly and without passing…
Alternate Activity 5: Stealing Bread
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Preparation for Activity Optional: Familiarize yourself with the Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Miserables….
Taking It Home: Right and Wrong
From Riddle and Mystery

I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after. — Ernest Hemingway There must always be a remedy for wrong and injustice if we only know how to find it. — Ida B. Wells Talk about the quotes. Do you agree with them? WHAT WE DID TODAY…
The Thief Within

Sarah Conover, Valerie Wahl

From Riddle and Mystery

“The Thief Within” is taken from Kindness, A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom (Spokane, Eastern Washington University Press, 2001). Many centuries ago, a young, novice monk traveled alone in the mountains of Tibet. He wandered about penniless, begging for a meager meal from time to time….
Handout 1: Today's Big Question
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Kid for the Day: You have two jobs. The first is getting your group excited about hearing today’s Big Question. The second is announcing the question. 1. Say to the group, “Give me a drum roll!” Then wait for a minute while the drum roll builds….
Handout 2: Three-Course Meal
From Riddle and Mystery

Here is an outline of a human brain. Think of it as your own brain, and imagine that your conscience is somewhere in it. Turn the outline into brain art by following these instructions: 1. Draw your conscience. Maybe it looks like a blob in the middle of your brain. Maybe it looks like something…
Leader Resource 1: Ethical Challenges
From Riddle and Mystery

1. You are shopping for a new outfit in a large department store. One outfit is exactly the design, color and price you want. Another outfit is more expensive and a different design, but it has a belt that would look great on the first outfit….
Leader Resource 2: WCUU Script - Brain Art
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Co-Anchors: Today’s WCUU program talks about how to tell right from wrong, and features an art show in which you will talk to artists about their brain art. Your job is to follow the script, read your parts and otherwise work together to keep things going….
Find Out More
From Riddle and Mystery

Right and Wrong The challenge question in this session asks how youth might teach a younger child about right and wrong. Explore research on children’s social reasoning on the website of the Museum of Science (Boston) Living Laboratory. Find brief descriptions of studies of school-age and younger…