This activity is inspired by the tradition of "trick or treating," but can be implemented in any season! It is an intergenerational activity that has opportunities for youth leadership. As children go searching door to door, they are greeted by different members of their community who will help teach them about the values through symbolic goodies.
Download the session as a pdf.
Goals for This Session
- Become familiar with the values of Unitarian Universalism
- Reinforce previous learning of the values
- Leadership roles for grades 7-12
- Have fun!
Preparation
- Determine the location for this session. Consideration must be given to the flow from one station to the next.
- Make signs to indicate what order the children, with their group leader, will visit each door or station.
- Determine which of the treats outlined at the end of the session you wish to use and purchase them, checking for allergies and restrictions to guide choices.
- Discuss the session with any youth and adults who would like to be greeters. Encourage them to practice the value they will represent.
- Give parents and caregivers information about the session in case they’d like to help.
Overview
Searching for Our Values can be run at any time of the year in either a “doors” format or a “stations” format.
In both formats, children will be visiting a door or a station and receiving a treat. If your congregation has at least 3 interior or outside doors that children can visit, you might choose the doors format, revisiting doors as needed.
If your congregation has a large indoor or outdoor space, you could set up stations that the children can visit as a group.
You will need greeters at each station or door. If there is interest, youth group members or those in grades 7-12 can be those greeters. Some youth or adults might wish to dress in costume to reflect the value they represent. Have fun with it!
It’s best to visit doors or stations in the same order you are teaching the Values. The Handy Guide video starts with Transformation, while JETPIG starts with Justice, for example. Make sure every door or station has a sign with a (child-facing) number so they know which door to visit next.
Opening
Gather children for their usual opening rituals. For chalice flames, it is strongly recommended to use battery operated candles because children will be leaving the chalice.
Introduce the Activity
Introduce the session saying something like, “Today we are searching for our values. First, we’re going to remind ourselves what our values are.”
Depending on whether you’re using the Handy Guide video, JETPIG, a song or some other method, you will review or introduce the values here. This should be done in under 5 minutes and only serves to set a foundation for recognition during the main activity.
If using the Handy Guide, you could watch the video and/or distribute the Handy Guide coloring book. If using another method, giving something that will help children practice at home with parents is a useful addition.
Next, tell the children that they are going to knock on a door and/or say this phrase for each door or station,
“Knock, Knock, we’re UU, please give us a value.”
If you’re running this around Halloween, you can teach
“Trick or treat, we’re UU, searching for our values.”
Repeat the phrase a few times with the children. Then tell the children they are ready to start searching and proceed to the first station or door.
Activity
After the children announce themselves at each station or door, they should be greeted by a greeter/treat giver. The greeter will announce their value and give a short description, listed below, before distributing treats. If the children have previous experience learning the values, the greeter could ask the children if they know what each value is before giving the short description. The adults leading the children from door to door might encourage the children to
say thank you before proceeding to the next door or station.
I give you the value of Transformation. Transformation means to adapt to a changing world and grow spiritually.
I give you the value of Equity. Equity means people get what they need to feel like equals.
I give you the value of Pluralism. Pluralism means we can hold many truths at once and learn from each other.
I give you the value of Justice. We need to be strong to dismantle racism and fight for justice.
I give the value of Generosity. Share the things you have that make a difference to others like faith, presence and resources.
I give you the value of Love. Love is the power that holds us together and runs through all of our other values.
I give you the value of Interdependence. This means that we remember we are all connected and depend on one another.
Closing
After collecting all Values treats, bring children back to the room where they began their opening ritual and form a circle. Go around the circle with each child naming their favorite value. Extinguish the battery operated chalice flame with usual closing words or say,
“We extinguish the chalice but take our values with us to live in our hearts every day.”
A policy of not eating/using treats until they are with their parents serves two functions:
- Decreases the risk of allergies, restrictions that were not disclosed or known
- Lets children teach their parents about the values.
Ideas for Values-Related Treats
Depending on budget and group needs, you might wish to mix and match from the lists.
Seven Principles Seed Paper
Paper shapes embedded with wildflower seeds are a fun and interactive way to teach the seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism.
In case it is tough to find all 7 values treats, I’ve developed a set of bookmarks (pdf) that is easy on ink so that you may print to supplement or substitute the treats. I would recommend printing on cardstock, punching a hole where indicated, and adding a ribbon.
Transformation
- Seed Paper
- Transformation Bookmark
- Glow Sticks
- Play-Doh®
- Razzles®
- Pop Rocks®
Equity
- Side w/Love stickers
- Assortment of fidgets
- Equity Bookmark
- Kit Kat® Snack Size (these look like the equals symbol)
Pluralism
- Pencil pouches
- Small boxes of crayons
- Trail mix or make your own mixed bag of treats
- Pluralism Bookmark
Side with Love Stickers
Show your love with these stickers featuring the Side With Love heart in trans pride colors, LGBTQIA+ rainbow or forest green. Pack of 24 2" round stickers.
Justice
- Justice Bookmark
- Superhero bracelets
- Justice League® pencils or favors
Generosity
- Visit your local bank and ask to withdraw money in half dollars
- Chocolate Gold coins
- Generosity Bookmark
Love
Interdependence
- Spider web charms - Give as is or make into simple bracelets
- Cotton Candy
- Homemade pretzel and chocolate spider webs
- Interdependence bookmark
- Sticky spider web favors (available during Halloween)
- York® peppermint patties with webs on them (available during Halloween)
While we offer these ideas for "treats" that help children make connections with the values - they may not be realistic for every congregation or every budget. You may need to substitute other treats or candy using what you have available (e.g. getting a stamp that represents the value).
In a pinch, just add any treat to a treat bag and include the associated bookmark.
- Spider web treat bags could hold any treat and represent Interdependence.
- Rainbow treat bags can represent Transformation, Equity, or Justice
- Treat bags with hearts can represent any and all values since love runs through all of them.
You can write the value on the bags or not.
Congregational Interconnections Curriculum Sharing Series
Curricula, stories, activities, games, created and shared by Religious Educators in the spirit of creative interchange, group learning, and emerging practices. Does your congregation have something that is working well? Please reach out!