Session 4: Seeking Knowledge

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Signs of Our Faith, Grades 2-3: Being UU Every Day

In This Section

Introduction
From Signs of Our Faith

I am not going to question your opinions. I am not going to meddle with your belief. I am not going to dictate to you mine. All that I say is, examine, inquire. Look into the nature of things. Search out the grounds of your opinions, the for and against. Know why you believe, understand what you…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity Minutes Opening 2 Activity 1: Religious Explorers 10 Activity 2: Story — Sitting on the Answer 10 Activity 3: Ritual of Prayer or Meditation 25 Activity 4: First Emblem 10 Faith in Action: Collecting Prayers and Meditations Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Leadership in Action — Question…
Spiritual Preparation
From Signs of Our Faith

What does religious exploration mean to you? How does it occur in the context of your involvement with Unitarian Universalism? Discuss this question and your own journey of religious exploration with your co-leader or another partner….
Opening
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Centering table A chime or bell Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Cloth for centering table Optional: Stoles, including extras for visitors Preparation for Activity Prepare to lead the…
Activity 1: Religious Explorers
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Puzzle pieces from Session 3, Activity 3 Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Obtain the puzzle pieces used in Session 3, Activity 3-the pieces on which children wrote their big questions, and the extra blank pieces….
Activity 2: Story - Sitting on the Answer
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copy of the story, “Sitting on the Answer” Optional: Fidget basket (see Session 1, Leader Resource 2, Fidget Objects) Preparation for Activity Read the story so you will be comfortable telling it….
Activity 3: Ritual of Prayer or Meditation
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, UU Prayers and Meditations A chime or bell Writing paper and pencils A binder notebook, and clear plastic sleeves or a three-hole punch Optional: Color markers or crayons and other art materials Preparation for Activity Select a meditati…
Activity 4: First Emblem
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Stoles Craft materials Optional: Leader Resource 1, First Emblem Optional: Children’s symbols of themselves (Session 1, Activity 3) Preparation for Activity Print copies of Leader Resource 1 and cut out a First Emblem image for each child, includin…
Closing
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Taking It Home Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Stoles, including extras for visitors Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and copy for all participants. And/or,…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Signs of Our Faith

What went well in this session? What would you do differently next time? What did the children understand about the use of prayer or meditation as a UU ritual? Read the next session and assign advance preparation, as needed.
Faith In Action: Collecting Prayers and Meditations
From Signs of Our Faith

Preparation for Activity Choose a date for the collection, and publicize it via congregational newsletter, website, and pulpit announcements. Description of Activity Participants collect the favorite prayers and meditations of members of the congregation and share them with the ministry team. On…
Alternate Activity 1: Leadership in Action - Question Board
From Signs of Our Faith

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape A display board and materials to decorate it, such as markers, construction paper, scissors, and tape) Preparation for Activity Decide the best way to create the question board. You can use a bulletin board, a dry erase board, or poster board…
Alternate Activity 2: Personal Spiritual Practice
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Say in these words, or your own: A spiritual practice is an activity you do regularly to deepen your spirituality, or connect yourself to something greater than just you. Prayer or meditation are common spiritual practices among Unitarian…
Alternate Activity 3: Question Me an Answer
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A recording of the song, “Question Me an Answer,” and a music player Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Listen to the song “Question Me an Answer.” You can hear it on…
Alternate Activity 4: Story - How Do We Know
From Signs of Our Faith

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copy of the story, “How Do We Know?” Preparation for Activity Read the story to become familiar with it. Description of Activity Children respond to a story that demonstrates no one has all the answers. Read or tell the story….
Taking It Home: Seeking Knowledge
From Signs of Our Faith

I am not going to question your opinions. I am not going to meddle with your belief. I am not going to dictate to you mine. All that I say is, examine, inquire. Look into the nature of things. Search out the grounds of your opinions, the for and against. Know why you believe, understand what you…
How Do We Know
From Signs of Our Faith

An adaptation of a traditional story, retold by Doug Lipman, used with permission. Some students of the Rabbi Baal Shem Tov came to him one day with a question. “Every year we travel here to learn from you. Nothing could make us stop doing that. But we have learned of a man in our own town who…
Sitting on the Answer

Eckhart Tolle

From Signs of Our Faith

From The Power of Now (Novato: New World Library, 2004). A beggar had been sitting by the side of a road for over thirty years. One day a stranger walked by. “Spare some change?” mumbled the beggar, mechanically holding out his old baseball cap. “I have nothing to give you,” said the stranger….
Handout 1: UU Prayers and Meditations
From Signs of Our Faith

Prayers Dear God, May I be kind, Strong and brave, Joyful, useful, loving, Honest and healthy. — Meg Barnhouse, used with permission Thank you for my friend next door And my friend across the street And please help me to be a friend To each and every one I meet. — Anonymous Here at the table now…
Leader Resource 1: First Emblem
From Signs of Our Faith

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From Signs of Our Faith

The UUA WorshipWeb has guidelines for writing your own prayers, meditations, and blessings. See the activity http://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/youth/families/workshop10/workshopplan/a… Family Prayers in Families, a UUA Tapestry of Faith curriculum for youth; participants use Rev. Gary Smith’s…