Session 11: The Power of Action

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Sing to the Power, Grades 4-5

In This Section

Introduction
From Sing to the Power

Have a bias toward action—let’s see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away. — Indira Gandhi The power of fire is the power of action. When we work from fire power, we move forward to do what we can, even if we cannot see a way to fix…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Sing to the Power

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Story — Taking the Heat: 350.org and Action to Fight Climate Change 10 Activity 2: Video — “The Day the World Came Together, The 350 Movement” 5 Activity 3: Build a Solar Oven 25 Activity 4: Strategies for Fighting Climate Change 10 Faith in Action:…
Spiritual Preparation
From Sing to the Power

Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for several minutes, perhaps repeating a word or phrase to separate yourself from the activities of the day….
Opening
From Sing to the Power

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Cloth for altar or centering space Opening Words for Basket (Session 1, Leader Resource 1), and basket Symbol of fire, such as a candle, a flashlight, a depiction of the sun or any material that is red, orange…
Activity 1: Story - Taking the Heat: 350.org and Action to Fight Climate Change
From Sing to the Power

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Taking the Heat: 350.org and Action to Fight Climate Change” Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Read the discussion questions. Choose those that will best help the children share their…
Activity 2: Video - "The Day the World Came Together, The 350 Movement"
From Sing to the Power

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Computer with Internet access and large monitor or projection screen Preparation for Activity Preview the video clip on YouTube (2:10). Test equipment and Internet access, and queue the video clip to show the group. Optional: Preview the 90-second…
Activity 3: Build a Solar Oven
From Sing to the Power

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Building a Solar Oven — Instructions Cardboard pizza box, a ruler, a marker, a box knife or sharp scissors, aluminum foil, black construction paper, clear plastic wrap, and glue A stick, large straw, or wooden spoon A tin pie pla…
Activity 4: Strategies for Fighting Climate Change
From Sing to the Power

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Place newsprint where everyone will be able to see it….
Closing
From Sing to the Power

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Circle of Elements mural from Session 1 Leader Resource 2, “Action” Circle, and tape Circle of Elements Mural Instructions (Session 1, Leader Resource 3) Closing Words for Basket (Session 1, Leader Resource 5), and basket Opening Words for Basket…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Sing to the Power

Reflect on and discuss with your co-leader(s): How did the timing go today? What might we do to make it work better? What worked well? What didn’t? What connections did we make with the children? What connections did the children make with each other? How was this evident?…
Faith In Action: Exercising the Power of Fire
From Sing to the Power

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Digital still cameras and/or video cameras Preparation for Activity This activity is designed to implement the project planned in Sessions 9 and 10….
Alternate Activity 1: Sharing Joys and Sorrows
From Sing to the Power

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Attractive bowl Smooth stones, at least one for each participant Preparation for Activity Fill the bowl half-way with water. Set the bowl on a surface that will not be damaged if a small amount of water splashes out. Set out stones near the bowl,…
Alternate Activity 2: Wind-Powered Penny Races
From Sing to the Power

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Pennies (one per participant) Drinking straws Construction paper, lightweight cardboard, or manila folders Scissors, including left-handed scissors Tape String Clean, recyclable objects such as plastic yogurt lids, aluminum or tin cans, etc.
Taking It Home: The Power of Action
From Sing to the Power

Have a bias toward action—let’s see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away. — Indira Gandhi IN TODAY’S SESSION… the children heard about Bill McKibben the organization he founded, 350.org, to fight climate change. We learned about…
Taking the Heat 350.org and Action to Fight Climate Change
From Sing to the Power

What’s the biggest protest you’ve ever heard of? Maybe you’ve seen pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking in front of a sea of faces on the National Mall in Washington, D.C….
Leader Resource 1: Building a Solar Oven Instructions
From Sing to the Power

On the top of the pizza box, use a ruler and a marker to draw lines parallel to three sides of the box, 1” in from each edge. Use a box cutter or sharp scissors to cut along the three lines, to make a flap in the lid of a pizza box. Fold this flap up so it stands when the box lid is closed. Cut…
Leader Resource 2: Action Circle
From Sing to the Power

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing…
Find Out More
From Sing to the Power

Learn about Unitarian Universalist efforts to care for the Earth on the websites of Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth and The Green Sanctuary Program. The website for 350.orgBill McKibben’s website, find descriptions of his books, videoi…; he has given, including one on…

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Session 11: The Power of Action

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