Activity time: 5 minutes
Materials for Activity
Preparation for Activity
- Find an alternative to the story.
Description of Activity
The original story included in this curriculum, The Sword of Wood, is, as far as we’re able to ascertain, a Jewish tale from Afghanistan. However, the words used to refer to the main character are offensive, especially in contemporary times. The story also doesn’t provide much context for the historical and cultural dynamics of the characters. These are some of the reasons Tapestry of Faith curricula have been sunset and no longer being updated. Although there are still many useful and valuable teachings in the curricula, the UUA is now working to develop a new curricular series and will be archiving Tapestry curricula soon.
Alternatives
In the meantime, please feel free to read the wider reasons for the sunset, as well as the webinar recording for the Safer Use of Tapestry. Since we’re no longer updating Tapestry of Faith curricula, for this lesson, we recommend you find other worthwhile stories on the theme of Faith, Hope, and Prayer from the Children’s Diversity and Justice Library.
Including All Participants
There are children for whom it is very difficult to sit still, even when they are paying attention to what is happening around them. This can be frustrating for teachers, as well as for the children who are expected to maintain stillness for prolonged periods of time. If you have children in the group for whom this is the case, consider adopting the use of “fidget objects” as described in Leader Resources. These fidget objects can provide a non-disruptive outlet for the need to move.
