Talk About Race
Part of Mosaic Lifespan Curriculum
Hands, Eyes, Heart Chalice Lighting with Hand Motions
Adapted by Chris Johns
As we light this chalice(make chalice hands - wrists together, hands bent, fingers pointing up)
May we witness the beauty in all people (cover and uncover eyes)
Love the differences between us(hands over heart)
And build the beloved community together.
(hands out, palms up)
Check-In
Preparation: If some children will be joining you virtually, ask grownups to have circles in various shades of brown and tan cut out or multicultural crayons available for the children at the start of class.
Once the children are welcomed and gathered, teach the chalice lighting one line at a time using call and response.
Once the chalice is lit, invite them to share their name, something that happened the week before or something coming up and something silly - like their favorite ice cream or type of cookie. happened the week before or something coming up and something silly - like their favorite ice cream or type of cookie.
Read
The Skin You Live In (YouTube) by Michael Tyler, Read by the author
Discuss: What did you like best about this story? What was surprising? Do you have any questions?
Watch
Optional: Movement break before video
Explaining Race: #Comingtogether (YouTube), from Sesame Street explains how different pigments in leaves and skin making the beautiful array of colors we see all around us.
Do
Circle of Friends Activity: Encourage the children to select the colors of paper that represent their communities.
Materials can be purchased at Kaplan
Close
Closing Song: How to Be an Upstander (YouTube)
Closing Thoughts?
Extinguishing the Chalice:
We extinguish this chalice but not the work of building the beloved community.
Thank the children for being in class with you today. Ask if there is anything any of them would like to ask or say before the chalice is extinguished. Is there something that they will want to share with their grownups or friends outside of class?
Take Home
Take Home Note
Hi friends! There was a time when the focus in the UU classrooms was “we are all the same.” But now we know how damaging “color blindness” is to BIPOC children, families and communities. Not only is it okay for you and your children to talk about race, it is important - even when it feels hard.This week we encouraged the children to consider the diversity all around them in ways while decentering whiteness. Here are some ideas to help you continue the conversation at home! As you listen to a story or try an activity, be sure that you are also encouraging discussion and questions.
Activity: Apple Tasting From Kids Konnect
Read: All the Colors We Are by Katie Kissinger
Activity: Creating Your Own Diversity Poems
It has been my experience that pieces of paper given out at the end of class often get lost. Best to email your Take Home later that day for families to engage on over the course of the week. But! In case you have visitors, you may want to have a couple on hand which is also a great way to introduce the program to newcomers