Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Part of Mosaic Lifespan Curriculum
Open
Open with Five Finger Breathing (YouTube 0:52 to center)
Once everyone is centered, light the chalice with these chalice lighting words:
As we light this chalice, we imagine a world where everyone has enough and everyone knows they are loved.
May it be so.
Read
Ways To Welcome by Linda Ashman & Pictures by Joey Chou—Read Aloud (YouTube, 2:45)
After the book, ask the children to think of when they have felt welcome or unwelcome. Can they think of ways to welcome new people into their communities?
Watch
Do
Listen to Meg Barnhouse’s House of Love. (YouTube, 3:42)
After listening to the song, say to students something like: “now we’re going to imagine our own House of Love. Who would be in your house of love? How big would it be? Would it be in a city or the country? Would there be animals? Could you create a whole town of love? What would that look like?” Then use recycled materials for each child to create a “house of love.” Discuss how all the houses together can create a whole community of love. Ask the children if they can work as a team to create a community of love.
Alternatively, offer blank gift bags or recycled gift bags. In each bag, the children could draw pictures of their gifts and put them in the bags and then decorate the bags with craft materials.
Consider distributing drawing materials early in the session to keep little hands busy during the stories.
Close
Sing or Listen to “Come and Go With Me” (YouTube, 3:46)
Invite children to clean up and then join a circle to sing. Extinguish the chalice.
Take Home
Invite children to take home their Houses of Love and with their parent/caregiver’s permission use more recyclable materials at home to create a community of love at home. Invite children to share their vision for a community of love with their families.