Session 2: Nature's Partnerships

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of World of Wonder, Grades K-1

In This Section

Introduction
From World of Wonder

Your deepest roots are in nature. No matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with the rest of creation. — Charles Cook, founder and director of Wild Earth Adventures This session introduces the importance of partnerships in the web of life.
Session-at-a-Glance
From World of Wonder

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Earth Ball Name Game 5 Activity 2: Introducing the Leadership Chart 10 Activity 3: Story — Swimming Home 10 Activity 4: Sea Anemone and Clown Fish Partner Game 10 Activity 5: Nature’s Partnership Puppets 15 Faith in Action: Help the Honeybees Closing 5…
Spiritual Preparation
From World of Wonder

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. When you feel settled and relaxed, consider: What partnerships are important in your life?…
Opening
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Chalice and LED/battery-operated candle Cloth for altar or centering space Optional: Poster board Group Covenant from Session 1 Newsprint or poster with Chalice-Lighting Words from Session 1 Preparation for Activity Sele…
Activity 1: Earth Ball Name Game
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Inflatable earth ball or globe, available from http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-k…; Preparation for Activity Inflate the earth ball or globe. Description of Activity This activity engages active learners while…
Activity 2: Introducing the Leadership Chart
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Creating the Leadership Chart Poster board, card stock, markers, adhesive Velcro tape (available at hardware and craft stores) and scissors Optional: Laminator for poster board, and dry erase markers in place of card stock…
Activity 3: Story - Swimming Home
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Swimming Home” A large basket Objects to place in the basket that are related to the story such as a book about the ocean, plastic fish, pictures of a sea anemone and a clown fish A chime or rain stick Optional: Fidget Basket (Session 1,…
Activity 4: Sea Anemone and Clown Fish Partner Game
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Ocean sounds CD and CD player Preparation for Activity Find a space large enough for children to run around, outdoors if possible. Description of Activity This activity reinforces the concept of partnership with an active game that is…
Activity 5: Nature's Partnership Puppets
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Nature’s Partnerships Key Handout 1-8, Nature’s Partnerships Wooden craft sticks, glue, and scissors, including left-handed scissors Preparation for Activity Print Leader Resource 2, one copy per leader. Read the descriptions and…
Closing
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity World of Wonder Mural from Session 1 Leader Resource 3, Mural Image — Clown Fish, and tape Closing song lyrics from Session 1 Taking It Home Preparation for Activity Print Leader Resource 3, Mural Image — Clown Fish. If possible, print in color.
Leader Reflection and Planning
From World of Wonder

Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. Share your thoughts with any other leaders and the religious educator. You might find it helpful to consider these questions: Were all children actively engaged? If not, who was not and why?…
Faith In Action: Help the Honeybees
From World of Wonder

Materials for Activity Optional: Copies of The Bee Book Optional: Closing Song lyrics (Session 1) Optional: Video and/or still cameras Preparation for Activity Review a website on how you can take action to help the honeybees and choose activities for the event….
Alternate Activity 1: Welcoming Web Game
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Ball of yarn Preparation for Activity Clear an open space where the group can sit in a circle. Make sure you know each participant’s name so you can prompt others in the circle. Description of Activity This activity makes the concepts of…
Alternate Activity 2: Nature Walk
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Lunch-sized paper bags, cloth bags, or small baggies, one per child Optional: Flashlights, magnifying glasses, or handheld dental mirrors Preparation for Activity Inform families of your plan to bring the children outdoors. Arrange all necessary…
Taking It Home: Nature's Partnerships
From World of Wonder

Your deepest roots are in nature. No matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with the rest of creation. — Charles Cook, founder and director of Wild Earth Adventures IN TODAY’S SESSION… we learned about some interesting partnerships in…
Swimming Home

Janeen K Grohsmeyer

From World of Wonder

In the warm salty waters of the great blue sea, little orange and white fish called clown fish played their favorite game: chasing each other round and round, swimming as fast as they could go. Yet always they stayed close to their sea anemone home. Their sea anemone had thousands of soft white…
Handout 1: Nature's Partnerships
From World of Wonder

For use with Activity 5, Nature’s Partnership Puppets. Clown Fish and Sea Anemone Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 2: Nature's Partnerships
From World of Wonder

For use with Activity 5, Nature’s Partnership Puppets. Ostrich and Zebra Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 3: Nature's Partnerships
From World of Wonder

For use with Activity 5, Nature’s Partnership Puppets. Honey Bee and Flower Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 4: Nature's Partnerships
From World of Wonder

For use with Activity 5, Nature’s Partnership Puppets. Tree and Human Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 5: Nature's Partnerships
From World of Wonder

For use with Activity 5, Nature’s Partnership Puppets. Aphid and Ant Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 6: Nature's Partnerships
From World of Wonder

For use with Activity 5, Nature’s Partnership Puppets. Barracuda and Cleaning Fish Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 7: Nature's Partnerships
From World of Wonder

For use with Activity 5, Nature’s Partnership Puppets. Shrimp and Goby Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 8: Nature's Partnerships
From World of Wonder

For use with Activity 5, Nature’s Partnership Puppets. Crocodile and Plover Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 1: Creating the Leadership Chart
From World of Wonder

On a sheet of poster board, make a chart of leadership roles the participants can share during this program. Leave enough space next to each leadership role to designate a volunteer. Make a name tag for each participant, plus a few extra for newcomers, using card stock….
Leader Resource 2: Nature's Partnerships Key
From World of Wonder

Sea Anemone & Clown Fish The sea anemone has poisonous tentacles which keep most fish away from it. The clown fish has special mucus that protects it from the poison. The clown fish lives by the sea anemone and is kept safe from larger fish….
Leader Resource 3: Mural Image Clown Fish
From World of Wonder

Clown Fish image by Adrian Pingstone from Wikipedia. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From World of Wonder

These online articles tell more about mutualism, symbiosis, and partnerships in nature: “Mutualism Makes Species … Flourish” and “Mutualism.”A Recycling Revolution. Learn how to “start a sea change” on the website of the http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/marine-debris/international-co……