Session 3: Thanks Be for Trees!

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

No shade tree? Blame not the sun but yourself. — Chinese proverb This session focuses on the vital role trees play in our ecosystems, as imaginatively told in a story about a young girl in India (based on the Chipko—or “tree-hugging” —movement in India). Children will physically embody a tree…
Session-at-a-Glance
From World of Wonder

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Earth Ball Name Game 5 Activity 2: Story — Amrita’s Tree 10 Activity 3: Build a Tree 15 Activity 4: Acorn Guided Meditation 10 Faith in Action: Tree Planting Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Welcoming Web Game 10 Alternate Activity 2: Tree Rubbings 20…
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….
Opening
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and LED/battery-operated candle Cloth for altar or centering space Group Covenant (Session 1) Chalice-Lighting Words (Session 1) Leadership Chart (Session 2) Preparation for Activity Select an area where the group can comfortably sit in a…
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: Story - Amrita's Tree
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Amrita’s Tree” A large basket Objects to place in the basket that are related to the story such as a small globe or map to locate India, a tree branch or tree “cookie” (a cross section, like that of a slice of a tree), pictures of girls and…
Activity 3: Build a Tree
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A chime or rain stick Preparation for Activity Find a large, open space, preferably outdoors, with plenty of room for movement and where noise will not disturb others….
Activity 4: Acorn Guided Mediation
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Acorn Guided Meditation Acorns Optional: Music and/or quiet nature sounds, and a music player Preparation for Activity Gather acorns, at least one for each participant….
Closing
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity World of Wonder Mural from Session 1 Leader Resource 2, Mural Image—White Oak, and tape Closing song lyrics from Session 1 Taking It Home Preparation for Activity Print Leader Resource 2, Mural Image—White Oak. If possible, print in color. Download…
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 team 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: Tree Planting
From World of Wonder

Materials for Activity Information about various tree-planting campaigns Tree(s), shovels, water, garden gloves Preparation for Activity Explore tree-planting options at organizations such as the national Arbor Day Foundation, which charges a $10 membership fee and provides ten free trees upon…
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: Tree Rubbings
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Light-colored 11x17-inch paper, and pencils or crayons for all participants Pencils or crayons Tree identification books Preparation for Activity Select an outdoor site where the bark of several different types of trees is accessible to the children.
Alternate Activity 3: Getting to Know a Tree
From World of Wonder

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Lengths of clean cloth for covering eyes Preparation for Activity Select a safe, accessible outdoor location with many trees….
Taking It Home: Thanks Be for Trees!
From World of Wonder

No shade tree? Blame not the sun but yourself. — Chinese proverb IN TODAY’S SESSION… we learned about trees’ vital role in our lives. We used our bodies to build a tree and then experienced a guided meditation in which we grew from acorns to mighty oak trees. We represented our interdependence…
Amrita's Tree
From World of Wonder

Adapted from “Amrita’s Tree” in The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales by Dawn Casey and Anne Wilson (Cambridge: Barefoot Books, 2009). Used by permission. Amrita leaned back against her favorite tree and rested. After the glare of the desert sun, it was cool and green in the forest grove. Sometimes,…
Leader Resource 1: Acorn Guided Meditation
From World of Wonder

Today we built a tree using the outside of our bodies. Now we’ll go inside our imaginations. Let’s imagine what it might feel like to grow from an acorn into a mighty oak. Find a space where you are arms’ reach away from anyone else….
Leader Resource 2: Mural Image - White Oak
From World of Wonder

Photo by Karren Wcisel, used by permission. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From World of Wonder

Learn more about trees and how to protect them from the Arbor Day Foundation. Visit the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth or the UUA’s Green Sanctuary program to learn how UUs are involved in taking care of the earth.