Tapestry of Faith: Chalice Children: A Program about Our Unitarian Universalist Community for Preschoolers

Activity 5: Love Hearts

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • 8.5 x 11-inch white card stock pre-cut in a heart shape, one or more for each child
  • Red tissue paper torn in 1 x 1-inch pieces, a handful of pieces for each child
  • Basket or flat plate, one for every two or three children
  • Glue stick for each child
  • Black marker
  • Paper towels
  • Trash can with liner
  • Recycling bin
  • Optional: Digital camera or smartphone

Preparation for Activity

  • Cut heart shapes out of the white cardstock, one for each child, and print "Love is the spirit of this church [congregation]" on each heart. Leave space for writing children's individual comments during the activity.
  • Cut or tear red tissue paper into 1 x 1-inch pieces. Each child will need several pieces.
  • Place a basket or flat plate full of red tissue paper pieces near every two or three children.
  • Moisten the paper towels.
  • Move the trash can and recycling bin close by.
  • Optional: Prepare and test equipment for downloading and printing photos from a smartphone or digital camera. Ensure that you have obtained permission from parents or caregivers to share photos, if you plan to photograph children or artwork that includes identifying information about children. Ask the religious educator. Note: The UUA provides a media release you can download and provide to parents/caregivers.

Description of Activity

Children create a heart and decorate it with torn tissue paper.

Invite the children to be seated at the activity table. Give them each a white heart and a glue stick, and invite them to glue red tissue paper pieces on their heart, without covering the words. Share the words printed on the heart: "Love is the spirit of this church [congregation]." As the children create their tissue paper art, ask them to describe to you what they love. Ask them if they would like you to write what they say on their heart. If the child assents, write the child's words in quotes, so it's clear which words are theirs. If you have a camera, photograph children's finished artwork.

Invite the children to clean up. Show them where to set aside extra tissue paper that can be useful another time and where to stack extra hearts and store glue sticks. Invite them to wipe up any sticky glue at their place on the table with moistened paper towels and then wash their hands.

Including All Participants

If children have a very short attention span or finish a heart quickly, invite them to make additional hearts as gifts for people they love.