Session 26: Teddy Bear Month — Sick! Part of Chalice Children In This Section Introduction From Chalice Children Will you be there for me, comfort me tenderly? — from "When I Am Frightened," Hymn 1012 in Singing the Journey The theme of this session is "Caring for one another when we feel sick." Teddy Bear Month uses a third party, teddy bears, to gently introduce potentially scary concepts, such as being... Session-at-a-Glance From Chalice Children Activity Minutes Activity 1: Free Play 15 Activity 2: Circle Rhymes Transition 5 Activity 3: Circle Time 5 Activity 4: Story 5 Activity 5: Bear Blankets 15 Activity 6: Circle Games 10 Closing 5... Spiritual Preparation From Chalice Children Take time before the session and find a quiet place for reflection. How do you like to be cared for when you are ill? Do you prefer to be alone, or do you wish for contact? What are your go-to comfort foods? How does it feel when someone reaches out to you in a caring way?... Opening From Chalice Children Description of Activity In the Chalice Children program, sessions begin with Activity 1, Free Play, rather than a formal Opening. The chalice is lit in Activity 3, Circle Time. Activity 1: Free Play From Chalice Children Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Name tags Variety of free play options, such as toys, a puzzle, a storybook, manipulatives, dramatic play props, and markers and paper Items for free play activity relating to Teddy Bear Month Preparation for Activity Make name tags for the childre... Activity 2: Circle Rhymes Transition From Chalice Children Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Circle Rhymes posters Preparation for Activity Display the Circle Rhymes posters from Session 1. Description of Activity Using the same songs and chants each week will help the children transition smoothly and predictably from free play to Circle Time. Activity 3: Circle Time From Chalice Children Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice-lighting words, written on newsprint Chalice with tea light flame or other preschool chalice option Extra stuffed animals for those who did not bring one Bear beds made by children (Session 25, Activity 5, Bear Beds) and extra boxes to make... Activity 4: Story From Chalice Children Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Story book Preparation for Activity Choose a story from the following suggestions: Corduroy by Don Freeman, 1976. A slightly dusty teddy bear is fixed up and finds a new home. Teddybears and the Cold Cure by Susanna Gretz and Alison Sage, 1998. When... Activity 5: Bear Blankets From Chalice Children Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Felt or fabric squares, one for each child Items to glue on the blankets for decoration, and glue in squeezable bottles Trays to hold decoration items Moistened paper towels Optional: A shawl or blanket from your congregation's Prayer Shawl Ministr... Activity 6: Circle Games From Chalice Children Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Box of adhesive bandages Optional: Teddy Grahams Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the games and songs listed in Posters for Chalice Children, under Resources in the Introduction. Display any posters you have made. Description of... Closing From Chalice Children Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home handout Markers or crayons Preschool chalice Optional: Envelope, hole punch, and yarn or ribbon Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and make a copy for each child.... Leader Reflection and Planning From Chalice Children Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leader: How do we feel about what went on during this session? Why? What was the best part of this session? Why? What preparation do we need for the next session? Taking It Home From Chalice Children Will you be there for me, comfort me tenderly? — from "When I Am Frightened," Hymn 1012 in Singing the Journey IN TODAY'S SESSION . . . the theme was "Caring for one another when we feel sick." Teddy Bear Month uses a third party—teddy bears—to introduce some potentially scary situations in a... Find Out More From Chalice Children Learn about the origins of Prayer Shawl Ministry, which was created in 1998 by Janet Severi Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women's Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut.... PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Chalice Children NEXT: Introduction Download all of Chalice Children (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.