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

Activity 3: Circle Time

Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Chalice-lighting words, written on newsprint
  • Chalice with tea light flame or other preschool chalice option
  • Feelings Chart or Feelings Flashcards by Todd Parr

Preparation for Activity

  • Post the chalice-lighting words on the wall near the Circle Time area.

Description of Activity

Bring the chalice into the circle, either on the floor or on a small table or stand. Say, in these words or your own:

Welcome to Circle Time! First we light our chalice.

Point out where your chalice-lighting words are displayed. Repeat your chalice-lighting words as you "light" the chalice:

We light this chalice for the warmth of love, the light of truth and the energy of action.

Say, in these words or your own:

Now we share our names and feelings. How are each of you feeling today? We will go around the circle and each say our name and point to how we're feeling today on the Feelings Chart [or Feelings Flashcard]. If you would rather not share today, you may say, "No, thank you."

Once everyone who wishes to has shared, say, in these words or your own:

For all the feelings that we feel today, we know that we have our friends, our families, and our church [congregational] family to share them with.

Introduce today's theme, saying something like:

Today we celebrate love for Valentine's Day. Church [our congregation] is a place where we learn about love. It is a place where we practice loving kindness. Valentine's Day is a special day for sharing our love.

Can you tell me who loves you? How do you show love?

On Valentine's Day, people give cards, gifts, and flowers to those they love.

Say that love can be also expressed by sharing with someone, letting them go first, helping someone, and saying kind words. Then say:

Our church [our congregation] loves love! We have a program called Standing on the Side of Love where we help other people. There's lots of love to go around, especially on Valentine's Day. We are going to make Valentine's cards and Valentine's necklaces. First, let's read a story.