Session 4: Making Chalices

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Chalice Children, in Preschool

In This Section

Introduction
From Chalice Children

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. — from “This Little Light of Mine,” Hymn 118 in Singing the Living Tradition There are many beautiful ways to express religion. One of our ways is the symbol of the flaming chalice. In this session, preschoolers will make a play-dough chalice to…
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: Play-Dough Chalices 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. There are many ways that people around the world practice and express their religion. Do you have any spiritual images or items around you, or can you imagine some of these items? Gaze at them either as real objects or in your…
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 story book, manipulatives, dramatic play props, and markers and paper Preparation for Activity Make name tags for the children you are expecting and set these out with a few blank na…
Activity 2: Circle Rhymes Transition
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Circle Rhymes posters Preparation for Activity Make and display Circle Rhymes posters (see Posters for Chalice Children, under Resources in the Introduction). Description of Activity Introduce the songs and chants you will use throughout the program.
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 (see Suggestions for Preschool Chalices section, under Resources in the Introduction) Feelings chart (see Posters for Chalice Children, under…
Activity 4: Story
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Story book Preparation for Activity Obtain this book: A Cup of Light by Pamela Baxter (2010). Include this book as many times as is appropriate to help young children understand the symbol of the chalice. Children of this age like repetition as…
Activity 5: Play-Dough Chalices
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Modeling clay in a variety of colors, enough for at least an adult hand-sized ball for each child Materials for decorating chalices, such as feathers, sequins, and chenille stems (pipe cleaners) Small white paper plates, one for each child Black…
Activity 6: Circle Games
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 10 minutes Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the games and songs listed in Posters for Chalice Children, under Resources in the Introduction. Display posters you have made. Description of Activity Gather in a circle on the floor. Play the games and sing the songs.
Closing
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home handout Markers or crayons Preschool chalice Optional: Envelope Optional: Hole punch Optional: Yarn or ribbon Preparation for Activity Copy the Taking It Home handout for each child. Bring the “lit” preschool chalice to the activity…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Chalice Children

Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leaders: 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: Making Chalices
From Chalice Children

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. — from “This Little Light of Mine,” Hymn 118 in Singing the Living Tradition IN TODAY’S SESSION … the theme was, “The chalice is our special symbol of our Unitarian Universalist faith, which we share with Unitarian Universalists everywhere.”…
Find Out More
From Chalice Children

Read the history of the Flaming Chalice on the UUA website. The Tapestry of Faith curricula have a few different “flaming chalice” stories. Do a keyword search in the Tapestry of Faith programs; select “children” as the age group to search….

Download all of Chalice Children (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 4: Making Chalices

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