Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Amazing Grace: A Program about Exploring Right and Wrong for Grade 6

Activity 5: Wall-to-Wall Questions

Part of Amazing Grace

Activity time: 8 minutes

Description of Activity

This activity asks youth to move around as a way to show their answers to some belief questions based on the first four sessions of Amazing Grace: Exploring Right and Wrong.

Ask the youth to help move aside any chairs or other furniture that might prevent easy motion. Explain that you are going to play wall-to-wall questions. You will ask a series of questions and you want the youth to show their answers by choosing and moving to one of two opposite walls. Say that there are only two choices for each question; standing in the middle is not an option.

Remind the group that there are no right or wrong answers. Show the youth the two walls where they are to go in response to the questions. Then ask the questions from the following list, stating after each question which wall represents which answer. Give youth a chance to talk about each question and their responses before moving on to the next one.

I believe ...

That I get to decide what is virtuous and sinful for me: yes or no

That my faith can help me decide what is right and wrong: yes or no

That people who are sinners go to hell when they die: yes or no

That a person can live without ever, ever doing wrong: yes or no

That there is a Devil who tempts us to do bad things: yes or no

That the Golden Rule can help me decide what is right and wrong: yes or no

That I have a trusted person I can talk with when I have trouble deciding what is right and what is wrong: yes or no

That I have the resources I need to make good decisions and be a virtuous person: yes or no.

A Caution: In UU groups, youth who express belief in God, the Devil, and heaven and hell are likely to be a minority. Before you ask about such beliefs, remind the group that UUs and UU congregations respect everyone's opinions. You might also ask if the group is comfortable speaking of such beliefs. If not, skip the questions and approach those subjects in ways that will not force youth to reveal ideas they would rather keep to themselves. If you are concerned that your youth will find these questions intrusive, or that they have not yet formed firm opinions on these matters, consider allowing them to place themselves wherever they like between the two walls and thereby take neutral positions.

Including All Participants

If some of your participants have limited mobility, devise a different way for the group to make their choices known. They might use a thumbs up for yes and thumbs down for no. Alternatively, you could provide everyone with two differently colored index cards: blue for yes and yellow for no, for example. However, do not assume that a youth using a wheelchair or crutches would not enjoy the movement of this activity as much as any other youth.