Session 15: Protect the Earth Part of Faithful Journeys In This Section Introduction From Faithful Journeys In this session, participants hear about the Change the World Kids, an action club started by children of the North Universalist Chapel Society congregation in Vermont. They learn about the club's work to rehabilitate a bird migratory channel in Costa Rica—an example of action to promote the... Session-at-a-Glance From Faithful Journeys Activity Minutes Opening 2 Activity 1: Faithful Footprints 5 Activity 2: Move It! Penguins and Icebergs 8 Activity 3: Story Basket and Centering 5 Activity 4: Story — The Change the World Kids 10 Activity 5: Creative Exploration — Make a Difference Posters and Reusable Cloth Bags 25 Faith in... Spiritual Preparation From Faithful Journeys Spend a few minutes sitting quietly in a natural setting or, a quiet indoor spot. Light a candle or chalice if it would be helpful in creating sacred space. Visualize a web connecting all living things and imagine yourself as part of it.... Opening From Faithful Journeys Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers and tape Posters of the Unitarian Universalist Principles in both adult and children's language, or copies of Session 1, Handout 1 for all participa... Activity 1: Faithful Footprints From Faithful Journeys Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Push pins, glue stick or tape Faithful Journeys Path (Session 1, Leader Resource 2) Cutouts of footprints and (optional) wheelchair tracks, at least one for each participant, in a variety of colors (Session 1, Leader Resources 3 and 4) Markers... Activity 2: Move It! Penguins and Icebergs From Faithful Journeys Activity time: 8 minutes Materials for Activity Large sheets of newsprint, one per participant Music and appropriate player Preparation for Activity Choose music to play and pause to play the game. Create a wide open space. Place sheets of newsprint on the floor with space between them.... Activity 3: Story Basket and Centering From Faithful Journeys Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A large basket Objects related to the story "The Change the World Kids," such as a globe or world map, a picture of the Change the World Kids (Leader Resources 1 and 2), a toy bird, pictures that represent alternate energy sources or green practices... Activity 4: Story - The Change the World Kids From Faithful Journeys Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "The Change the World Kids" A chime, rain stick, or other calming sound instrument A large, shallow dish filled with water, to demonstrate ripple effect A globe or world map Optional: Picture of a spider web or a toy spider and ... Activity 5: Creative Exploration - Make a Difference Posters and Reusable Cloth Bags From Faithful Journeys Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity "Make a Difference" Posters Sheets of blank poster paper for all participants Copies of Handout 1, Bright Ideas to Protect the Web, for all participants Scissors (including left-handed scissors), glue sticks, and markers or colored pencils to share... Closing From Faithful Journeys Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Faithful Journeys Path Signpost for Session 15 (Leader Resource 3) and pins, glue stick or tape Copies of Session 1, Leader Resource 8, UU Principles Song, for all participants Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Participants' list of simple ways ... Leader Reflection and Planning From Faithful Journeys Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. Share your thoughts with any other team co-leaders and your director of religious education. You might consider: Which activities worked well? What didn't work so well?... Faith In Action: It's Easy to Be Green - Sale and Fundraiser From Faithful Journeys Materials for Activity Donations of items to sell Gently used clothing or household items Alternative energy items, such as clotheslines and clothespins, clothes-drying racks, or solar-powered appliances Environmentally friendly products, such as biodegradable soap, detergent, or shampoo;... Alternate Activity 1: Interdependent Web Game with Yarn From Faithful Journeys Activity time: 8 minutes Materials for Activity A large ball of yarn Description of Activity Creating their own web of yarn makes the notion of interconnectedness tangible for a group of seven-, eight- and nine-year-olds. Invite the children to sit in a circle. When everyone is settled, hold the... Taking It Home From Faithful Journeys No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. — The Change the World Kids When we see what others are doing to change the world, when we affirm each other's longing for a healthier future, when we join hands to work together to make a difference, we are choosing hope instead of despair. The Change the World Kids From Faithful Journeys Thanks to the Change the World Kids, Meg Miller and Phyllis Arata-Meyers for information and permission to tell their story. Place a large, shallow dish filled with water in front of you, where children can see it. Place a globe or world map within your reach. Phebe and Nika were two girls, both... Handout 1: Poster - Bright Ideas to Protect the Web From Faithful Journeys Turn off lights when you leave a room. Recycle paper, bottles, and cans. Unplug your charger after your cell phone is charged. Turn off water in the sink while you brush your teeth. Change to energy-efficient light bulbs. Bike, walk, or take a bus instead of driving a car.... Leader Resource 1: Picture of the Change the World Kids in Vermont From Faithful Journeys The Change the World Kids helped a woman in Vermont who could not afford to repair her house. These two girls learned how to install a new membrane to fix the roof. Others helped fix the plumbing, insulation, and electrical wiring in the house and build a new bathroom, with the help of adult... Leader Resource 2: Picture of the Change the World Kids in Costa Rica From Faithful Journeys Photo courtesy of the Change the World Kids. The Change the World Kids purchased a parcel of land to help reforest a migratory corridor in Costa Rica used by many species of birds. Here, a group from Vermont fills sleeves of dirt to plant fruit trees, at the Change the World Kids Vivero (tree... Leader Resource 3: Signpost for Session 15 From Faithful Journeys Cut out the signpost and attach to the Faithful Journeys Path. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing. Find Out More From Faithful Journeys The Change the World Kids Started by children in the religious education program of North Universalist Chapel Society (Woodstock, Vermont), the Change the World Kids is now a self-governing, 501(c)3-incorporated action club of middle- and high-school-age youth in Vermont's Upper Valley region.... PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Faithful Journeys NEXT: Introduction Download all of Faithful Journeys (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.