Session 11: Science and Religion Part of Love Connects Us, Grades 4-5 In This Section Introduction From Love Connects Us Pleasure lies not in discovering truth, but in seeking it. — Leo Tolstoy This session explores the Blake covenant phrase to "seek the truth in love." Through the story of Joseph Priestley (1733-1804), participants discover our Unitarian heritage of seeking truth and our calling to act on our... Session-at-a-Glance From Love Connects Us Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Wondering Ritual and Meditation 10 Activity 2: Story — Joseph Priestley: Discovering Truth through Science and Religion 15 Activity 3: Potato Puncture 5 Activity 4: Incredible Marshmallow 5 Activity 5: Religion or Science? 10 Faith... Spiritual Preparation From Love Connects Us Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for about five minutes, perhaps repeating a word or phrase to separate yourself from the activities of the day.... Welcoming and Entering From Love Connects Us Materials for Activity Card stock in various colors Scissors, including left-handed scissors Hole punch String or yarn Pencils Optional: Markers Preparation for Activity Draw a question mark on card stock and cut it out to make a template.... Opening From Love Connects Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and matches or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Question mark ornaments cut from card stock (see Welcoming and Entering) Markers, pens, and pencils Preparation for Activity Set up chalice. Write the words of... Activity 1: Wondering Ritual and Meditation From Love Connects Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A gong, bell, or other musical noisemaker Preparation for Activity Read the guided meditation aloud several times so you become comfortable with the words and the pauses. Description of Activity A brief guided meditation sparks participants’... Activity 2: Story - Discovering Truth through Science and Religion From Love Connects Us Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "Discovering Truth through Science and Religion" Preparation for Activity Read the story several times so you will be comfortable sharing it. Description of Activity Tell or read the story to participants.... Activity 3: Potato Puncture From Love Connects Us Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Raw potatoes (one for each team of two or three participants) Plastic drinking straws (one for each participant) Preparation for Activity Try this experiment to become familiar with the process. Description of Activity Form teams of two or three... Activity 4: Incredible Marshmallow From Love Connects Us Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Clear glass jar with metal lid A hammer and a nail, and modeling clay A large marshmallow and a plastic straw, for each participant who will try the experiment (Optional: Kitchen vacuum sealer may be used instead) Preparation for Activity Using the... Activity 5: Religion or Science? From Love Connects Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape A roll of cellophane tape Leader Resource 1, Science, Religion, or Both? Preparation for Activity Print the leader resource and cut it into strips as indicated. Make three signs on sheets of newsprint: "SCIENCE,"... Closing From Love Connects Us Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and copy as a handout for all participants (or, email to parents). Description of Activity Bring the group to the circle.... Leader Reflection and Planning From Love Connects Us Reflect on and discuss with your co-leader(s): How did the timing go today? What might we do to make it better? How did the participants respond to the story? Did they "get" it? How did participants respond to the science experiments with air pressure? Was one more successful than the other one? Faith In Action: Planting a Tree From Love Connects Us Materials for Activity A tree seedling for planting Several shovels (ideally, one for each participant) Planting soil/fertilizer Garden hose and/or watering can(s) Preparation for Activity Talk to your congregation's minister, religious educator, building and grounds committee, and/or building st... Alternate Activity 1: Blowing It Out From Love Connects Us Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A tea light candle and a tall, cylindrical container (such as an empty salt or oatmeal container) for each team of three or four participants A lighter or matches, and extinguisher Preparation for Activity Try the experiment on your own so you are... Alternate Activity 2: Yarn Scavenger Hunt From Love Connects Us Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Yarn in at least five colors Preparation for Activity Arrange to use a large space that offers many places to hide yarn-ideally, an unfamiliar meeting place or an outdoor location. Calculate the maximum number of two- or three-person teams you will... Alternate Activity 3: Graffiti Wall of Wonder From Love Connects Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Large poster board or art paper, and tape Color markers Preparation for Activity Identify a place to post a Graffiti Wall of Wonder. If you have a wall space everyone can reach easily, tape blank poster board or art paper to the wall.... Taking It Home: Science and Religion From Love Connects Us Pleasure lies not in discovering truth, but in seeking it. — Leo Tolstoy IN TODAY'S SESSION... the participants learned about Unitarian minister and scientist Joseph Priestley whose story embodies our Unitarian heritage of "seeking the truth in love." We shared some of the things we wonder about... Discovering Truth Through Science and Religion From Love Connects Us We often hear that science and religion are two things that just do not go together. One relies on facts which can be proven. The other relies on faith and intuition. However, science and religion have a lot in common. They both inspire wonder, questioning, and seeking truth. To at least one man... Leader Resource 1: Science, Religion, or Both From Love Connects Us The Earth spins at 900 miles per hour while coursing through space at 68,400 miles per hour. Human nature is basically good, but sometimes good people do bad things. The nature of the Divine is beyond our understanding. The continents are moving under our feet, about 3 to 6 inches a year.... Find Out More From Love Connects Us Learn more about Joseph Priestley online at History Guide website, or the State of http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_h… history website. Discover more about oxygen and the other gases Joseph Priestley identified at the Jefferson Lab website. Julian Rubin's... PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Love Connects Us NEXT: Introduction Download all of Love Connects Us (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.