Alternate Activity 3: UU Sources Quilted Night Sky Wall Hanging
Part of Love Will Guide Us
Activity time: 30 minutes
Materials for Activity
- Large drawing paper, and pencils
- Fabric in night sky colors
- Fabric in white, yellow, or silver
- Fabric for quilt backing (night sky colors or a printed, night sky pattern)
- Fabric markers
- Optional: Extra fabric; sew-on trim and other decorations; scissors, sewing needles, and thread
- Optional: Sewing machine with all necessary supplies
Preparation for Activity
- Find a quilter in your congregation and invite them to help with this project. Together with this person, design a quilt to include seven fabric squares depicting Source images created by the children.
- Purchase fabric. Cut fabric squares, including 7 night sky-colored squares and 7 smaller, light-colored squares. (You will sew each light-colored square on top of a night sky-colored square so the darker fabric frames the lighter square.)
- Cut drawing paper to the size and shape of each smaller, light-colored square.
- Optional: Set up a sewing machine, accessories, and supplies. Arrange for a quilter to join the group to sew squares together as the children complete them.
Description of Activity
Children integrate their learning about the Sources as they create a quilted wall hanging to display in the religious education space or to present to the congregation for display in a public area.
Assign a child or a team to illustrate each of the seven Sources. Give each team drawing paper and pencils to design an image to reflect their assigned Source.
As the children work, invite them to tell you about the images they are creating. Use questions such as:
- I wonder if you can tell me more about your drawing?
- I wonder what might be a good symbol for ... (fill in the blank with one of the Sources)?
- Do you have a favorite Source?
- Did you have a favorite story we heard in Love Will Guide Us? Which Source did it tell about?
- Do you have any favorite memories from our time together?
- What sorts of ways will you behave when you are guided by love?
When they are happy with their design, have children re-create it on their light-colored fabric square using pencil first, followed by fabric markers. Some children may be able to cut pieces of fabric or other sew-on decorations which they, or you, can stitch onto their square.