Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Love Surrounds Us: A Program on the UU Principles and Beloved Community for Grades K-1

Opening for Session 16, Our UU Principles

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Chalice and candle or LED/battery-operated candle
  • Ribbon sticks
  • Empty container
  • List of participants

Preparation for Activity

  • Add the chalice and candle to the altar cloth.
  • Place empty container in the center of the group area.

Description of Activity

This activity reinforces the UU Principles as children repeat them and match them with the colors.

Welcome participants. Invite them to name the colors on the ribbons sticks. Ask them to echo you, repeating each Principle after you read it:

We believe each and every person is important. (Participants repeat and hold up a red ribbon.)

We believe all people should be treated fairly. (Participants repeat and hold up an orange ribbon.)

In our congregations, all people are accepted and we learn together. (Participants repeat and hold up a yellow ribbon.)

We believe each person is free to search for what is true and right in life. (Participants repeat and hold up a green ribbon.)

Everyone deserves a say about the things that concern them. (Participants repeat and hold up a blue ribbon.)

We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world. (Participants repeat and hold up an indigo ribbon.)

We believe in caring for our planet Earth and every living thing that shares it with us. (Participants repeat and hold up a violet ribbon.)

Now read slowly through the Principles inviting participants to say them with you and then to remember (call out) the color that matches the Principle and hold up that color on their ribbon stick.

Finally, ask participants to wave their ribbon sticks to show how all the colors together make beauty.

Do the opening chant together:

Group chants "Love surrounds us every day. The Principles show us the way."

Leader says "______ please, put your ribbons away." (Child named returns their ribbon stick.)

Guide children, as they are named, to return their ribbon stick to the container and then return to the circle. This is a way to acknowledge the presence of each participant. If the group is large, say only several names, then direct the others to put away their ribbon sticks all together.

When all ribbon sticks are returned and the children are in the circle, explain that participants will get to take their ribbons sticks home today.

Light the chalice. Lead the group to say together:

Love surrounds the chalice and we are included by the light of the chalice.

Including All Participants

Provide wrist ribbons for children who are physically unable to wave a ribbon stick. Help attach wrist ribbons to wrists, legs, or fingers according to the mobility of the child.