Session 11: Touching All

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Riddle and Mystery, 6th Grade

In This Section

Introduction
From Riddle and Mystery

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. — John Muir Big Question: How am I connected with everything else? Sixth graders stand at the brink of adolescence, finding new relationships, new challenges and a new sense of the self’s place in…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Story — Henry Bergh 7 Activity 2: Concentric Circles 15 Activity 3: WCUU — Good Connections 20 Activity 4: WIT Time — Tee Shirt Design 10 Faith in Action: Working Together in Community Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts 5 Alternate Activity…
Spiritual Preparation
From Riddle and Mystery

With everything set to go, carve out a meditative moment for yourself. Relax. Take several deep breaths. Consider the connective nature of spirituality. In spiritual moments, we connect with deepest self, with other, with ultimate other, with Great Mystery….
Opening
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Handout 1, Today’s Big Question and (optional) a plain envelope “Today’s Big Question” sign Kid for the Day bag or box, card stock cut…
Activity 1: Story - Henry Bergh
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Henry Bergh” Preparation for Activity Read and print out the story. Description of Activity Read the story aloud. Then ask: Do you agree with Henry Bergh that people have a responsibility to treat animals well?…
Activity 2: Concentric Circles
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Washable fine-point color markers Leader Resource 1, Circle Possibilities Leader Resource 2, Connection Possibilities A copy of the Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources (Session 1, Leader Resource 1 or a poster …
Activity 3: WCUU - Good Connections
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Microphone(s), video camera(s) and tripod(s), real or simulated For studio set Backdrop made in Session 1 Painter’s tape or masking tape Leader Resource 3, WCUU Script — Good Connections Paper for On-Air People’s name cards, markers and string or t…
Activity 4: WIT Time - Tee Shirt Design
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity 8.5” X 11” sheets of paper Color pencils and/or markers Preparation for Activity If you will have time after this activity (approximately 45 additional minutes), and youth want to put their designs on real tee shirts, do the Preparation for Activit…
Closing
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Adapt the Taking It Home section and copy it for all participants….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Riddle and Mystery

Meet with your co-leaders after the session. How was the mix of discussion and action? Are you continuing to find ways to involve all youth fully in sessions despite any limitations they might have? Does the group have new behavioral issues you need to address?…
Faith In Action: Working Together in Community
From Riddle and Mystery

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Determine a congregational committee, such as Social Justice, that might partner with the Riddle and Mystery group on project which will involve the full congregation. Find the committee chair and ask that person if the…
Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Bag or box containing participants’ Big Questions notebooks (see Session 1, Alternate Activity 1, Notable Thoughts) Blank notebooks for new participants Pencils or pens Masking tape Preparation for Activity Retrieve participants’ Big Questions…
Alternate Activity 2: Song - The Earth Is Our Mother
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy(ies) of Singing the Journey, supplement to Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Optional: A recording of the song and a music player Preparation for Activity Decide how best to present the song “The Earth Is Our…
Alternate Activity 3: Challenge Question
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Optional: Write the challenge question on newsprint, and post. Description of Activity Challenge questions guide a deeper inquiry for especially thoughtful individuals and groups….
Alternate Activity 4: Making Message Tee Shirts
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 45 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Plain tee shirts, one for each youth plus a few extra (50 percent/50 percent cotton/synthetic or 100 percent synthetic) Fabric markers in a variety of colors Tee shirt designs youth made in Activity 4, WIT Time…
Alternate Activity 5: Connection Fruit Basket
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Preparation for Activity Set up a circle of chairs for the number of participants, minus one. Description of Activity Have participants explore ways they connect with one another, using a game of fruit basket. To play “regular” Fruit Basket, invite the group to sit in…
Taking It Home: Touching All
From Riddle and Mystery

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. — John Muir Talk about the quote. Do you agree with it? Can you think of anything that is not connected to something else in some way? Note that John Muir was a well known American naturalist and…
Henry Bergh
From Riddle and Mystery

Adapted from “The Story of Henry Bergh and the First Humane Society” in the curriculum Holidays and Holy Days by Charlene Brotman and Barbara Marshfield (Brotman Marsh-Field Curriculums). Copyright 1983. Used by permission. Sometimes, anger can be a good thing. Henry Bergh’s anger was….
Handout 1: Today's Big Question
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Kid for the Day: You have two jobs. The first is getting your group excited about hearing today’s Big Question. The second is announcing the question. 1. Say to the group, “Give me a drum roll!” Then wait for a minute while the drum roll builds….
Leader Resource 1: Circle Possibilities
From Riddle and Mystery

Family Circle of friends People we know Organizations we belong to (bands, dance troupes, sports team, our congregation, neighborhood association, social justice group, etc.) Town State Country Continent Environment World Galaxy Universe Whatever is beyond the Universe (e.g., God/Mystery/Spirit)…
Leader Resource 2: Connection Possibilities
From Riddle and Mystery

Liking Loving Taking care of (like the environment) Caring about (as with friends) Buying Selling Sharing Trading Listening Telling Enjoying Praying Playing with Working…
Leader Resource 3: WCUU Script - Good Connections
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Anchor: Today’s WCUU program is a news feature about how a lost soul named Lost Soul finds happiness. Your job is to follow the script, read your part and otherwise keep things going. When the broadcast begins, you are alone, sitting or standing in front of a microphone. [Director: Cue the…
Find Out More
From Riddle and Mystery

Henry Bergh Read the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography online article on Henry Bergh, by Mark Ferguson. At the bottom of the article, find links to more information. The website of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals describes the organization’s mission,…

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 11: Touching All

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