Tapestry of Faith: Riddle and Mystery: A Program on the Big Questions for Grade 6

Activity 6: WCUU - Acting out Faith

Activity time: 13 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 1, WCUU Script
  • Paper for On-Air People's name cards, markers and string or tape
  • Timepiece
  • Optional: Music player for theme song (see Session 1)
  • Optional: Studio lights (flashlights will do)

Preparation for Activity

  • Retrieve real or simulated television studio equipment, backdrop made in Session 1 and other WCUU materials.
  • If necessary, arrange furniture, set up and test equipment and post backdrop. If you plan to record WCUU:
    • Make sure electrical outlets are nearby if you will need them.
    • Pay attention to lighting. Do not set On-Air People in front of a sunlit window.
    • If you are using on-camera microphones, direct On-Air People to speak toward the camera. Invite the Director or Floor Director to use the phrase "Quiet on the Set... Rolling... " followed by a silent countdown from five, using the fingers of one hand, ending with pointing to the On-Air Person to cue them to begin speaking.
  • Make enough copies of Leader Resource 1 for everyone who will have a role in the broadcast. The script has three On-Air People and an unlimited number of Pantomime People (who will not need scripts). If the group is small, co-leaders can be Studio Crew; if the group is large, the Studio Crew might include a director, a floor director, a camera operator, a sound engineer, a lighting director, a script supervisor and multiple production assistants.

Description of Activity

Explain the roles in this WCUU broadcast: three On-Air People (Co-Anchor 1, Co-Anchor 2 and NUUs (pronounced "News") Analyst), as many Pantomime Players as you care to use and a Studio Crew. The Studio Crew might include a director, a floor director, a camera operator, a sound engineer, a lighting director, a script supervisor and multiple production assistants.

Assign roles or invite volunteers for On-Air People and Studio Crew. You might offer the Kid for the Day a chance to be a Co-Anchor or the NUUs Analyst. Ask other members of the group to be Pantomime Players. Explain that they will follow the instructions of the Co-Anchors; they will be asked to act but not to speak.

Distribute scripts to all who will need them. You may wish to read through the script together with the On-Air People if not all participants are fluent readers. Other youth can finalize the studio set-up while the On-Air People prepare-but, do not encourage a lengthy or detailed rehearsal.

Tell the group when the show should end to keep the session on schedule; assign a Studio Crew member (director or floor director) to watch the time.

Begin the broadcast.

Afterward, ask participants how it went. Lead a discussion with this question:

The broadcast offered a few beliefs that Unitarian Universalists share. Can you name any others?

Affirm that Unitarian Universalist Principles and values are strong and clear, yet broad enough to embrace most Unitarian Universalists' individual beliefs, even when they conflict with one another.

Mention that as Unitarian Universalists we share a religious heritage that goes back more than a thousand years. Our history is another way we can answer the question, "What are we?"