Part of Riddle and Mystery

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In This Section

Introduction
From Riddle and Mystery

I am always more interested in what I am about to do than what I have already done. — Rachel Carson Big Question: Where are we going? The past: Where do we come from? The present: What are we? The future: Where are we going? This session takes up the final question of Paul Gauguin's trilogy. It...
Session-at-a-Glance
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Questions about Tomorrow 10 Activity 2: Story — Rachel Carson Shapes Tomorrow 8 Activity 3: WCUU — The GUPUS Group 17 Activity 4: WIT Time — Controlling Our Lives 15 Faith in Action: Action of the Month Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts 5...
Spiritual Preparation
From Riddle and Mystery

Carve out a meditative moment for yourself. Relax. Take several deep breaths. Explore your own approach to today's Big Question, "Where are we going?" As you prepare to consider humanism with the youth, ask yourself what role humanist teachings play in your life. Consider ways that Unitarian...
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 with participant...
Activity 1: Questions about Tomorrow
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Leader Resource 1, Questions about Tomorrow Two white and two yellow index cards (or, any two contrasting colors) for each participant Preparation for Activity Copy Leader Resource 1. Post a blank sheet of newsprint....
Activity 2: Story - Rachel Carson Shapes Tomorrow
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 8 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "Rachel Carson Shapes Tomorrow" Preparation for Activity Read the story and print it out. Description of Activity Tell the group they will hear a story about Rachel Carson, one famous woman who believed she could and should help...
Activity 3: WCUU - The GUPUS Group
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 17 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 2, WCUU Script Paper for On-Air People's name cards, markers and string or tape Timepiece A cop...
Activity 4: WIT Time - Controlling Our Lives
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity One hundred pennies or other items for each participant Handout 2, Controlling the Future Preparation for Activity Decide whether to use the basic approach suggested here or use variations provided. Adapt Handout 2 as you wish....
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 to reflect on it. How was your mix of discussion and action? Does the group have behavioral issues you need to address? Are you able to draw ideas and responses from youth while still respecting their sense of privacy?...
Faith In Action: Action of the Month
From Riddle and Mystery

Materials for Activity Computer with Internet connection Preparation for Activity Go to the website for Bagala Beads. If the meeting space for sessions does not have internet capability, print out relevant pages to share with the group....
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 - O What a Piece of Work Are We
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy(ies) of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition Preparation for Activity Decide how best to present the song "O What a Piece of Work Are We," Hymn 313 in Singing the Living Tradition-reading the words, singing together...
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: Utopian Mural
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Mural paper and masking tape Color markers, oil pastels, paints and brushes or other drawing implements Tarp or newspapers Clean-up supplies Optional: Quiet background music and music player Preparation for Activity Choose a place for participants ...
Alternate Activity 5: Making Decisions
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 3, Decisions, Decisions Pencils/pens Optional: Clipboards Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 3 for all participants. Description of Activity Ask the group whether they think that a decision we make today can control what happens tomorrow.
Alternate Activity 6: Creating a Cosmic Story
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Leader Resource 3, Story Starter Lines Preparation for Activity Print out Leader Resource 3 and cut the starter lines apart. Choose one or more to use. Description of Activity Invite your group to create its own...
Taking It Home
From Riddle and Mystery

I am always more interested in what I am about to do than what I have already done. — Rachel Carson Talk about the quote. Is it true? Does every single person on Earth help decide where we are going together? WHAT WE DID TODAY Today's Big Question is "Where are we going?" We thought about that in...
Rachel Carson Shapes Tomorrow

Greta Anderson

From Riddle and Mystery

"Better Living through Chemistry." This was the motto of one of America's leading corporations in the 1950s. Chemicals could make better clothing. Chemicals could improve food—not to mention food packaging. Chemicals could increase farm yields and improve our environment. Chemicals had helped us...
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....
Handout 2: Controlling the Future
From Riddle and Mystery

Think about the following human age categories. How much control do you have in each one to help shape your own life and the future of the world? Age: Just born Age: 5 or 6 years old Age: The age you are now Age: 15 or 16 years old Age: 21 years old Age: 45 years old Age: 90 years old, or more...
Handout 3: Decisions, Decisions
From Riddle and Mystery

Here are 10 decisions you might have to make at some point in your life. Underline the ones you think are important or very important. Circle the ones you think it is okay to decide by chance or luck....
Leader Resource 1: Questions about Tomorrow
From Riddle and Mystery

1. The human effect is more important than the butterfly effect. 2. Humans have more control over what happens tomorrow than God does. (Leader: If you agree with this statement, you may be a humanist....
Leader Resource 2: WCUU Script
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Anchor: Today's WCUU program talks about where Unitarian Universalists think we (the world and universe) should go. When the broadcast begins, you are alone on camera, sitting or standing in front of a microphone....
Leader Resource 3: Story Starter Lines
From Riddle and Mystery

I was walking along the sidewalk minding my own business when I stepped on a wad of old chewing gum. My foot kept moving but my shoe . . . It's funny how the whole thing started. It was just a little, tiny fly that landed right on . . . I can usually throw a ball pretty well, but that time I did...
Find Out More
From Riddle and Mystery

Rachel Carson Online, find more information and links to other resources about Rachel Carson and her works, ideas and impact. Humanism HUUmanists"Reason and reverence" by William R. Murry, in the Winter 2006 UU World. It gives short introductions to humanism and religious naturalism as well as a...