Session 8: Speaking of Fair

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

Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work. — William Arthur Ward Big Question: Is life fair? This session’s Big Question may be the only one in Riddle and Mystery…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Snack Time 10 Activity 2: Story — UUs in Action 12 Activity 3: WCUU — The UU Advisor 20 Activity 4: WIT Time — Sharing Stories 10 Faith in Action: Teaching Fairness Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts 5 Alternate Activity 2: Song — There Is…
Spiritual Preparation
From Riddle and Mystery

Carve out a meditative moment for yourself. Relax. Take several deep breaths. Recall, early in your life, when you began to understand that life is unfair. Recall a time when you saw your own life as abundant, safe or blessed, in comparison to others, and recognized unfairness….
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: Snack Time
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Bag containing three cookies Second bag with enough cookies for the full group Preparation for Activity Decide whether to take a safe or challenging approach to distributing the three-cookie snack: Safe approach: Produce the supply of three cookies…
Activity 2: Story - UUs in Action
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 12 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “UUs in Action” Preparation for Activity Read the story-five real stories of UU activism. Consider adding a true story of your own congregation’s social justice work….
Activity 3: WCUU - The UU Advisor
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 1, WCUU Script — The UU Advisor Leader Resource 2, Dear Dr. Phayre and a basket to hold cut-up…
Activity 4: WIT Time - Sharing Stories
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Announce that it is WIT Time, when each youth has a chance to consider and say “What I Think.” Ask youth to share stories about something unfair that happened to them or to a friend….
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? How much did youth seem to take in the Unitarian Universalist value of working for justice? If the youth revised the process for selecting the Kid for the Day, make sure all co-leaders of future sessions know…
Faith In Action: Teaching Fairness
From Riddle and Mystery

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape A computer with Internet access and/or copies) of Teaching Tolerance magazine. Preparation for Activity Obtain a copy(ies) of Teaching Tolerance magazine. Your religious educator or members of your congregation may receive it….
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 Description of Activity Notable Thoughts is the first Alternate…
Alternate Activity 2: Song - There is More Love Somewhere
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy(ies) of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: A recording of the song and a music player Preparation for Activity Decide how best to present the song “There Is More Love Somewhere,” Hymn 95 in Singing the…
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: Fairest of All
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Fairest of All and pencils/pens for all participants Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 2 for all participants. Description of Activity This activity asks participants to imagine a fairest-of-all Universe, where all countries and all…
Alternate Activity 5: Looking Back
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Glance back over the Riddle and Mystery sessions the group has covered. Post a sheet of blank newsprint. Description of Activity Ask the group to review some topics you have explored in the first…
Taking It Home: Speaking of Fair
From Riddle and Mystery

Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work. — William Arthur Ward Talk about the quote. Do you agree with it? Do you think most Unitarian Universalists agree with…
UUs in Action
From Riddle and Mystery

The First Situation is based on “Taking Justice to the Community” by Kimberly French, in UU World, September/October 2002. The Second Situation is based on “Work Camp” by Heather Robb, in UU World, September/October 2002. The Fourth Situation is based on First Situation: Life is unfair….
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: Fairest of All
From Riddle and Mystery

Do you remember the terrible stepmother in Snow White? She wants to be the “fairest one of all.” Unfortunately, she was talking about her looks, not about treating everybody equally. Imagine that you are in charge of the whole Universe. You want to make it the fairest place it can be….
Leader Resource 1: WCUU Script - The UU Advisor
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Anchor: Today’s WCUU broadcast explores UU answers to today’s Big Question: “Is life fair?” Several candidates will try out for the position of Dr. Phayre, a TV advice person who answers viewer questions on-air, from a UU point of view. The current Dr. Phayre, a WCUU celebrity, is now…
Leader Resource 2: Dear Dr. Phayre
From Riddle and Mystery

1. Dear Dr. Phayre, I saw a kid cheat on a test in my sixth grade class! The kid got an A, and I got a C, and THAT’S NOT FAIR! If I tell on the kid, everybody will hate me. What should I do? 2. Dear Dr. Phayre, I tried out for my sixth grade play last week….

Download all of Riddle & Mystery (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 8: Speaking of Fair

Tapestry is Sunsetting

Shop Books & Gifts

Unitarian Universalists of Color Living into a Groundbreaking Journey

Get Inspired for Worship

Love Invites Us

Find Faith Development Tools

Separated by Border