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

Taking It Home: Speaking of Fair

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 it?

WHAT WE DID TODAY

Today's Big Question asks, "Is life fair?" Most people agree that life is sometimes unfair. Most UUs agree that what you do about unfair things is what counts most. We saw how some UUs around the country have tried to help people attain justice. We had a snack designed to make us think about fairness. Our WCUU broadcast was about giving advice to sixth graders who say that life is unfair for a variety of reasons. We shared some of our own ideas about fairness.

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD

People sometimes say it is important to play "on a level field." Try playing a game on a hill to find out what that is like. Maybe it is a pickup soccer game, where one team has to run up a hill to score a goal, and the other has to run down the hill. Is that fair? Does it become fair if the teams switch places halfway through the game?

BE AN UMPIRE

Volunteer to umpire or referee in a sports game. How easy is it to be fair?

REFLECT ON YOUR BELIEF

Is your school fair all the time to everybody in it? Can you think of any way to make it better? Talk with friends about the idea. Then ask a teacher. Talk to your parents, too, and maybe your principal. Talking is a good way to get started. Be willing to help with any plan that is decided on instead of expecting someone else to take action.

PHOTO CHALLENGE

Photograph something that makes you think of justice, or being fair. Maybe it is a courthouse, or the referee at a baseball game, or row of equal-sized slices of pie.

FAMILY FAITH IN ACTION

Find something unfair in your family and work to fix it. Are members of your family treating each other fairly? Sit down and talk about fairness together. If one person says something is unfair, what can other family members do? (If they agree, they can discuss some ways to make things fair. If they do not agree, they can at least talk calmly about it; sometimes that helps a great deal.)

Remember that "fair" does not always mean "the same" or even "equal." "Fair" does not necessarily mean "getting what you want."

Also remember, faith in action does not always have to be what you and your family do for other people. It can be what you do for each other, too.