Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Sing to the Power: A Social Justice Program for Children Grades 4-5

Alternate Activity 3: Prayer Pinwheels

Activity time: 20 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Handout 1, Peace Pinwheel Template and Instructions
  • Pencils with attached eraser heads, and straight pins-one of each for every participant, plus some extra
  • Scissors (including left-handed scissors), color pencils or markers, and glue sticks or tape to share

Preparation for Activity

  • Copy Handout 1 for all participants, plus some extra. Use different colors of paper for a variety of pinwheels.
  • Read Handout 1. Make a practice pinwheel, so you can confidently help children make their own.
  • Optional: Watch a video online that shows how to make a peace pinwheel.
  • Optional: Explore the Pinwheels for Peace website to learn more about this annual project.
  • Optional: Invite a few adult volunteer to help with this activity.

Description of Activity

Distribute materials at work tables, including Handout 1 (peace pinwheel template) and a square of color paper for each participant. (Hold on to the pins and pencils until children are ready to assemble their pinwheels).

Invite children to decorate the pinwheels and draw pictures or write words expressing their hopes and prayers for peace. Then, help them cut out the pinwheel template and assemble their pinwheels.

After they have finished constructing their pinwheels, gather the group together, and ask everyone to blow on their pinwheels together, sending out their prayers for peace. Point out that in Hebrew, the language of the Hebrew Bible, the word ruach (ROO-ahk) means both "breath" and "spirit"-breath and spirit are the same. When we offer our breath to our prayers we offer our spirits. How might it change the world if we offer our breath/our spirit to prayers for peace?

Including All Participants

Children who are not able to write may dictate their thoughts to a leader or draw their hopes and prayers for peace.