Session 2: Conscience: Hearing The Inner Voice

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Moral Tales, Grades 2-3

In This Section

Introduction
From Moral Tales

Why look for truth in distant lands? Seek it in the depths of your own heart. — Buddhist saying, adapted In this session, children are introduced to their own conscience as an inner voice that can guide them to make choices that effect goodness and justice. The quote that opens this session comes…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Moral Tales

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 2 Activity 1: Signing the Covenant 5 Activity 2: Introducing the Moral Compass 8 Activity 3: Active Name Game 5 Activity 4: Story Basket and Centering 5 Activity 5: Story — The Wise Teacher’s Test 5 Activity 6: Dramatic Exercise — What Happened…
Spiritual Preparation
From Moral Tales

Take a few moments to prepare yourself spiritually for leading the session. It will be helpful to read the short Buddhist story, “The Wise Teacher’s Test,” several times….
Welcoming and Entering
From Moral Tales

Materials for Activity Small notebooks, approximately two by three inches, for each child Markers Optional: Stick-on gems or other stickers Preparation for Activity Write the words, “My Acts of Goodness,” on the cover of the notebooks you have purchased for each participant….
Opening
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity If this is the first session of Moral Tales, choose a reading or song for the Opening. This is a good time to…
Activity 1: Signing The Behavior Covenant
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity The behavior covenant rules that children brainstormed in Session 1: We Are All One, transcribed onto a single, large sheet of paper or poster board Colorful markers Tape Preparation for Activity Transcribe the list of desirable behaviors that the…
Activity 2: Introducing The "Moral Compass"
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A bold marker, or two pieces of card stock and tape or a stapler Optional: A hand-held compass Leader Resource 1, Moral Compass Poster Preparation for Activity Make a poster-size Moral Compass as directed in the Leader Resource 1, Moral Compass Poster.
Activity 3: Active Name Game
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A light weight ball such as a small beach ball or other plastic or foam ball Preparation for Activity Arrange chairs in a circle. It is assumed in this game that the children may not know everyone’s name. Name tags should be put away. Description of…
Activity 4: Story Basket And Centering
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A large basket Objects to place in the basket that are related to the story, “The Wise Teacher’s Test,” such as an item suggesting Japan, a picture of Japanese Buddhist monks or a monastery, a book for children about Buddhism, or an old-fashioned…
Activity 5: Story - The Wise Teacher's Test
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of story,”The Wise Teacher’s Test” A chime, a rain stick, or another calming sound instrument Moral Compass poster Preparation for Activity Read the story a few times. Consider telling the story rather than reading it. Practice telling it aloud.
Activity 6: Dramatic Exercise - What Happened Next?
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A bell Preparation for Activity Make sure you can create a large enough space for this activity in your meeting space, or plan to bring the group to a larger space. You will need to move out of earshot to give the “Buddhist students” a chance to…
Activity 7: Story Sharing
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Preparation for Activity Review the questions you will ask the children. Try to think of a story or two from your own experiences that might stimulate the children to think of their own stories and help them to get to know you….
Activity 8: Introduction To The Gems Of Goodness Project
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Mosaic gemstones in a variety of colors Clear glass vase or jar A bright, solid color cloth Small notebooks, approximately two by three inches, for each child Markers Copies of the Leader Resource 2, Gems of Goodness Letter to Parents for all…
Activity 9: Clean-up
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Plastic tubs or baskets to store markers, pens, stickers and other art materials. Waste basket lined with a bag. Bag(s) for recycling paper products and/or empty plastic containers….
Closing
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: One copy of Singing the Journey, supplement to the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: Music CD or tape, and music player Optional: A guitar, piano or other instrument…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Moral Tales

Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. Share your thoughts with any other team teachers and your director of religious education. You might find it helpful to consider these questions: Which activities worked well?…
Alternate Activity 1: Candles Of Joys And Sorrows
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Large container, such as ceramic or metal bowl Play sand (can be found at local hardware store) or unscented cat litter Large number of candles Basket for candles Matches or lighter Preparation for Activity Fill your container with the play sand or…
Alternate Activity 2: Have You Ever... ?
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of Leader Resource 3, Have You Ever… ? Questions Preparation for Activity Print out a copy of the Leader Resource, Have You Ever… ?…
Alternate Activity 3: Barnyard, A Cooperative Listening And Moving Game
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Blank paper and marker Paper-cutter or scissors Blindfolds for all participants Preparation for Activity This activity is best done in a large room with a large, empty floor space. Push chairs or tables toward the walls to make as much space as…
Alternate Activity 4: Drawing "I See Myself... "
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Blank paper Crayons and/or color markers Preparation for Activity Provide paper and drawing implements at work tables….
Alternate Activity 5: Gems Of Goodness Cooperative Treasure Hunt
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Mosaic gemstones, enough for each child to find at least five or six Small sandwich bags for all participants Preparation for Activity Hide the gemstones around the meeting space before the children arrive, in places that will be easy to find.
Taking It Home: Conscience: Hearing The Inner Voice
From Moral Tales

Why look for truth in distant lands? Seek it in the depths of your own heart. — Buddhist saying, adapted In Today’s Session… We heard a Buddhist story about conscience, or inner voice, in which a child recognizes that no matter what he does, or who else is watching, he always sees his own…
Story 1 The Wise Teachers Test
From Moral Tales

Adapted from a Jataka tale (Buddhist). Once upon a time on the outskirts of a big city in Japan there stood an old temple. From a young age boys who wanted to study Buddhism would come to live in the temple and to learn from the master teacher, a Buddhist monk….
Leader Resource 1: Moral Compass Poster
From Moral Tales

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing. How to Make the Moral Compass Poster The Moral Compass poster is introduced in Session 2 with instructions for displaying and using it during each session of Moral Tales….
Leader Resource 2: Gems Of Goodness Letter to Parents
From Moral Tales

Dear Parents, Please be a tattletale! For the next few months, while we teach the Tapestry of Faith Moral Tales curriculum, your children will be encouraged to keep track of and name their own acts of justice and goodness. Each time the group meets, the children will have the opportunity to share…
Leader Resource 3: Have You Ever... Questions
From Moral Tales

Note: If any participants would be unable to easily “stand up,” invite the entire group to “raise your hand” instead of “stand up.” Stand up if you have ever… Had a birthday Eaten too much Had a haircut Had a haircut you didn’t like Had a bug fly up your nose Had a pet Held a frog…
Find Out More
From Moral Tales

Fidget Objects The idea of having a basket of “fidget objects” available during session activities comes from Sally Patton, author, workshop leader and advocate for children with special needs….