Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Windows and Mirrors: A Program about Diversity for Grades 4-5

Alternate Activity 2: Our Faith Family Tree

Activity time: 25 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • A large sheet of poster board
  • Appropriate arts and crafts materials, including copies of Handout 1, Faith Symbols
  • Optional: Photos or other items participants have brought from home to represent their faith heritage

Preparation for Activity

  • Identify a place where the group can work on a large poster (such as several work tables, pushed together) and a place to display the Faith Family Tree. You may wish to coordinate the display with an exhibit of participants' Window/Mirror Panels.
  • Optional: Prepare the poster board by writing "Windows and Mirrors Faith Family Tree" as the title. You might cut out and attach a flaming chalice from Handout 1 (it could serve as the trunk of a Faith Family Tree).

Description of Activity

Tell the children they will make a Faith Family Tree to show the diversity of faith traditions represented in the group.

Show the group the poster board. Explain that the flaming chalice will be part of the poster. Children may use other faith symbols, including more flaming chalices, or images they draw or have brought from home to show the diverse faith traditions that feed the Unitarian Universalism we share in this group.

Invite volunteers to share information about their faith heritage and tell how they want to represent it on the Faith Family Tree. Allow the group to suggest symbols for one another to use, as well as suggest ideas for the design of the tree and where the flaming chalice ought to go.

Invite children to cut out, draw and/or decorate their own faith heritage images. As children finish, help them attach their pieces to the Faith Family Tree. You might have some children assemble the tree instead of making their own individual faith heritage images.

As the Faith Family Tree nears completion, encourage conversation about the various faith traditions represented. Invite children to share about how they experience them at home and/or in the congregation.

Including All Participants

Children will need to know something about their faith heritage to represent it on a poster. If you have not sent the Faith Heritage Letter to Parents (Leader Resource 1) or you have reason to believe some children will not describe their faith heritage, invite just a few volunteers to share orally about their faith heritage. Make sure you have assignments-e.g., attaching faith symbols to the poster, decorating the poster title or hanging the poster for display-for children who opt not to add a faith heritage image.