Workshop 3: Trees: Connected to All Life

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Circle of Trees

In This Section

Introduction
From Circle of Trees

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. — Ralph Waldo Emerson This workshop continues the exploration of the benefits of trees and what they contribute to life on our planet….
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Circle of Trees

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: Rise Up for Trees / Team Up for Trees 5 Activity 2: Guided Imagery — Among the Trees 5 Activity 3: Story — Trout Are Made of Trees 10 Activity 4: Helping Tree Metaphors 15 Activity 5: The Rainforest Song 15 Faith in Action: Engaging…
Spiritual Preparation
From Circle of Trees

Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for several minutes, perhaps repeating a word or phrase to separate yourself from the activities of the day. When you feel settled and relaxed, consider the following: What and where is your “special tree”?
Welcoming and Entering
From Circle of Trees

Materials for Activity Cloth for altar or centering table Leaf name tags from the previous workshop, plus a few blank extras, and markers Basket for name tags Preparation for Activity Place the cloth and chalice on the altar or centering table. Set the name tags in the basket with a marker nearby.
Opening
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Chalice lighting words and “Our Covenant” from the previous workshop Preparation for Activity Select an area where the group can comfortably sit in a circle….
Activity 1: Rise Up for Trees / Team Up for Trees
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Workshop 1, Leader Resource 1, Rise Up for Trees / Team Up for Trees Preparation for Activity Choose one version of the ice-breaker (Rise Up or Team Up) to use for this workshop. Description of Activity Once you’ve introduced both versions of this…
Activity 2: Guided Imagery - Among the Trees
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Workshop 1, Leader Resource 2, Guided Imagery — Among the Trees Preparation for Activity Practice reading the guided imagery so that you will be comfortable leading it. Description of Activity Invite participants to make themselves comfortable and…
Activity 3: Story - Trout Are Made of Trees
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Trout Are Made of Trees” Preparation for Activity Read the story a few times so you will be comfortable delivering it. Review the discussion questions in the activity, and add some of your own if desired. Description of Activity Invite the…
Activity 4: Helping Tree Metaphors
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Helping Tree Metaphors Selection of objects (or pictures of objects) listed on Leader Resource 1, four or five of each Four or five small bags or baskets Preparation for Activity Plan how you will form four or five small groups.
Activity 5: The Rainforest Song
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, The Rainforest Song Optional: The Earth and Spirit Songbook and/or the CD Sailing with the Moon from the Jim Scott website Optional: A computer with Internet access Optional: Rhythm instruments, such as maracas, wood blocks, egg shakers,…
Closing
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Taking It Home Basket for name tags Preparation for Activity Download the Taking It Home section of this workshop to reflect the activities this group has done. Copy it as a handout for all participants. (You may wish to…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Circle of Trees

Meet with your co-leader after the workshop to reflect on the following: How was the mix of discussion and action? In the midst of the busy-ness, did you successfully include spiritual elements? How well did the activities include everyone? Were the activities appropriate for the ages of your…
Faith In Action: Engaging in the Project
From Circle of Trees

Materials for Activity Project plan developed in the previous workshop Preparation for Activity Make preparations as detailed in the project plan. Description of Activity By this workshop, the group will have identified a project and planned the elements needed to complete the project. In this…
Taking It Home: Trees: Connected to All Life
From Circle of Trees

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. — Ralph Waldo Emerson IN TODAY’S WORKSHOP… we continued to explore the many benefits of trees for other creatures and plants in the web of life with a “Helping Tree Metaphors” activity, and we learned the popular “Rainforest Song” by Unitarian…
Trout Are Made of Trees
From Circle of Trees

Trout Are Made of Trees by April Pulley Sayre, text copyright 2008. Used with permission by Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.Read the story dramatically and have fun with the sound effects! Trout are made of trees. In fall, trees let go of leaves, which swirl and twirl and slip into streams….
Handout 1: The Rainforest Song
From Circle of Trees

Oh let the rain feed the thirsty ground Sing me the song of life you sing Such a beautiful sound. (repeat) Additional Parts Rain come down, rain come down The understory, the understory On the ground level, the ground level Canopy, canopy Emergent! Emergent!…
Leader Resource 1: Helping Tree Metaphors
From Circle of Trees

Objects That Symbolize Benefits to Human, Wildlife, and the Planet Small cereal box (or other food container): Trees provide food for wildlife and humans Fan: Trees cool the air Umbrella: Trees provide shade from the sun Coffee filter: Tree roots filter out pollutants from rain and runoff Aspirin…
Find Out More
From Circle of Trees

The Trout Life Cycle From Trout Are Made of Trees by April Pulley Sayre, text copyright 2008: Trout are one part of a vast food web centered in streams and rivers. Trout require cool, clean water to survive. Trees shade streams, helping to keep the water cool. As stream water winds its way past…

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 3: Trees: Connected to All Life

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