Luís lived in the Arctic Circle with his parents who were researching the effects of global warming. Luís wondered about that as he went out for a walk. He didn’t think there was much global warming going on today. It didn’t feel warm to Luís, who was bundled up in a snowsuit, mittens, hat,...

By Janeen K. Grohsmeyer, in her book A Lamp in Every Corner: Our Unitarian Universalist Storybook (Boston: Unitarian Universalist Association, 2004)....

The ban started in 2006, on Tanzania's Zanzibar archipelago. The Zanzibar islands on the Indian Ocean are famous for their pristine beaches and their history of trade in spices and slaves. Today, Zanzibar depends on tourism for most of its income. One month after this island paradise was named as...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "The Four Creations" A large, clear bowl, half-filled with water Smooth stones, one per participant Preparation for Activity Set out the bowl of water with the stones arranged around it....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "Taking the Heat: 350.org and Action to Fight Climate Change" Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Read the discussion questions. Choose those that will best help the children share their...

From The Kids' Book of Awesome Stuff (Brotman-Marshfield Curriculum, June 2004). Used with permission. Take a deep breath. The air you just breathed in is different from the air you just breathed out. The air you breathed out is a gas that can suffocate you if too much of it gets in the air. That...

Inspired by the ancient epic poem, "The Conference of the Birds," by the Persian Sufi Muslim writer Fariduddin Attar. Once upon a time, all the birds in the land decided they needed a leader for their community. A leader, they thought, would make their community stronger....

At breakfast on Sunday, Kamal's mother reminded him that today it was their turn to be greeters at their congregation. Normally, Kamal loved greeting all the members and visitors who entered the building at his Unitarian Universalist congregation....

Kylie groaned on the sofa. Her best friend Georgia was sick. It was Saturday, and the girls had planned to ride their bikes to Sundale Preserve that morning. But Georgia had a sore throat. Kylie had been looking forward to the trip all week. Sundale was her favorite place to go on weekends....

This story is designed to be used with Leader Resource 2, Beehive Poster in Activity 3. What Do Bees Do at Home? How do you think bees get into their hives? (Point to the opening in the hive on the poster.) That's right; the hive has an opening so the bees can go in and out. Last week we talked...

Long ago, it is said, there was a mighty flood, and the People left their world, the Fourth World, the Underworld, and came up into the Fifth World, the world we live in today. They found themselves on the shore of a great ocean. The People broke into groups by clan and went out to find new homes.

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, The Cost Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Read Handout 2 and copy for all participants. Post blank newsprint....

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 4, This Letter Is to Express our Personal Disapproval Preparation for Activity Read Handout 4 and copy it for all participants. Arrange for two volunteers to read the correspondence between Rev....

Thanks to the Change the World Kids, Meg Miller and Phyllis Arata-Meyers for information and permission to tell their story. Place a large, shallow dish filled with water in front of you, where children can see it. Place a globe or world map within your reach. Phebe and Nika were two girls, both...

Adapted from a Thai folk tale. Once upon a time, a queen sat on her balcony eating rice cakes and honey with her chief advisor. As they ate, they gazed down at the busy street below. The Queen pointed to something in the distance, and as she did a drop of honey from her rice cake landed on the...

This story is inspired by a true story, reported in the New York Times on May 10, 1987, about a Manhattan community that joined together to build a neighborhood playground designed by local schoolchildren. The article,...

Inspired by "The Widow's Mite," a parable from Christian scripture. Read or tell the story. In a little village near Jerusalem, a long time ago, there was an old woman who didn't have much money. She grew her own fruit and vegetables and had a chicken that gave her eggs. One day, she was walking...