In Our Hands, Grades 1-3
A Peace and Social Justice ProgramBy Samuel Goldenberg, Eleanor Hunting, and Mary Thomson
- Theme and Description
- In this program, children explore peace and fairness through stories, discussions, and activities. Participants learn constructive ways of resolving conflict and promoting peace in their own lives. They learn to see their connections to the larger community, to the natural world, and to the Unitarian Universalist peace and justice heritage.
- Goals for Participants
- To examine their knowledge and feelings about peace and fairness by focusing on relationships with family and friends;
To gain awareness and understanding about peace and conflict, fairness and unfairness;
To develop skills for promoting peace and fairness in their own lives;
To evaluate attitudes and feelings about nature;
To consider ways of acting fairly and peacefully in relation to nature;
To learn about Unitarian Universalists who have made contributions to peace and fairness in the world;
To feel empowered to promote peace and social justice.
- Age Range
- 5-9
- Size of Group
- 4 to 12 (8 to 12 is ideal)
- Space Requirements
- A bright, cheerful room with open space for a work table and circle areas
- Number and Length of Sessions
- 16 sessions
Length: 1 hour - Leader Training
- Training in group skills, storytelling, and classroom techniques is necessary. Familiarity with the characteristics of 5 to 9 year olds is important, especially when the entire age span is represented in a class.
- Leader Preparation
- Team leadership recommended; requires team meetings. Individual leader preparation will be 1 to 3 hours per session (may include song practice).
- Strengths
- Presents lesson plans that are clear and detailed.
Fosters solid group-building.
Relates directly to the children's experiences.
Emphasizes Unitarian Universalist values..
Provides age-appropriate perspectives of personal, community, and global issues. - Limitations
- May be difficult for younger children to understand some stories.
Exceeds time estimates for certain sessions, particularly for larger groups.
Sensitive or painful issues, such as abuse, may surface.
Requires leaders, who may not be musical, to recruit or tape accompaniment to the songs. - Adaptability
- As part of the In Our Hands series for ages 5 and up, this program could be part of an all-congregational semester focusing on peace and justice.
May also be used with a wider primary age range, or intergenerationally with some changes in activities. - Unitarian Universalist Values
- Principles explicitly emphasized are the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; and respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
The program also stresses the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. A group process models the living of UU Principles.
Reviewed on June 30, 1996
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