Curriculum and Learning Resources

Generations of faith
Twenty Random Suggestions and Reminders for Intergenerational Book Discussions
Family Matters Task Force, UUA

Children love to be listened to. So do adults. Direct questions are less likely to be effective. There is safety in talking about the characters. Sharing works better than competition. Reflection works better than performance. Acceptance works better than judgment. Exploration is a better goal than mastery in a discussion. Adults should respond authentically to the discussion, improving the odds of being viewed as people. Choose an appropriate reading level for the group. Intergenerational does not necessarily mean children of all ages at all times. It could mean 4th and 5th graders and adults. Set a standard meeting time and length (e.g., the last Sunday of the month for 2 hours). Allow for ample time to read (and perhaps find) the book. Mandatory attendance will never happen. Get over it. Decide early about hosting (if not at church), food, and expectations for the group. Ask the children/youth what they would like to read. Keep it simple. Avoid rules. But set clear expectations. Avoid written agendas. This should be fun and easy. Rotate responsibilities. Have fun!

About the discussion-helping it along

1. Encourage the children/youth to take the lead in the discussion
2. Ask about the characters-who they liked and disliked and why
3. Avoid yes/no questions
4. Ask if the author should have changed something about the story-and how
5. Give the book a score/ranking/thumbs up or down
6. Ask what parts of the story were the best and why-also for the worst
7. Think about acting out a scene from the book
8. When in doubt, ask "why?"
9. Write a letter to the author
10. Dress up like a character
11. There are 3 kinds of questions:

    Fact-which help define the story
    Interpretation-e.g., why would/did a character do something
    Evaluation-thinking about something in light of values, morals, life experience

12. Do art activities that would go with the book

Good sources to look for good books and ideas

• The Mother-Daughter Book Club, Shireen Dodson, Harper Perennial, 1997
• www.greatbooks.com
• www.ala.org/alsc (American Library Association)
• your local librarian
• your religious education director/minister
• your child's teacher http://www.soemadison.wisc.edu/ccbc/ (Cooperative Children's Book Center)
• http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/ (Children's Literature Web Guide)
• http://www.bookspot.com/booksforchildren.htm
• http://www.bookspot.com/discussion/#kids
• http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/books/guides/

The Family Matters Task Force is working to support the needs of all kinds of families. The Intergenerational Book Discussion Group Project is one way. For more information about the Family Matters Task Force of the Unitarian Universalist Association, please visit www.uua.org/families.