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REACH Winter 2002
CONTENTS
ADMINISTRATION
ADULT RE
CURRICULUM
RESOURCES
WORSHIP
YOUTH
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A curriculum adapted by Jane Lewis UU Church of Bloomington, Bloomington, IN Reviewed by Rev. Patricia Hoertdoerfer Children, Family, and Intergenerational Programs Director Religious Education Department, UUA, Boston, MA
Timeless Themes
Goals:
Group size: 18 Room set-up: Four large tables in two rows with chairs around each set of tables. Each pair is covered with newsprint and baskets of crayons, markers, pencils, etc. are set out. Nametags and Blank nametags are also available. Children go to the tables to pick up or make a nametag. Adults assist with the nametags. Leader briefly introduces the RE theme of Bible stories and mentions that the rules in the Bible are called commandments. Children are asked for suggestions for rules for RE class. Suggestions are written on large pad so all can read. Presentation/discussion: Most of the articles on talking with children after a crisis state that this age group-second and third graders-want reassurance of safety more than evaluation of the event. I decided on a low (or no) stress class with the teacher doing most of the action. I started with a mostly picture book. Then I read three familiar stories (although I had three in reserve) that addressed points I wished to emphasize. Children are encouraged to draw pictures or words on the newspaper covered tables while they listen to the stories.
People
Peter Spier usually creates picture books and conveys a lot of information with every picture. His theme for this work is the diversity of the human race: Each and everyone of us is different from all the others. Each one is a unique individual in his or her own right. "It is very strange: Some people even hate others because they are unlike themselves. Because they are different. They forget that they too would seem different is they could only see themselves through other people's eyes." Similar prose is interspersed with pictures of (1) fifteen different colors and shapes of eyes; (2) twenty-seven different native costumes; (3) twenty-four different native games; (4) nine different strange foods; (5) nine major religions and nineteen God images, etc. You get the "picture." The goal is to blur any lines between "us" and "them" that might be taking shape due to the bombing, to reinforce their knowledge of diversity.
Mama, Do You love Me?
Pictures portray the Inuit culture of many years ago. Glossary included. Sometimes when events are distressing and disruptive, people don't act like they usually act. Children may be, for lack of a better word, more "naughty" than usual. Parents may be less patient than normal. The point is to help the children to understand that their actions would never cause their caregivers to stop loving them. When I made these remarks, I included their schoolteachers and church community adults in this group. In Mama, Do You love Me? the young girl is unable to think of a situation that would cause her mother (Inuit) to stop loving her. She even imagines herself as a bear that growls, chases, and scares her mother. I felt younger children would, on some level, equate the growling bear with a child who's lost her temper. Thus, I tried to emphasize the different between the person and the action.
But still,
The Adventures of Isabel
Often when a crisis occurs over which parents have no control, children feel even more helpless and confused. The goal is to remind the children that they have resources within themselves to handle many kinds of situations, even ones that they can't imagine or explain. Isabel (who wears glasses and dresses) conquers a bear, a witch, a giant, a doctor, and a nightmare. The listeners get to vicariously conquer these enemies; in essence, they became part of the crowd of smaller children (multi-racial and multi-age) in the pictures in the book. We all watch Isabel together and learn how to "banish a bugaboo."
"Whenever you meet a bugaboo
Tucking Mommy In
Even more empowering than standing up for oneself is the ability to assist others. This book illustrates a situation in which two young children help their parent. The (Hispanic) mother bathes and gets the kids ready for bed but is too tired to tell a bedtime story. The older child tells the story-during, which the mother falls asleep on the younger child's bed. The sisters then take charge, rouse and put their mother into her nightclothes, tell her a story and put her to sleep. Their father (blue collar) comes home soon after (there is no long period of time without an adult backup). The girls are praised and lovingly put to bed by the father. The young children returned the care they had received to their parent. Their behavior had a positive effect on the well being of the family. The next books were chosen but not read. (Hungry kids needed food and some indicated they had absorbed about all they could take.) I wanted to have a variety of stories as a backup depending on where the children took the discussion. In this case, the kids chose to listen and not talk. These are not in any particular order.
Stellaluna
I challenge anyone to try to read this story without falling in love with fruit bats. The pictures are superb. The story is the stuff of high drama. Stellaluna (a fruit bat) is separated from her mother, rescued by strangers (birds), and forced to endure hardships (eating grasshoppers). She never gives up, strives constantly to adapt and survive, and is finally reunited with her family. (Are we thinking David Copperfield?) At the end, Stellaluna and the birds reaffirm their friendship. Cannan Writes, "How can we be so different and feel so much alike? mused FlitterIt Could Be Worse Written and illustrated by James Stevenson This story tells of a gentle and positive interaction between a grandfather and his grandchildren. Grandpa always conveys a sense of calm in the face of extraordinary events. At one point, Grandpa hides under a giant coffee cup to escape a giant goldfish before floating away on a giant piece of toast. Older children will realize Grandpa is making up the story as he glances around the breakfast table. I chose this both for its humor and for the subliminal reminder to not focus on the negative because "it could be worse."
You Be Good and I'll be Night
The pictures are a combination of fair colored children and animals in old-fashioned clothes. Their expressions are gentle and happy. Very soothing colors. One poem that was earmarked for reading aloud starts as follows:
You're my turtle,
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Page last updated February 23, 2002
All material copyright © 2002 Unitarian Universalist Association