Dear Wise Ones,
This month we are onto Healing and I like it.
Healing offers so many paths and directions that I found it challenging to limit myself into just four
weeks’ worth of ideas. To clarify, I am focusing on four aspects of healing: Healing Self, Healing
Heroes, Earth Healing and Rosh Hashanah.
I have tried to keep the structure simple and easy to use with components and supplies that you can
interchange for different levels and needs. There is a lesson outline template offered to help
structure these components.
I hope that your will bring your own knowledge, ideas and enthusiasm to expand on these ideas and
help them fit the needs of your children and congregation. Your knowledge of your community and
your surroundings can be especially helpful making the theme come alive in authentic ways. As I
worked on this theme I could not help but dream about multiple worthwhile intergenerational
opportunities that could be explored. Here are a few to ponder:
Healing Self
Work with the Caring Team to make cards or visits for folks in need.
Healing Heroes
Consider inviting a health care professional or someone who is first aide certified be a guest teacher
in religious education. Host a Blood Drive, Halloween Zombie Fundraiser Party, Blood Drive and
brunch (or invite food trucks).
Earth Healing
Invite Environmental Activists to be guests.
Work with Green Team/Building and grounds & Community partners.
Rosh Hashanah
Invite the congregation to join you for a taslich ceremony.
Invite a Rabbi or members of your community with Jewish heritage as a guest.
Please share your healing adventures with the larger community via our Facebook page so we can
delight in growing wiser together.
In Faith,
Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson
Soul Matters Director of Religious Education
[email protected]
Week 1 Religious Education October 2016
Healing Self
PK-1st Grade/ Ages 4-7
____________________________________________
Wonder Box Options:
They will find: Band-Aids
Say in your own words: Today we are talking about healing.
Raise your hand if you know what healing means. Who would like to explain it?
Unitarian Universalists believe that each and every person is important and that all people should be
treated fairly and kindly. How is healing connected to this belief?
When we hurt, whether it is our body that hurts or our feelings that hurt it is important to know how
to heal and help others heal. How are these band aids connected to healing? Affirm the answers
about healing band-aids… The book we are going to read is about how your community, family &
friends can help you heal. Listen carefully for how Amos and the animals care for each other.
Read: A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead/ VIDEO
Discussion Questions:
Who cheers you up when you’re not feeling well?
How did Amos take care of the animals?
Have you ever had to stay home from school when you were sick?
Next time you are sick who would you like to visit you and help you heal?
Band-aids can help our bodies heal. Sometimes our feelings can be hurt.
What can you do when your feelings are hurt?
Supply List:
Band-aids
Air Dry Clay
Colorant for Clay:
Marker/Paint
Managing Emotions
Paper
A Sick Day for Amos
McGee
by Philip C. Stead
Activity: Clay Color Worry Stones
Say in your own words:
When your feelings are hurt, you have some choices you can make about how to heal yourself.
Take out some air drying clay (homemade/ store bought)
Let’s pretend that your feelings are like this little ball of clay.
When something happens that hurts you it makes a mark on your feelings.
Place a dab of marker/tube water color paint onto clay.
You can try and forget about it, place clay slightly out of sight. Do you think that works?
Or you can cover it up, place hand over clay. Does that heal the hurt?
Or you can try and work with your feelings to get through the hurt.
Start mixing the clay in your hand. By working through your hurt you can help yourself heal.
Remember Love can heal, when you show care or ask for the care you need we help heal each other.
Review & discuss this resource with children: Managing Big Emotions
Say in your own words: Remember healing power is made when you receive and show love.
Let each child try mixing their own feelings clay.
Demonstrate how to make a worry stone.
If time allows: 9 Calm Down Ideas & Calm Down Yoga For Kids
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Week 1 Religious Education October 2016
Healing Self
2nd-3rd Grade/ Ages 7-9__& 4th-5th Grade/ Ages 9-11___________________________
Introduction: Unitarian Universalists believe that each and every person is important and that all
people should be treated fairly and kindly. How is healing connected to this belief?
Today we are going to talk about both hurt and healing.
Read: The Red Tree by Shaun Tau
Discussion Questions:
Ask students to think about a time when they found hope when they least expected it.
Why is there a red leaf on every page? What does the Red Tree symbolize?
(Imagination, hope, release, renewal healing)
What could be wrong with the girl to make her think she doesn’t know who she is meant be, or
where she is?
What does “Darkness overcomes you” mean to you?
What strategies could you use to help when times feel like “they are going from bad to worse”?
Say in Your Own Words: When we are hurt we can:
1.Forget it
2. Cover it up
3.Own it 4. Work through it-this Takes Time
Taking the time to heal your hurt can help you feel better and be a better person.
We are going to brainstorm and make a list of things that can help us heal when we are feeling.
What makes you feel better?(family, friends, singing, drawing, writing, nature, pets, play, talking…)
Activity 1 Options: Red Leaf Collage of Healing
Have students make red leaves or prepare them ahead of time.
Instruct the students to write or draw something that is there red leaf-something that heals them.
Have the students draw or color and then add leafs onto their tree coloring page.
Say in your own words:
Love can heal, when you show care or ask for the care you need we help heal each other.
Remember healing power is made when you receive and show love.
Sharing these ideas with each other today is a kind of healing.
If time allows: Ask the students to share their red trees with each other and if it can be displayed
in the church.
Activity Options:
Clay Color Worry Stones (See PK-1st Grade/ Ages 4-7)
Make a Healing Catcher (called an anger catcher but all the examples are helpful healing ideas too)
Follow Up Questions: What can we learn from healing and hurt?
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Week 2 Religious Education October 2016
Healing Heroes
PK-1st Grade/ Ages 4-7
____________________________________________
Wonder Box Options:
They will find: A Picture of Clara Barton, red cross and/or a First Aid Kit
Say in your own words: Does anyone know who this is/or what this cross means? This is Clara
Barton she is a Universalist healing hero and she founded the American Red Cross.
This month at church we are talking about healing. Raise your hand if you know what healing
means. Who would like to explain it? Unitarian Universalists believe that each and every person is
important and that all people should be treated fairly and kindly.
Have you ever heard of Clara Barton before? She was a great healer and her work continues to help
people today. Let’s read this book and find out more about our Universalist healing hero.
READ:
Clara & Davie by Patricia Polacco
ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD, CLARA BARTON by Betsy Hill Williams
(You might need to skim or paraphrase these stories for this age group)
Discussion Questions:
How did Clara’s brother Davie teach her about caring? How did Clara care for others in this story?
Say in your own words:
Clara Barton grew up to become a teacher, nurse and then started the American Red Cross. The
American Red Cross started out helping with disaster relief, outbreaks of illness, and war but today it
does so much more to heal and care for people. The American Red Cross today also collects blood
donations, teaches swim lessons and offers first aid health and safety training.
Activity : Going Through the First Aid Kit
(Ask a health care profession to help teach!)
Before teaching basic first aid skills, I recommend reading:
Teaching My Child First Aid: 6 Essentials by Robin Jacobs
Teaching your child these important first aid tips can help save a life! by Paul Guarino
Say in your own words:
Does anyone know what first aid is? First Aide is the first care you give when someone has an injury.
What happens when you get a scrape on your knee? What do you do? (Affirm Correct Answers)
Today we are going to go through our first aid kit and talk about how and when to use it.
Take a few items, identify them and cover how and when to use them.
Topics to Cover with this Age Group and Role Play :
-How do you call 911?
-How do you stop bleeding?
-What do you do if someone gets a burn?
Coloring Pages: Clara Barton & 911
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Week 2 Religious Education October 2016
Healing Heroes
2nd-3rd Grade/ Ages 7-9__& 4th-5th Grade/ Ages 9-11___________________________
Introduction:
This month at church we are talking about healing. Unitarian Universalists believe that each and
every person is important and that all people should be treated fairly and kindly. Helping to heal
others is something we believe is important and good. Clara Barton was an important Universalist
healer, she is one our faith ancestors whose work and life continue to heal people today even though
she lived long ago.
Does anyone know what the American Red Cross does? The American Red Cross started out helping
with disaster relief, outbreaks of illness, and war but today it does so much more to heal and care for
people. The American Red Cross today also collects blood donations, teaches swim lessons and offers
first aid health and safety training. Clara Barton is the founder of the American Red Cross (show
picture). Let’s find out more about our Universalist healing hero.
Read or Watch:
(For older students Ask for student volunteers to take turns reading.)
ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD, CLARA BARTON by Betsy Hill Williams
Clara Barton : Biography Channel
Discussion Questions:
Clara Barton was an Universalist. What does it mean to be a Universalist?
(Universalists believe that all people are important and worthy. In Clara Barton’s time this would
have also meant that she believed that everyone was saved and a loving God sent no one to hell. )
How do you think Clara’s belief in Universalism shaped her life?
Activity : Going Through the First Aid Kit (Ask a health care profession to help teach!)
First Aide Presentation
Before teaching basic first aid skills, I recommend reading:
Teaching My Child First Aid: 6 Essentials by Robin Jacobs
Teaching your child these important first aid tips can help save a life! by Paul Guarino
Say in your own words:
Clara Barton was motivated to help people heal. Before she could do this she went to school. She
educated herself in school and out in the world. The Red Cross still teaches people today how to
heal with first aide. Does anyone know what first aid is? First Aide is the first care you give when
someone has an injury. What happens when you get a scrape on your knee? What do you do?
(Affirm Correct Answers)
Today we are going to go through our first aid kit and talk about how and when to use it.
Take a few items, identify them and cover how and when to use them.
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Topics to Cover with this Age Group and Role Play :
-How do you call 911?
-How do you stop bleeding?
-What do you do if someone gets a burn?
-What do you do if a bone is broken? Be Still, get help
-What do you do if you catch on fire? Stop, Drop and Roll
“Stop, Drop and Roll” – is used when clothing catches fire. Children need to know when to do it.
MAKE: Roll a First Aide Kit
Activity Options:
Make a First Aide Kit (see Soul Matters pinterest page for links)
American First Aide Kit
Role Play First Aide Scenarios
Clara Barton Paper Doll
Clara Barton Word Finder
MAKING 19TH-CENTURY NURSE CAPS-Tapestry of Faith: Love Surrounds Us
Dorthea Dix-Tapestry of Faith
Coloring Pages: Clara Barton & 911
Fun Facts About Clara Barton:
Clara Barton was a vegetarian.
Clara loved all animals, especially cats. During the Civil War, Senator Schuyler Colfax sent her a
kitten, with a bow around its neck, in appreciation for her work during the Battle of Antietam.
Clara Barton was honored by parties on both sides for her work during the Franco-Prussian War.
Here she first worked under banner of the International Red Cross.
Clara was a strong supporter of equal rights for all people. She corresponded with many leaders of
the women's rights movement, including Susan B. Anthony, and was friendly with many nineteenth
century African-American leaders, including educator Elizabeth Hyde Botume and Frederick Douglas.
Clara Barton served as the superintendent at the Massachusetts Reformatory Prison for Women in
Sherborn, Massachusetts, from May to December, 1883.
Although Clara lived a simple life, she was not afraid of new technology. Her home in Glen Echo,
Maryland, had a telephone and electric lights. She was fond of taking rides in automobiles and once
even rode in a submarine.
Sergeant Thomas Plunkett, whom Clara nursed at Fredricksburg, also grew up in central
Massachusetts. Portraits of Clara, Sgt. Plunkett and U.S. Senator Henry Wilson (MA) hang in the
Great Hall at lovely Mechanics Hall on Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts.
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Week 3 Religious Education October 2016
Earth Healing
PK-1st Grade/ Ages 4-7
____________________________________________
Wonder Box Options:
They will find: A Picture of Rachel Carson and an Earth Picture/Earth Ball or Toy
Say in your own words: Hold Up Earth item. Raise your hand if you know what this is?
Does anyone know what Unitarian Universalists believe about the earth?
We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.
How do you help care for the Earth?
Today we are going to learn about a woman named Rachel Carson. (Hold Up Picture of Rachel
Carson). Rachel loved nature and she was a Unitarian Universalist. She believed in caring for our
earth. Let’s find out more about how brave she was and how she has helped to heal the earth.
READ:
BRAVE ENOUGH by Noreen Kimball (Consider paraphrasing this story and printing out a few pictures to add interest)
Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson by Amy Ehrlich
The EARTH Book –by Todd Parr
Discussion Questions:
How do you think the Earth heals us?
How could we help heal the Earth?
How could you use less water each day?
How could you make less garbage each day?
What other things can you do to care for and heal the Earth?
Say in your own words: Rachel Carson spent many years studying how chemicals hurt the Earth.
She then wrote an important book called Silent Spring that explained how we were hurting the Earth.
Before this book people did not pay much attention to how we treated the Earth. Rachel’s book
helped people understand that we needed to start caring for our Earth.
Today we are going to celebrate Rachel Carson’s bravery by having some Earth healing fun.
Activity Options: Earth Healing
-Planting Bulbs
-Recycle Relay
-Nature Scavenger Hunt with images for younger children.
-Make Recyclable Art-See Pinterest Ideas
-Earth Collage as a Group
-Go for a healing nature walk
Coloring Pages: Rachel Carson, Earth
Ways to Heal the Earth:
Recycle
Make Art out of Recycle
Use less paper /Use both sides
Make less garbage
Turn off the lights and electronic items
when not in use
Use less plastic
Ride Your Bike
Garden
Buy locally
Bring Your Own Shopping Bags
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Use less water
Week 3 Religious Education October 2016
Earth Healing
2nd-3rd Grade/ Ages 7-9__& 4th-5th Grade/ Ages 9-11___________________________
Introduction:
Does anyone know what our Unitarian Universalists principles say about our earth?
Our 7th principle says: We respect the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Another way of saying that is: We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all
living things.
Read:
BRAVE ENOUGH by Noreen Kimball (A few printed pictures can add to the children’s interest.)
Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson by Amy Ehrlich
Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World– by Laurie Lawlor
Discussion Questions:
Rachel felt a strong connection with nature, how do you feel about nature/Earth?
How was Rachel brave?
How do you think the Earth heals us?
How could we help heal the earth?
Say in your own words: Rachel Carson spent many years studying how chemicals hurt the Earth.
She then wrote an important book called Silent Spring that explained how we were hurting the Earth.
Before this book people did not pay much attention to how we treated the Earth. Rachel’s book
helped people understand that we needed to start caring for our Earth. She is credited for helping
start what we now call the modern environmental movement. The environmental movement are
groups of people who seek to protect and improve our earth. They work to clean the earth, learn
better ways of living on the earth and make laws that care for the Earth.
Today we are going to celebrate Rachel Carson’s bravery and our belief in caring for the Earth by
having some Earth healing fun.
Ways to Heal the Earth:
Activity Options:
-Make a Heal the Earth Billboard
-Planting Bulbs
-Recycle Relay
-Nature Scavenger Hunt with images for younger children.
-Make Recyclable Art- Recycled Windchime
-Earth Collage as a Group
-Go for a healing nature walk
Say in your own words:
Coloring Pages: Rachel Carson & Earth , Lorax Quote
Recycle
Make Art out of Recycle
Use both sides of the paper
Use less paper
Make less garbage
Turn off the lights and
electronic items when not in use
Use less plastic
Ride Your Bike
Garden
Buy locally
Bring Your Own Shopping Bags
Use less water
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4th-5th Grade/ Ages 9-11__________________________________________________
Additional Resources & Lesson Ideas:
Tim DeChristopher
Watch Pesticides - DDT - Rachel Carson - Silent Spring
Show the students the book Silent Spring and Read from it.
Discuss:
Global Warming
Fracking
Pollution
Local Environmental Issues
Ways the church or community can work together to heal the Earth.
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October 2016 Children’s Chapel Resources
Healing & Rosh Hashanah
Introduction:
Unitarian Universalists believe it is important to learn about other faiths and religions. By learning
about other religions we can learn more about our world and ourselves. Today we are going to learn
about Judaism. People who practice Judaism or whose families have practiced Judaism are
sometimes called Jewish people. Perhaps some of you are Jewish or your some neighbors and
friends are.
This month there is an important Jewish Holiday on October 2-4 called Rosh Hashanah
(räsh-(h)ə-ˈshä-nə,ˌrōsh-, -ˈshō-). Rosh Hashanah celebrates the Jewish New Year.
On Rosh Hashanah, in preparation for a new beginning the Jewish people ask God for forgiveness for
the things they have done wrong during the past year. They also remind themselves not to repeat
these mistakes in the coming year. In this way, Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity to heal yourself. It’s
a holiday that can help us become a better people.
Healing is our theme this month at our church. Forgiving ourselves is an important part of healing.
When we are ashamed or upset by something we have done it can hurt. By recognizing and
apologizing for our mistakes healing can begin. By forgiving ourselves for our human mistakes we
have the chance to recognize how we can move forward and become the person we what to be.
Today we are going to learn about a tradition in Rosh Hashanah called Tashlich (tahsh-leekh).
READ & Discuss:
New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story by April Halprin Wayland
Alternatives:
Tashlich at Turtle Rock by Susan Schnur & Anna Schnur-Fishman
The Hardest Word by Jacqueline Jules
Say in Your Own Words:
One very meaningful practice associated with Rosh HaShanah is Tashlich, a ceremony in which Jews
go to a body of water, such as a river, stream, or ocean, to cast away their sins by symbolically
tossing bread into the water. This physical act inspires us to remember our actions, right our wrongs,
and refocus ourselves for the New Year.
“Tashlich is the time we apologize for things we wish we hadn’t done. Tashlich means to throw. We
throw away things we don’t like or don’t need. Tashlich is like cleaning your heart’s closet. A new
year, a clean heart.” –April Halprin Wayland New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story
Take a minute, maybe even close your eyes and think of things you might have done that you are
not proud of over the last year. Many of us will have more than one mistake we would like to
apologize for and heal from. We will each take the time to recognize and let go of our mistakes.
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Activity: Taslich
Read: Let Go By Lois Van Leer
Let go
Of all that binds you
Of all that burdens you
Of what you carry
Of all that shames you
Of fear
Of trespasses and transgressions
Of woundedness
Let go of guilt
Let go of anger
Let go of small mindedness and pettiness
Of ways of being that no longer work for you
Of compulsions that consume your living
Let go of what you cannot change
Let go of regret
Of that which haunts you
Let go of pain
Let go of ways in which you missed the mark
Let go
Say in Your Own Words:
I am now going to take some beans, each bean represents a mistake I have made that I would like
to let go of. I am going to name the mistake or think it silently in my mind, ask to learn from my
mistake and try to find a better way in the future. Then I will take the bean and throw it into the
water. Ask the children to take turns choosing beans, naming their mistake and then throwing them
into the water.
Apples and Honey
Say in Your Own Words:
Hebrew common greeting on Rosh Hashanah is Shanah Tovah (pronounced [ʃaˈna toˈva]), which
translated from Hebrew means "[have] a good year" or Shanah Tovah Umetukah, meaning "A Good
and Sweet Year", is used.
You could practice saying Shanah Tovah as a group.
It is a custom during the New Year season to feature sweet foods as a symbol of our desire for a
sweet year. Eating apples dipped in honey is a popular custom during Rosh Hashanah, a symbol of
our wish for a sweet new year. So let’s celebrate healing ourselves and being sweeter next year by
sharing a treat together.
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Theme:
LESSON:
TEACHERS:
Grades:
DATE:
Have students as they enter find their nametag or make one for them.
Take Attendance as they enter and sit down.
SUPPLY LIST:
OPENING: (10 minutes)
Chalice Lighting
One student lights the chalice and all say together
We are Unitarian Universalists.
We are the church of the open mind,
The loving heart and the helping hands.
Together we care for the earth.
And work for friendship and peace in our world.
Check In
Go round or table and have everyone say their name, have them give a
thumbs up, down and share one thing about their week.
Wonder Box (Optional for Younger Students)
Invite them to guess what gift could be in this big, beautifully wrapped box. Take some guesses.
Then pass the box around for children to open.
They will find:
Say in your own words:
Read
Activity 1
Activity 2
Closing: Check Out
What did you like about today or what was the best part of this morning?
Which UU Principle did we use today? (Having a poster in room is helpful.)
Turn off Chalice!
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