This week, we had a guest speaker who shared her experiences with homelessness with the kids and youth. It was very moving to hear her story and the kids asked insightful questions as well. Then, we assembled packets of snacks, waters, and socks and gave them to the adults in the congregation to give out on their way home.
This week we had a ton of fun making collages and pronoun pins with Laura’s pin maker! Some kids also chose to make other pins using images from magazines and we collaboratively worked on a mosaic-style collage of a progress pride flag.
This Sunday we reflected on the roots of Juneteenth and the ongoing work of creating healing in our communities and ourselves. We also examined the role of celebrations in the healing process and celebrated friends of Solveij’s who have ended 3 year of experiencing homelessness and are now in housing, yay! The kids and youth created a welcome home poster and even included personalized drawings of the adorable animals that share this home with them.
Roots (pre-k to first) w/Laura:
This week, we learned about how we can express who we are in lots of different ways. One of those ways is the pronouns that we like people to use for us, such as she/her, he/him, or they/them. Then the kids colored in self-portraits and drew the kinds of clothes that they feel most comfortable in.
Seedlings (2nd-5th) and Youth (Middle & High School) w/Piaf & Solveij:
This week, we kicked off Pride month by revisiting its roots with a book called “Marsha and Sylvia Start a Revolution” about Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera and the Stonewall Uprising. Using the story and the background knowledge that the kids already had, we discussed the impact these two trans women of color had on the LGBTQ+ movement. In the discussion, many important and challenging questions came to light, such as when and where did homophobia/transphobia originate, how have different cultures viewed this community over time, and whether all progress towards greater equality and inclusion inevitably comes with a backlash. Finally, we headed outside to work on a poster about the origins of Pride and eat snacks!
Roots Class (pre-k to 1st) w/Laura:
This Sunday in Roots we read ‘Change Sings” by Amanda Gorman. This book is a poem with illustrations that show children learning how to make a difference in their community and the world. We also watched a video of children singing “We are the World” We talked about children being able to spread the message of how to make a difference and love through song. And that children can make a difference too. After that, we wrote our ideas about we hope Wildflower adopting the 8th principle will do and what we can do to make it happen.
Seedlings Class (2nd to 5th) w/Piaf:
This week we began with an active game where we raced around the room touching different colors to represent each of our 8 Principles and then discussed what the 8th Principle meant. In kid language it states that we are FOR diversity and AGAINST racism and other oppressions, so we brainstormed some examples of each. Finally, the kids wrote what it meant to them to be part of a church that has passed the 8th Principle on index cards that later were hung up in the Community Room.
Wildflower Youth Group (Middle & High School) w/Solveij:
Today in Youth Group the youth checked in about how they’re feeling as mthe school year comes to an end. They shared that they want to see Wildflower take action to address racism and oppression of all kinds. Finally, they worked on wall hangings representing the 8 Principles and a poster to promote Youth Group to their friends. 🙂
Roots Class (pre-k to 1st) w/Laura:
This Sunday in the Roots class we observed Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month by reading the book. “Eyes that Kiss in the Corners” by Joanna Ho. In this book a young girl notices her eyes are different from her classmates. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother’s, her grandmother’s, and her little sister’s. “They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future.” We talked about how everyone is different by playing a game of Simon Says with aspects of the way we look, our families and our interests.
Seedlings Class (2nd-5th) w/Piaf:
We reviewed how the two U’s from our UU faith came together in the 1960 and had to “hunt” for principles they agreed on, leading to our first 6 principles, with 2 more being added later. Then we went on a “hunt” for parts of our principles that I had hidden around the room, assembled them into posters, and added illustrations to show what each one could look like.
Wildflower Youth Group (Middle & High School) w/Solveij:
Today we talked about what tests and brings us hope, learned a song to remember our UU principles and started making wall hangings to represent the 8 Principles.