I Think Peaceful Thoughts! 3’s, 4’s and K 9/20/2015

This Week’s Theme: My words create my experience. I want Peace, and I create it! Teacher Insights: Today we will have an opportunity to explore the idea that the thoughts we think help to create the world we live in and the experience we have. The children will hear the story of Jesus calming the storm and then be empowered in creating their own images of peace in their world. One of the things that we want our children to begin understanding, even at this age, is the power that their words have to shape and create their experience of life. Our lesson today is designed to help them experience that.

Unity Principles: (today’s principle is highlighted) 1: God is all Good and active in everything, everywhere. 2: I am naturally good because God’s Divinity is in me and in everyone. 3: I create my experiences by what I choose to think and what I feel and believe. 4: Through affirmative prayer and meditation, I connect with God and bring out the good in my life. 5: Practice, Practice, Practice. I do and give my best by living the Truth I know! I make a difference!

Pre-session: Peace on Earth

Greet Parents and Children. As much as possible try to greet parents at the sign- in table. o At the Sign-in table ask: . Please print names . Does your child have a yellow registration form filled out? . Any special needs that we should know about? Pre-session Activity: Peace on Earth Collages In your tubs you will find paper plates and the magazines will be in your rooms. As the children arrive, have them look through the magazines and find pictures that represent peaceful thoughts. When they find them, have them either cut or tear them out. Then have them imagine that the paper plate is the Earth and have them glue their “peaceful thoughts” to the Earth. Sacred Circle: My Thoughts

 3 Ohms: In order to synchronize our energies, have the children sit in a circle and begin sacred circle with 3 ohms.  Who is Jesus for us in Unity? Our way-shower, the great master of love.  Affirmation: I think peaceful thoughts. Peaceful is my world.  Introductions/Affirmations: In turn, have each student stand say their name and a characteristic they bring to the classroom. For example, “I am Brandon and I bring peace to the circle today.” All the children warm up their hands and put their hands in the prayer position, bow, and say, “Namaste’ ______, you are ______!” Namaste’ means: "The light in me sees the light in you." Heart Agreements: Heart Agreements establish the boundaries of how everyone in the group agrees to “show up” in Sunday school. They are not being TOLD how they must show up; they are telling YOU how they have agreed to show up. During the course of the lesson, you may refer back to the Heart Agreements. For example, if a group of kids is perpetually talking while you are speaking, then you may say to the class as a whole, “What was our heart agreement about listening to speakers?” And let the kids tell you!

Our basic heart agreements are:

Gentle Hands Open Hearts Walking Feet Listening ears Kind Words

 Love Offering: Divine Love, Blesses and multiples, all that I have, all that I give and all that I receive. And I am joy-filled and grateful. FYI: students may place lots of things besides money in the love offering basket: joy, friendship, peace, love, etc.

Song: I Am Peaceful Sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques” I am peaceful (facilitator) I am peaceful (children) When I see (facilitator) When I see (children) With the eyes of God (facilitator) With the eyes of God (children) Peace, Love, Joy (facilitator) Peace, Love Joy (children) Story time: “We Can Get Along”, by Lauren Payne

You will find today’s story in your tub. Here is a brief summary:

Children need help learning how to get along with others at school, in the neighborhood, and on the playground. They need to know that they have the power to make good choices. In simple, affirming words and exuberant full-color illustrations, We Can Get Along teaches essential conflict resolution and peacemaking skills-think before you speak or act, treat others the way you want to be treated - in a way that young children can understand.

Discussion Questions:

 How does it feel when you get along with others?

 How does it feel when you don't?  Can we be like Jesus, and calm a storm when we have a problem with someone?  Can we use our own feelings as a guide to treating others?  How could you be a Peacemaker?

Meditation: Let’s get ready for our special time of meditation by taking a long, slow breath in… and then slowly and quietly let it out. Now let’s imagine for a few moments that we are Jesus. We are sleeping peacefully on the boat. Maybe we feel it rocking us gently as we sleep. Our eyes are closed and all that we hear is the sweet chirping of birds in our dreams. Let’s just sit here in the Silence for a few moments feeling the sun and God’s love. (Allow at least 10 - 30 seconds in the silence, or more if that is comfortable for your group.) As we wake up, we look around us and do not see a storm. Rather we see the peaceful, smiling faces of our friends. Our friends know, as we do, that God is always with us… and that all is well. Thank you, God! Amen. Creative Expressions: Peace Makers! Peace Breakers! Materials: A board or section of the bulletin board in your classroom, peace signs that are whole, peace signs that are cut in half, examples of activities that are ‘peace-making’ and ‘peace-breaking’ Attached to the bulletin board on the left are the words: Peace Makers! With the whole peace signs scattered about. On the right is Peace Breakers! With the cut in half peace signs distributed as well. (see diagram) Activity: As you speak with the children, discuss some of the things that can be activities that bring peace, and things that break peace down. Use the list below, which is pre-printed and in a small basket in your tub, or write some down that the children come up with, and ask them which activities promote peace and those that don’t. Help them post the activities to the board with a glue stick.

Peace Makers: Peace Breakers:

Take care of things Being unkind

Share Hit, kick

Be nice Run in the hall

Help others Color on the table

Work hard Throw things

Listen Make messes

Clean up Tease others

Say I’m sorry Talk out of turn

Walk Talk back to the teacher The House is done!

The house for the altar is complete, and the children can place a prayer request inside! These requests will be taken to Rev. Jan and prayed over for the next 2 weeks. Help the children write a prayer on the special prayer-request forms in your tub.

*At the end of the hour, we will gather together and practice the ASL version of ‘Prayer for Protection.’

Closing Prayer: Let us pause for a moment in silence. We send thoughts of love to everyone in the world. Pause.

Father Mother God, thank you for your presence in my life. I know that wherever I go you are. I am grateful for your sacred presence in my life and I shine your light for all to see. Thank you, God! Amen.

Teacher Reminders: Please HELP o Return the teacher tub and all supplies to the Resource Room o Sign out by writing the number of children you had on the Teacher Sign-In Sheet. o At 11 put the sign-in sheets in your supply tubs. o Put the love offering in the envelope in your tubs.