Here’s what happened in your child’s class
As the darkness deepens o’er us, lo, eternal stars arise. — “Now on Land and Sea Descending,” Hymn 47 in Singing the Living Tradition
IN TODAY’S SESSION . . . the theme was “wondering about the stars.” According to religious educator Sophia Fahs, contact with the natural world is one of the 12 main types of experiences connected with natural religious development in young children. Today, we celebrated the beauty of stars and the awe we feel when we look at the stars.
EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER . . . Read some of the suggested books for this session:
Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle, 1992. An artist’s drawing of a star begins the creation of an entire universe; the book includes a star drawing activity.
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers, 2004. Once there was a boy who loved stars very much—so much so that he decided to catch one of his very own. But how?
Stargazing Sky by Deborah Kogan Ray, 1991. A little girl and her mother stay up late to watch a shower of shooting stars.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jerry Pinkney, 2011. A curious little chipmunk leaves his nest to greet the twilight and gazes at the glittering sky above him.
EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try . . . creating shooting stars from cardboard and silver streamers, then putting on some music for a dancing stars night.
A Family Adventure. Take a night walk and look at the stars. Share what you wonder about.
A Family Discovery. Enjoy this version of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” on YouTube, or try this simpler version. You might also use this hour-long version as background for free play. You can also check out “The Most Astounding Fact” and hear astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson discuss our connectedness with the universe.
A Family Game. Play and sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” together as a finger play:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star. [flutter fingers in the air]
How I wonder what you are? [put one finger on your cheek, nod your head]
Up above the world so high, [stretch arms way up]
Like a diamond in the sky. [touch index fingers and thumbs of right and left hands to form a diamond shape]
Twinkle, twinkle, little star. [flutter fingers in air]
How I wonder what you are? [put one finger on cheek, nod your head]
A Family Ritual. Before bedtime, sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” as a bedtime lullaby and then talk about the day.
Yours in faith,
Robin
UPCOMING EVENTS
Movie Nights for Parents and Adolescents!
Please join us for two movie nights with your adolescents. Recommended for parents of youth from fourth and fifth grade through high school. Childcare will be available!
Sunday, April 23, 5:00-7:00 pm – Miss Representation:
Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media and culture contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America.
– See more at: http://therepresentationproject.org/film/miss-representation/
Sunday, May 7, 5:00-7:00 pm – The Mask You Live In:
The Mask You Live In follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity. The documentary ultimately illustrates how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.
– See more at: http://therepresentationproject.org/film/the-mask-you-live-in/
Children’s Chapel April 9! At our April 9 Children’s Chapel, we will be building a Little Free Pantry. We have a project manager who will help us design and build the pantry. We need someone who has experience with installation of a structure on a post and a post-hole digger! Click here for examples! Please email Robin Slaw if you can help.
Family Game Night and Potluck, Saturday, April 22, 5:30-8:30 pm. Join us for a meal and games! Families of all types are invited! Bring your favorite games to share. Mark your calendars now!
Elementary Our Whole Lives (OWL) classes for Grades K/1 and Grades 4/5
Please remind your OWL students to go directly to class and not enter the Sanctuary! Classes will run through April 2nd. Kindergarten and First Grade 9:00-10:00 am, Fourth and Fifth Grade 11:00 am-12:30 pm. All other RE Classes continue as normal.
Parents & Caregivers as Sexuality Educators! Next class Sunday, March 26th, 5:00-7:00 pm Facilitated by Doug Miller, Steph Silver, and Robin Slaw.
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