L l Letter L introduces Arthur Lismer, and artist who loved c

Welcome. After each person says his or her name, the group responds, “Welcome, (name).” For a child who is attending for the first time this year, add name to the letters that have been posted and to the attendance sheet, and make a nametag during or after the session. Leave an empty chair for someone who is not present or for someone who has not joined the group yet.

Arthur Lismer loved drawing pictures. He drew every time he had a chance, even sometimes in church! He drew football games, people making speeches, and other news events, even a robbery! When he was thirteen years old in England, he started going to art school, and went for seven years.

Arthur moved from England to Canada in 1911. One of his favorite places to go to draw was Algonquin Park in Ontario. In this park, animals are protected and wander free. Sometimes the animals will come close enough for people to see them very well. Arthur worked to protect areas like this and to keep lakes and rivers clean. He wanted beauty everywhere, and showed people how to see beauty.

Arthur Lismer wanted children to learn to draw and paint. He started the Art Gallery School in Toronto in 1931. He taught children how to see things to draw, to be creative. People in his school put on shows. They would pick a story and make their own costumes and scenery and do the acting. He taught children to create things out of items, like wood, wire, and plastic wrap! He always had new ideas and new art things to try. He believed that children are important artists with their own ideas. He spent a lot of time with children.

Arthur Lismer grew up as a Unitarian in England, and was a member of the Unitarian churches in Toronto and Montreal, Canada. Once a man refused to sit next to Arthur at a meeting, because he was a Unitarian. Unitarians question things, and that sometimes people are not used to doing that. Arthur was a Sunday School teacher in his own church.

Learning by looking, using Leaves. Have different kinds of leaves. Note the shapes and veins and markings (and colors, especially in the fall in northern areas). Look at leaves under a magnifying glass.

Living: Where do you live? Where do other people in the church live? Talk about where people live, including what type of house, and possibly using map of area and mark the locations of the homes of the people in the group.

CLOSING: Gather around the Special Place where the things related to the letter have been placed. "We give thanks for Letter L. We have shared and learned about special people and animals and ourselves and our church. May we leave in love and peace. Next week we will meet again. Our letter will be ____ and our leader(s) will be ____________________." Make sure that people take home things that need to go.

Learning by looking: Lemons. Give each child a lemon. Look very carefully at the lemon, special markings, shape, feel. Put all of the lemons in the center of the table (room), mixing them up. Have each person look for their lemon, to see if they can identify their lemon. The focus is on looking very carefully, and noting living things are different, even when they are alike.

What does a lemon taste like? Ask if they know how to change the sour taste to sweeter drink, lemonade, for the snacks. Use juice squeezer or processor to make the lemonade, adding sweetener or sugar to taste. Drink immediately or chill during the rest of the lesson, for snack later.

Living: Where do you live? Where do other people in the church live? Use a map of area and mark the locations of the homes of the people in the congregation. This can be a project that can be posted in the church, by actually inviting people in the congregation to put pins in a map mounted on a bulletin board or similar material.

L l Letter L introduces Arthur Lismer, an artist who loved children, and the ways that we learn.