DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
DR. SEUS'S A B C

(NOTE: Please review the Introduction before using this Session Plan. Thank you.)

SETTING THE STAGE
STORY SYNOPSIS: Fanciful ways of looking at the alphabet. (5 Minutes)

AFFIRMATION(S): Everyone is important.
Church is a place where we learn together
THEME(S): Identify the alphabet, with a focus on

1. individuality of initials and
2. the alphabet in the church

PREPARATION: Visualize or actually walk through the location of the session, and note things that begin with different letters of the alphabet. This will be background for doing this with the group.

NEEDED:
Dr. Seuss’s A B C, 1963

Cards or construction paper, about 1.5 or 2 inch square. Punch hole in top where yarn can be inserted to make an initial necklace. Have at least 2 squares for child. Yarn, crayons or markers.

If making a collage of letters or initials, large sheet of paper, markers.

Page with each letter and space to write items related to the church. Sample attached.

SESSION PLAN
OPENING: Selected by the group. This can be used each Sunday.

CHECK-IN: Welcome. Each person says his or her name and briefly tells something that was important to them, such as something that went well since the group last met, or something that did not go well.

Leave an empty chair or space for someone who is missing from the group that day, or to recognize that others are welcome to be invited to join the group.

STORY
Dr. Seuss's A B C

EXPLORING
Letters as initials: Focus -- Identity
What letter starts your first name? Your last name?
Does your name mean anything special that you know about? Were you named for someone, like a relative?

How many of you have initials that are the same as someone else's? Do any of you have both the initials the same? Do any of you have/know your middle names or initials? Initials are theirs, but they may meet other people with the same initials, and maybe with the same name. However, focus on each person being unique, even when the initials and names may be the same.

Activity Options: (Select one)
1. Each person can make an initial necklaces by drawing a letter on the construction paper and inserting yearn through the hole, and tying the ends of the yarn. This necklace can include the initials to the first and last names on separate cards, on initial on each side of one card.

2. Each person makes a monogram or picture out of her or her initials.

3. Write names on the cards that match the initials, such as Kim on K, for both first and last names. Decorate the cards around the names, and make a collage of who is in the group. (Suggestion: have cards available to make letters for children as they come for the first time throughout the year.)

Letters in the Church Community: Focus – exploring the church setting, practical items as well as related to church history and obvious signs of Unitarian Universalism.

Options: If possible take a tour of the church and note specific items. Look for things that orient the children to the building and church community, including historical items. See the samples. This can be done as a total group or have a group divided into teams.

Create your own A B C book. Taking the names and the items in the church, create a book for the group. Include as many names in the jingles as possible. Example:

BIG U
little u
What begins with U? Unitarian Universalists
Unique and Unrepeatable
and the universe, too
CLOSING: "I'm Unique and Unrepeatable"
to the tune of Ten Little Indians. I'm unique and unrepeatable
I'm unique and unrepeatable
I'm unique and unrepeatable
I'm glad to be me.

You're unique and unrepeatable (repeat x2)
You're glad to be you.

We're unique and unrepeatable (repeat x2)
We're glad to be us.

GROUP REVIEW
What did they like about the session? (theme, activities, someone special being there, etc.)

Announce the story for the next session and who will be the adult facilitator, or if there are special events in the time before the group meets again.



AROUND THE CHURCH ALPHABET SHEET Sample

List the items that can be found in the church community related to each letter. This can be done by talking, by taking a tour or having a scavenger hunt. Post the list so that items can be added.

A Affirmations (Principles) Aisle Altar or Altar Table (special place)	B Bell Bathrooms	C Chalice (s) Candles Clocks	D Different kinds of doors
E	F Flowers – where and when do we have flowers in church? How do they get there? Flower Communion Food – During services, like communion; suppers First Aid supplies	G	H Hymnal (Singing the Living Tradition) --include the large print and why these are available
I	J	K Kitchen	L Lighting –different kinds of lighting in services, including candlelight Library
M Minister Music Microphone	N Newsletter – do they see it when their family receives it?	O Organ Order of Service	P Piano Plaques Pulpit Pictures -- people in the church's history Pews
Q Questions	R	S Sanctuary	T
U Unitarian Universalist in the name of the church	V	W Windows, stained glass, special windows Water – water communion	XYZ

 
Rev. Helen Zidowecki, May 2003