DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
TOO MANY DAVES (5-9 Years)

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

STORY SYNOPSIS: Describes the complications when Mrs. McCave calls her 23 sons, all of whom are named "Dave." (2 minutes)

AFFIRMATION(S): Everyone is important.

THEME(S): The meaning of our names

PREPARATION: Reflect on the meaning of your name. How has it felt when someone has called you by the wrong name?

NEEDED:
"Too Many Daves," from The Sneetches, Random House, 1969
Card for each with his/her names -- first, middle, last
Books or listings of meanings of names.

OPENING: Selected by the group. This can be used each session.

CHECK-IN: Welcome. Each person says his or her name. Allow time for each person to briefly tell 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
Too Many Daves

EXPLORING
Talk about names.
Have a card with the name(s) of each participant. Spread these cards out on the table, or have each participant put his/her card in front of him/her.
How many of you have the same name as someone else the group? Your parents? Other relatives? Children you know? Same name but different spelling?
Does having the same name as someone else make them the same as that person?
This can be done using last names, also. Are brothers and sisters alike because they have the same surname? How are they alike and how are they different? Do their parents have the same last? Do you have the same last name as your parents?

Do you know what your name(s) mean? Look up the names of participants in a resource. (This can be put on the back of the name cards prior to the session.)
For the next few minutes, pretend that everyone has the same name (gender neutral, like Kim, Cody, etc.) Ask one participant to do something (draw a picture, hand you a crayon, etc.), using the common name. Ask another participant to do a different task. Repeat this, giving all participants tasks. Then call the common name, and specific direction. How do they know to whom you are speaking?
Do you want to continue to be called by the common name or you want your own name?
Make name tags with the names and allow the participants to decorate the tags

Making changes
Mrs. McCave wished that she had not named all of her sons "Dave."
Invite participants to draw a picture with erasable item, such as pencil, or a non-erasable item, such as crayon or marker. What happens when you want to change something? Can you always change your mind?

CLOSING:
Invite each participant to give his/her name, something s/he feels is special about her name, and/or tell why they made their nametag the way they did. Note that no two nametags or people are alike.

GROUP REVIEW AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
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 they meet again.

© Rev. Helen Zidowecki, May 2003