DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
DID I EVER TELL YOU HOW LUCKY YOU ARE? (5-9 Years)

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

SETTING THE STAGE:
STORY SYNPOSIS: Various whimsical situations are given to show that there are situations far worse than those of the reader! (8 minutes)

AFFIRMATIONS: Everyone is important.

THEME: Feeling sorry for yourself

PREPARATION: Reflect on times when you were feeling that everything was going wrong. Did you compare your situation to someone else's? Whose situation was worse?

NEEDED: Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? Random House, 1973
Coffee cans or boxes with lids, decorating materials, paper or cards for writing items, stickers

SESSION PLAN
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
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

EXPLORING:
Reflecting
Think of a time when you felt like the unluckiest person in the world. What happened to make you feel better about yourself?
Think of something today that makes you feel 'lucky'.
Is there such as thing as 'luck'? Can you define 'luck'?
What can you do to change your luck? The luck of another person?

Thankful box/can
Another way of looking at the idea of 'luck' is to give thanks for things that you have. When you feel unlucky, you can remember the things that made you thankful. Draw pictures on cards or use stickers to show things you are thankful for, or just write the name if the item, such as a pet's name.
Using large coffee cans that have been cleaned out and have lids, or medium size boxes (such as shoe boxes) with lids, create a "thank you" container. Decorate the can or box and put on the words, like "Lucky Items" or "Thank You Things". Putting a slit in the top is optional. Put your pictures or cards with words, or things for which you are thankful, into the can or box. Keep the box where you can see it. You can add to it, and you can look through it when you are feeling sad or gloomy.

Exploring superstitions:
What superstitions can they name? (walking under a ladder, seeing a black cat, not stepping on a crack in a sidewalk) Some superstitions made sense, like the danger of walking under a ladder. Others came from the beliefs of the time, such as spirits.

CLOSING
When you think things are bad,
When you feel sour and blue,
When you start to get mad….
You should do what I do!
I think of all of the things that are bright,
I think of all of the things that are cheerful,
I think of how I can create a beautiful sight,
I think of all that I'm thankful for.

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 they meet again.

© Rev. Helen Zidowecki, May 2003