DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
GREAT DAY FOR UP (3-6 Years)
(NOTE: Please review the Introduction before using the Session Plan. Thank you.)
SETTING THE STAGE
STORY SYNPOSIS: Gives various reasons for getting up. (2 minutes)
AFFIRMATIONS:
Everyone is important.
We are always learning.
THEME: What makes a "good" day?
PREPARATION: Reflect on what makes a day "good" for you.
NEEDED: Great Day for Up, Random House, 1974
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
Great Day for Up
As the story is being read, invite the participants to share experiences. This is not a competition to see how many things they have done, but to get them engaged in the discussion.
EXPLORING:
Reflecting
What has happened since you got up today? Is this a "good" day?
How do you feel when you see the sun "coming up" in the morning? "Going down" in the evening?
Exercise
Have participants sit on the floor or on a chair.
Going UP: Get up slowly to standing position, then reach arms over head and reach as high as possible.
Going DOWN: Slowly lower arms from over the head to the sides and have fingers pointing to the floor.
This can be repeated at different speeds.
Options:
- Make and fly simple kites. Patterns are available in craft books.
- Play a game such as Chutes and Ladders, which involves the concepts of up and down.
- Draw or use stickers on a card to show UP, and write "This Side UP." On the reverse side of the card, write "This Side Down," and draw or use stickers for DOWN (worms, a slide, etc.). Attach yarn to both ends of the card so that it can be hung either way.
CLOSING
Show the UP/DOWN cards and talk about the pictures.
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