DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
HUNCHES IN BUNCHES

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

SETTING THE STAGE
STORY SYNPOSIS: Numerous hunches create confusion. (5 min.)

AFFIRMATION(S):We have a say about things that are important to us.

THEME(S): Making decisions, Choices
Using the Affirmations/Principles as guidelines PREPARATION: Think of times when things keep distracting you, or leading you into directions that were unplanned. Consider how you make decisions.

NEEDED:
Hunches in Bunches, Random House, 1982
Mazes: paper, puzzle books
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
Hunches in Bunches, Random House, 1982

EXPLORING
Reflections
Have you had any of the hunches that were in the story?
What do you do when you think of all sorts of things that you would like to do or should be doing? How do you decide what to do?

Choices/decision-making
We have choices about how to react to hunches and other situations. The Affirmations/Principles can give us some guidelines for making choices. (Not every Affirmation is going to apply to every situation.)

We remember that:
Everyone is special and important. Does this choice make me feel good? (Old, Up, Down Hunches)
Are there things that I need to do (homework, jobs)? If I do not do them now, when will they get done? (Real Touch, Sour Hunches) We are fair and kind to each other. Does this choice hurt anyone? If so, why am I thinking about it?
Does this choice help anyone? Church is a place where we learn together. Am I being the best person that I can be by making this choice?
Can I use any tools I have learned to help make this decision, such as meditation, relaxation, asking someone to help me decide? We are always learning for ourselves. Can I learn from this choice. We have a say about things that are important to us. I can have a say, and I also need to make decisions for myself. We help make the world better for everyone. Does my choice make things better for anyone else? (physically, attitude) We help take care of our world. Does my choice and my action help take care of the world around me (from my own room to other things and places, to environmental things)? Possible activity: This will be influenced by location.
Take a walk. When the group comes to a corner, decide which way to go. Do this at several corners. The leaders will need to know the area, and when to set the decision to move the group back toward the church.

If this is being done in an area with snow or where paths can be made, make paths that have branches. Participants can walk the paths, separately or together, and make decisions then there are branches or intersections.

Draw a maze on a paper or use one from a puzzle book. Finger-trace the paths through the maze.
To adapt for use with the Affirmations, draw a maze. At various points add in the Affirmations and questions (Small sections at the end of the session can be cut and pasted into the maze.)

Whichever option is used, take time to talk about how participants made decisions about which way to go.

CLOSING: Read the Affirmations in Unison.

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 the group meets again.

Everyone is special and important. Does this choice make me feel good? Are there things that I need to do (homework, jobs)? If I do not do them now, when will they get done?	We are fair and kind to each other. Does this choice hurt anyone? If so, why am I thinking about it? Does this choice help anyone?	Church is a place where we learn together. Does this choice help me live what I believe? Can I use tools like meditation, relaxation, asking someone for help in making this choice?	We are always learning for ourselves. What can I learn from this choice?
We have a say about things that are important to us. I can have a say, and I also need to make decisions for myself.	We help make the world better for everyone. Does my choice make things better for anyone else? (physically, attitude)?	We help take care of our world. Does my choice help take care of the world around me (from my own room to environmental things)?

 

Rev. Helen Zidowecki, May 2003