DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
THE SNEETCHES (5-9 Years)

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

SETTING THE STAGE
STORY SYNOPSIS: One group of Sneetches feels superior to another because of stars on their bellies. When the other group of Sneetches feels left out, Sylvester McMonkey McBean uses a machine to add and take off stars, with the Sneetches paying for the changes. What happens when the money runs out? (5 minutes)

AFFIRMATION(S): We are fair and kind to each other.
Everyone is important.
THEME(S): No one is better than anyone else.

PREPARATION: Reflect on a time when you have felt 'different' and what that felt like.

NEEDED:
The Sneetches, 1969
Pictures of people of all ages.
For acting the story: Fake money, tickets or chips and container to collect the fares; box for the machine, signs for "Stars On" and "Stars Off", paper stars to put on and take off; tape to put the stars on.
Stars with saying, "We work for fairness and justice for all" or "I can like someone who is different from me."

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

CHECK-IN: Welcome. After each person says his or her name, the group responds with "Welcome, (name)." Allow time for each person to briefly tell something that went well during the last week, 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
The Sneetches

EXPLORING
Different and alike
1.What do you have that makes you feel good about yourself?
Do you ever wish that you could be like somebody else?What do they have that you would like?

2. Pictures of people, preferably children, of different races, appearances, abilities.How are the people in the pictures different? How are they alike? What needs do they all have? (Eat, sleep, need love, etc.)

What is a good way to be a friend? What do you like about your friends? Are your friends exactly like you?

Acting the story
Stars on part of class, not on others
Give each participant the same amount of play money or something representing money (tickets, or poker chips)
Machine--one corner of room
As story progresses, give and take away the stars as they children go into the corner, or have them take stars from/put stars into a box, as appropriate. Participants need to pay each time they go through the machine, until the money is gone.

How did it feel to keep changing?
How did it feel to use so much money to make the changes? If the money had been real, what better way could it have been spent in helping each other?

CLOSING:
Give each participant a Sneetches stars with saying, "We work for fairness and justice for all" or "I can like someone who is different from me."

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