Sunday Week 4: Hope
background information
In addition to the link above to Background Information for this week's topic, there is a lot of useful background information about Compassion in general on the Home Page
Click here to navigate to that page.
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the
tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
― Emily Dickinson
Click here to navigate to that page.
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the
tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
― Emily Dickinson
class outline
Teaching Our Children About and With Compassion
Foothills Congregational Church Summer 2013
Class Outline
BEFORE CLASS
9:30 Set-up your classroom for the day.
Preschool-2nd grade will meet in the downstairs classroom.
2nd-6th grade will meet in the upstairs classroom.
Youth in 7th-12th grade are encouraged to stay in church, but are also welcome to be
teaching assistants in the other classes. (7th-9th downstairs,10th-12th upstairs)
9:45 Meet in the upstairs classroom to confer with teachers and staff about any last minute
logistics or questions about the curriculum.
10:00 Enter church
10:15 Come forward for the Children’s Sermon and then exit church with the children.
Escort your class to your room.
IN CLASS
Welcome
It is important to welcome each child by name. Since we are teaching about compassion, the intimacy this fosters is important. You probably will not know each child by name. You may choose one of several methods to learn their names:
You could have the children introduce themselves and answer a question
Example: My name is Michelle and my favorite animal is a cat.
You can challenge students to see if anyone already knows everyone’s name and then have that person name everyone.
You could simply introduce yourself and shake hands as you say the names of the kids who you know and ask the names of the people whose names you don’t know.
Click here for more fun ways to learn names.
Theme Song Play the video of the theme song The Lord is Merciful and Compassionate.
Encourage the kids to sing along and follow the hand motions.
Centering Activity
Part of compassion is being able to notice the activities and people around us, including ourselves. We will begin each class by playing The Noticing Game.
The Noticing Game
Ask children to sit comfortably in a position they can be still in for 5 minutes.
They can assume a common meditation pose if they would like, sitting cross legged on the floor or sitting straight-backed in a chair, with the hands on their lap. Any position will work as long as it’s comfortable.
Say: “Breathe in through your nose. Notice where you can feel the breath moving into your body. Can you feel it in your nose? In your throat? Can you feel your chest rise? Hold your breath for a brief moment and then exhale. Where can you feel your breath exiting your body?
Now take a second to notice your body. Pay attention to your head and your shoulders. If they feel tight, take a deep breath and imagine your breath travels to the tightness and makes you feel relaxed. Pay attention to your core, between your neck and your legs. If you notice any tension, take a deep breath and imagine your breath travels to the tension and you feel relaxed. Pay attention to your arms and legs, your hands and your feet. Try to make them smooth, warm, and relaxed. If they feel fidgety or tight, take a deep breath and imagine your breath travels to them, warming them and relaxing you all over.
Now notice what is around you. Is there a shape or a color that catches your attention? Can you find something else in the room that is the same shape or color? Notice who is here today. Is there someone you expected to see today who is not here? Is there someone here you are especially excited to see today?
Take a deep breath and let it out with a heavy sigh (demonstrate)
Do this one more time. Now turn your focus into the center of the class so we can all see each other. Everyone will now share something they noticed during this exercise.”
Go around the room and let each person share something they noticed. Make room for small
things and big things. “I noticed the red circle on the bulletin board” and “I noticed I felt like
crying.”
Take note of the names of anyone who was missed or kids the others were excited to see.
Give these names to the Children's Program Coordinator, Amelie, so she can follow-up.
Introduce the topic of the day
Each Sunday we’ll introduce an aspect of compassion. Give the kids an opportunity to tell
you what they already know about the aspect you are studying today, then you can share a
brief definition.
Give kids a choice of activities
Each Sunday there will be several activities for you to choose from. These activities are based on the theory of multiple intelligences. Click here for an explanation of this theory. The basic idea is that each child has a preferred way of learning. By choosing activities from different preferred methods, more children learn more comfortably. Please choose two activities to use the Sunday you teach.
Ending Ritual
The Children’s Program officially ends at 11:15. Sometimes parents come into the room as
soon as church is out, which is earlier than 11:15, especially in the summer. Begin your ending ritual at 11:10 or when parents begin to come into the room. You can invite the early arriving parents to join you.
We will end each class with a prayer for the world. Begin by asking the children to repeat
after you, line by line. You could say, "This is a repeat after me prayer."
We pray that all beings will be free.
We pray that all beings will be happy.
We pray that all beings will be safe.
We pray that all beings will awaken to the light of their true nature.
We pray that all beings will be free.
If there is time, go back over each sentence and ask children to name people/places/animals they would like to pray for.
“Who do we wish would be happy/safe/free?”
At the end say, “Amen,” and invite the children to help you clean-up the room.
Foothills Congregational Church Summer 2013
Class Outline
BEFORE CLASS
9:30 Set-up your classroom for the day.
Preschool-2nd grade will meet in the downstairs classroom.
2nd-6th grade will meet in the upstairs classroom.
Youth in 7th-12th grade are encouraged to stay in church, but are also welcome to be
teaching assistants in the other classes. (7th-9th downstairs,10th-12th upstairs)
9:45 Meet in the upstairs classroom to confer with teachers and staff about any last minute
logistics or questions about the curriculum.
10:00 Enter church
10:15 Come forward for the Children’s Sermon and then exit church with the children.
Escort your class to your room.
IN CLASS
Welcome
It is important to welcome each child by name. Since we are teaching about compassion, the intimacy this fosters is important. You probably will not know each child by name. You may choose one of several methods to learn their names:
You could have the children introduce themselves and answer a question
Example: My name is Michelle and my favorite animal is a cat.
You can challenge students to see if anyone already knows everyone’s name and then have that person name everyone.
You could simply introduce yourself and shake hands as you say the names of the kids who you know and ask the names of the people whose names you don’t know.
Click here for more fun ways to learn names.
Theme Song Play the video of the theme song The Lord is Merciful and Compassionate.
Encourage the kids to sing along and follow the hand motions.
Centering Activity
Part of compassion is being able to notice the activities and people around us, including ourselves. We will begin each class by playing The Noticing Game.
The Noticing Game
Ask children to sit comfortably in a position they can be still in for 5 minutes.
They can assume a common meditation pose if they would like, sitting cross legged on the floor or sitting straight-backed in a chair, with the hands on their lap. Any position will work as long as it’s comfortable.
Say: “Breathe in through your nose. Notice where you can feel the breath moving into your body. Can you feel it in your nose? In your throat? Can you feel your chest rise? Hold your breath for a brief moment and then exhale. Where can you feel your breath exiting your body?
Now take a second to notice your body. Pay attention to your head and your shoulders. If they feel tight, take a deep breath and imagine your breath travels to the tightness and makes you feel relaxed. Pay attention to your core, between your neck and your legs. If you notice any tension, take a deep breath and imagine your breath travels to the tension and you feel relaxed. Pay attention to your arms and legs, your hands and your feet. Try to make them smooth, warm, and relaxed. If they feel fidgety or tight, take a deep breath and imagine your breath travels to them, warming them and relaxing you all over.
Now notice what is around you. Is there a shape or a color that catches your attention? Can you find something else in the room that is the same shape or color? Notice who is here today. Is there someone you expected to see today who is not here? Is there someone here you are especially excited to see today?
Take a deep breath and let it out with a heavy sigh (demonstrate)
Do this one more time. Now turn your focus into the center of the class so we can all see each other. Everyone will now share something they noticed during this exercise.”
Go around the room and let each person share something they noticed. Make room for small
things and big things. “I noticed the red circle on the bulletin board” and “I noticed I felt like
crying.”
Take note of the names of anyone who was missed or kids the others were excited to see.
Give these names to the Children's Program Coordinator, Amelie, so she can follow-up.
Introduce the topic of the day
Each Sunday we’ll introduce an aspect of compassion. Give the kids an opportunity to tell
you what they already know about the aspect you are studying today, then you can share a
brief definition.
Give kids a choice of activities
Each Sunday there will be several activities for you to choose from. These activities are based on the theory of multiple intelligences. Click here for an explanation of this theory. The basic idea is that each child has a preferred way of learning. By choosing activities from different preferred methods, more children learn more comfortably. Please choose two activities to use the Sunday you teach.
Ending Ritual
The Children’s Program officially ends at 11:15. Sometimes parents come into the room as
soon as church is out, which is earlier than 11:15, especially in the summer. Begin your ending ritual at 11:10 or when parents begin to come into the room. You can invite the early arriving parents to join you.
We will end each class with a prayer for the world. Begin by asking the children to repeat
after you, line by line. You could say, "This is a repeat after me prayer."
We pray that all beings will be free.
We pray that all beings will be happy.
We pray that all beings will be safe.
We pray that all beings will awaken to the light of their true nature.
We pray that all beings will be free.
If there is time, go back over each sentence and ask children to name people/places/animals they would like to pray for.
“Who do we wish would be happy/safe/free?”
At the end say, “Amen,” and invite the children to help you clean-up the room.
Example of a sighing breath for the opening activity
resources for Week 4: Hope
topic for Week 4: Hope
com·pas·sion(km-pshn) n.
Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.
It is important to note that compassion is an action word. It is not simply feeling something about an issue, but doing something about it.
hope(hp) v. hoped, hop·ing, hopes v.intr.
1. To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.
2. Archaic To have confidence; trust.
v.tr.
1. To look forward to with confidence or expectation: We hope that our children will be
successful.
2. To expect and desire. See Synonyms at expect.
n.
1. A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.
2. Something that is hoped for or desired: Success is our hope.
3. One that is a source of or reason for hope: the team's only hope for victory.
4. often Hope Christianity The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.
5. Archaic Trust; confidence.
The theme for this week is the importance of maintaining a sense of hope when being compassionate. Last week we talked about the importance of recognizing suffering. This week we will talk about maintaining a hopeful attitude, which can be difficult when we recognize the suffering in the world. The ability to do something to relieve suffering, working towards and idealized future in which there is not suffering, can be a source of hope.
Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.
It is important to note that compassion is an action word. It is not simply feeling something about an issue, but doing something about it.
hope(hp) v. hoped, hop·ing, hopes v.intr.
1. To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.
2. Archaic To have confidence; trust.
v.tr.
1. To look forward to with confidence or expectation: We hope that our children will be
successful.
2. To expect and desire. See Synonyms at expect.
n.
1. A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.
2. Something that is hoped for or desired: Success is our hope.
3. One that is a source of or reason for hope: the team's only hope for victory.
4. often Hope Christianity The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.
5. Archaic Trust; confidence.
The theme for this week is the importance of maintaining a sense of hope when being compassionate. Last week we talked about the importance of recognizing suffering. This week we will talk about maintaining a hopeful attitude, which can be difficult when we recognize the suffering in the world. The ability to do something to relieve suffering, working towards and idealized future in which there is not suffering, can be a source of hope.
theme song
activity choices
if i created the world: Visual learners
Supplies:
Construction Paper
Lined Paper
Pencils
Pens
Markers
Ask kids to draw or write their ideal world. If they created the world, or were in the active state of creating the world, what would it be like? Allow them to be as outlandish and idealistic as they are inspired to be. Push them to add as much detail as possible- to really imagine living in their ideal world.
After some time, explain that one of the things that Christians do is live towards an ideal. Ask: What are Christian ideals?
Elicit: We are all God's children, God loves each of us, we welcome all people, we should care for others....
Ask: Do we live in a world where all people are welcome everywhere? Where everyone is cared for?
Say: When we live towards the ideal world, we make the world we actually live in better, if not perfect.
Construction Paper
Lined Paper
Pencils
Pens
Markers
Ask kids to draw or write their ideal world. If they created the world, or were in the active state of creating the world, what would it be like? Allow them to be as outlandish and idealistic as they are inspired to be. Push them to add as much detail as possible- to really imagine living in their ideal world.
After some time, explain that one of the things that Christians do is live towards an ideal. Ask: What are Christian ideals?
Elicit: We are all God's children, God loves each of us, we welcome all people, we should care for others....
Ask: Do we live in a world where all people are welcome everywhere? Where everyone is cared for?
Say: When we live towards the ideal world, we make the world we actually live in better, if not perfect.
hanging my hopes on...
: Kinesthetic and Verbal/Linguistic Learners
Supplies:
Wooden Clothes pins (about 20 per child)
Permanant Markers
Clothes Hangers (one per child)
I once knew a girl whose family didn't have a lot of money. They barely had enough money for food and definately not enough for birthday presents. So each year on her birthday her parents would write down hopeful wishes on pieces of paper. They would say "Ride a horse" or "Go to an amusement park." And then during the year her parents would hope for and look for opportunities to do those things. And somehow her parents always made them happen. She liked these hopeful wishes better than regular presents, she said, because she lived in anticipation of them all year long and she knew that when they happened it would be amazing. For example, the year that her present was to go to an amusement park, her mom's co-worker had purchased discounted tickets to an amusement park and ended up not being able to use them before they expired so her mom got the tickets, but they were just a few days from expiring so her mom had to pull her out of school for a day to take her. She didn't even know it was going to happen until they left the house and her mom told her.
So we're going to write down some hopeful wishes we have for this year and keep them hanging at home. Then, each time you can make one of them happen, you can take the clothes pin off. They can be easy things like, "Play a game with my mom," or more complicated things like "Provide a meal for someone who does not have one." They can be for yourself or for others around you or for the world. Be creative. There are no wrong answers. They don't even have to be possible. It's ok to have hopes that are actually impossible.
Brainstorm some things kids might write.
Write them down on clothes pins and put them on the hangers. Make sure each child has at least one that is not only possible, but highly likely.
Wooden Clothes pins (about 20 per child)
Permanant Markers
Clothes Hangers (one per child)
I once knew a girl whose family didn't have a lot of money. They barely had enough money for food and definately not enough for birthday presents. So each year on her birthday her parents would write down hopeful wishes on pieces of paper. They would say "Ride a horse" or "Go to an amusement park." And then during the year her parents would hope for and look for opportunities to do those things. And somehow her parents always made them happen. She liked these hopeful wishes better than regular presents, she said, because she lived in anticipation of them all year long and she knew that when they happened it would be amazing. For example, the year that her present was to go to an amusement park, her mom's co-worker had purchased discounted tickets to an amusement park and ended up not being able to use them before they expired so her mom got the tickets, but they were just a few days from expiring so her mom had to pull her out of school for a day to take her. She didn't even know it was going to happen until they left the house and her mom told her.
So we're going to write down some hopeful wishes we have for this year and keep them hanging at home. Then, each time you can make one of them happen, you can take the clothes pin off. They can be easy things like, "Play a game with my mom," or more complicated things like "Provide a meal for someone who does not have one." They can be for yourself or for others around you or for the world. Be creative. There are no wrong answers. They don't even have to be possible. It's ok to have hopes that are actually impossible.
Brainstorm some things kids might write.
Write them down on clothes pins and put them on the hangers. Make sure each child has at least one that is not only possible, but highly likely.
Cards of Hope: Interpersonal, Linguistic, and Existential Learners
Supplies:
Names & addresses of children from the link below.
Card Stock
A list of hopeful things to write
Click here for a list of quotes about hope
Click here for a list of inspirational quotes for children
Pens
Markers
Stickers
This project is to make cards of hope for sick children.
The Hugs & Hope Club for Sick Kids was created by Marsha Jordan in
October 2000, as a ministry of encouragement for children battling critical
illness. Every month we feature new stories and photos of sick children on our
website. Our visitors and volunteers pray for, encourage, and send these
children cheery postal mail (a.k.a."happy mail"). Our volunteers also sponsor
many special projects to brighten the lives of the children on a regular
basis!
"Happy Mail" Wanted!
Children fighting for their lives have very little to smile about. You
can change that by sending them some "Happy Mail." Cheery cards
give these kids a few more smiles, a little more hope, and a reason to
get out of bed each day.
Experience the satisfaction of making a sick child's day and giving them
something to look forward to. Send a card and a hug -- one of the smiles
you create just might be your own!
IMPORTANT: Please mail an individual envelope to each specific child. Addresses are provided for each of our kids, so they can receive your happy mail directly from you to their mail box. DO NOT send mail for the children to our office address.
Please do not write "I hope you get better" because for some of the recipients they know they will not get better. Instead write things that foster hope and show compassion.
Click here to read more
Click here to choose a child to send a card to. Choose one of the children highlighted in Yellow. Also consider sending "Thank you for providing hope for sick children" cards to the doctors listed.
If you want to print labels and send cards to all of HugsandHope's active list, click here.
Names & addresses of children from the link below.
Card Stock
A list of hopeful things to write
Click here for a list of quotes about hope
Click here for a list of inspirational quotes for children
Pens
Markers
Stickers
This project is to make cards of hope for sick children.
The Hugs & Hope Club for Sick Kids was created by Marsha Jordan in
October 2000, as a ministry of encouragement for children battling critical
illness. Every month we feature new stories and photos of sick children on our
website. Our visitors and volunteers pray for, encourage, and send these
children cheery postal mail (a.k.a."happy mail"). Our volunteers also sponsor
many special projects to brighten the lives of the children on a regular
basis!
"Happy Mail" Wanted!
Children fighting for their lives have very little to smile about. You
can change that by sending them some "Happy Mail." Cheery cards
give these kids a few more smiles, a little more hope, and a reason to
get out of bed each day.
Experience the satisfaction of making a sick child's day and giving them
something to look forward to. Send a card and a hug -- one of the smiles
you create just might be your own!
IMPORTANT: Please mail an individual envelope to each specific child. Addresses are provided for each of our kids, so they can receive your happy mail directly from you to their mail box. DO NOT send mail for the children to our office address.
Please do not write "I hope you get better" because for some of the recipients they know they will not get better. Instead write things that foster hope and show compassion.
Click here to read more
Click here to choose a child to send a card to. Choose one of the children highlighted in Yellow. Also consider sending "Thank you for providing hope for sick children" cards to the doctors listed.
If you want to print labels and send cards to all of HugsandHope's active list, click here.
Consider playing this song while doing on of the activities.