DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
BUTTER BATTLE BOOK

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

SETTING THE STAGE
STORY SYNPOSIS: People on one side of the wall buttered their bread on one side; people on the other side of the wall buttered their bread on the other side. Each side saw the other side as a threat and created bigger and better weapons. Would this escalation ever end? (10 Minutes)

AFFIRMATIONS: We treat people with justice and equity
We help make the world better for everyone
THEMES: Conflict

PREPARATION: Think about several conflicts, from personal experiences to issues of international war. Has the conflict escalated or de-escalated? Why?
In the discussion about violence, something might be said to indicate that a participant is or might be in danger. If you have a safety policy/procedure in your congregation, review it. If you do not have one, know whom you should contact if needed, and work on getting a policy in place.

NEEDED:
Butter Battle Book, Random House, 1984
Paper cut into triangles, pencil and markers, straws for flagpoles
World map

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
Butter Battle Book

EXPLORING
Different and the same
If I don't like to eat what you eat, does that mean I don't like you? If we go to an ice cream store, are we allowed to get different kinds of ice cream? Would you go with me if I get a different kind from you? Do you think that we would get into a fight over food?

Making flags:
Cut paper into triangles (Overall size does not matter, but have one side of the triangle shorter than the other two.)
Draw piece of bread with butter on both sides of the paper.
On one side write: Butter Side Up
On the other side write: Butter Side Down
Tape the short side around a straw to make a flag. Have straw sticking out beyond the paper so that the flag can be held either way.

Talk about why having the butter side down is all right, and possibly write these thoughts on the flags or on large newsprint. Then think about why having the butter side up is all right, and possibly write these thoughts on the flags or on large newsprint. How important is it to have the butter on one side or the other?

Peace and violence
Discuss situations of violence that may be known to participants. How does violence escalate? How can you protect yourself from violence?
How do we change from violence to peace or non-violence? How can we stop violence?
Who can help us violence?

Peace and violence, worldwide
Have a map of the world. Note where some of the conflicts are occurring in the world.
What are some of the reasons that conflicts occur? (use of resources, feeling that a group has done something against another group, etc.)
With the movement of people because of wars, do you know people who have been displaced by war? Does the church assist any families? Discuss some of the things that families who had to leave their homes might face and things that they might need in order to survive. Connect with congregational or community projects that assist refugees or people displaced by war.

CLOSING
Have each participant choose how to hold his/her flag. Go around the room, and say something to each child, such as, "Sarah, I see that you have your flag butter side down. I like your dress." or "Willie, I see that you have your butter side up. Did you do anything special today?" Focus: consider each child, regardless of how they are holding their flag.
If possible, have the children turn their flags the other way. Repeat exercise, or use song, to Row, Row, Row Your Boat: Wave, wave, wave your flags. Wave them all right now.
Merrily, Merrily, merrily, merrily. Which way do they go?

Wave, wave, wave your flags. Butter sides all up.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Turn them upside down.

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