DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
THE GLUNK THAT GOT THUNK (5-8 Years)

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

SETTING THE STAGE
STORY SYNPOSIS: She likes to sit and think up things, but her thinking got out of hand, and it took her brother to help her un-think some thoughts. (5 minutes)

AFFIRMATION(S): We have a say in what is important to us.

THEME(S): What we think
Sometimes we need help.
PREPARATION: Review the reflection questions to a situation that you have had.

NEEDED:
"The Glunk That Got Thunk" from I Can Lick 30 Tigers and Other Stories, Random House, 1969
2 readers
construction paper cut into squares or plain 3x5 cards (colored or white)
small flat stone for participants

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
The Glunk That Got Thunk
Suggestion: Have two readers, one for the Glunk and one for the other parts. Exaggerate the part of the Glunk.

EXPLORING
Reflecting--being overwhelmed
What was the scariest part of the story for you? Why? (When the Glunk would not stop when she told him to, when the Glunk ignored her, when things around her got out of control or felt overwhelming) What do you do when you are feel scared? (Say 'no,' make your wants known, find someone who will listen to you and help.)

Reflecting--worry
Have you ever started thinking about something and your thoughts go onto something that might even be frightening? Can you stop thinking them before or when that happens?
What happens when frightening thoughts continue? Do you tell anyone?

"What if..." game
Sometimes we worry about things that probably will not happen.
Think of something that might actually happen, such as "It might rain tomorrow" or "We might have a test in school tomorrow" (or think of an example that would apply to your own group).
Then someone add a line, like "It might rain cats and dogs, and there would be too many for us to keep in our house." Have a couple of others add to the story. Stop the story, and ask at what point the story moved from something real ("It might rain tomorrow") to something that becomes overwhelming.

Play this a few times, at least 3, to give an opportunity for participants to identify what might be real and what is out of proportion.

A key element in the story was that another person, the brother, helped her "un-think".
When you have scary thoughts or when something scary happens, who do you talk to?

Thunk/UN-thunk cards
On one side write THUNK and on the other side write UN-THUNK. Draw a picture of something pleasant on THUNK side, and something that you want to go away or something unpleasant on the UN-THUNK side.

Alternative: Have small flat stones for participants. These are sometimes known as 'worry stones.' These stones can be carried in a pocket and can be rubbed when a person feel uneasy or worried about something. The stones are not magic, but rubbing a stone while changing to pleasant thought can interrupt the worry thoughts so that these thoughts are not as overwhelming.

CLOSING:
Invite participants to share their cards by showing and talking about both sides.

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.

© Rev. Helen Zidowecki, May 2003