DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
HORTON HATCHES THE EGG

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

SETTING THE STAGE
STORY SYNOPSIS: Horton agrees to set on an egg while its mother takes a vacation. Through trials and taunts, Horton sits on the egg. (10 minutes)

AFFIRMATION(S): Everyone is important.
We take care of our world.
THEME(S): Stick with something you think is right.
Environment
PREPARATION:

NEEDED:
Horton Hatches the Egg, Random House, 1940
Plastic eggs, small squares of paper to fit into the eggs, labels for the eggs

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
Horton Hatches the Egg

EXPLORING
Reflection
What part of the story was meaningful to you, or caught your attention?

Did you ever feel like quitting a hard job? If Mom or Dad gave you a job to do, have you ever felt that it was too hard, or taking too much time? What did you do when you felt that way? Tell about a big, hard job that you have done.

What was Horton's reward for doing a good job? What reward do you get when you do a good job? Feeling good about doing the right thing is a reward! Have you ever done something for someone, and no one knows about it?

What does the saying that Horton kept repeating mean? (The reference to 100% might need some explanation.)

I meant what I said,
And I said what I meant.
An elephant's faithful
One hundred percent.
Note: While not the focus of the story, there could be discussion about taking animals from the wild and placing them in zoos and circuses. The discussion is addressed more in If I Ran the Zoo.

Creativity and nurturing
The egg has meaning in religion back centuries as the center of creativity and rebirth. Horton was helping that creativity by taking care of the egg as the baby developed. Have a plastic egg for each participant (with a label to write the owner's name). Have small square of paper that can be rolled up and put in the egg, and on the paper have the saying, I meant what I said,
And I said what I meant.
You'll find that I'm faithful
One hundred percent.
On the reverse side of the squares, have participants draw or write the name of something in nature that they are willing to protect and take care of. Suggestions can be animals, pets, trees, other people. Put this square into the egg.

CLOSING:
Put all of the eggs on the table. Form a circle, and use the saying as a chant (write the words in big letters for reading during this closing). I meant what I said,
And I said what I meant.
You'll find that I'm faithful
One hundred percent.
After saying the chant several times, each participant can take his/her egg.

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