DR. SEUSS AND UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS
THE KING'S STILTS

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

SETTING THE STAGE
STORY SYNPOSIS: The King's day was balanced between work and play, until Lord Droon took away the stilts. (12 minutes)

AFFIRMATION(S): Everyone is important.

THEME: Balancing work and play

PREPARATION: Think about how you balance work and play.

NEEDED:
The King's Stilts, Random House, 1939
4x6 cards or full size paper/construction paper

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 King's Stilts

EXPLORING
Reflection
Do you have jobs to do at home, like get dressed, go to school (daycare), pick up toys? Do you play with your parents? When? How? (Be prepared for comments that child feels that s/he doesn't get a chance to play with parent very often. Possibly explore why, and ask how child would like to play with parent.)

What would happen if all you did all day was play? (toys would not be where you could find them. Adults would have less time to spend with you because of cleaning up after you, etc.)
What would happen if you never had time to play? If your parents never had time to play with you?

Work and Play cards
What would you like to do for work when you get old enough
? How many different jobs can the group name? Look for gender discrimination and discuss the many options open, regardless of gender.

Repeat discussion with play, including sports with boys and girls together and sex-specific teams.

Have participants make work/play cards, any size from about 4x6 inches up to a full sheet of paper/construction paper, with an item related to a job that they would like to do on one side, and play item/game on the other. These can be words or pictures. Discuss the pictures.

Work and Play activity
What are some of the work that needs to be done to keep the church in good order?
Discuss committees, and meetings, as well as projects.

Are there any times when the congregation has fun time, such as game nights, or picnics?
If there are no or few play times, plan such an event and invite the congregation to join them in a "Come and Play" event.

If the church has a special project that needs to be done, find a place for the participants to help. Or have them participant in regular clean-up days. Follow this with a fun time for them, such as a party, ice cream sundaes, or a treat. This can be done with the specific group, or engage the congregation in a work and play day.

CLOSING:
Closing: Each child holds card with picture that shows work toward the group. Pause to look at the cards around the group. Turn them over, repeat with play pictures.

GROUP REVIEW AND ANNOUNCEMENT.
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