Here’s the next project from the Tapestry of Faith, Windows and Mirrors curriculum.
Learn more about the children’s program on the Children’s Religious Exploration (CRE) page.
Learning Objectives
- Hear a story in which an imperfection was also a special gift that could be shared
- Express, in an art project, their own imperfections in terms of gifts of blessings they can share
- Learn that, as Unitarian Universalists, we value the very imperfections that make each individual unique.
Story: The Water Bearer’s Garden
We read The Water Bearer’s Garden – From uu & me! Collected Stories, edited by Betsy Hill Williams (Boston: Skinner House, 2003). Used with permission.
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever been in a situation where you could not do a job up to expectations, like the cracked pot? How did you feel?
- Why didn’t the cracked pot notice the flowers until the water bearer pointed them out?
Activity
The children were asked to illustrate the story and to include the pot, the crack, the path, the flowers, and the water. They could use the pot shape as is or change it to suit their image. Arun made a pot that was the same as the original shape but smaller! Way to problem solve Arun! It was pointed out in the example images that the water bearer wasn’t represented but that they could draw the water bearer if they wanted to. Also, notice that they made good use of the frame.
