What a perfect virtue for the season. I think all the moms appreciated having a review of what it means to be unselfish or giving. It can be easy for kids to get caught up with the "I wants" at Christmas time.
Shannon lead the group this month and she provided me with all of her notes. Wow, I wish I could be so organized when I lead meetings!! I need to take some lessons from her. Everything is included for the meeting.
1.
Gather on blanket. Have unselfish written on board.
a.
What does it
mean?
i.
Thinking only
about yourself, not caring or thinking about others
ii.
Stingy, not
generous
iii.
Egotistical –
thinking you’re the best
b.
What are some
examples?
c.
What is the
opposite of Unselfish?
d.
What are some
examples of selfish
2.
Talk about St.
Teresa of the Andes (#2)
a.
Map world, maps
of Chile/Andes (Why do you think she was called St. Teresa of the Andes?) Pass out Passport pages.
b.
She was born in
Chile, South America
c. She read St.
Therese’s Autobiography, The Story of a Soul – she was so impressed and excited
about it, she wanted to become a nun
d.
She used to write
letters talking about her life following Christ
e.
She gave up
everything to give her life to God – unselfish
f.
She overcame a
self-centered personality to become a person who put others before herself
3.
Split up: moms
take girls to play telephone (while other mom’s hide boxes). Telephone sentences:
a.
“I am unselfish
when I think of others first.”
b.
“Praying to God will help me be unselfish.”
c.
“St. Teresa of
the Andes was born in Chile, South America.”
4.
Sorting find the
boxes activity: selfish/unselfish statements cut into strips and each one put
into small boxes. Hide boxes for girls
to find –like Easter egg hunt. Once a
team finds a box, they open it, read the statement, decide if it is selfish or
unselfish, tape it to correct piece of construction paper (two pieces of
construction paper on table labeled “Selfish” and “Unselfish”) See attached statements.
a.
Find boxes and
tape onto correct paper
b.
Work in partners
(older girl with younger girl)
c.
Ask girls how
they can practice being unselfish while playing this game (letting others find
boxes and giving hints to other teams)
5.
Talk about
Christmas – a time to be unselfish, keep Jesus first, not focus on just the
presents
6.
Unlucky Jim Story
(#6) See attached story
a.
Have moms leave
the room
b.
Read story to
girls
c.
Have girls draw a
picture about the story Unlucky Jim
d.
The girls will
share story with mom using the picture they drew
7.
Write a letter to
someone (#4) See attached instructions
a.
Have you ever
gotten mail in your mailbox? How does it
feel?
b.
Write a letter,
draw a picture, tell someone about St. Teresa or Little Flowers or just that
you are thinking about them
c.
Moms can help
daughters organize thoughts
8.
On your way home
(#5)
a.
Talk with your
mom about some ways she has to be unselfish as a mom/grandma and some ways that
you have to be unselfish as a kid. Is
being unselfish easy?
