Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Trees and Tattoos

The youth group explored face painting and airbrush art this week.  What a great flame tattoo!

Guest Aaron Sperry demonstrated some techniques.


The youth got to try out their new skills painting faces at the "stay and play" event after church today.


The Treasure Hunters class went outside to collect leaves from different kinds of trees.
The children made rubbings from the leaves and talked about the diversity of different kinds of trees, and ways trees contribute to our ecosystem.


The Discovery Class also explored the plants and animals of our ecosystem, and then made bird feeders out of pine cones.


Here are a few ideas for extending the learning at home:

Get or make some face paints, and enjoy decorating one another!

Try choosing an outdoor area near your home and keeping a list of all the animals you see there this week.  How does the habitat support them?  Where do they find shelter, food, and water?

Borrow or buy a book about identifying trees in our local area (there are plenty available through the local library).  Go on a nature walk and identify as many trees as you are able.  Or choose a tree near your home and visit it at different times of day and during different seasons.  Draw pictures of the tree, create tree poems, make bark rubbings, etc.  As you explore the tree, talk about the times when your heart fills with awe, wonder, and amazement in response to the web of life.

Do you have an outdoor space near your home?  Find out what animals live there.  Could you attract more animals by changing the environment (e.g., could you install a window box with flowers that butterflies or hummingbirds love)?  The Family Pages insert in the Fall 2012 UU World magazine has the theme "All God's Creatures. . . Even the Bat!"  Learn how human activity has disrupted bats' habitats.  Find out what some people are doing to help, and ways you and your child can get involved.



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