For the sun, for rain and thunder, for the seasons' harmony . . . — "For the Earth Forever Turning," Hymn 163 in Singing the Living Tradition
The weather is part of our natural world, and contact with the natural world is one of twelve main types of experiences connected with natural religious development in young children, according to religious educator Sophia Fahs. In this session, the children share their wonder about the weather and find out more about the weather. We share our wonder together as part of our congregational community.
Tailor the session to your local climate and typical weather phenomena (e.g., snow, extreme heat). Be prepared to calm fears about violent forces of nature, such as hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes, if these happen in your area; be ready to tell the children there are many people whose job it is to keep people safe in all types of weather.
This session will help preschoolers:
- Understand that all ages share wonder about the weather
- Begin to comprehend the science of how weather happens
- Experience the Chalice Children group as safe and caring
- Feel a growing sense of belonging to and identity with a Unitarian Universalist congregation.
- Explore wind, rain, storms, and/or snow, as appropriate to location and the season
- Share their wonderings about the natural world with one another
- Connect the story they read in this session with the wonder of weather.