Together We are Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts

As part of our welcoming month of September, we considered the first three UU principles (inherent worth of everyone, compassion for others, acceptance of one another) and read the story of Stone Soup, introducing objects and characters as it was told. In this story, two travelers are greeted by townspeople who were fearful and suspicious of them. When they asked if there was any food or a place to rest, the townspeople pretended to be hungry with no food or rooms available. The travelers rang the bell and announced that since there was no food in town it was time to make stone soup. The recipe starts with stones but allows for any number of optional ingredients. The townspeople were quickly enchanted by the travelers offer to feed the whole town and brought out their finest ingredients to share making it a beautiful feast and recognizing the travelers as valued members of the community.

Play is the work of the child. After wondering together about why the townspeople were scared, what made them change their minds, and how each of us might welcome a traveler, our littlest kids were invited to use the elements and props of the story to interpret it in their own way, telling and retelling it with new elements. During this play, a bat toy was a prized character, different from all the others (and every other mammal too!). It visited and was hosted by the "the nicest cook" and other animals who served it and welcomed it with hospitality.