Friday, March 2, 2012

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities."
Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss is one of my personal Saints of Early Childhood. If I was like Luke Skywalker at the end of Return of the Jedi, and my mentors were to appear as spirits and smile down at me, I'd hope for Dr. Seuss, Mr. Rogers, and Winnie the Pooh.

At church this year we repeated a set of lessons I'd written called "The 7 Principles and Dr. Seuss", which is always fun and engaging. In case you're wondering, Dr. Seuss did in fact write a book for each of our UU Principles!

Respect Everyone (Inherent Worth and Dignity) is The Sneetches

Offer Fair and Kind Treatment is Horton Hatches an Egg

Yearn to Learn/Accept Each Other is How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Grow by seeking truth and meaning is Horton Hears a Who

Believe in your ideas and listen to others (right of conscience and democracy) is Yertle the Turtle

Insist on Peace and Justice in the World is The Butter Battle

Value the Web of Life is The Lorax

"Preachers in pulpits talked about what a great message is in the book. No matter what you do, somebody always imputes meaning into your books."
Dr. Seuss

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
Dr. Seuss

4 comments:

  1. Are you willing to share your lesson plans, or are they published somewhere? I'd love to see my church implement something like this over the summer.

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  2. I'm happy share. Send me your email address at olydre@gmail.com, and I'll send you my lesson plans. :)

    I also have to plug another curriculum, written by Cathy Cartwright, called "Dr Seuss Changed My Life". Hers was a big inspiration for mine.

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  3. Hi Sara, I'm a new DRE at a UU church in MN. Would you be wiling to share your lesson plans with me as well? This seems like an excellent fit for our group.

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  4. James, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to notice your comment! I was on sabbatical, so some things slipped through the cracks. :) I would be happy to share the curriculum with you, just send me your email address. You can email me at olydre@gmail.com

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