Table of Contents
Introduction: What is Spirit Play? 11
Part 1: Philosophy 17
What Does Spirit Play Look Like? 17
Where Did This Method Come From? 21
Montessori and Religious Education: A History 23
Sofia Cavalletti and Gianni Gobbi
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 23
Jerome W. Berryman—Godly Play™ 24
Spirit Play 25
The Content of Spirit Play 28
The Arts as Spiritual Process 30
Part 2: Practical Approaches to Spirit Play 34
Starting a Spirit Play Program 34
Fitting Spirit Play Within Different Models of Religious Education 35
Pillars Model 36
Way Cool Sunday School Model 36
Workshop Rotation Model 36
Small Group Ministry Model 36
One Room Schoolhouse Model 36
Second Service 37
Worship 37
Creating Your Classroom Environment 37
Cost of Classroom Set-up 37
Space Considerations 37
Age Considerations 38
Timing of Class 39
Choosing Your Stories 40
Guidelines for Creating Your Own Stories 40
Choosing a Story 40
Creating the Wondering Questions 43
Beginning and Ending sections of lessons 43
Scripts in Classroom 43
Translating the Story into Material 44
Underlays 46
Containers for stories: Baskets, boxes, trays 46
Setting Up and Organizing Your Classroom 47
Flooring 48
Shelving 48
Sharing Space 49
Tables and Chairs 51
Work Rugs 52
Church Corner 52
Water Source 53
Organizing Your Stories on the Shelves 54
Shelf Maps First Year Program 54
Unitarian Universalist Focal Shelves 54
Promises Shelves 55
Shelf Maps Second Year Additions 55
Sources Shelves 55
Sacred Spaces 57
A Word about Toys in the Classroom 57
Setting Up Your Art Response Shelves 57
Suggested Art Materials 58
Drying Paintings and Storing Work 61
Shelf Map: Art Shelves 62
Other Possibilities for Arts Responses 62
Drama Corner 62
Reading Corner 62
Meditation Table 62
Decorating the Altar Table 63
Arranging Flowers for the Altar Table 63
Yoga Cards and dance 63
Simple Games 63
Feast Supplies 63
Clean up Materials 64
Taking Care of the Environment: Montessori Exercises 64
Dusting the Shelves 64
Sweeping the Floor 65
Carpet Sweeping 65
Polishing the Chalice 65
Washing a Tray 65
Watering a Plant 65
Posters 65
When you are finished setting up your classroom 66
Training Your Teachers 66
Why Training? 67
Doorkeeper Role 68
Storyteller Role 73
A Note about Visiting Children 74
Tips for telling the story 75
Disruptions in the Circle 76
Discipline and Special Needs in the Classroom 80
Discipline 80
Supporting the child in developing self-discipline 80
Other Special Needs 81
How to talk to children about their arts experiences 81
How do you know the children are connecting spiritually to the process? 82
Orientation 83
The Importance of Orientation for Parents 83
The Importance of Orientation for Children 84
Your Congregation 85
Organizing your story year 85
Suggested framework for first year 86
Suggested order of lessons for program spanning grades 86
Extensions for Older Children 86
Keeping Your Spirit Play Program Going 87
Visitors 87
Evaluations 88
What if children don’t take the stories from the shelves? 88
Questions for your evaluation 88
What Makes It Spirit Play 89
Spirit Play at Home 90
Spirit Play for Adults 92
Frequently Asked Questions 93
Part 3: Spirit Play Foundational Lessons 97
Flaming Chalice Lesson and First Extension 97
Flaming Chalice Lesson with Universe Extension 102
Promises—General Lesson 106
Promises Control Card 111
Sources General Lesson 112
Part 4: Handouts 121
Essential Background Handouts
#1 Montessori 122
#2 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Godly Play™ 123
#3 Spirit Play History 124
#4 & #5 Spirit Play Content Overview 125
#6 Doorkeeper Responsibilities 127
#7 Storyteller Responsibilities 128
#8 Tips for Telling the Story 129
#9 Disruptions in the Circle 130
#10 Spirit Play Visitor Guidelines 131
#11 & #12 What Makes It Spirit Play 132
Part 5: Orientation 134
Session 1 135
Session 2 141
Part 6: Bibliography and Resources 149
Bibliography 149
Montessori Philosophy 149
Godly Play™ 149
Books on Montessori and Art 149
Spirituality, Children, and Unitarian*Universalism 150
Spirit Play Resource List 151