Ask the students where they have heard the word united before. If they can’t recall, begin saying the Pledge of Allegiance with your class. Stop when you reach the words "…to the United States of America." Ask the class if they know what "United" States means.

Pull down a political map of the United States. Show students that each of the colored states is an individual state. Each state is different with its own interests, strengths, people and leaders. But our country is made up of 50 states united into one country, the United States of America. Just like the toothpicks were united to be stronger, our states are united into one strong country. We share laws and use the same money. United means many things coming together to make one or for a common purpose. Other things are united: the cities in our state are united in one state; the students are united in one classroom; brothers and sisters are united in one family. These are all communities to which we belong that make us stronger (not alone). Unity means harmony and singleness of purpose.

Brainstorm a list of things that we can do better as a class, family, state or country than alone. (Encourage students to think of other groups they belong to such as sports teams, faith based groups, choir, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Boys and Girls Club etc.) Write student suggestions on chart paper (under headings, if appropriate).

Tell the students that a community depends on lots of different people uniting. Each person in the community brings something important to the group. If everyone in the group was the same, the group wouldn’t be as strong. Some people are patient, others are serious, others are quick and others are creative. Tell the students that you want them to think about their own strengths as they make a puppet of themselves at home tonight. Encourage them to write on the back of the puppet some of their personal traits, interests and things at which they are good. For example, "I am quiet, I like soccer and I am good at listening."

Set out supplies for students to prepare for their homework tonight. They will make puppets of themselves. Give each student a paper lunch bag. Inside the bag they should put a copy of Handout One: Puppet of Me, a paper plate, glue and tape, two wiggly eyes and yarn that matches their hair color. Show students a sample of how the completed puppet might look.

Day Two

Anticipatory Set

Hand each student a paper towel roll. Have the students line up shoulder to shoulder. Tell the students that you will place a marble in the first child’s tube and that the marble has to get from the first tube through each tube to the end without touching anyone’s hands. Students should make a plan and try it. They may keep trying plans until they figure it out. (Students will see that they must put each tube end to end to create a tube for the marble to pass through.) This exercise shows that together they can accomplish more than as individuals.

Discuss with the students what happened during the Anticipatory Set, why, and how they felt during and after the experience.

Remind the students of the meaning of unity – coming together for a common purpose.

Ask each student to read aloud the sentence brought from home. List the activities from their sentences on the chart started yesterday. Then add to the list with further ideas sparked from the activity. Reinforce the concept that when individuals bring their personal strengths to the group, they can accomplish more than they could alone.

Have students complete their models of themselves by attaching the puppet to their paper towel rolls. The yarn that closed the bag should be tied around the middle of the paper roll. Then the students join the individual puppets together by attaching the tubes end to end until all of the puppets are connected. Now the individual puppets are united.