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©Yvonne Crawford, 2016 1

This Kid’s Life

This Kid’s Life

Yvonne Crawford


Introduction

This Kid’s Life is a booklet that focuses on how a child lives daily

life in a different religion. This particular book tracks the life of a girl

named Lu Ming who is Taoist and lives in the United States.

When beginning your study of this booklet, you can choose to

give your students a pre-test that will check to see what understand-

ings or misconceptions they have about Taoism. Next, you can read a

two-page letter from Lu Ming to help your students learn about daily

life of Taoist children. Afterwards, have your students fill out a com-

prehension worksheet to see how much information they have re-

tained. Finally, there are several different activities that you can com-

plete with your students:

1. Facts about Taoism and discussion questions

2. Word Search Puzzle

3. Secret Code Puzzle

4. Make a Decade Rosary

5. Tao Mobile

6. Lao-Tzu

7. Postcard Writing Activity

8. Different Lives Writing Activity

9. A Taoist Poem

10. Crossword Puzzle about Taoism

11. All about Taoist Coloring and Writing Page

10. Similarities and Differences Organizer and Writing Activity


What I Think Taoism is Like....

1. What is the very first thing you think of when you think of the Taoist

religion? Draw a picture of it.

2. Which of these symbols is a symbol of Taoism?

3. Which countries are mainly Taoist countries?

4. Draw a picture of a Taoist temple

5. Do you think Easter is a Taoist holiday?

Yes or No


Hi everyone. My name is Lu Ming and I live in China. My family

and I practice Taoism. Do you know how pronounce Tao? It is pro-

nounced as ‘dow’ and it rhymes with cow. Tao actually means ‘the

way.’ The way my father explains it, is that Tao is a type of energy that

everyone and everything has. We believe that everyone should try to

live in peace with the way. We believe that if we do live with the way,

then we will be free and live forever.

Taoism started with a man names Lao-Tzu. He

was a philosopher. We are not exactly sure when

Taoism started, but we think it was back around

2,500 years ago.

My mother and father always teach me that we

should act good and make good choices. These two

things will help our soul. Seems pretty straight for-

ward, right? Because of our religion we try not to

break any rules and we try to be very respectful of

everyone around us. One extremely important part is that we must

respect our parents and all elders. I try so hard to please my parents

and I never talk back to them. I try to help my mother around the

house. She says that I’m a good Taoist because I try so hard. She says

she loves it that I help her BEFORE she asks, because that shows true

unselfishness.

A Letter from Lu Ming


Have you ever seen the ying-yang symbol? The

ying-yang is a symbol that represents harmony and

how two opposites work together. Kind of like how

you can’t have day without night. The ying-yang is the

symbol of our religion. This symbol shows us that we

need to be balanced in everything we do.

Not everyone is a Taoist in China. I have friends that practice

Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. I also have friends that don’t really

associate with a particular religion. My family made sure I was raised

with the Tao religion so that through my good deeds I could help

change the world.

I also heard that some people in other countries practice Taoism

as a philosophy while maintaining their own religion. I can understand

this and I’m happy that people find value in Taoism.

Many of the Tao holidays are also celebrated in other religions in

China. One of my favorite Tao holidays is Tomb Sweeping Day. this is

a day where we celebrate our ancestors. During the Tang Dynasty,

one of the emperors did not like people randomly celebrating their

ancestors so he decided to make a day where people would all cele-

brate on a single day.

Another one of my favorite holidays is the ghost festival. It is

similar to Halloween in the USA, I hear. It is a day we remember the

dead. It is believed that during this time of year people are in

between the living and the dead. So, during this time we can actually

talk to people who have passed away.


The most important festival of the year is Chinese New Year or

the Spring festival. This festival can last up to five weeks. It consists of

lots of food, dancing invoking the names of Taoist deities. But, like I

said before other religions celebrate this holiday too like Buddhists

and Confucians.

Being female, one of the best things of this religion for me is that

it is gender-neutral. This means that our religion believes that women

are equal to men and women and men are ying and yang. Also, since

our religion is very soft, loving and inward, Taoism does have feminine

characterizes.

We have lots of deities in Taoism. Some of them are Guan

Shengi, Li Hong and more. They are deities because they have already

achieved Tao.

I guess what I really want to leave you with is that Taoism is a way

of life, not just a religion that we think about occasionally. Our main

goal is balance and to be one with nature.

I hope my letter has helped you

understand my religion more.

Have a wonderful day,

Lu Ming


1. What religion does Lu Ming belong to?

2. Draw a picture of Lu Ming eating during Chinese New Year.

3. What are some Taoist holidays that Lu Ming celebrates?

4. What did you learn about the Taoist Religion?

5. Draw a picture of Lu Ming respecting her elders.

Questions About Lu Ming’s Letter


• Taoism is recognized in China along with Islam, Buddhism,

Catholicism and Protestantism.

• What religion do you belong to?

• Have you heard of these other religions?

• Taoism is also referred to as Daoism.

• Does your religion have another name?

• Taoism teaches to reject hate, to reject intolerance and to live with

compassion, harmony and balance in one’s life.

• What do you think it means to live with balance?

• Taoism is based on three treasures: charitable, being thrifty and

not putting oneself ahead of others.

• What does charitable mean?

• What does thrifty?

• Taoism mainly practiced in China, but it is also practiced in Taiwan

in in other Asian countries.

• Do you know anyone who is a Taoist?

• Taoism believes in talismans. They are made up of strips of paper

with images, words and symbols. They are meant to purify, drive

away evil and even heal the sick.

• Have you ever seen a talisman?

Facts and Discussion About Taoism


Taoism Word Search

Words to Find

Asia China

Lao-Tzu respect

Taoism thrifty

Daoism talisman

N L Y O D S P Y J I

S A Y Q Z A T T R K

F O M R L C O F S R

J T P S E F C I X V

W Z N P I H S R S I

Y U S V I L M H E M

E E A N H S A T W K

R T A O I S M T D N

N K M X P T W N J U

F M Y Z U H A I S A


Secret Code About Taoism

Solve the puzzle to find out who was the founder of Taoism.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

KEY

-


Lau-Tzu was a Chinese philosopher and started the religion of Taoism.

Materials:

• printed picture

• crayons, markers, or colored pencils

Instructions:

Have your students color the picture of Lao-Tzu.

Color Lao-Tzu


Ying-Yang

Ying-Yang is a symbol that represents balance and the Tao religion.

Materials:

• printed poster

• crayons

Instructions:

Photocopy the following poster. Students can then color the poster

and add embellishments. On the back of the poster, they can write

things that keep themselves balanced.


Balance


Tao Mobile

Materials:

• printed mobile parts

• crayons

• scissors

• tape or paste

• yarn or string

Instructions:

Students should color the pieces of the mobile and paste the

graphics of the children they choose to the main part. Next, the

students should attach the other symbols they select separately to

the main piece of the mobile with string or yarn. Finally, students

can hang the mobile overhead.


Pretend you are on a trip to China. As you are visiting China, you visit many

Taoist Temples and meet many Taoist. On one side of the postcard write a

brief letter and tell your friend or family member about your trip and what

you have learned about Taoism. On the other side of the postcard, draw a

picture of something that reminds you of Taoism. Finally, cut out both sides

of the postcard and glue them together, back to back, and deliver your

postcard to your friend or family member.

Front of Postcard

A Postcard from China


When you have finished writing your message, make sure to sign your

name at the end. Then, draw your own stamp in the box in the top

right corner of the postcard. This will make your postcard look even

more realistic.

Back of Postcard

A Postcard from China


In Taoism, it is important to respect your elders. What are

some things that you can do to respect your elders?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

How to respect my elders...


This is “The Dao de Jing,” which states the teachings in a poetic form.

• Profit comes from what is there and usefulness from what is not there.

• Work hard and achieve awards, but do not boast in them.

• The Tao is something that cannot be described in words.

• The Tao is the source of the world and everything in it, yet it is also the source of nothing.

• The Tao can be a way to communicate with the Tao and to blend oneself with it.

• Those who do not wish to rule are those best suited for it because they are less likely to be corrupted by the power that accompanies rulership.

A Taoist Poem


Taoism Crossword Puzzle

Across Down

2. The founder of Taoism 1. The meaning of ying-yang

6. Country with most Taoists 3. Respect is given to ______

8. Some see Taoism as a ______ 4. The symbol of Taoism

5. Another name for Taoism

7. Other countries which practice

Taoism are located here

Answer the questions below and write the answers to the questions

where indicated by the numbers in the crossword puzzle.


All About Taoism

Facts about Taoism that I learned...


Three things I’d like to

learn about Taoism

Think about things you have in common with Taoists, and things you

do that are different. Then, pick three things you would like to learn

more about Taoism.

Three things that I do

differently than

Taoists

Similarities and Differences

Three things I have in

common with

Taoists


Write about the similarities and differences between your way of life

and the Taoist way of life. Use your graphic organizer to help you write

your essay.

Taoist Life


I learned these things about Taoism…

Where is Taoism practiced?

When did Taoism start? What else would

you like to know

about Taoism?

Taoism


Click to open

Click to open

Click to open

Mathbooking is a creative cross between mathematics and

scrapbooking. With Mathbooking, children can start to learn

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Here is a free Weather Journal with creative math questions

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The Spaceship Addition Math

Craft Workshop is a unique way to

learn addition. Cut out the colorful

spaceship parts and assemble

them together, then figure out

how much the pieces of the ship

add up to. Then have your stu-

dents create a space scene to hang

on your classroom wall.

Here are 52 free cursive writing printables for your children or

students to use to learn and practice cursive writing. Each up-

per and lower case letter has a page in which to practice hand-

writing each letter and a page with fun activities for your stu-

dents to complete.

Find free activities at Mixminder.com Mixminder is a husband and wife team dedicated to providing free curriculum, printables

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http://mixminder.com/cursive-handwriting/


http://mixminder.com/mathbooking-weather-journal/



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