Unit 1 Session 3: Spiral Timeline of the Universe Mystery of the Day: What is Evolution? OVERVIEW AND LEARNING OBJECTIVE This session presents the major events in the evolution of the Universe and shows how life on Earth is connected to these events going back 14 billion years ago. During the learning together activity, a leader will explain how the human body is made mostly of water and that the hydrogen in water molecules was created near the time of the big bang. The participants will then read events in the Universe’s evolution and light candles as part of a timeline ritual. The class creates cosmic story bead necklaces that can be added to and used throughout the year. Participant Goals  Thinking about where some of the elements in our bodies come from 

Becoming familiar with the events in the evolution of the universe



Understand the meaning of evolution

The lesson asserts that our bodies are mostly made of hydrogen. This is true in terms of numbers of atoms. But hydrogen is the smallest of all atoms. So on the basis of weight, hydrogen atoms make up only 10% of our body’s weight. 61% of our weight is oxygen atoms; 23% is carbon; 2.6% is nitrogen; 1.4% is calcium; 1.1% is phosphorus. Don’t complicate the lesson by saying any of this; but, as the teacher, be aware of it. For more information about Connie Barlow’s lessons “We are made of stardust”, please go to website, thegreatstory.org. SESSION AT A GLANCE 1. Opening: Chalice lighting; joys and sorrows (10 min) 2. Exploration: The Big Bang and the Spiral Timeline (35 min) Participants hear how the hydrogen in their bodies came from the time of the big bang. They then perform a spiral timeline ritual telling the evolution of the Universe. 3. Exploration: Sharing our Experience—Evolution of the Universe (5 min) 4. Exploration: Making Cosmic Story Bead Necklaces (25 min) 5. Time Travel Gathering: Revisit the mystery of the day: What is Evolution? (10 min) Unit 1 Session 3: Spiral Timeline

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MATERIALS NEEDED chalice chime or drum clear glass of water Diagram of a water molecule Water balloon “Born with a Bang” excerpts cut out for participatory reading in ritual cosmic icons for spiral timeline ritual beads for cosmic story necklace – seed beads and large event beads skulpty clay for making own beads (optional) beading thread squares of felt

OPENING Have the class sit in a circle. Ring a chime and ask someone to read the words while lighting the class chalice. As the polestar once guided explorers, May the flame of this chalice guide us To ever better understandings of Ourselves and our universe. Norman V. Naylor

Invite each student to put a glass bead or rock in a bowl and share a joy or sorrow from the past week.

EXPLORATION: THE BIG BANG AND THE SPIRAL TIMELINE In today’s class, we will look to see how our Universe has changed over billions of years. We will see connections to times and events long ago that animals and plants all share today. We all come from a common past or origin. Today’s mystery of the day is “What is evolution?” Does anyone want to try to explain evolution? Unit 1 Session 3: Spiral Timeline

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[Although you may not want to give a complete answer now, Evolution can be simply explained as a very gradual process where something changes into something more organized or complex.] We are going to look at the evolution of the Universe and how we are connected to the beginning of the Universe. This first activity comes from the lesson “We are Stardust” by Connie Barlow and it has the participants learn that the hydrogen in their body was formed near the time of the big bang. “The aim is to help participants feel relationship: that they are actually part of this vast and old Universe – not separate from it. Some will come to sense that they are, in a way, as old as the Universe itself.” Participants will then perform a spiral timeline ritual telling the evolution of the Universe. As you start, have handy a clear glass of water, the diagram of the water molecule, a water balloon, chime or bell. Begin by sipping from your glass of water, then ask: If you had to name just one thing that our BODIES are made of more than anything else, what would it be? [ water, or H2O ] Far more than HALF of each of our bodies is water – not just our saliva and sweat and blood and urine, but fluids throughout our bodies and inside each and every cell. We are about 60 to 70% water! Where exactly is all that water in our bodies: [blood, saliva, fluids in eyeballs, stomach, intestines, urine and also lots inside each and every cell] Why don’t we just OOZE onto the floor if we are mostly water? [Blood is inside veins and arteries; the outer membrane of a cell holds water like a BALLOON.] Pass around water balloon. Then hold up the diagram of the water molecule. The scientific name for water is H2O. What does the O stand for? [Oxygen] Oxygen is what we breathe. But can we see oxygen? Unit 1 Session 3: Spiral Timeline

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If water contains invisible oxygen, why can we see and feel and taste water? [because water is also made of another kind of atom: H] What does the H stand for? [Hydrogen] When hydrogen is all by itself, it is just like oxygen: it is an invisible vapor, like an invisible cloud. But when hydrogen combines with oxygen into a molecule of water, and if enough molecules of water come together as a liquid, then you can see it and touch it and taste it. It is water. We are going to talk just about hydrogen right now and leave oxygen to talk about later. So, where do you think all those little atoms of hydrogen came from in the first place? [Let students guess for awhile] To understand where hydrogen came from, you need to know a wonderful story that goes back to what we think is the beginning, when the Universe was born. In the beginning, there was a sudden flash of very, very bright and very, very, very hot light. It was like an explosion, but brighter and more powerful than any explosion you or I have ever seen – or even could imagine. Scientists tell us that this explosion was the beginning of the Universe. Does anybody know the name that scientists call this explosion? [The Big Bang] Was planet Earth already in existence when the Universe was born? [No] How about the Sun? [No] It was during this great explosion that hydrogen formed. When the Universe was born, all there was in the beginning was just energy; the energy of heat and light. Then, when the energy of the explosion started to cool, some of the energy cooled into particles even tinier than atoms. And then some of those tiny particles came together to form atoms. Now here is how hydrogen comes into our story. Hydrogen is the simplest of all atoms. It has the fewest parts in it, and so it is the smallest of all the atoms. So the Universe cooled mostly into a whole lot of hydrogen atoms and not much else. Not a single atom of oxygen was formed at that time, because oxygen is too complex. Not a single atom of calcium formed back then. Not a single atom of gold formed then either. Almost nothing except hydrogen was born when the Universe began to cool. Unit 1 Session 3: Spiral Timeline

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Now here is the amazing thing: Every single atom of hydrogen in water and in your bodies, right now, came into existence when the energy from the birth of the Universe cooled into atoms. So those atoms are very, very old. Does anybody know how old they are? Does anybody know how old the Universe is, and therefore, how old hydrogen atoms are? [14 billion years old. Actually 13.7, but round off to 14] 14 billion years old!! Is a billion more than a million? [Yes – lots more!!] Now, here is the amazing thing: Remember when we talked about how our bodies are mostly made of water? And water is mostly made of hydrogen because each atom of oxygen has 2 atoms of hydrogen stuck to it? So if the atoms inside you are mostly water, and if water is mostly hydrogen, and if those atoms are 14 billion years old, then how old does that make you? [Introduce the notion of having a human age (i.e. 8 years old) and a “Cosmic Age” that connects us with the full Universe. For an 8 year old, her cosmic age would be 14 billion and 8.] So now as a group we are going to tell the birth story of our Universe. We will go back to the beginning, 14 Billion years ago and watch how our Universe changes. We will not only hear about how hydrogen was formed, but we will hear about how other elements were formed. We will use the shape of a spiral because in our universe, many things take the shape of a spiral. Our story will start with the Big Bang and then we will see how stars and even our planet comes to be. This is the Universe story that is really part of your birth story. This was before there were humans, before the dinosaurs, and there weren’t even any stars in the beginning, because it all took time for them to develop – just like it takes time for a flower to grow from a seed. This is called EVOLUTION. The spiral timeline ritual will involve participants reading an event on the timeline and then symbolically lighting a candle on a spiral timeline. The spiral will represent the evolution of the Universe. The events on the spiral timeline will begin with the Big Bang and end 14 billion years later in today’s world. Many of the timeline events were excerpts taken from the book, “Born with a Bang – The Universe Tells our Cosmic Story” by Jennifer Morgan Pass out the readings to the participants. Some readings may also have a visual icon that can be placed or clipped to the spiral timeline rope.

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Have the rope for the timeline in a spiral configuration with the beginning or “birth” of the Universe in the middle of the spiral. Have a clear space in the center of the room or go outside if you think the candles would still work. Wind the timeline rope in a spiral design with the big bang in the center. Have the students form a circle around the spiral. The tea lights are positioned at spots where the students will light their appropriate candle and clip their visual icon if they have one as the story is narrated. Model how to walk within the spiral maze without stepping over or onto the rope. Rituals with a spiritual focus take us out of the ordinary world. Don’t be afraid to add pieces to the ritual that you think might work well: drumming, singing, meditation, incense…. Think of ways to get the class in a ceremonial mood. Use “Excerpts from Born with a Bang” found at end of lesson. Introduce the ritual with words like these: We can all take part in the story of the evolution of the Universe by reading a part and then lighting a candle and adding a cosmic icon or picture to the spiral. Our spiral will begin in the center and we will walk the path back into time like this and then walk back out of the spiral like this. You will notice that our story is told by the Universe – as if the Universe could speak. Or maybe you can think that the Universe is speaking through us! It comes from a book called, “Born with A Bang” by Jennifer Morgan. I will now come around and pass out your readings and pictures.

EXPLORATION: SHARING OUR EXPERIENCE After doing the timeline ritual, sit in a circle and briefly discuss people’s reactions. So if we heard how hydrogen was the first element formed after the Big Bang. How did the other elements like calcium and oxygen form? [The mother stars “baked” hydrogen into new types of atoms or building blocks.] Have any of you heard this story before? Do you think your grandparents heard this story when they were your age? [This information was discovered only fairly recently. You are one of the first generations to be taught this as children!] What are some of the other stories people have heard about the creation of this world? What might have been some of the stories your grandparents heard? How is this story, the Evolution of the Universe, different from other stories you have heard? Unit 1 Session 3: Spiral Timeline

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To summarize, or if you have a high energy class where it might be difficult to discuss the ritual, you can summarize with the following words: As Unitarian Universalists, we celebrate our connection to the web of life and the greater Universe. All of life on Earth including humans came from the stars and the birth of the Universe. It is like the stars are our ancestors. We call this is Evolution –and the story of the Universe is based on scientific evidence. Humans for thousands of years have looked at the sky with wonder and awe. Only in the last century has greater technology has given us the ability to learn about the big bang and the life cycle of stars. In fact, our great grandparents did not have this information when they were alive. Unitarian Universalists have a faith that can embrace new ideas and information. This scientific information tells us more about the world we live in and can heighten our feeling of wonder for it. And as a result, it can inspire us to become greater stewards of our planet and the wider Universe.

EXPLORATION: MAKING A COSMIC STORY BEAD NECKLACE With the help of the spiral timeline, participants can make a necklace that “tells” the evolution of the Universe. Note that later in the year, this necklace will be added onto with events relating to the evolution of life on Earth up until the present day. To see photos and examples of other cosmic story necklaces, refer to Connie Barlow and Michael Dowd’s website - www.thegreatstory.org/great_story_beads.html. To make the necklaces, use small seed beads to separate the larger event beads. For this class, we have used a simplified timeline. However, if you know anyone in your community who has made a cosmic bead necklace, invite them to the class. The task of making a more “complete” timeline necklace takes a great amount of time and is quite an accomplishment. Suggested timeline for event beads 1. big bang 2. atoms of Hydrogen formed 3. Mother stars 4. Galaxies 5. Milky Way galaxy is formed 6. Mother star of Milky Way goes supernova and gives us chemical building blocks of oxygen, calcium, iron, …. 7. Sun forms 8. Earth forms Consider where to keep the cosmic timeline necklaces since they will be needed in future lessons for rituals and to be added to. Have students make a tag using masking Unit 1 Session 3: Spiral Timeline

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tape that they can then write their names on. This will make it easier for them to grab theirs for later sessions.

TIME TRAVEL GATHERING Revisit the mystery of the day: What is Evolution? Ask if anyone has any questions about the mystery of the day. [Evolution can be simply explained as a very gradual process where something changes into something more organized or complex.] Have the class stand in a circle holding hands, and the leader reads closing words: I am as old as the Universe You are as old as the Universe We are all one.

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Excerpts from “Born with Bang” by Jennifer Morgan for narrated spiral timeline. Narrator: Once you were a tiny speck buried deep in the dark, inside your mother. But you couldn’t stay small. You grew and grew until one day you were ready to leave the darkness. On that very special day, your birthday, you were born into the light. I, too, had a special day when I was born. But there was no light for me to be born into. I am the Universe. You were inside me from the very beginning – but not in your human form. Like you, I started as a tiny speck. About 14 billion years ago, or so I was smaller than a piece of dust under your bed. It’s hard to imagine that I started out so small. But I did. And if you ask me where I came from, I would tell you that I don’t know. It’s the greatest of all mysteries. But there I was. Like you I couldn’t stay small. I was bursting with wild and dazzling dreams of galaxies, stars and planets in radiant colors…. I decided to take the chance and do it. I summoned all my courage and took my first step. Reader 1. (ring chime – Big Bang 14 bya – billion years ago) In a flash space exploded inside me with unimaginable power. Like a gargantuan balloon, I blew up to the size of a galaxy….After I blew up, I kept growing, but more slowly. I had to find the right speed for a Universe. I could have died if everything had not been just right. If I had grown just a bit more slowly, my own gravity would have overpowered me a squashed me into nothingness. If I had grown just a bit faster, I would have blown apart and disappeared into nothingness.” Reader 2. (ring chime – elementary particles formed) Hotter than one trillion degrees, I was blazing with the heat of billions of suns. Suddenly, gigantic glowing bolts of energy flashed everywhere and shrank into teensy things…. I had turned energy into the very first things – tiny particles. Particles are the invisible bits of stuff that everything is made of.” Reader 3. (ring chime - atoms of hydrogen formed) Young particles raced around and around inside me, dizzily tumbling and crashing into one another….By the time I was about 300,000 years old, I was pretty cool – only about 3,000 degrees. Suddenly another amazing thing happened…. I was just the right temperature for bunches of particles to join together, and when they joined together they morphed into very different things! I had made my very first atoms. They were atoms of hydrogen….. Every gulp of water that slides down your throat is made of hydrogen that was created by me billions of years ago.

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Reader 4. (ring chime – galaxies form 13 bya) The hydrogen fog began to ripple and clump together into wavy strings. Gravity pulled these strings together into globs. As the globs got bigger, the gravity got stronger, which made the globs get even bigger. The bigger they got, the hotter they got….. These enormous hydrogen globs started igniting into Mother Stars! One here, one there – soon there were huge Mother stars everywhere. Gigantic groups of Mother stars spiraled in space. I was shaping myself into galaxies.

Reader 5. (ring chime – Milky Way formed – our galaxy) There were billions of galaxies, each with billions of stars, spinning and sparkling like jewels in the black night. In the center of your galaxy, the Milky Way, my gravity became so powerful that it turned into a black hole. Oh, Oh! Everything near the black hole—stars, dust clouds and even light—got trapped and sucked in. It all swirled down into the black hole’s mysterious dark depths, just as water swirls and disappears down a bathtub drain. After a while, the black holes sucked up all the nearby stars that their gravity could reach. Then they settled down and became quiet. Your Milky Way, and billions of other galaxies too, were growing up Reader 6. (ring chime – mother star of Milky Way creates new elements) Luckily lots and lots of young stars hadn’t been sucked into black holes. In one of the Milky Way’s spiraling arms, one Mother Star very important to you grew into a shimmering majestic giant. She lived long before your Sun was born and was much, much bigger than your Sun would be. Inside her enormous blazing belly, she did something incredible! Your Mother Star mixed together bunches of hydrogen and baked them at three billion degrees into lots of different new elements, or building blocks. One of these new elements was carbon. One day, chains of carbon called DNA would carry instructions from one generation to the next for how each living thing would grow.—Another new element was oxygen. One day oxygen would combine with hydrogen to make one of my most magnificent things, water. And where would you be without oxygen to breathe, and water to drink ?-Yet another was calcium. Calcium can be really hard stuff. How useful for making bones. Reader 7. (ring chime – mother star of Milky Way goes supernova 7 bya) Before your own star could be born—the one you call the Sun—your Mother Star had to die. Your Mother Star ripped herself apart in a massive explosion—a supernova. Tiny specks of carbon, oxygen, and calcium, and all the other building blocks she made, blasted into space and cooled into stardust. Her stardust was the same stardust that would one day come together to create you. You are made of stardust—every bit of it exploded from your ancient Mother Star who no longer lives. I was about 7 billion years old when she died. Unit 1 Session 3: Spiral Timeline

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Reader 8. (ring chime – Sun is formed 5 bya) Inside the cloud of stardust, a little gravity tugged from each speck, making them gently stick together in little clumps. The little clumps clumped together into bigger clumps. The bigger slumps crashed into each other and stayed together. They swirled into a disk shape, faster and faster, hotter and denser, tighter and brighter, until finally--WHOOSH—your Sun flared into life! Born, too from clumps of stardust were nine young planetary pups! Reader 9. (ring chime – Earth is formed 4.5 bya) The third pup inside the young planetary pack, your Earth, was a burning red ball of molten stardust. I was about eight and a half billion years old when your Earth was born. She was a high energy young pup, cruising around your Sun. Erupting volcanoes spewed steam and other gases. The steam turned to rain, and the rain formed vast oceans. Other gases rose up and became the air. Lightning storms zapped her seas with energy. Meteors and comets crashed into her for millions of years. Reader 10. (ring chime – Evolution of life on Earth continuing today ) Slowly, slowly, she cooled down and formed a firm crusty surface. A hungry young planet, she drank light and warmth from her golden Sun, her source of life in the midst of cold, dark space. Sun and Earth began their rhythmic dances of day and night, spring, summer, fall and winter. Narrator Humans grew out of the Earth like fruit grows on trees. Thus our science is really the Earth learning about itself and its history A person looking thru a telescope is really the universe looking at itself and going “wow!”

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