Our Religious Education (RE) classes are grouped by grade level. The material selected for use with each group is geared for the children's ages and interests. What is offered covers a broad spectrum, with the intention of honoring the values outlined in the Unitarian Universalist Principles. Included are personal development and self-esteem, world religions, Unitarian Universalism and Unitarian Universalists, decision-making, Jewish-Christian heritage, and values clarification. Our resources include materials published by the Unitarian Universalist Association, other UU societies/fellowships, religious education publishers outside our denomination, and materials and courses developed by our own volunteers.
In addition to regular Sunday morning classes, our program includes worship, special Sundays, holiday celebrations, and multigenerational activities.
Nursery care is provided from 9:30 - 11:50 A.M.
Please register your child(ren) before bringing them to Nursery or RE. You can download a Registration Form and bring it with you on a Sunday. Registration will take place before the 10:00 service throughout September. Newcomers may register their children at the RE office throughout the year. Visitors, if you are bringing a child to the nursery or to RE and the child is in the 2nd grade or younger, please go to the RE window in the lobby for a Visitor Information Sheet.
CURRICULUM OFFERINGS 2010 - 2011
We’ve had success with the new Tapestry of Faith curriculum, so we’ll be using more of them this year to replace some of our old curricula. Some of the benefits of Tapestry of Faith are that it offers ways to “do religion” each week, (not to just learn about religion); it addresses multiple learning styles; it integrates many sources in each curriculum; and it’s all online, downloadable, and includes information and follow up activities for families for each lesson. We’re also using some of our favorite traditional curricula, and updating them as needed.
Nursery: Child care provided by paid staff.
- Two year olds: Volunteers supervise the children in play, social interactions and snack.
- Pre-school:
- Chalice Children: Following the premise that children learn best through direct experience, this program is designed to nurture children’s spiritual growth, creativity and connection to the Unitarian Universalist community by inviting them in “hands-on” rituals such as simple rhymes, finger plays, games and other activities. Topics include the UU chalice, concepts of birth and death, the great forces of nature and how to make choices and overcome difficulties.
- Kindergarten and First Grade:
- Treasure Hunting: This program uses the theme of treasure hunting as a concrete way of involving children in the excitement of the search for meaning in life. It addresses the issues that children face daily, explores the meaning of Unitarian Universalist principles and values, and emphasizes an accepting and caring community.
- Second Grade:
- Special Times: Using our fourth UU source – Jewish and Christian Heritages, this program engages children in celebrations of the year and other “special times”, such as Shabbat/Sabbath, Thanksgiving and everybody’s birthday. The celebrations help them understand and appreciate the special qualities of worship and celebrations, to honor diversity and universality in religious traditions, and to grow in UU community and religious meaning-making.
- Third and Fourth Grade:
- Holidays and Holy Days: In this program, children learn about the origins and meanings of holiday and holy day celebrations from religions around the world. Each session relates the celebration to a specific Unitarian Universalist value or Principle. We are updating this curriculum to be more culturally sensitive. So, rather than reciting prayers from other traditions, the children make up new ones for themselves or use contemporary interfaith prayers. We are inviting members of the congregation who grew up in other faith traditions to help the teachers lead authentic celebrations and explain their significance to the children.
- Fifth and Sixth Grade:
- Amazing Grace: This Tapestry of Faith curriculum guides children through ways to determine right from wrong and act on their new understandings. Its purpose is to equip them for moving safely and productively through middle and high school years, when they will be continually tugged toward both ends of the ethics continuum. Through Amazing Grace, they come to depend on their UU identity and resources as essential to their movement toward understanding, independence, and fulfillment of personal promise.
- Seventh and Eighth Grade:
- Our Whole Lives, (OWL): Lead by specially trained volunteers, Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.
- Senior High Group:
- Life Issues: Our high school youth informally explore ethical, social, & political issues in their lives. They will also enact their values by doing a service project and prepare for their Sunday Worship Service.
Religious Education - Youth Links
