Super Heroes / Experiences With the Web of Life - Grades 1 & 2
Super Heroes introduces children to the stories of people from the Bible who have acted with courage and wisdom in their attempts to lead their lives fully and make the world a better place for others. Experiences With the Web of Life provides the building blocks toward respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. This curriculum uses a variety of sources, emphasizing both scientific observation and spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions that celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Rainbow Children / In Our Hands / A Volcano In My Tummy - Grades 2 & 3
One of the recently published curricula from the UUA, Rainbow Children affirms the uniqueness of self and the value of human diversity. Children gain an understanding of society as multiracial and learn to feel positively about people of racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds different from their own. The In Our Hands curriculum allows our children peace and fairness through stories, discussions and activities. They will learn constructive ways of resolving conflict and promoting peace in their own lives. Our third unit - A Volcano in My Tummy: Helping Children To Handle Anger - addresses an issue in all our lives: children, teachers and parents often have problems with anger. Why? Because we're afraid of anger. This curriculum is about living successfully, healthily, happily and nonviolently with motivation, without fear, and with good relationships.
A Stepping Stone Year - Grades 2 & 3
This program is based on the premise that religion helps people find answers to important life questions and that a religious community can help people in their search for answers. Units include Beginning Myths, Stories Science Tells Us, The Wonder of Birth, Adventures of Our People (American, Canadian and English UUs), Wonderings About Death, and Making Decisions.
Timeless Themes / Keepers of the Earth - Grades 3 & 4
In Timeless Themes, children are introduced to the biblical literature central to our cultural heritage and to the human issues that inspired these scriptures: the timeless themes of loneliness, loyalty, trust, jealousy, transcendent power, human responsibility, love of freedom, speaking out against injustice, respect for the beliefs of others, love of one’s neighbor and forgiveness. In discussing Bible issues, children are invited to think about Unitarian Universalist values. Keepers of the Earth presents stories and traditions from Native American culture, emphasizing a close relationship to nature and our responsibility to the environment. The children will gain a sense of the interconnections with the natural world by doing a variety of “hands on“ activities. This program gives a greater value and worth to their understanding of our seventh Unitarian Universalist principle: “We believe in caring for our planet Earth.“
Holidays / Holy Days - Grades 4 & 5
In this program, our children learn about the origins and meanings of the celebration of holidays and holy days. A specific value, or “belief”, is stated for each holiday. That belief is acknowledged and celebrated by the participants as they reenact the holiday and holy day. Each lesson includes experiences designed to be both stimulating and memorable.
Travel in Time / A Stepping Stone Year - Grade 5
Travel In Time is about Unitarian Universalism, its history in North America, its affirmation and principles, and the many ways in which individual Unitarian Universalists live their religious beliefs. With an emphasis on religious identity and personal growth, this program is a wonderful foundation to their upcoming work in the curriculum, A Stepping Stone Year. In the second semester of the year, the program will focus in on the “Adventures of Our People” (American, Canadian and English Unitarians.) To celebrate this milestone year in our children's lives, a bridging ceremony will take place.
The Kingdom of Equals - Grades 5 & 6
The Kingdom of Equals curriculum draws on the four Gospels of the New Testament, enlightened by twentieth-century findings and interpretations. Lessons deal with central messages of the Jesus teachings and themes relating to our UU Principles and Purposes, such as tolerance, forgiveness, and reverence for life. Stories covered in this program were chosen on the basis of two criteria: the strength of their religious message, and their general fame. Stories which our students might encounter in the culture at large, including the birth and Easter stories, are presented in the context of Unitarian Universalist perspectives.
Neighboring Faiths - Grades 7 & 8
This curriculum introduces youth to the faith traditions and practices of other religious groups in their community. This year our focus will include the study of Islam, Native American Spirituality, Earth Centered traditions, Hinduism and Buddhism. The curriculum provides a number of processes for engaging participants in a religious journey that invites the participation of parents, other interested adults and religious leaders in the congregation and the community. This journey builds community among the youth, connects them with their congregation and the larger community, and helps them clarify and strengthen their Unitarian Universalist identity.
You The Creator - Grades 7 & 8
You The Creator is an activity-based program of creative empowerment. It stresses the importance of supporting and affirming each other's creative abilities and connection to the creative power of the universe. There are four primary themes: Exploring Creativity, Experiencing Creativity, Expanding Creativity and Expressing Creativity. All themes emphasize a connection to religious thinking, especially the Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes.
Carry The Flame / Race to Justice / Beyond Pink & Blue - Middle School Youth
Carry The Flame provides the framework for a lively, varied program. It encourages self-discovery and religious identity as the youths examine each of the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles from the perspective of their own lives and their future aspirations. This program is enriched and enlivened by key elements of other curricula. The concern of Race to Justice is racial justice and diversity; it directly addresses the UU Principles of the inherent worth and dignity of every person, justice, equity and compassion in human relations, the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process. Beyond Pink and Blue explores the concepts of gender role and identity, stereotypes of women and men and how they influence our thinking and behavior, and prejudices about same-sex orientations.
Just Neighbors - High School Youth
Just Neighbors is based on a fundamental teaching: love your neighbor as yourself. This curriculum is interactive, multimedia, and provides an engaging educational experience for all participants. Its purpose is to help youth assist and advocate for their neighbors who are living in poverty. It offers insight into their daily struggles and points the way to greater understanding - not only of problems but of solutions. We hope this will inspire our youth to put what they learn into action by increasing their commitment to outreach and social action programs, looking for new ways to help or advocating for changes in public policy.
Truth and Meaning - High School Youth
This intellectually challenging curriculum focuses on the Western religious heritage of Unitarian Universalism, affirming and encouraging the youths' spiritual growth in a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. It poses questions about the major Western religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) commonly asked by our youth in a manner that helps them find meaningful answers, relates these truths to our own UU history and modern practice, and helps them apply this knowledge to their own beliefs. It introduces them to these religions and their primary resource documents (Hebrew Bible, New Testament, Qur'an) and their practices and underlying theological concepts. It also explores issues of life and afterlife, religious “extremes”, the roots of religious prejudice, and dogma and creeds. It encourages youth to challenge their assumptions and process new ideas.
Thinking The Web - High School Youth
This curriculum presents complex issues that have broad moral implications in society. Each session provides an open forum under teacher direction, encouraging youth to critically examine ethical issues from all points of view, including positions of the UUA as articulated in General Assembly resolutions and their own views, and to explore the assumptions upon which these positions are based. The issues under consideration are those that have divided American society in recent decades and have no easy solutions; they are medical (Abortion, Right to Die with Dignity, and Drug Legalization), societal (Pornography, Capital Punishment, and Gun Control), and global (Weapons of Mass Destruction and Peacemaking vs. Just War.) Thinking The Web helps youth apply critical and creative thinking strategies while expanding their intellectual horizons.
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