Elementary School Age Kids: RE Learning Groups

Our Learning Group sessions are concurrent with Sunday morning services at 9:15 and 11:15. They run one hour and 15 minutes.

Five Year Olds:

We Are Many, We Are One

Young children learn about religion through relationships and stories about our religious community and its traditions, at the same time as they are given the freedom to discover and express their uniqueness.

The curriculum is designed with an anti-bias approach, to help children avoid developing prejudices and stereotypical ideas. We teach children to acknowledge interpersonal differences and appreciate a multicultural world. Democratic ideals are practiced, as children are included in decision-making, and are encouraged to make choices, to act on their choices and to work-play cooperatively.

They get to use their minds, bodies, and emotions to develop their sense of identity and self-esteem within their Unitarian Universalist community and their world, and to value belonging as members of a group; begin learning how to help make their class a peaceable and friendly place; and connect with the classroom and congregation as an open, straightforward place where all aspects of life can be discussed.

First Grade:

Around the Church, Around the Year & Our Whole Lives

Children have the opportunity to become familiar with many of the congregation’s lay and staff leaders and the work they do, know their congregation’s building inside and out, and have a sense of worship and social life of the congregation. It also helps them understand more about Unitarian Universalism by allowing them to explore beliefs about life, death, people and the environment, and to learn about symbols and rituals like the flaming chalice, child dedication ceremonies and the Flower Communion.

In the second half of the year, we teach Our Whole Lives, an 8-week curriculum, the first segment of a comprehensive sexuality curriculum that the Unitarian Universalist Association has developed for our congregations. In a positive, comprehensive and age-appropriate way, first graders will learn about their wonderful bodies and how to keep them safe and healthy; about families; and about the birth and nurture of babies. Parents are required to attend an orientation workshop and sign special permission forms before these sessions will be taught.

Second Grade:

Stories About God:

A variety of stories and experiences provide insights into that which people call God. Sources for this curriculum include stories and explorations about God from all the world religions, from feminist experience, from science, and from the ordinary and extraordinary experiences of life. Concepts include: God is a oneness which can take many forms (light, dark, mother, father, creator, etc.); God is love and worth (forgiveness, peace, joy, etc.); God is a mystery in different forms (prayer, inner eye, silence, healing, etc.).

This class gives the students a chance to talk about different ideas of God and encourages them to think about what they can learn from the thoughts and beliefs of others from various religions. The curriculum finds its roots in UU values and attempts to inspire the students in the quest for those goals.

Third Grade:

Celebrating Our Origins & A Stepping Stone Year

In the first half of the year, these learning groups explore the basics of our modern creation story - how the universe got started and how we got here (evolution). Emphasizing the UU tradition of applying our reason to our beliefs, children will apply scientific concepts, experiments, and their own experiences to the question: “How did everything begin?”

During the second half of the year, these students will learn about Unitarian Universalists who made significant contributions in the world, including people like Beatrix Potter, Emily Stowe, Bela Bartok, and Fannie Farmer. In learning about these lives, our children will gain new role models to help them in their own lives, putting liberal faith into action.

Fourth Grade:

Living the Promise

In addition to introducing major figures and events of the Hebrew Scriptures, this curriculum (originally developed at UUCA) helps students explore values and ethical considerations suggested by these ancient stories. The concept of the biblical covenant as parallel to a modern UU quest to live faithfully runs as a theme throughout this active curriculum. In addition, students explore the roots of Judaism within the UU faith. Core lessons for this curriculum are on the covenants; God' s promise; God's protection, rivalry of brothers and sisters; envy and covetousness; love of luxury; oppression; faith in God; protection of religion against other religions; loyalty; integrity; and reconciliation.

Fifth Grade:

OWL

During the first eight weeks of the fall, students will engage in the "Our Whole Lives" program, part of a comprehensive sexuality curriculum that the Unitarian Universalist Association has developed for our congregations. In a positive and age-appropriate way, 5th graders will have a chance to learn facts about their bodies, and discuss the questions that need to be answered about sexuality and self worth. Parents are required to attend an orientation workshop and sign special permission forms before these sessions.

A Kingdom of Equals

Children learn of days in ancient Palestine and the life and teachings of Jesus’ from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. They make clay lamps, sample Middle Eastern foods, sing songs of peace and love, role-play, join stimulation games, and plan class service projects to enhance their learning of Jesus universal messages of radical love, forgiveness, and service to others.

Parents & Guardians

• Overview

• What to Expect

• Registration & Attendance

• RE Calendar

Learning Groups for Kids

• Infants to Four-Year-Olds

• Middle School Age Kids

• High School Kids

• For kids in elementary through high school grades: Learning Outside The Classroom