2007- 2008 Curricula Information for each class is described below:

Busy Bees

3 and 4 year olds
Curriculum Theme: UU Awareness

Goals for the Class

• To feel comfortable in their Religious Education group.
• To learn to cooperate and share with one another.
• To create the foundations for developing friendships.

The name of the curriculum for this class is Chalice Children. It is designed to help young children learn about their church and congregation and is based on the belief that young children gain a sense of belonging to their religious community and the Unitarian Universalist faith when they have concrete experiences with its people and places.

Rainbow Riders

Kindergarten. 1st and 2nd Grades
Curriculum Theme: Peace and Social Justice

Goals for the Class

• To learn and demonstrate positive group interaction and develop friendships.
• To begin to explore diversity in their culture and feel connected to the larger world: environmentally, culturally, and socially.
• To develop an awareness and acceptance of physical self.

The curricula for this class is: In Our Hands - A Peace and Social Justice Program and Don't Laugh At Me.

In Our Hands for grades K-2nd provides children an opportunity to explore peace and fairness through stories, discussions, and activities. Participants learn constructive ways of resolving conflict and promoting peace in their own lives. They learn to see their connections to the larger community, to the natural world, and to our Unitarian Universalist peace and justice heritage.

Don't Laugh At Me is a project of "Operation Respect" produced by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary). Its goal is to support the creation of a caring, compassionate, and cooperative community by addressing "issues of the heart and mind" though the use of music, art and video by harnessing the power of these media to transform, inspire, and build skills in students. The activities will serve to raise awareness, explore feelings, connect children to their inner selves and one another, provide important tools for teachers that will help them empower students to become catalysts for change in their schools and communities, so that the circle of caring widens and increases the number of children who can share in this caring community.

Chalice Lighters

3rd, 4th & 5th Grades
Curriculum Theme: Peace and Social Justice

Goals for the Class

• To develop respect and appreciation for diversity.
• To learn Unitarian Universalist history, principles and beliefs.
• To explore and identify the beliefs of other religions.
• To explore the meaning of living your religion through peace and justice within yourself, with others, and with the environment.

In Our Hands for Grades 3-5 provides opportunities for children to explore their own knowledge and feelings about peace and justice; helps children learn about various concepts of peace and justice and explore how to promote peace and justice within themselves, in their relationships with others, in their roles as Unitarian Universalists, and as human beings on our earth.

Don't Laugh At Me is a project of "Operation Respect" produced by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary). Its goal is to support the creation of a caring, compassionate, and cooperative community by addressing "issues of the heart and mind" though the use of music, art and video by harnessing the power of these media to transform, inspire, and build skills in students. The activities will serve to raise awareness, explore feelings, connect children to their inner selves and one another, provide important tools for teachers that will help them empower students to become catalysts for change in their schools and communities, so that the circle of caring widens and increases the number of children who can share in this caring community.

Junior Youth

6th , 7th & 8th Grades
Curriculum Theme: Various Discussion Topics

Goals for the Class

• Increase self-awareness of physical and emotional changes.
• Define and explore personal and religious beliefs based on overview of world religions.
• Develop an understanding of their growing independence and responsibilities.
• Begin to develop a moral, ethical, Unitarian Universalist framework for living and dealing with daily life issues (i.e. peer relations, personal integrity, and intolerance).

This class will provide a forum for discussion on a variety of topics to include, but not limited to, different religions and their beliefs and practices; social action and social justice concerns; self awareness and how to find their place in the world; the 7 principles and 6 sources of Unitarian Universalism; what legal rights teenagers have, and appropriate etiquette at social functions with those of other religious faith traditions (i.e. weddings, funerals, etc.)

Darwin' Fish

Youth Group for 9th—12th Grades

Goals for the Group

• To develop a moral, ethical UU framework for living and dealing with daily life issues (peer relationships, global issues, intolerance in society, personal integrity).
• To develop the ability and knowledge to take action on issues about which they feel strongly.
• To provide a forum for values clarification.

This dynamic group of teenagers is creating a community of vibrant young Unitarian Universalists and building a community of free thinkers who are deeply connected to one another, developing friendships to last a lifetime. They are involved in social justice and social action projects, and in so doing are developing leadership and networking skills while having a great deal of fun. They also create and present a church service on their topic of choice each spring. The group meets every Sunday morning during the 11:00am church service.

Children's Worship

Grades K—5th

This part of our program, held on the 4th Sunday of each month, provides children an opportunity to worship together in an age appropriate manner. Led by the Religious Education Director, each worship service focuses on one of our 7 principles or 6 sources and includes singing, storytelling, meditation, and other activities that foster an understanding of what we as Unitarian Universalists believe.

Children's Worship is intended to help our children understand for themselves what UU's believe, show them ways they can apply and practice those beliefs in their lives now, and give them a religious language that will enable them to share their faith tradition with their friends.