2008 - 2009 Curricula Information for each class is described below:

Busy Bees

Age 3 through Kindergarten
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 We Are Many, We Are One, which is based on the philosophy that young children learn about religion through relationships. It offers them the opportunity to learn about their religious community and tradition, as well as the freedom to discover and express their uniqueness. The primary goal of this curriculum is to create an atmosphere that invites religious growth and learning.

This class meets in the first classroom. Parents should pick up their children by 12:15.

Rainbow Riders

1st - 3rd 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 curriculum, Around the Church, Around the Year, helps children feel they are a part of the Unitarian Universalist community and understand the faith and practices of Unitarian Universalism. The program focuses on the children's own experiences with fundamental concerns of life and death, human relationships, and personal identity-not as abstract concepts but in ways appropriate to children of this age.

This class meets in the 2nd classroom.

Chalice Lighters

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.

Unitarian Universalists often state what we do not believe. This year's curriculum, We Believe, Living and Learning our Unitarian Universalist Principles, makes positive statements about what UU's do believe. We will explore the foundations of our faith, teach and build upon the seven principles, and encourage students to incorporate them into their lives, thus making it easier for them to articulate their faith. Each month we will explore the meaning of our principles and include a variety of activities, crafts, games, and songs, culminating at month's end with Children's Worship which will also focus on the same principle as the class, thus reinforcing the lessons.

This class meets in the 3rd classroom.

Junior Youth

6th - 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).

We are using two different curricula this year: the first, Heresy Apparent exposes youth to the rich history of Unitarianism and Universalism that is our religious heritage. They will learn about our theological and historical roots as well as the lives and accomplishments of famous adherents of our UU Principles and be exposed to activities that will encourage them to think about their own beliefs and promote spiritual growth.

The second curriculum, Living in UU'ville, gives youth an opportunity to explore the full meaning of the principles of Unitarian Universalism in their lives within an environment that encourages individual initiative as well as teamwork in pursuit of multiple goals. The activities encourage youth to think about their own religious beliefs thus promoting their spiritual growth. The sessions in Living in UU'ville apply our principles to real life issues and problems and will be explored in depth so that the youth are exposed to a deeper meaning of our faith

This class meets in the Library.

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.

This year our youth will be offered a variety of activities, discussion topics, mini-seminars and other opportunities to interact with youth from our region. Youth Advisors will help the youth plan and organize social events such as overnight lock-ins, trips to youth conferences, and joint ventures with youth from the Fairfax congregation. Teachers will facilitate spiritual conversations surrounding the 7 UU Principles and how to live them, and other volunteers will engage them in mini-seminars each month as follows:

Sept.- Labyrinth Walk & Overnight Lock-in
Oct.- Hiking/Camping on Appalachian Trail
Nov.- Green Sanctuary Project
Dec.- Evans Home for Children Quilting Project
Jan.- Discovering Inner Power
Feb.- Playground site planning and preparation.
Mar. - YOUTH SERVICE.
Apr.- Experiential Social Justice group work.
May - Photography Workshop and field trip.

Children's Worship

Grades 1st - 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.

Worship will be complete by 12:15 - please allow the children to have the full time .

Parents we need you to be in RE too! We expect you to help our program be the best it can be by bringing your children as often as you can, and by volunteering to be a teacher or assistant teacher in our classrooms. If teaching isn't your "thing", the RE Committee and the DRE can fit you and your talents into our program in ways that will enrich your life and those of the children & youth!

Classroom Placement & Guidelines

All students are assigned to a class based on their age and grade. This placement generally insures that the student will be exposed to the particular curriculum that most meets their needs and interests, as well as providing the student with the most appropriate peer group with which to relate. Changes to these assignments will be made only with the consent of the RE Committee in consultation with the DRE and the teachers involved.

Background screenings are performed on teachers and assistants, two adults are required to be in each classroom during religious education class time. If two adults are not available for any given class, the Director of Religious Education will cancel the class for the day and the students will remain in the service with their parents. Behavior policies are in place and provide guidelines to the volunteers on dealing with behavioral issues. The DRE will provide a copy of these policies upon request.

ALL CLASSES ARE DISMISSED
PROMPTLY AT 12:15PM.

Please let us know of any food or other life endangering allergies.

PERMISSION SLIPS, SIGNED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN, ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL OFF SITE FIELD TRIPS AND OVERNIGHT CHURCH LOCK-INS