Nursery & Pre-K: The Welcome Year - We invite our infants and toddlers into a safe, loving environment where they will quickly feel comfortable. Our staff provides a warm, accepting atmosphere where trust can be formed. Children old enough to participate in a Pre-K lesson come to the table for a story and project. Topics include nature, feelings, friendship, listening, holidays, helping, dreams, and peace. These gatherings help the children build a connection to each and our community, while exploring their imagination and world.
K-1st grade: The Discovery Year - This curriculum seeks to nurture children’s spiritual and religious growth through carefully sequenced connections to their ever widening environment. It offers many opportunities for discovery and celebration as the children explore themselves and others, their families and their church, the wonders of nature, and religious and cultural days.
2nd-3rd grade: Free to Believe (Affirmation Year) - Free to Believe explores UU principles and sources while nurturing the social, emotional and spiritual lives of children. The curriculum focuses on UU principles, values and beliefs and on life’s “big questions” (about God, death, the creation of life) through hands-on activities, stories, games, songs and discussions.
4th grade: Moral Tales - Every day our children go forth into a complex world where they are often faced with difficult decisions and situations. Moral Tales attempts to provide children with the spiritual and ethical tools they will need to make choices and take actions reflective of their Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values. Each session has a central story in which participants meet real and fictional heroes and heroines who have displayed moral courage and spiritual greatness. All sessions include hands-on activities to make learning accessible to individuals with various learning styles.
5th-6th grade: Our Whole Lives (first half of year) - 8-session program for learning about and discussing the physical and emotional changes of puberty. Participants will read It's Perfectly Normal, by Robie H. Harris, and examine topics such as values and sexuality, communication and decision making. Each session includes a HomeLink - a homework activity for parents and children to complete together.
Bibleodeon (second half of the year) - Bibleodeon is an exciting introduction to Hebrew and Christian stories in a Unitarian Universalist setting. This Unitarian Universalist approach to Bible study is exploratory, not dogmatic. Participants explore connections between biblical events and UU principles and values, between biblical ideas and their own lives. They experience the Bible as one of many wonderful and important UU sources. Just as important, Bibleodeon is fun. Children listen to some stories and act some out. They investigate others, the way television reporters would. They immerse themselves in music and art and creative activity, achieving in the process new understanding of and appreciation for some of civilization’s most important books.
7th-8th grade: Neighboring Faiths - In this program youth experientially explore the many diverse religions around the world. The program introduces youth to faith traditions within the larger community and actively engages them in experiencing the ritual practices of other religious groups through visits to faith communities. These trips create a deeper understanding of world religions through direct experience with communities and leaders engaged in those faiths.
7th grade (4 Friday evening sessions in the second half of the year): Our Whole Lives (OWL) - After missing the program in 6th grade last year, the 7th graders will have the opportunity to gain this important learning experience. This is a program for learning about and discussing the physical and emotional changes of puberty. Participants will read It's Perfectly Normal, by Robie H. Harris, and examine topics such as values and sexuality, communication and decision making. Each session includes a HomeLink - a homework activity for parents and children to complete together.
9th grade: Coming of Age - As youth prepare to leave childhood, congregations seeking to honor this transition will benefit from the wealth of ideas in this guide. Coming of Age class is filled with workshops for youth, small group ministry sessions, social action projects and rites of passage. Participants will explore theology, spirituality and history through discussion, drama, music, writing and art. Youth to define their beliefs and put their faith into action. Stone Soup fund-raiser happens on Nov 16. Coming of Age ceremonies will be on May 16 & 17.
10th-12th grades: Youth Group - A flexible but structured program for our youth. The group determines the exact content of sessions, engaging in activities here at CUC as well as in the community. Youth group leads a service in the sanctuary for the congregation on March 1 and will also host a Pancake Brunch on March 15.
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