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WHAT WE TEACH AND WHY - The Religious Education Curriculum Our Religious Education Program for Children and Youth is structured to be appropriate to developmental levels and to explore:
Mission Statement The Religious Education program for families at the Unitarian Church of Evanston exists to prepare our children for lifelong faith development by 1) creating a feeling of community where the children and youth feel safe to be themselves and explore ideas; 2) fostering a way of thinking about and experiencing faith, grounded in our principles; and 3) teaching content on Unitarian Universalism and other faiths. The program encourages children to think independently, develop strong moral fiber and respect for all people, and to reflect these beliefs in their actions towards others. The program is not fee-based and depends on volunteer support. Adopted by the Religious Education Board, March, 2008
2009-2010 Program Offerings Nursery (infants and toddlers not yet three years old as of September 1, 2009) 9:00 am-noon: Caregivers provide a safe and caring place where our youngest children can play and become comfortable. Preschool (three- and four-year-olds) 9:00-10:30 am: Preschoolers are offered a warm and welcoming place to play and interact with each other and their caregivers. 10:30-11:45 am: “Celebrating Me and My World” explores the wonders of children and the animals, objects, and people around them, offering children opportunities to develop their self-identity and sense of connectedness with the world around them. Music Enrichment (Kdg-Second Grade) 9:00-10:15 am: Led by a professional music teacher, children explore and experience Unitarian Universalist principles and values through musical activities. Art Enrichment (Third-Sixth Grades) 9:00-10:15 am: Led by a professional art teacher, children explore and experience Unitarian Universalist principles and values through artistic activities. Kindergarten and First Grade 10:30-11:45 am: “Around the Church, Around the Year” acquaints children with their own Unitarian Universalist community: the people, building, rituals, traditions, celebrations, and basic values of Unitarian Universalism. Second Grade 10:30-11:45 am: “Free to Believe” focuses on UU principles, values, and beliefs through activities, stories, games, songs, and discussions and introduces the lifelong process of finding our own answers to life's big questions. Third and Fourth Grades 10:30-11:45 am: “Keepers of the Earth/Hands-On Nature” uses Native American stories and hands-on explorations of the natural world to foster an awareness of the relatedness of all living things and to encourage environmental stewardship. Fifth and Sixth Grades 10:30-11:45 am: “Toolbox of Faith” uses tools such as a mirror (reflection), duct tape (flexibility), and a flashlight (justice) as metaphors for the tools Unitarian Universalists use to live our lives and build our own faith. The class will participate in “Faith in Action” projects to embody some of these ideas. Seventh Grade 10:30-11:45 am: “Listening between the Lines” uses song lyrics from a wide variety of musical styles from the 1960s to the present to explore ways in which those words do (or do not) express our own values and beliefs. “Living in UUVille” employs role-playing games to apply Unitarian Universalist principles to real life issues and problems. Eighth Grade 10:30-11:45 am: “Compass Points” explores ideas from Unitarian Universalist history, polity, and theology and encourages participants to think independently, make decisions, and discover their own answers to questions about the nature of humanity and God and their beliefs regarding such matters as death and faith. Seventh and Eighth Grades 6:00-8:30 pm, dates as scheduled: “Our Whole Lives” sexuality education provides age-appropriate information about anatomy and human development and helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality so they are equipped to make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. Senior High Youth Group (Grades 9 – 12) 11:45 am-1:00 pm: Senior High Youth are supported and challenged as they discuss issues important in their lives and continue their commitment to their Unitarian Universalist faith and church community. A focus for the fall is to plan the Central Midwest District Youth Conference which our church is hosting in November. The group will present a worship service for the congregation in May.
Unitarian Church of Evanston
Unitarian Church of Evanston
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