Religious Education for kids
Children, though natural questioners, are not skeptics, for whom doubt is an end in itself. Children are as open to belief and faith as they are to questioning. They are looking, as we are all looking, for things on which they can depend, values they can faithfully live by. ideas that make sense, things to believe in.
The Reverend Earl Holt
from the UU book, Religious Education At Home.
Kids! Come check out all the fun we have here!
News This summer yUUth Group News Classes Calendar
Don't Miss the Dangerous Camp!
Religious Education News for Children and Youth
Our Nursery is professionally staffed and open from 9:15-12:15 every Sunday, through the program year, for infants and toddlers.
This
summer at the UUFP...
There is a world where witches rule the northern skies, where ice bears are the bravest of warriors, and where every human is joined with an animal spirit who is as close to them as their own heart.
But this world is dominated by the Magisterium, which seeks to control all of humanity, and whose greatest threat is the last remaining Golden Compass and the one child destined to possess it.
Join us as this summer as we
head out on a journey based on Philip
Pullman’s book the
Golden Compass. We’ll travel along with twelve year-old Lyra
Belacqua who lives an extraordinary life as a ward of the
distinguished Jordan College. Tearing unsupervised through the
streets on mad quests for adventure with her loyal friend Roger,
Lyra is accompanied everywhere by her daemon, Pantalaimon – a small,
ever-changing animal that serves as a constant voice of reason.
But Lyra’s world is changing. And so will yours, each Sunday, this summer at UUFP!
Class descriptions beginning September 9th.
9:30 Class: Held in the main RE room. We will adapt the Spirit of Adventure curriculum (see below) for all ages who attend the first service.
Spirit Play
Held at 11:00 in the preschool room for three to six year-olds.
This class is intended for children in preschool through first grade. Developed by UU Religious Educator Anita Penfold, based on the work of Maria Montesorri and Jerome Berryman. In the spirit of love and mystery, Spirit Play is A Very Special Place to Be. We have stories, shelves, art materials, teachers and circle time. This is our place to be in community, to talk to and listen and feel the Spirit in our hearts. We will hear many stories from around the world that will help us learn about being Unitarian Universalists.
What makes Spirit Play so successful?
Its strong liturgical and storytelling model creates a classroom environment that is both meaningful and interesting. A "Prepared Environment" structure encourages freedom of choice. Stories allow children to hear/see/touch/move as they handle the materials.
The use of manipulatives for discussing abstract concepts allows inclusion of children across many developmental levels and abilities, including children with special needs. Mixing ages allows children to work with materials at their own pace and level, and to hear the story differently each time in order to take away new meanings.
The use of wondering questions exposes children to the language of the UU faith, thus laying the foundation for understanding such language when used by others. Unitarian Universalist lessons pertain to our central story of agreeing to live in community and right relationship, including our central symbol, the Flaming Chalice, church history, UU history and UU figures. The Promises/Principles lessons highlight our UU Principles and Sources.
Spirit of Adventure
Held at 9:30 for all ages and 11:00 for grades 2nd-5th in the main RE room
This is an active Unitarian Universalist Identity curriculum, by Kate Tweedie Erslev, for children using the themes of sports, medicine, food, science, building, exploring and the web of life as ways to discover the people and values of our Unitarian Universalist faith.
Goals for Participants
To communicate that good sportsmanship and teamwork offer important parallels to the UU way of being in the world;
To reinforce the value of taking care of others and keeping each other safe;
To experience the significance of being kind and generous;
To affirm the value of using reason and being curious;
To explore the importance of being creative and trying new things;
To examine the value of living simply and loving animals;
To build leadership skills and responsibility in the congregational setting through special projects.
Unitarian Universalist Values
Each session makes a direct connection to a Unitarian Universalist Principle and Source of our Living Tradition. Most of the sessions offer stories about a Unitarian Universalist who exemplifies or offers a deeper perspective on the ideas of the sessions. A sharing circle and closing time with chalice lighting relates specifically to our Unitarian Universalist faith.
Traditions with a Wink!
Held at 11:00 for Middle School students in the Shabin, Traditions with a Wink! By Kate Tweedie Erslev offers a comprehensive UU identity course for middle school students. The lessons use diverse sources such as the Internet, the UU hymn book, Singing the Living Tradition, the Bible, UU history, and UU rituals including the Flower Communion.
Goals for Participants
To develop a UU identity which goes beyond "we can believe anything we want;"
To learn about Unitarian and Universalist history, including Jewish and Christian roots, our Principles and Sources, including the use of science and reason;
To learn about a diversity of UU communities by Internet and/or "real life" visits;
To use UU rituals and hymns to delve more deeply into Unitarian Universalism;
To learn about our traditions of good works;
Unitarian Universalist Values This curriculum is specifically designed to explain and affirm the history and application of Unitarian Universalist values. Top
High School: Held at 11:00 in the Caum room.
The High School class will start the year with a work project. Students will assemble a structure for the playground using donated materials. Future classes will be based on materials from three books.
What Do You Stand For? By Barbara A. Lewis
Guided exploration of values issues such as honesty, empathy, integrity and respect. With discussions, activities, and problem-solving exercises.
Building Everyday Leadership in All Teens By Mariam MacGregor
Every teen can be a leader. That's because leadership is not just about taking the lead in big ways, but in everyday small things, too. The sessions in this book guide teens to explore what it means to be a leader, how to work with others, ethical decision-making, risk-taking, team-building, communication, creative thinking, and more. Teens learn what's necessary to do something, even if that something is just speaking up.
Stories in Faith: Exploring Our UU Principles and Sources Through Wisdom Tales By Gail Forsyth-Vail
Stories in Faith is an invitation to begin a unique spiritual journey, one in which stories help us to develop our faith and make meaning in our lives. This is a distinctly Unitarian Universalist collection of wisdom tales. The stories are culled from many cultures and traditions and presented using the seven Principles and six Sources as a framework for reflection and further exploration. Forsyth-Vail offers thoughtful advice for respectfully approaching materials from a culture other than our own and encourages engagement with wisdom tales as an opportunity for lifelong inspiration and spiritual growth. Top
New UU Kids Classes Available
The Membership Committee holds New UU Classes for adults on a regular basis. If you are new to the Fellowship and would like to have a New UU Class for your children, too, please contact Joanne Dingus. We can set one up as soon as we have enough participants.
April 26th- Bob Mosolf is leading an all day Red Cross training in CPR and First Aid. The current class is full but if you are interested in taking these courses in the future, please contact Joanne Dingus.
May 10th- The Yuuth Group will go rollerskating at Plaza Roller Rink from 2:00-4:00. Plaza Roller Rink is located at 1924 E. Pembroke Ave. In Hampton. We will cover the cost of the skating. Please bring your own money for snacks.
May 30th-June 1st- Family Camping at Kiptopeke State Park. Please see Patti Calkins Hunter for registration and details.
June 8th- We will be celebrating the close of our regular program by recognizing our students and volunteers on Children’s Sunday. Many student musicians will be performing.
June 15th- This year we will continue with two services throughout the summer. On this day we will begin our summer program based on Philip Pullman’s book The Golden Compass.
Related resources
- Religious Education Director, Joanne Dingus 757-249-0215
- Adult Religious Education
yUUth Group News
The Yuuth Group is raising money to provide the fellowship with an AED (defibrillator.) If you are looking for help around your yard, raking, weeding, mowing, trimming, let us know. All donations will go to our AED fund.
We’re trying to start a youth and adult summer band. If you play an instrument and would like to join in on the fun, please sign up on the bulletin board in the RE room so we can contact you with further details.
Are you in Middle School or High School? Do you like getting together with other UU’s for fun and fellowship? Check out the UUFP YUUth Group. We will meet each month. Generally, we’ll begin with food and friendship. Then, move on with group games. There may be a service project or art project involved. Hope to see you there! For more information see Patti Calkins-Hunter or Joanne Dingus. Top
Volunteers Needed
Like what you see in RE? Consider volunteering. We will need more teachers in Summer & Fall. Just decide which age group you would like to work with, and how much time you would like to devote, and we will put you on the schedule.
"To learn and never be filled is wisdom. To teach and never be weary is love."
Donations Accepted
Thanks to our wonderful budget, we will not be asking for a registration fee this year. If you feel you would like to contribute something to our program please consider a donation of snacks. We like to keep an assortment of crackers, cookies and drinks available and we would be pleased to accept fresh fruit or vegetables on occasion.