Children's Education

We want our children to develop a strong sense of personal values and to feel confident in expressing them and acting on them. Our Religious Education program for children teaches ethical living, our Unitarian Universalist principles and heritage, and the religions of the world, including Jewish and Christian teachings.

We offer our program in a way that gives children a framework they can build upon, so that they will grow up to become responsible adults and make wise decisions about what to believe and how to live.

Formal Sunday school classes are held from September to June every church year. We have a fall semester and a winter/spring semester of Sunday school. Around the winter holidays, Intercession classes are held for Pre-K to 8th graders. During this time, the children do art, crafts, cooking, social action and other activities focused on the different holidays of the season.

Sunday Morning Schedule

Parents may bring children of any age to church services.

Childcare is available in the blockroom for infants to 5 year olds. School-aged children begin in the sanctuary with their parents. After the first hymn, they will be escorted to classes by their teachers. We ask parents to pick up children from nursery care by noon. Parents (or another designated adult) are expected to remain at the Fellowship while children are in our care, in case of medical emergency or any other situation requiring parental attention.

Curriculum Philosophy

At UUFRC, we want our children to develop a strong sense of personal values and to feel confident in expressing and acting on them. Our Religious Education program for children teaches ethical living, our Unitarian Universalist principles and heritage, and the religions of the world, including Jewish and Christian teachings. We offer our program in a way that gives children a framework they can build upon, so that they will grow up to become responsible adults and make wise decisions about what to believe and how to live.

Each church year, the fall semester begins with a unit on UU Identity. The topics range from the 7 UU Principles, UU history, and famous UUs. In the winter/spring semester, we focus on World Religions. There are three major areas we study, in rotation. We select specific religions and topics of interest within Western World Religions, The New Testament and Eastern World Religions. The winter/spring semesters will have the following rotation of World Religions:

• Winter/Spring 2008: Western World Religions. This year we will focus on Judaism and Earth Based Religion/Spirituality.
• Winter/Spring 2009: The New Testament
• Winter/Spring 2010: Eastern World Religions. In the past, we have studied Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.

We to make authentic connections in community of the within these religions. For example, the children in 3rd to 8th grade have attended a prayer service at an Islamic Mosque and a morning service at a Hindu Temple in the past.

Beyond Sunday School, we offer Rites of Passages for Kindergarteners, the Age of Reason (3rd/4th grade), Coming of Age (8th to 10th grade) and Our Whole Lives comprehensive sexuality education for 4th to 6th graders and 7th to 9th graders.

Curriculum Plans for the 2007/2008 Church Year

The following classes are held during the 10:30 service:

• Infants and Toddlers/Preschool: Safe and fun playtime with Michael Green in the blockroom.
• Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten: The Treasure Hunting curriculum uses the excitement of finding treasures to explore the meaning of life as well as the 7 UU Principles and values.
• First to Second Grade: This group will begin with Treasure Hunting to study UU Identity and then will learn about the Hebrew Bible with Super Heros: Bible People and Earth Based Spirituality with Keepers of the Earth.
• Third to Fourth Grade: In the Fall, the Spirit of Adventure curriculum will use sports to show how good sportsmanship and teamwork offer important parallels to the UU way of being in the world. In the Winter, this group will study the Hebrew Bible with the Living the Promise curriculum and, in the spring, Earth Based Spirituality with Keepers of the Earth.
• Fifth to Eighth Grade: This class will think about where they stand on different issues with the UU curriculum Compass Points. Our Middle School Youth Advisor also plans one social activity or social action project each month.

Unitarian Universalist Principles in Children’s Language

We agree:

• To value each and every person
• To treat each other fairly and kindly
• To accept one another and keep on learning together
• To search for what is true and right in life
• To make decisions together
• To work for a peaceful, fair, and free world
• To respect the connections between all things

Inclusivity

We welcome all persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin; gender or gender identification, affectional preference or sexual orientation; age, physical or mental challenge; or social, economic, or marital status.

Registration

Our Religious Education program is open to members, friends, and visitors of the Fellowship. We do not charge fees. We ask parents to register any children they entrust to the care of the Fellowship.

To register, please complete the Registration Form and email it to dre@uufrc.org.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Religious Education.