Curriculum

Welcome from the Director of Religious Education

2011-12 Church Year Schedules, Curriculum:

2011-12 Schedule (pdf)

2011-12 Registration Forms

2011 Church Year Curriculum (September 11, 2011 - June 3, 2012)

General Themes: UU Identity and World Religions

Please note that class groupings may be different for the three sessions.  The chart below summarizes the class groupings.

Early Childhood: 3-5 year old children (9:45 a.m./ 11:15 a.m.)

WE ARE MANY, WE ARE ONE is designed to help young children view themselves as both individuals and as part of a church community, celebrating the uniqueness and value of each participant, while fostering a group identity. Kindergarten aged children gain a sense of belonging to their religious community and UU faith when they have concrete experiences with its people and places. The experiences and messages of this curriculum are intended to affirm our youngsters in their spiritual growth, creativity, and connections to the congregation, humankind, and the natural world. Children will engage in simple rituals, games, stories, and craft activities as they get to know one another.

1-2 Grade (9:45 a.m. /11:15 a.m.)

TREASURE HUNTING: Each Sunday the children will explore the meaning behind our UU Principles by making or finding a treasure symbolic of the day’s theme. During the first part of the year, lessons will focus on treasuring their own and others thoughts and feelings. During the second half of the year, the focus will turn outward to explore the treasures of our church community, UU History, the World community, and the environment. A fun curriculum, with engaging stories, crafts, activities, and rituals for our little UUs!

3-4 Grade (9:45 a.m./11:15 a.m.)

HOLIDAYS AND HOLY DAYS:  Holidays are the natural, age-old vehicle of religious socialization. Their festivities tell a story which children absorb with delight, through experiences far more than through words.  Decorations, colors, costumes, dances, lights, songs, foods, festivities, gifts, excitement, pageantry, solemnity, ceremony, and ritual . . . . It is of these that tradition is woven, that memories, beliefs, values, fears, hopes, and reverence are transmitted.  A holiday is not something to talk about; it's something to DO, to CELEBRATE!  Of course, as each of these special days are celebrated in our classroom, the correlation will be made to our own beliefs as Unitarian Universalists. This is a favorite curriculum for both teachers and kids!

5-7 Grades (9:45 a.m./11:15 a.m.)

BIBLEODEON introduces Hebrew and Christian scriptures by presenting the best-known Hebrew and Christian stories with such props as the Bibleodeon microphone and such interactive challenges as investigating the Cain-Abel crime scene. Participants act in 11 amusing skits, illustrate a time line, keep doodle books, give awards to outstanding biblical women, and more. They explore connections between biblical events and Unitarian Universalist principles, between biblical ideas and their own lives. They experience the Bible as one of many wonderful UU sources.

8^th Grade: 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a series of sexuality education curricula that helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate and age-appropriate information about six subjects—human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture—to present a holistic view of sexuality. The curriculum not only provides participants with facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps them to clarify their values, build their interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. 

The OWL curriculum presents a comprehensive approach to human sexuality in an age-appropriate manner based firmly on the values of respect, responsibility, justice, and inclusivity. It helps young people apply these values to their behavior and provides them with information and skills they can use throughout life. Parents must attend a mandatory Orientation in order for their child to participate in the OWL class (even if prior children have participated) and there will be strict attendance and behavior policies in order to maintain the integrity of the group

8-9 Grade (9:30-11:00 a.m.):

Our “Pillars” class will have a format that allows for more direct input from our participants as to what they would like to focus on and how their Sunday class and extra curricular activities will play out. The youth will vote on several themes that will be studied in blocks, or “Pillars”, over the course of the church year. Our goal is to create a safe, trusting, and open-minded setting where youth feel a sense of ownership and freedom to express themselves, learn and apply Unitarian Universalist values, explore life issues, develop self-esteem and self-respect, embrace social responsibility, explore one's own spirituality, and have fun.

Senior High Youth Group 10-12 Grade (9:30-11:00 a.m.)  

YOUNG RELIGIOUS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS (YRUU) offers a supportive environment in which teens can explore their feelings about themselves, their world and their religion. Some curriculum is used, as determined by the desires of the group. Social action projects, leadership development, and opportunities for worship will round out the program. Occasional conference trips will help the youth form a connection with a network of UU friends from around the Central Midwest District. There will also be an opportunity for youth age 16 and over to join our summer Mission Trip program working for Habitat for Humanity.

For questions or more information, contact:

beryluumilwaukee [dot] org (subject: Website%20Inquiry) (Beryl Aschenberg )