Building Family Religion at Home
Alexander Meek, Jr 1979
Building family religion at home begins with a recognition of the central values in family living. This is a collection of activities for families to use in developing an individualized program to develop family religion in the home
Building Your Spiritual Home
UUA
This Unitarian Universalist curriculum is written to provide Unitarian Universalist young adults with personal tools with which to build a spiritual home within themselves. The young adult years are ones filled with unique, on going changes and transitions. Using the turtle, the one who carries its home wherever it goes, this 7-session curriculum offers tools to assist young adults in maintaining a sense of a well balanced inner self and building a spiritual home within their lives.
Building Assets Together
Jolene Roehlkepartain Search Institute
This talk book gives creative, easy-to-use activities to introduce developmental assets to youth. It includes 70 interactive group activities for sixth to twelfth graders, 31 attractive, photo-copiable worksheets that help y their own assets own assets. Participating in these activities, youth will learn about specific “developmental assets” that are vital to their healthy: and a positive future; learn how they can take responsibility for building their own assets, and those of others.
Celebrations around the World: Multicultural handbook
Carole S. Angell
For each month of the year, here are celebrations, festivals or religious holidays observed by countries and cultures from Australia to Zimbabwe. Includes background and context of more than 300 different observations, making this a fun, easy way to bring the world’s cultural celebrations into your home or classroom.
Celebrations for Christmas
Reach UUA
A collection of readings, stories, and resources focusing on the celebration of Christmas.
Celebrations for Easter and Spring
A collection of readings, stories, and resources focusing on celebrations of spring.
A collection of readings, stories, and resources focusing on celebrations of spring.
Connecting with the Earth
Canadian Unitarian Council
This intergenerational course is designed with programs for four age groups: primary, junior, youth and adult. The overall aim is to create opportunities for participants to develop a more spiritual relationship with the world around them. This is also an exploration which helps to affirm and promote the seventh principle of UUism. The course is designed to promote the following attitudes:
— Gratitude, awe, wonder and respect for the land and nature’s bounty
— Appreciation for the spirituality of all life and our spiritual connection with nature
— Some understanding of the wholeness, completeness and mystery of life
— Awareness of the inter-communion of all living and non-living components of the earth community
— Understanding of the concept of a sustaining use of natural things, finding a use for everything
Conversations with a 50 Million year old Clam
Fisher/McKeel
A collection of worship services for children and intergenerational services.
Cooperative Sports and Games Book
Terry Orleck
Many non-competitive games for small and large groups are included in this guide.
Creative Conflict Resolution
William J. Kreidler, 1984
This book offers ideas and encouragement on conflict management in classrooms. Kreidler contributes 200 activities for keeping peace, nurturing peacemakers, reducing competition and enhancing cooperation. Activities are also included to build communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and self-esteem. Designed for K–6 this book has a much wider application.
Dealing with Death
First Unitarian Society, Minneapolis
Created for use with grades 1–6 this curriculum focuses on one of life’s biggest questions. It includes activities, exercises, resource list.
Earth Tales from Around the World
Michael Caduto
Drawn from more than forty countries, these stories are retold by the author using his own descriptions and dialogue, but in a way that has kept the traditional substance and spirit of each story. Organized in themes siuch as Earth, Sky, Animals, Wisdom, and Stewardship. Includes suggestions for lessons and activities inspired by the stories.
The Earthball is a dramatic, inflatable, six-foot-diameter, hand-painted-on-canvas replica of Earth. It is available from First Universalist Church of Minneapolis for your events. Contact Bob Friedman: 612–722–4705.
Escapades
Learned Enterprises
350 game index cards classified by topic and activity level. Well-organized, easy to use and consistent with UU principles by emphasizing cooperative non-competitive games.
Evensong Vol II
Barbara Hamilton–Holway
Eight small group worship services with intimate format based on the idea that “honest, loving speaking and respectful, open listening make community.” The orders of service, which can be photocopied for group use, include singing, readings and discussion.
Festivals of Light
UNICEF
This contains 64 slides and tape cassette narrated by Liv Ullman. This program is designed to show the similarities and differences in the way festivals of light are celebrated around the world. Festivals include: Divali, Loy Krathong, Hanukkah, Saint Lucia’s Day, Kwaanza, and Christmas. An accompanying booklet has ideas for crafts, celebrations and further resources.
Fighting Fair
VHS
This VHS tape and accompanying teacher’s guide and activities resource focuses on nonviolent solutions to conflict, and draws from the life of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Developed for Grades 4–9, application can be broader.
Follow the Rainbow Path
North Georgia Cluster of Religious Educators
A summer program inspired by 7 UU principles and 6 sources with 16 sessions with options for both younger and older age groups.
Free The Children: Conflict Education for Strong, Peaceful Minds
New Society
More than an activity book, this unique approach helps adults and children beak free from the cultural and media influences that promote aggression and conflict. An inspiration for anyone who wants to nurture strong, peaceful minds. For pre-K through high school
From Long Ago and Far Away
Sophia Fahs
For all ages these are stories told in new edition featuring 41 stories from the original collection, lesson plans for teachers and one new story to honor Native American culture. Helpful new lesson plans include concise story summaries, discussion questions and fun activities to enhance the spiritual ethical meanings of each tale.
Gathered Around the Tree of Life
Resources for children’s chapels and intergenerational worship
Rev. Laurie Bushbaum
A collection of children’s and intergenerational worship services.
Global Summit, The Peace Game
Jeff Liebmann, 1st Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh
Strategic card game for 1–6 players ages 10 and up. Players represent nations using economic, political, and social resources to resolve threats to world peace. Players also respond to events at home affecting available resources. Everyone wins if they maintain peace as well as the balance of international power. Playing time is about 30 minutes.
Honoring Earth
Seventh Principle Project
Sermons, readings, meditations for creating Earth-Honoring worship in the UU Tradition.
How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People’s Religious Ceremonies
Magida & Matlins
Easy to use introduction to the rituals and celebrations of major American religions and denominations. Helps any well-meaning guest of another faith to feel at ease, participate as much as possible and avoid violating anyone’s religious principles.
Volume 1
Includes Baptist, Buddhist, Episcopalian, Jewish, Methodist, Quaker, Roman Catholic and many more religions.
Volume 2
Includes African American Methodist, Baha’i, Mennonite/Amish, Native American, Unitarian Universalist, and many other faiths.
I Stood Upon a Mountain
AV: Slides and Book
A set of slides of the illustrations in the book which is used in A Stepping Stone Year and is also an excellent multigenerational source for questions about creation.
Images for Our Lives
Unity Church Unitarian, St. Paul
Two twelve-week units: Judeo-Christian Heritage and World Religions. Each unit includes detailed lesson plans divided into the following levels: grades 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, junior high. These curriculums can be described as a “tradition-sensitive, child-centered, values-oriented religious education program for grades 1st–junior high.” Please specify Judeo Christian or World Religions
Images for Our Lives
VHS
Unity Church Unitarian, St Paul
VHS tapes and study guides give ideas for stimulating discussion and relating the lessons to our lives. Produced by Univision/St Paul
Breath of Wind — This begins with a mother reading an African myth to her two children at bedtime. Mythological characters such as coyote come alive and join the family’s conversation about the value of myths and the ways people have made sense of their worlds through stories. Grade 3–8. 25 minutes.
Winter Light — Explores the theme of light emerging unexpectedly from darkness. Children and families enact scenes that reveal historical background and present day celebrations of Hanukkah, Christmas and the Winter solstice. Grades 3–12. 30 minutes.
Stories to Live By
1. Stories by Barbara Pescan: a common theme in these five stories is that things are never quite what they seem. Four Jewish and one Japanese tales are told, conveying a message about finding hidden truths, and valuing personal and spiritual growth. Ages 7–adult. 35 minutes.
2. Stories from “A Stream of Living Souls” by Denise Tracy. This series features Unitarian Universalists whose contributions had far reaching importance for the denomination and society as a whole. Each is 30 minutes in length, directed at age 6–adult. Study guides available for each.
Tape 1: Mary Collson, Mary Dendy Joseph Priestly, Emily and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Tape 2: Antoinette Brown, Daniel Chester French, Sylvia and Elizabeth Freeman
Tape 3: Starr King, Mrs. Josephine Cochran, Theodore Parker.
Please specify which tape you want.
This ten-minute video combines the title song and culturally diverse photographic images.
Kids Around the World Celebrate! The Best Feasts and Festivals from Many Lands
Lynda Jones
Many diverse activities, recipes and crafts help children learn that people all over the world celebrate for the same reasons. Includes activities for carnivals in Brazil and Venice, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the Chinese New Year, thanksgiving celebrations in India and Nigeria and man others celebrations in the US and around the world Ages 9–12.
The Living Earth
First Unitarian Society, Minneapolis
This curriculum designed for grades 1–6 focuses on our interdependence with nature and responsibility for stewardship of earth. Activities, exercises, and resource list are included.
A Methodist resource, this is an excellent curriculum for investigating biblical times and life, designed for preschool (separate section) through junior high. Lessons provide directions for creating a marketplace, appropriate costumes, crafts, cooking, roles and stories. This can be used for vacation Bible school, a very full semester, or an entire year.
Meetings at the Moon
Joanne giannino
A six-session spiritual journey for pre-teen girls and their mothers. Sessions include: opening reading, sharing, story, activity, music, movement, art making, closing and homework. Topics include: Introduction, becoming a woman in body, in mind, in emotion, in spirit and a celebration of the journey.
Native American Spirituality
Follen Church UU
Nine sessions designed to supplement the Honoring Our Mother Earth curriculum. Native American Spirituality is most effective when used with all age groups (K–8) simultaneously.
Native American Video Series
VHS
Includes 5 sixty minutes videos:
Geronimo
Seasons of the Navajo
The Spirit of Crazy Horse
Odyssey — Myths and Mindbuilders
Winds of Change — A Matter of Promises.
The New Games book
Andrew Fluegelman
A collection of non-competitive games for all ages
Nurturing the Connections
Seventh Principle Project
Children’s Religious Education resources for nurturing the Spirit-Nature connection. Includes: Nurturing the Spirit Nature Connection: A Curriculum Map for Children’s Religious Education; supplement for use with hands on Nature; Pluto, the Adopted Planet: a story parable; an intergenerational serviced based on The Man Who Planted Trees; Story Bead Curriculum; Energy Activities for Faithful Youth.
One
VHS
This 10-minute video presents a message about ecology in a direct and still hopeful manner.
One World One Earth
New Society Publishers
Ages 3–15. Imaginative learning activities and discussion starters make this the perfect guide for explaining difficult and sensitive issues — human rights, environmental concerns and more. Includes suggestions for action and reading.
There are two full-sized parachutes available.
Peace Experiments
UU Peace Network
A five-session curriculum offering over 100 activities and specific lesson plans for K–2, 3–4, 5–6, junior high, senior high; a workshop for adults; an intergenerational celebration; and a teacher training workshop. Materials could be adapted for a weekend workshop.
A Place in the Choir
VHS
Follen Community Church UUA
Features the youth and junior choirs of the Follen Church in Lexington, MA. Includes excerpts from anthems and songs drawn from modern as well s traditional sources and reflects a wide range of cultural, ethnic and spiritual tradition. Choir director’s manual is included. Contains rehearsal and ideas for using Singing the Living Tradition in worship services.
Plays
Alorie Boyle Parkhill
The following are available. You may order 1 or more. All plays can be produced with as few as 25 children of all ages.
Quest — A group of Questions demand answers from Life, who responds with examples of many religious possibilities. Good for a small cast. 40 minutes
Ghosts and Visions — Dreamers learn from their UU past and from visions of the future. Sections about UU heritage may be extracted for use in a smaller service. Original music. 70 minutes
Journey through a Maze — Four individuals, “Heroites”, with the potential for great achievement are sent in to the Earth space, a gigantic labyrinth. Each confronts obstacles but learns to call to others for help. 55 minutes
Spirits — Gifts have been given to the world by Medusa by her Spirits, but this time her offering of machines to better the human condition has backfired. The play is a comedy with serious intent; it satirizes television’s stereotyped characters, ideals and plots. 60 minutes
Quest
VHS
1st UU Church — Rochester
This Alorie Parkhill play was performed in 1990. Use this tape to plan your own performance, and/or as a resource for curricula such as Beginning UUism, How can I Know what to Believe?, We Believe, A Stepping Stone Year. 35 minutes
Ten magical plays for children to celebrate the good will and hope that Christmas and Easter symbolize in UU heritage and culture.
REACH
UUA
Collections of resources and references reprinted from REACH packets. The following are available:
Adult Education for Small Societies
Christmas
Considering Worthship with Children
Easter and Spring
Peace Resources
UUism for Small Societies
Resources for Youth Program for Small Societies
Religions: Encountering people of Other Faiths
Charles Hambrick and others
Abingdon Press
Introduces youth to other faith traditions. Features nine-session plans with discussion topics, articles, activities, games and other learning experiences. Also includes a glossary and statistics on world religions.
Seasons of Hope Circles of Love
Fisher / McKeel
Eight intergenerational celebrations
Sojourner Truth Speaks
VHS
Alice McGill
Actress, poet and storyteller Alice McGill recreates the life and struggles of former slave Sojourner Truth in a series of monologues based on Truth’s narratives about slavery, women’s rights, and freedom. Ages 9–adult. 30 minutes
Sorceress
VHS
A video appropriate for senior high and adults which portrays the life of a healer in ancient France.
Spinning Tales Weaving Hope
Stories of Peace, Justice, and the Environment
New Society Publishers
All ages. Children will be enchanted by these classic tales on how to live with yourself, others, and the earth. Each story is enriched by storyteller’s tips, discussion questions and suggestions for adapting the story to your audience.
Spring Holidays from UU Perspective
Beth Brownfield
Collection of workshops, discussion, celebrations for use with Easter, spring holiday celebrations in UU religious education programs.
Stand for Children: Children’s Sabbaths
Children’s Defense Fund
Resource materials for use in observing and promoting National Observance of children’s Sabbaths. Worship suggestions, activities, lesson plans for K–Adult, hymns, prayers, poems, litanies and reflections.
Starting Small
UUSC
A multigenerational curriculum on children addressing housing, hunger, homelessness and poverty which connects individual experiences and community life. Seven sessions: teachers’ guide, a guidebook for community action, descriptions of UU community projects and a primer on the UN convention on the Rights of the Child.
A Stream of Living Souls
Denise Tracey
#6 stories for use at home and worship based on the lives on Unitarian Universalists. There are two volumes included.
Tales Alive!
Susan Milord
UUA
Enchanting stories from Native America, Argentina, Ghana and more — brought to life with a myriad of exciting hands-on activities. Features crafts, whole language exploration, games, outdoor activities and a host of other fun experiences.
Telling Our Tales — Stories and Storytelling for All Ages
Jeanette Ross
UUA
Tales from China to Azerbaijan to enchant children of all ages. Stories on creation, courage, discovery and wisdom illustrate customs, beliefs and traditions from around the world. Includes tips on homemade costumes and props, plus a comprehensive section on storytelling for classroom use.
Touching the Infinite
Fisher/McKeel
A lay leader’s manual for creative children’s worship
Under the Wisdom Tree
Connie Dunn
Denton UU Fellowship
This is a storytelling curriculum for helping teach values, beliefs and cultural connections. Designed for churches with small groups of multi-level, multi-aged children. It is meant to meet the needs of the youngest as well as the oldest child in the program. Designed with limited human resources in mind and requires only a few adults to run the program. There are 45 lessons — including 12 holiday lessons.
UU Catechism
Tony Larsen
UUA
This program can be used with intermediate age children through adults. It includes songs, games and a booklet for children. The format is question and answers. Material can also be abstracted for use in worship.
Board game using Unitarian Universalist history and structure.
We Believe: Living and Learning Our Unitarian Universalist Principles
Fields and Goodwin
UUA
Twenty hour-long sessions for multi-age groupings of unpredictable sizes, this curriculum contains a 180 page Leader’s guide, a 96-page workbook, an audio cassette, and inflatable globe and PEOPLE by Peter Spier. For ages 3 and older, this also provides material for intergenerational celebrations and activities.
What Do You Stand For?
Free Spirit Press, 1997
Invites kids ages 10 and up to explore and practice honesty, empathy, integrity, respect and more. Includes quotations, activities, problem-solving exercises, true stories and reproducible handouts.
World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored and Explained
John Bowker
Spectacular, full-color illustrations accompany this definitive survey of world religions. Includes historical background, theology, information on key figures, iconography and current practices of ten principal faiths. Thorough commentary, pictorial feast.
Worth and Dignity of All People
UUA
A curriculum deigned so that the whole church school or summer program can address at the same time an important topic of social concern. The five sessions for four age levels (1–8 grade) begin with a focus on caring and fairness within the classroom and move on to a consideration of bias in society. An additional resource book is included for grades 5–9. Curriculum includes cassette of songs and story. Topics covered: Understanding people with disabilities; Learning about racism; Understanding and overcoming ageism; Understanding and overcoming sexism; confronting homophobia; UU Principles.
Windmills Worship and Wonder
Paint Branch UU Church
Recommended by the Church Of The Larger Fellowship a book full of ideas for including children in worship. These services could also be used for children’s chapel. The book offers 50 mini-services covering UU principles and ideals, holidays, celebrations, and special events designed to appeal to all ages. Each service illustrates the worship theme by focusing on a concrete visual object or example that is then explored at various levels of abstraction.
Winter Holidays from UU Perspective
Beth Brownfield
Collection of workshops, discussion, celebrations for use with Christmas holiday celebrations in UU religious education programs.