Beginning Unitarian Universalism
Mary Ann Moore and Helena Chapin
UUA
Twenty-six lessons for grades 3–6. This curriculum explores the meaning of the new UUA principles; asks “who are Unitarian Universalists?” with references to local church and family history; and introduces Malvina Reynolds and Whitney Young, Jr. It also helps children address the big religious questions; god, the bible, Jesus. The last session is a play.
Being Your Best: Character Building for Kids 7–10
Barbara A Lewis
Even elementary school children can learn about and build important character traits like caring, citizenship, cooperation, courage, fairness, honesty, respect and responsibility — traits that will help them grow into capable, moral teens and adults. Includes activities, true stories of real kids, reproducible materials, and a bibliography.
Bible Stories
UU Christian Fellowship
A year-long curriculum complete with stories, lessons, activities.
Bibleodeon
Tirrell H. and Richard S. Kimball
Written for 5th graders; suitable for individual grades 5 and 6 and for combined groups with 4th, 5th and 6th graders. This curriculum 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 playlets with characters like the Fatted Calf, illustrate a time line, keep doodle books, give awards to outstanding biblical women, and more. They explore connections between biblical events and UU principles, between biblical ideas and their own lives. They experience the Bible as one of many wonderful UU sources. Twenty sessions.
Breath of Wind
VHS
Unity Church Unitarian, St Paul
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.
Buddhism
Rachel Brown
First Unitarian Society Minneapolis
Eight-session curriculum designed for people new to content and to religious education classroom. Easily adaptable by experienced teachers. Series of structured but flexible lessons, each a full and active hour. Curriculum is activity based, emphasizing how to teach about Buddhism rather than spelling out what Buddhism is. Specific content information about Buddhism and meditation can be found from resource list provided Additional resources needed.
Can Of Squirms
Pennant Education Materials
Grade school version of a game which includes discussion starters that encourage meaningful, interesting dialogues between individuals on values related issues. This is adaptable to one on one situations or group discussions. Includes leader’s guide and 100 questions.
Caring for Our Planet Earth
Green Timber Publications
A curriculum which focuses on acknowledgement of and attention to our interdependence with Earth. Five–six sessions include music, songs, discussions, projects and a final celebration. Ages 5–14
Carry the Flame
with Leaders Guide
First Religious Society, Carlisle, MA 1993
A self discovery and religious identity program for UU youth using a workbook/journal for each child which would need copies. Based on UU principles.
Celebrating Diversity with Art
Willet Ryder
This almanac of art activities colors the year with special holidays, events and issues. Six art projects for every month, each highlighting a special theme and each a hands-on project that actively involves and interests students. Grades 3–6.
Celebrating Family
Green Timber Publications
A five-week program that explores what families are, what each participant’s family is, what is special about each family, different kinds of families and concludes with a celebration. Ages 5–14.
Celebrating Our Origins in the Universe
with “The Beginning of Everything” and “The Tree of Life”
ECE Consulting
About the story of Creation from the Big bang through the Evolution of Humans suitable for classes ranging from 1st through 5th grade. This field-tested curriculum was written by an early childhood educator and a cosmologist (and former UU minister) and includes 15–22 weeks of reading, song and active learning experiences in which children learn and celebrate the origins of the Universe, our world, and human beings.
Celebrating Our Roots and Branches
Betty Jo Middleton
UUA
Ages 5–9. This is a curriculum celebrating the contributions of many ethnic groups to our North American culture. Examines concepts of race and color; fosters appreciation of diversity; affirms the uniqueness of each person. Suggests activities for use of the discovery method. Samples customs, traditions, food, games, songs and stories. Encourages family participation. Revised.
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.
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
Creative Conflict-Solving for Kids
Peace Education Foundation
For grades 3–4 — includes stories, poetry, cartoons, role plays, discussions, journal writing, exercises in mediation and brainstorming and helps students deal constructively with conflict, build self esteem, make responsible decisions, develop sensitivity to all people and respect human differences. Teacher’s guide, poster.
Dr Seuss
Patricia Kahn
A 12-session curriculum based on the books of Dr Seuss and the purposes and principles of UUism. Designed for summer school it can be adapted for church year use.
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.
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.
God Images for Children
Mary Ann Moore
A curriculum for 5th and 6th graders containing 25 lessons and an introductory filmstrip. Goals for this curriculum include: encouraging children to think about the questions, issues and concerns which lead to the creation of god images; provide opportunities for young people to consider what their own answers to these questions and concerns might be and to encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings with each other; to offer stories and information which illustrate examples of god images from Judaism, Christianity, world religions, and modern science; to provide creative experiences in which children can express their feelings and ideas about god images.
God’s Paintbrush
with Study Guide
Jewish Lights
Kindergarten–Grade 4 and older. Children of all faiths and backgrounds can encounter god through this wonderfully interactive storybook. Guidelines for using God’s Paintbrush include steps for exploring the book’s theological foundations with students. Lesson plans, classroom activities and more.
Growing Good Kids
Free Spirit
Grades 3–8. 28 original activities that promote self-awareness, compassion and leadership. Creative and fun activities build students’ skills in problem solving, decision-making, cooperative learning, divergent thinking, communication and more. Also promotes self-awareness, tolerance, character development and service to others. Provides parents and teachers with a broad selection of meaningful and enjoyable enrichment activities.
Holidays and Holy Days
Barbara Marshman and Charlene Brotman
UUA
Thirty-six sessions. The participants prepare for and celebrate holidays from around the world. Each is linked to a UU principle and each week honors a heroic leader, explores a changing season or shares a cherished story from our own heritage or from others around the world. Divided into Fall, Winter, and Spring sections. Cassette tape included
Honoring Our Mother Earth
Green Timber Publications
A six week experiential program which celebrates Earth and all her inhabitants and uses ceremonies, rituals, myths, stories, song, dance and crafts to explore Native American culture and religion. It concludes with a final, multigenerational celebration. Ages 5–14 (See NATIVE AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY to be used as supplement)
In Our Hands
Andrews and Hoertdoerfer
UUA
For grades 4–6. Sixteen sessions complete with handouts, songs and a reading list. This curriculum is organized in four units: concepts of peace and justice; peace and justice with oneself, with others and with our earth.
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
Islam
Rachel Brown 1st Unitarian Society Minneapolis
Nine-session curriculum designed for people new to content and to religious education classroom. Easily adaptable by experienced teachers. Series of structured but flexible lessons, each a full and active hour. Bibliography included for additional resources. A study of Islam intended to fulfill the following goals: to help students develop an awareness and sensitivity to other cultures and religions and to expose students to different religious experiences they may later use as they shape their own spiritual path.
Jesus, the Carpenter’s Son
Sophia Lyon Fahs
Written in 1945 this is an exciting and involving story of Jesus. It can be used as a resource or as a basis for a semester’s study.
Keepers of the Animals
Caduto and Bruchac
Book and teacher’s guide. Native American stories, crafts and activities about wildlife are presented by a native storyteller and environmental educator.
Keepers of the Earth
Caduto and Bruchac
Book and teacher’s guide. This resource teaches about the environment, helps develop values and awareness of our interdependence.
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.
Kids Book of Awesome Stuff
Charlene Brotman
Wonderful grab-bag of activities, pictures, puzzles and information tidbits that explore our connection to the natural world. Covers the big bang, snowflakes and frost, the significance of bugs and “poop and pee and other stinky stuff.” Perfect for church groups, for home and for long car rides. Illustrated by Jeila Gueramian. By the author of The UU Kids Book. Ages 9–11
Kids Creating Circles of Peace
Anne Marie Witchgar Hansen and Susan vogt
Families Against Violence Advocacy Network
Created for use at Peace Camp for grades 1–5, this booklet provides activities and story starters about real life situations that children face — dealing with bullies, getting along with kids who are different, fighting and how to avoid it, feeling mad and what to do about it. full of activities and story starters that improve communication and listening skills.
Kids Speak Out On “Stuff”
RE Dept UU church of Verdugo Hills
Seeds of Simplicity VHS
A unique seven-minute video containing three “Unstuff” public service announcements created by kids for kids. Many of us are concerned about the impact of our country’s possession obsession on children, so the RE classes at the UU church of Verdugo Hills came up with the idea of producing this professional kids video on values and voluntary simplicity. Voluntary simplicity isn’t about living in trees or telling other people what to do; it simply refers to living deliberately, living an ‘examined life.’ It helps people decide for themselves how to live more sustainably on the planet, fostering greater personal fulfillment and service to others in the process.
Kingdom of Equals: Jesus’ radical path to love and justice
Binkley and McKeel
Curriculum in 33 lessons for grades 4–7 with introduction to life and teachings of Jesus based on four Gospels of New Testament enlightened by 20th century archeological, linguistic and theological findings and interpretations. Attempt to “deal with the life of the person Jesus and not with Jesus the Christ as developed after his death by Christian theology”.
The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Wheelock and Hoehler
UU Christian Fellowship
Twenty-five lesson plans for grade 5. Celebrations, games, puzzles, discussion questions, arts and crafts — all augment the historical content
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.
Living the Promise
UU Church of Arlington, VA
Thirty lessons based on the Hebrew scriptures which include stories, ceremonies, skits and role plays, games, projects and valuing trust and other values relevant in daily life.
Mediation for Kids
Peace Education Foundation
Curriculum, poster and reproducible handbooks. Lessons include active listening, paraphrasing, conflict clues, fighting fair, the mediation process and a certificate for those who complete the curriculum. For grades 4–9
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.
Moses: His Life and Time
Berg and Hoehler
Twelve lesson plans for Grade 4. Celebrations, games, puzzles, discussion questions, quizzes, art and crafts projects all augment the historical content
My Unitarian Universalist Journey: Workbook and Adult’s Guide
Cullin, Tricco, Warren
Rites of passage program for 7 years and older culminating in ceremony of recognition. Can be used as semesters curriculum
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.
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.
People Like Me
Unity Church Unitarian, St. Paul
VHS
UU pioneers come to life: Fanny Kemble, 19th century abolitionist; Henry David Thoreau; Beatrix Potter and James Reeb. Grades 5–12. 23 minutes
Ten magical plays for children to celebrate the good will and hope that Christmas and Easter symbolize in UU heritage and culture.
The Questing Year
Tirrell H. and Richard S. Kimball
Written for 6th graders; suitable for individual grades 6–8 and for combined groups with 5th graders and up. This curriculum engages participants in four quests designed to help them seek and develop their own answers to deep life questions about human faith and web of all existence. Connected through social action and spiritual search, the Mystery Quest, the Inner Quest, the Action Quest, and the UU Quest are all challenging and fun. The class uses music and meditation to experience religious mystery, creates personal aliens and mirror boards for exploring self, runs a social action project to help others outside the church, and explores the lives of outstanding UUs through a reproducible booklet included in the basic text. Twenty four sessions.
Spirit Of Adventure: UU Identity for 2nd–5th Grades
Kate Tweedie Erslev
Exploring UU Identity without usual arts and crafts but with activities that include dissecting a computer, building cantilevered architecture using graham crackers, singing Jingle Bells in ‘dog’ language. Introduces themes of Medicine, food, winter holidays, science, building, exploring, web of life. 35 sessions.
A Stepping Stone Year
Margaret Gooding
UUA
This year-long curriculum focuses on several important questions: How did the world begin? How did I begin? How can I make my life worthwhile? Ten units deal with famous UUs, emphasizing childhood experiences that shaped their adult achievements. The final units address wonderings about death and making decisions. The year ends with a stepping stone ceremony.
Timeless Themes
UUA
Thirty four lessons which present familiar Bible stories, songs, games, role plays, activities for 8-year olds. Teacher guide, 38 bible songs, and an audiotape of the songs.
Travel in Time
Ecklund
UUA
For grades 5–6. Sixteen sessions, using the vehicle of time travel, help develop participants’ religious identity. A unique historical perspective introduces participants to Theodore Parker, Errold Collymore, Louisa May Alcott and others. 128 pages.
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.
Up Up and Away
UUA–Universalist Bicentennial Committee
For ages 8–10 Universalist journeys take children on imaginary trips with Judith Sargent Murray and her hot air balloon as she visits key events and people in Universalist history. Fifteen sessions offer amusing activities, games and songs to celebrate men and women like John Murray, Georgene Bowen and more.
A Volcano in My Tummy: Helping Children to Handle Anger
New Society Publishers
Ages 6–13. A clear and effective approach to helping children understand and deal constructively with anger. Offers engaging and well-organized activities, stories and games to help kids handle this all-too-often destructive emotion and to have fun while they’re at it.
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 Do When . . . ? or UUs Don’t Do Hell
Cassandra Amesley 1st Unitarian Church of Des Moines
Play
Play written by members of 1st Unitarian Ds Moines presents scenarios depicting experiences UU young people have with other, mostly Christ, youth. All scenes are actual stories of children’s comments about their experiences. Play runs 45–50 minutes and can be staged with selected scenes with discussion.
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.
Why do Bad Things Happen?
Charlene Brotman
UUA
Eleven units for ages 9 and up. This curriculum seeks out some of the human answers to this eternal question. The kit includes stories, “idea pages”, a detailed leader’s guide and bibliography. Uses sources such as the Bible, Lao Tze, Buddha, classical Greece and ideas and information from other cultures as well as from UU traditions. The proposition is offered that we will always be searching and wondering, all the while trying to make good things happen for ourselves and our communities.
Worth and Dignity of All People
UUA
A curriculum designed 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) 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–. Includes cassette of songs and story.