Children and Youth
In the Sanctuary
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Our service begins with families together in the sanctuary for chalice lighting and welcoming words after which the young people go to their own class. Our youngest children may start in their classroom. Because of the continued high local COVID transmission, we ask that everyone in the sanctuary remain masked.
Once each month our children participate in an intergenerational story, help gather non-perishable food donations for the local Ecumenical Food Pantry and, with their parents, serve as chalice lighters. |
In their classes
Classes take place both indoors and in our outdoor classroom.
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Nursery through preschool
A nurturing environment is provided for children to interact with other children and adults, and to explore ideas through books, music, art, and construction materials. Through entertaining and age appropriate materials, we introduce children to our UU Principles. Elementary and middle school Age-appropriate, UUA curricula help children think about the gift of loving relationships, the roles and responsibilities of being part of a community and their place in the natural world. Students are encouraged to shape their own answers to big questions. |
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This year we will use two curricula.
The UUA’s “Riddles and Mysteries” curriculum (https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/riddle) provides an interesting and fun way to help our young people explore the BIG QUESTIONS people have been thinking about since the beginning of time. For UUs asking questions is just as important as getting to the answers. |
From the James Webb telescope
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The “D’OH God” curriculum
(http://www.imagine-re.com/d-oh--god-.html) applies the teachings in selected episodes of “The Simpsons” animated television series as an engaging way to help students consider differing religious beliefs and faith traditions and how these differing beliefs and traditions inform people’s responses to important ethical questions. Through this curriculum students will also explore the ways the right of conscience calls us to do what is right even if there are negative consequences. High School
With the guidance of a facilitator, the curriculum is guided by the students themselves as they seek to understand who they are and to find their place in the world. |
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Festivals and Social action.
Our young people plan to continue hosting festivals for the entire UUFSA membership and engaging in social action. During, this past congregational year, students hosted fall, winter and spring festivals with raffles, prizes and give aways, and they spearheaded social action initiatives of their own choosing. No one is too young to make a difference. Among other things, they built scarecrows which were raffled off to benefit the food pantry, spearheaded a pet food drive for the humane society and collected clothes for the homeless. |
Join us!