What Is Religion--For Others and for Us?

		What Is Religion -- For Others and for Us?

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Author:Virginia G. Steel

Publisher: The First Parish in Wayland

Pub. Date: 1984

Available From: Virginia Steele, 22 Sylvan Way, Wayland, MA 01778. Phone (508)358-7517

Theme and Description Focuses on church, religion, holidays, and Unitarian Universalism. Helps children feel a part of a loving and worshiping community. Provides opportunities to practice UU values and experience freedom of inquiry and a quest for understanding. Introduces religious concepts and language to help understand God, religion, Jesus, Bible, prayer, worship, and religious holidays.

Goals for Participants

To understand Unitarian Universalist ways of being religious
To feel that they belong to a caring religious community
To articulate their questions about religion and being religious
To become aware of different ways of being religious.

Age Range Ages 6 to 10

Size of Group 3 to 15 (10 to 12 ideal)

Space Requirements Room appropriate to the size of the group

Number of Sessions 27

Length of Sessions 1 hour

Leader Training A careful reading of the curriculum's introductory material and a knowledge and understanding of the age level are necessary. If a leader has no previous experience in teaching this age level, participation in a training workshop for teaching primary children is advised.

Leader Preparation 2 to 4 hours per session

Strengths

Has an excellent leader preparation section with simple but useful information, such as a yearly calendar, age characteristics, teaching methods, discipline suggestions, and tips on parent/adult involvement
Offers many suggestions for how to respond to children's questions about such traditional religious concepts as God, prayer, and salvation
Lists many resourcesSuggests ideas for helping churches make use of their own facilities, resources, and church history
? Features self-contained sessions that are not dependent upon previous or following sessions (thereby resolving some of the difficulties of erratic attendance)
Has a comfortable flexibility to meet individual groups' needs and schedules.

Limitations

Requires careful teacher planning and advance preparation because some activities are not clearly presented
Uses role-playing extensively with no instructions for inexperienced leaders
Calls for reading, spelling, listening, or writing in many activities, which may be difficult for some primary-age children
Allows little opportunity for children to express their own ideas through a variety of mediaOffers few suggestions for music
The language is not always inclusive of "Universalist"Some quotes from other sources include sexist languageIllustrations are not racially inclusive, with one exception.

AdaptabilityCan be used with children as young as 6 and as old as 10Can be adapted to a small group with a wide age range, if appropriate reading materials and activities for older children are chosen.

Unitarian Universalist Values There are specific references to Unitarian Universalism, belonging to a UU congregation, and some UU values (for example, a free and responsible search for truth and meaning--in children's language). The meaning and the story of the origin of the flaming chalice as a UU symbol is related. These Principles are affirmed: the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; and the belief that the living tradition we share draws from many.