Religious Exploration for Children
Our Religious Exploration programs encourage inquiring minds, builds self-identity, and instills a mindset that motivates the children’s thoughts and actions beyond Sunday mornings. We strive to provide our children with an environment that elicits compassion, empowerment, and self-reflection, as well as promotes justice, acceptance, and a desire to seek and speak their truth! We teach the kids about their inherent responsibility to advocate and put forth action that creates visible change, as a vital addition to simply lending an ear, a hand, and a shoulder to cry on.
Our Religious Exploration programs are values-based and are designed to enrich the spiritual lives of children, youth, and families. We strive to help one another grow in spiritual practice, deepen understanding and respect for our religiously diverse world, and live UU principles in daily life. We encourage parents and guardians to ask questions, visit classrooms, and participate in a variety of programs to support spiritual growth. We look forward to working with you to nurture the spiritual lives of our children and youth!
Religious Exploration Update
On October 25th, CartUUns consisted of 11 kids (8 Beacon, 3 Granite Peak), and 7 kids joined us for 5th Dimension (5 Beacon, 2 Granite Peak). Bev, the DRE in Prescott, says that she has gotten quite a bit of positive feedback on both programs from families at Granite Peak, so that’s always nice to hear.
The kids were quite engaged in both groups, which led to great discussions. In CartUUns we talked about pranking and when it might be inappropriate or mean-spirited to prank others and then completed some fun crafts
In 5th Dimension, we discussed greed, karma, and when knowing what the future holds might be positive or negative. The youth also explored ways that knowing the future might promote greed but might also benefit humanity, scientists, and food production. It was a great conversation and Stephanie, Dru, and Robert all enjoyed hearing their ideas.
CARTUUNS Fall 2020
For our younger kids (K-5, and younger as appropriate), we have chosen CARTUUNS, which explores UU values and principles through Disney and Pixar short films, such as the award-winning “La Luna.” We’ll be screen sharing through ZOOM with families from both churches.
10:00 AM to 10:45 AM twice a month on Zoom.
Upcoming Classes
11/22 Toy Story Toons: Small Fry
12/13 Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
The lessons are stand-alone and can be joined from week to week. Please take a look at the link and let us know if you’ll give it a try. There are supplies we’ll need to buy for some projects and would need to know who is participating so we can deliver them. Contact Stephanie Van Belle at fabarette@gmail.com
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are also offering at-home on-demand RE lessons and activities on our website. These include readings, discussion questions, videos and hands-on activities.
Our program for Summer 2020 was called “Wonder World: Nature, Science and the Interdependent Web” Science and Nature our two strands in the interdependent web that holds our Universe together and helps us explain how and why things exist and happen. Both are part of our “wonder world.”Summer is a time to get outside and to explore our environment. And we can still do that, even with safety guidelines. Each week, we’ll offer an activity that gets you outside and gets your hands dirty, and one that explores science from a UUKids perspective (with an engaging video!).
You’ll find details of those lessons in the Religious Exploration Archives below.
In Spring 2020, we offered the popular program, “Horton Hears A UU: Life Lessons from Dr. Seuss.” Full lessons, resources, and details from March 22 – May 24 remain on-demand and are archived below.
Horton Hears a UU: Life Lessons from Dr. Seuss
Our Current program for Children Religious Exploration
Beacon at Home September 2020 Its called CARTUUNS more details here
Catch up on the latest Religious Exploration News for Children below:
- RE Resources for Middle/High School October 2020Religious Exploration for Middle/High School Youth ~Beacon at Home~ For Middle School/Junior High(and older or slightly younger, as appropriate), we’ll be collaborating on another Imagine-RE program called The Fifth Dimension. Through classic Twilight Zone episodes (created by Unitarian Rod Serling), we’ll explore social and political issues relevant to youth. Students become deeply engaged in the topics and engrossed in the ...
- RE Resources for Children October 2020Our Religious Exploration Program for Children and Families Religious Exploration for Children ~Beacon at Home~ September 2020 – CARTUUNS For our younger kids (K-5, and younger as appropriate), we have chosen CARTUUNS, which explores UU values and principles through Disney and Pixar short films, such as the award-winning “La Luna.” We’ll be screen sharing through ZOOM with families from both churches. 10:00 ...
- RE Resources for Middle/High School September 2020Religious Exploration for Middle/High School Youth ~Beacon at Home~ September 2020- The Fifth Dimension For Middle School/Junior High(and older or slightly younger, as appropriate), we’ll be collaborating on another Imagine-RE program called The Fifth Dimension. Through classic Twilight Zone episodes (created by Unitarian Rod Serling), we’ll explore social and political issues relevant to youth. Students become deeply engaged in the topics ...
- RE Resources for Children September 2020Our Religious Exploration Program for Children and Families Religious Exploration for Children ~Beacon at Home~ September 2020 – CARTUUNS For our younger kids (K-5, and younger as appropriate), we have chosen CARTUUNS, which explores UU values and principles through Disney and Pixar short films, such as the award-winning “La Luna.” We’ll be screen sharing through ZOOM with families from both churches. 10:00 ...
- RE Resources for August 6thOur Summer Religious Exploration Program for Children and Families Religious Exploration for Children ~Beacon at Home~ August 2020- You, the Creator We’ll be taking a break from structured RE lessons online until September 14, when we’ll be launching an exciting collaboration for our elementary and middle school youth with the Granite Peak UU Church in Prescott, AZ. More details to ...
- RE Resources for July 19th ~ Wonder World: Nature, Science and the Interdependent WebSummer is a time to get outside and to explore our environment. And we can still do that, even with the restrictions imposed by COVID-19. Each week, we’ll offer an activity that gets you outside and gets your hands dirty, and one that explores science from a UUKids perspective. For July 19th, we will be doing a guided meditation, reading a story, watching a few videos on the science of trees and then getting out amongst them!