Programs for Children and Youth

Mission Peak has a three-year theme rotation for the direction of our religious education offerings for children: one year of Judaism and Christianity, one year of Unitarian-Universalism, and one year of World Religions. This rotation is repeated every three years, providing a broad educational experience for a student as she or he moves through the program.

The 2011-2011 year's theme is Unitarian Universalism, and this is how we are addressing this theme:

Preschool. Preschoolers will be using the standard UU preschool curriculum "Celebrating Me and My World", which uses picture books to illustrate lessons such as "I Have Two Hands", "I Can Share", and "My World Has Air".

Grades K-2. For these students, we will be using "Free to Believe", a UU Identity curriculum developed by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, New York. This curriculum utilizes various learning styles and each lesson includes a movement activity. It explores UU principles through hands-on activities, stories, games, songs and discussions.

Grades 3-5. Our 3-5 class will be using the UUA curriculum "We Believe" for most of the year, supplemented by "Worth and Dignity of All People", by Marjory Donn of the Paint Branch UU Church in Adelphi, MD. Since UUs often state what we do not believe, the first curriculum builds on the seven principles to develop a positive statement of what we do believe. The activities in the curriculum encourage participants to incorporate the Principles into their lives. The supplemental curriculum, based on the first UU principle, explores issues such as building a caring group, understanding people with disabilities, and learning about racism, ageism, sexism, and homophobia.

Grades 6-8. For the middle-school students, we have selected a curriculum called "Mythology for Muggles", written by Jamie Gross in 2005, based on the Harry Potter books. It identifies the references to ancient Greek and Roman myths included in the first five books of the series and teaches the story of each myth. After learning about the myth, the students discuss possible connections to UU principles and sources.

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Senior High Youth Group (9th through 12th Grades)

The Senior High Youth Group will be advised by Justine Burt and Robert Madden-Watson. The group will be meeting approximately every other Sunday during the service to discuss issues that impact their lives. The group also provides an egg hunt for younger children after the Easter service and develops a worship service for the congregation in the spring.

Children's and Youth's Religious Exploration (CaYRE Committee)

The CaYRE Committee meets three times a year with the Director of Religious Education (DRE) to:

• Plan and coordinate the children's religious education programs.
• Help recruit and train teachers
• Be responsible for organizing the nursery.
• Provide support for the youth group
• Participate in the intergenerational services.