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UUFSB Curriculum Guide
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CURRICULA IN THREE YEAR PLAN
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UU CURRICULA AND STONY BROOKThe Religious Education sub-committee on curriculum decided to use three rotating themes for our R.E. Program. Each year we emphasize one aspect of our religion, guaranteeing that children were exposed to material in an orderly and comprehensive way. The committee decided that the single most important theme is "Unitarian-Universalist Identity", and selected curricula to teach this at each grade level. To teach youth about our “Jewish & Christian Heritage”, curricula that draw on stories from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures were selected. Stories and curricula that emphasize a worldview were selected to teach about "World Religions”, and in the older grades, that teach about the other major religions of the world. After three years we repeat the series. This year, 2009-2010, our theme is Unitarian-Universalist Identity. Of course, in the earliest years, children have little understanding of the larger world and their ability to understand abstractions such as "world peace" is limited. We are using age-appropriate lessons for all of our classes. In addition, the UUA Department of Lifespan Faith Development and well-respected religious educators are continually writing and publishing new curricula. As these are made available, the DRE and the RE Committee review them and decide whether they should be incorporated into our program. |
OUR APPROACHThe Unitarian Universalist approach to religious education is very different from that of the orthodox. We believe that religion develops from the inside out, that it grows throughout life as it is influenced by others and is shaped according to one's own thinking, feeling and life experience. Our method is the opposite of indoctrination, and it is based on respect for the children. Our authority does not reside in a book or a creed, but in one's own thinking and experience. Our Sunday morning classes offer children and youth the opportunity to develop a Unitarian Universalist religious identity, explore the Jewish & Christian traditions and the wisdom of the world's religions, and deal with issues of peace and social justice from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. Our R.E. program is aimed at helping our children to grow in their own faith tradition. All of our efforts begin and end with the children, and in helping them develop an understanding of our UU Principles. If you want more information on any of these curricula, ask the DRE or the R.E. Chair. An overview of each of these curricula is available in the R.E. office in the catalog called "Curriculum Mapping Guide." This catalog gives a short description including main objectives and goals along with the strengths and weaknesses of each curriculum. |