Children's Religious Education at Old Ship Church
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Our program is based on a two pillar approach using a three year rotation in which the first half of the year is devoted to either Unitarian Universalist identity, history, and principles, and the second to one of our Unitarian Universalist sources, including world religions, our Jewish-Christian heritage, and earth-based traditions.
Program Offerings
Nursery - 6 months to 4 years
Professional nursery care is available during the length of the Sunday service and for most special events. A loving provider cares for and amuses the very youngest with stories, games and toys within the context of UU values.
PreK - 4 years old
If enrollment warrants, we will offer a formal class for our four year olds using the curriculum Chalice Children. This program seeks to instill in children a sense of their church as a special, loving community where we worship, celebrate, wonder, and make friends together.
Spirit Play - grades K, 1, 2
This program is an adaptation of the highly successful Godly Play in use in many Christian churches. It is grounded in Montessori theory and provides an experiential foundation in Unitarian Universalist identity and liturgy, community building, and authentic religious and existential wondering.
Grades 3&4
During the first half of this year, our 3rd and 4th graders will explore their Unitarian Universalist identity using the curriculum, Spirit of Adventure. This program takes a unique, active approach to religious education and incorporates themes such as sports, medicine, architecture, and science to help our elementary groups understand what it means to be a UU. The second half of the year will have them develop an understanding of our Jewish-Christian heritage using another innovative curriculum, Bibleodeon.
Grades 5&6
Our middle schoolers will also be exploring their UU identity with the curriculum, Traditions with a Wink. Designed with the special needs of this age group in mind, they will be engaging in fun and creative activities as they learn what UUs believe about prayer, Jesus, sin and forgiveness, etc. They explore these topics further during the second half of the year as they seek to understand our Jewish-Christian heritage with the curriculum, Living the Promise.
O.W.L. - grades 7&8
Social Justice Sundays is special intergenerational programming that falls on the fourth Sunday of every month. On these days, people from all ages come together to put our Unitarian Universalist values into action through learning and service devoted to justice, compassion, and equality for all. Specific program content can be found in the weekly bulletins and bi-monthly newsletters.