Youth Religious Education Lesson Descriptions

September 27th at 10:15am

PreK & Kindergarten – The Rainbow Connection
It’s Okay To Be Different
In this lesson, children celebrate the many ways people are unique while discovering the things we all share in common. Through the colorful and affirming story It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr, children learn that differences in appearance, abilities, interests, and experiences are something to appreciate rather than fear.

1st & 2nd Grade – Faithful Journeys and Moral Tales (and Lego Values too)
Lego ValUUes: Interdependence
This session introduces the notion that every living creature is part of the web of life and has an important role to play.

3rd & 4th Grade – Timeless Stories: Exploring the Bible Through a UU Lens
Cain and Abel
Children hear the story of Cain and Abel and explore the powerful emotions of jealousy, disappointment, and anger. Through several activities, they learn that while everyone experiences difficult feelings, we always have choices about how we respond. The lesson emphasizes empathy, repairing relationships, and caring for one another rather than focusing on punishment.

5th & 6th Grade – Toolbox of Faith
Integrity (Compass)
The compass symbolizes integrity. This session provides opportunities for participants to reflect on the directional compass as a symbol for our inner moral compass.

7th & 8th Grade – Neighboring Justice: An Interactive Social Justice Program
Access in the Real World
Youth explore invisible disabilities, neurodiversity, language, assumptions, and self-advocacy. Youth put their learning into practice by investigating accessibility in our own congregation and surroundings. They will identify barriers in physical spaces, communication, programming, sensory environments, and attitudes. They will use their findings and guidance from people with disabilities to prepare for a real community action.

High School Youth Group
Neighboring Faiths: Judaism (meet in the Sanctuary)
The youth group and adults will participate in the Neighboring Faiths series exploring the beliefs, traditions, and practices of the religious communities around us. Our first session will focus on Judaism, offering an introduction to Jewish history, beliefs, sacred texts, holidays, worship, and the diversity found within Jewish life today.
On Friday, October 9th from 6:45 to 9:15pm, participants will have the opportunity to visit Beth Shalom in Naperville, to experience a worship service, and learn directly from members of the Jewish community.