In short, it is how we will be doing Religious Education starting in August 2021. In May, we welcomed our children to the activity tables at the back of the sanctuary. In June, we moved those tables to the Thoreau Room, where we could be a little messier and a little louder — and eat some snacks! This Sunday “social hour” for children has been less structured and very child-driven.
When we transition to a Children’s Chapel model in August, children will likely recognize more structures, but we intend to keep a child-centered focus and provide plenty of opportunities for socialization. Our targeted age group is 4 through 12, though older youth are welcome to join us, and younger children may choose to stay in the nursery.
What will you do?
After the Time for All Ages, children will be sung out to the Thoreau Room, accompanied by the RE specialist (or a substitute) and a volunteer assistant. Once there, our activities will include the following:
- Lighting our chalice, singing a song, and reading a poem or a short story
- Sharing our “peaks and valleys” from the week
- Engaging in a hands-on activity (art, science, game, theater) that relates to a UU principle or the morning’s sermon topic
- Socializing and eating snacks
What curriculum are you using?
By not using a prescribed curriculum, we can be child-centered, adaptable, and connected. Rather than make this feel like a sixth day of school, we want our Children’s Chapel to be a place where kids want to be. By focusing less on content and more on having fun together while exploring important topics, we can prioritize the development of each individual child. They aren’t going to be forced to learn anything (That’s actually impossible!). Instead, they’ll be given the opportunity to ask and answer questions, discuss their ideas, and learn from one another. In education circles, this approach is known as constructivism.
We also want our Children’s Chapel to foster community. This community exists within the group of children and with the larger congregation. By linking our core activity to the sermon topic, we will give our families something to discuss at Sunday brunch or on a car trip in the future. The RE specialist will ensure that the sermon topic is translated into something that is age-appropriate and interesting to children.
How will this work with such a wide age range?
Having 4-year-olds and 12-year-olds in the same room might seem strange, and it is certainly different from what most churches do. However, especially because we are not oriented towards academic learning objectives, our activities can be designed so that everyone can participate in Children’s Chapel. One specific way we can do this is through leveled questions. After reading a story, for example, we might ask a preschooler a very simple question, but we might pose a more philosophically complex question to a pre-teen.
Multiage classrooms are the norm in Montessori programs because of the benefits they provide in terms of leadership opportunities, peer learning, diversity, and empathy. Picture this:
- During a social hour in June, a young boy and an older boy were talking about a video game they both play. They were connecting over a shared interest, and the older boy shared his favorite tips. The younger boy asked questions about strategy and shared what he had accomplished.
These two, despite their age difference, made a gamer community between themselves. And where there is community, there is openness to true growth and learning. (Besides, it’s fun to talk with people who share your interests, no matter how old they are!)
There is also a practical reason for a mixed-age program: Our current numbers — both in terms of participating families and RE volunteers — call for a single program. The RE specialist will facilitate the Children’s Chapel three or four Sundays each month. If we have 8 volunteers, each volunteer will only need to volunteer once every two months!
So what exactly does the RE Specialist do?
The RE Specialist does not have the range of responsibilities that you might see with a full-time RE Director. This new role is a 5-15 hours/week part-time position that involves planning the Children’s Chapels throughout the week and facilitating them most Sunday mornings. Other duties include recruiting volunteers and coordinating special programming (i.e., OWL and Neighboring Faiths). The RE specialist does not oversee the nursery, as that is a separate (and important!) position.
How can I help?
While the RE Specialist will be facilitating most of the Children’s Chapels, a volunteer assistant is needed every Sunday. The volunteer position requires NO prepwork in advance; your job is simply to help the children
- transition to the Thoreau Room after the Time for All Ages,
- engage in the activities and encourage children to do the same, and
- clean up after snack/social hour.
Substitute Children’s Chapels facilitators are also needed; that position takes a little more work but is very fun and rewarding!
Interested? Contact re@uuspokane.org.