Youth Curriculum, 10-6-24

Curriculum Overview:

How often do we go about our days without really looking at anything carefully? What was the sky like this morning? What did we see that made us smile? Youth practice Mindful Seeing by playing a game of “Now You See It, Now You Don’t,” and learn to give up feelings that blind us from seeing the abundance of love.

October Monthly Theme: A-Bun-Dance

Week 1 Value: Life Is Sweet, Let It Rise

Affirmation: The abundance of life flows in and around me

Spiritual Lesson: 

Youth learn to cultivate an abundance consciousness and unlock their limitless possibilities that await. It encourages youth to practice mindfulness, build an awareness of the abundance in their lives, and connect energetically with others through fun, interactive activities.

Spiritual Practice: Send and Receive   

Youth learn the power of their intuition and energy connection with others with a spiritual practice where the person visualizing “sends” the image mentally to their partner, who then begins drawing what then “know” is being sent. After a few minutes, they compare the images. Switch roles and repeat. We discuss how this activity demonstrates the abundance of energy and connection that exists between us, even when we don’t see it directly.

Active Listening: Book/Music/Video

Book: “A Boy and a Bear: The Children’s Relaxation Book” by Lori Lite

Book: “Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood” by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell.

Music: Count On Me by Bruno Mars

Music: “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles

Creative Expression: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

Youth practice looking carefully at what is around them, being more mindful in their daily lives, and appreciating the abundance of sights they might normally overlook. They will have 30 seconds to notice objects on a tray before being covered up as a reminder to see how many things they can notice in their everyday lives that they can appreciate.

Connecting: Abundance Collage

Youth create collages representing the abundance in their lives, share their collages, and explain how each collage represents the abundance in their lives. In our closing circle, we end with a brief meditation, during which everyone reflects on one thing they are grateful for today.