Youth Curriculum, 9-10-23
Announcements:
Youth & Family is beginning a Back To School Spiritual Tool add-on series to our in-class lessons for September. Parents will receive a tool to work on with their child each week to ensure a great start to their school year and have an opportunity to share their successes in our next Parent Circle.
Curriculum Overview
Youth are invited to look again at the world around them with eyes of wonder. To become an explorer of preferences, give ideas previously rejected a second chance, and discover the infinite ways we can express our appreciation for others through the different ways we can love.
2023 Theme: Living Out Loud!
September Monthly Theme: Love Out Loud
Week 2 Value: Love On a Spectrum
Affirmation: I open my heart to let Love in, only to discover that within my heart is the place Love calls home.
-Rev. Alice Reid
Spiritual Lesson: Love On a Spectrum
We are born into innocence, and we develop our preferences as we grow. The things that make us feel safe, joyful, sad, and happy. We try different foods, choosing the ones we like and learning about the ones we don’t. As we age, we begin to absorb the preferences of those around us. Sometimes, these preferences include beliefs or opinions. We may choose to adopt them as our own, or we may choose another path.
Active Listening: Book/Music/Video
Meditation: Five Minutes of Self Love guided meditation
Video: The 5 Love Languages – for kids (<2min ea)
Music: “I Love Myself So Much!” from CSL Teen Camps
Creative Expression – Back To School Spiritual Tool #2 – Layers of Love
Youth look at the thoughts that occupy their mind as their school year begins and as they are introduced to many new opportunities for learning and social engagement. We watch short animated videos introducing the 5 love languages and discuss feeling different types of love. For example, we can love our best friend, and that love is a different kind of love than we have for our parents and different than a sibling. We will discuss how to stay true to your heart when others at school try to define your love for someone as something it is not—understanding that we are made of love and that finding many ways of expressing love in authentic, respectful ways will bring more love to the world.
Connecting/Spiritual Practice: I Like What You See
Youth discover the amazing different ways we each see the world. We take turns rummaging through a mystery box filled with different items. By touch only, we decide on an item and make up a crazy story about it, pretending we do not know what it is.