Youth Curriculum, 10-18-26
Youth Announcements:
Parents: classroom assistance sign-ups are open for the fall and winter seasons! Families are invited to commit to serving at least one Sunday each month. Find your email invitation with the online sign-up link, and thank you for helping us create a thriving community for all ages!
CSL Winter Teen Camp Registration Is Open! Teens ages 12.5–18, sign up by December 15! Visit cslolympia.org under Youth & Family → Teen Camp to learn more and register. Community members, help a teen experience Winter Camp! Click Donate Here on our website and select Youth Teen Camp from the pulldown menu to support a teen’s camp experience. Our future starts here—with our teens!
October Monthly Theme: Dancing with the Shadow
October Week 3 — Boot Scootin’ Shadow Boogie
Value: Belonging & Understanding
Affirmation: I belong, I listen, and I help create a more loving world.
Curriculum Overview:
Youth explore how our families, cultures, communities, and experiences shape our perspectives. Through storytelling, movement, and creative expression, they’ll discover how people can experience the same situation differently and practice listening with curiosity, empathy, and respect.
Spiritual Lesson:
Youth discover that we are all unique expressions of Life, shaped by different experiences and perspectives. Through reflection and discussion, they’ll practice listening without judgment, questioning assumptions, and recognizing how understanding others helps create a more inclusive and loving community.
Meditation Practice: Many Stories, One Heart
Youth imagine a circle of people, each carrying a unique story like the colorful leaves of an autumn forest. They reflect on their own experiences while making space for perspectives different from theirs, discovering how everyone can belong without having to be the same.
Active Listening: Book/Music/Video
Book: Younger Youth (ages 4–7): Whoever You Are — Mem Fox
Video: Younger Youth (ages 4–7): Wes Becomes a Perspective Detective — Sesame Workshop
Book: Older Youth (ages 8–12): Front Desk — Kelly Yang
Video: Older Youth (ages 8–12): First Person vs. Second Person vs. Third Person — TED-Ed
Music: Where Is the Love? — The Black Eyed Peas
Teen Video: The Difference Between False Empathy and True Support — Chezare A. Warren, TED
Teen Discussion:
Teens examine how culture, personal experiences, assumptions, and social position influence the way we see the world. They’ll explore the difference between listening to respond and listening to understand, considering how genuine curiosity and empathy can strengthen relationships and create a greater sense of belonging.
Creative Expression: Many Stories, One Community
Youth act out a shared scenario from different perspectives, then switch roles to discover how their understanding changes. They create a Community Story Quilt using individual squares that represent their experiences, interests, strengths, or hopes, illustrating how unique stories contribute to a connected community.
Connecting: Listening Beyond Our Own Story
Youth discuss how assumptions can lead to misunderstandings and practice asking thoughtful questions, listening without interrupting, and respecting different perspectives. As a take-home practice, they’ll have a conversation with someone whose experiences differ from their own and reflect on what they learned by listening with curiosity.