Youth Curriculum, 8-23-26
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August Theme: The Fear and the Furious
Week 4 Value: Mobilizing Anger
Affirmation: I channel my anger into meaningful, courageous action.
Curriculum Overview:
Anger can be a powerful signal that something matters. This week, youth and teens will explore how strong emotions can become motivation for positive change when guided by empathy, teamwork, and purpose. Through interactive challenges and a collaborative service project, participants will identify needs in their community and discover practical ways to turn caring into action.
Spiritual Lesson:
Anger can reveal what we love enough to change.
Science of Mind teaches that emotions are not something to judge as good or bad. They can provide information about what we value. When anger points to unfairness, exclusion, or someone being hurt, we can choose to respond with compassion rather than reaction. Instead of allowing anger to divide or consume us, we can channel its energy into actions that create healing, connection, and positive change.
Spiritual Practice: From Feeling to Action
Youth identify the values behind feelings that arise when they care deeply about something and want to make a difference, such as fairness, kindness, safety, friendship, and inclusion. Together, they explore how anger can be a sign of caring and discover ways to channel that energy into positive action around what matters most.
Youth take three slow breaths while silently repeating:
I am here. I am supported. I can take the next step.
Active Listening: Book / Music /Video
Younger Children (Ages 4–7)
- Book: The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
A gentle story about compassion, listening, and being present when someone is having a difficult time. - Music: Change Is Everything by Son Little
- Video: The Present — Animated Short
A short story about perspective, empathy, and looking beyond our first reactions.
Children & Preteens (Ages 7–12)
- Book: The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Explores belonging, differences, courage, and finding connection with others. - Music: Rise Up by Andra Day
- Video: One Small Step — TAIKO Studios
An animated story about perseverance, dreams, and continuing forward when challenges arise.
Teens (Ages 13–16)
- Reading: Selected excerpt from The Power of One: How You Can Help or Harm African Americans in America by Bryce H. Marshall
- Music: Glory by Common & John Legend
- Video: The Danger of a Single Story — TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Creative Expression Activities: Compassion in Action Challenge
Youth and teens will work in teams through interactive challenges that connect strong emotions to the values behind them. They’ll explore What Matters?, sorting feelings, values, and possible actions; Reaction or Response?, identifying choices that help or hurt a situation; and Make It Better, creating solutions to everyday community challenges. The goal is to help youth transform anger and caring into empathy, teamwork, and purposeful action.
Collaborative Service Project: Bridge Builders: Compassion in Action
Youth and teens work together on a simple service project that benefits the CSL community or a local organization. Depending on current needs, options could include creating encouragement cards, assembling care packages, preparing donations, refreshing a community space, or creating welcome materials.
Connecting Circle:
Youth and teens will reflect on what they learned about anger, identify a value they care deeply about, and name one way they can turn that caring into positive action. They’ll share their ideas with the group and close by repeating the affirmation: “I channel my anger into meaningful, courageous action.”