Beginning September 12th our early childhood class for children in preschool and Kindergarten begins the exciting program Spirit Play. Orientation for Parents is August 29, 2010 at 12:00 PM in the Servetus room. Childcare is provided free of charge. Spirit Play is a specifically Unitarian Universalist religious education program based off of the Montessori Method. Spirit Play encourages children to encounter religious concepts, narratives and language in a way that is both developmentally appropriate and authentic.

SPIRIT PLAY

The Spirit Play curriculum integrates structured storytelling into a Montessori classroom. Weekly lessons are introduced through the telling of a story, and the story's meaning is explored through wondering questions. Children are encouraged to respond to the story through art and other classroom activities. Children choose their own methods and work at their own pace.
This approach encourages independent thinking, values different learning styles, gives children choices, creates community in a mixed-age setting, develops a sense of the spiritual, and explores the Unitarian Universalist identity. Emphasis is placed on creating a peaceful, relaxed, and ordered environment. In this place, we have all the time and all the tools we need to learn and explore.

Key elements from Montessori: teachers guiding children in a prepared environment.

Key elements from Godly Play by Jerome Berryman: circle with story told using concrete materials followed by wondering and art response; "The Morning as Worship".

Proven educational method whose values support Unitarian Universalism:

• Encourages independent thinking through wondering questions
• Gives children real choices within the structure of the morning
• Creates community of children in classroom of mixed ages
• Develops an underlying sense of the spiritual and the mystery of life
• Supports congregational polity through choice of lessons
• Volunteers were found to value the program as part of their own spiritual process

Spirit Play Stories

Stories have been developed from children*s literature, myths, and religious history. They are loosely divided into the following categories:

• UU Promises & Sources
• UU Figures & History
• UU Liturgical Lessons
• Beginnings & Endings
• Heroes & Heroines
• Wonder & Awe
• Earth-Centered & Science
• World Religions
• Our UUCT History

You may also learn more about the Spirit Play program by going to http://www.spiritplay.net/