Carry the Flame
A Self-Discovery and Religious Identity Program for UU Youth

By Lori Berger McDermott

---

Theme and Description

A series of three workbooks for three age levels: Early Elementary, Middle Elementary, and Upper Elementary/Junior High. This program seeks to expand participants' self-awareness, spirituality, and religious identity by exploring the UU Principles. The program is self-paced and interactive, and can be used with a mentor or within a group.

Goals for Participants

Increase UU identity and understanding;
Encourage open dialogue between adults and children;
Foster connections between Sunday School and home;
Foster UU community;
Make religion relevant to everyday life;
Achievement recognition.

---

Age Range

Three levels: Early, Middle, and Upper Elementary/Junior High

Size of Group

Variable, from one person working independently to a class of two or more.

Space Requirements

Minimal. Most activities require only table space. If used with a group, have a room large enough for several interest centers based on workbook pages. If used with more than one class, consider an opening gathering, then separate spaces for breaking out into groups by age level.

Number and Length of Sessions

Not organized into sessions -- 100-page individual workbooks.
Length: One-hour sessions suggested

Leader Training

No special training is required. Anyone adapting the program for group use, however, should have a background in teaching, including skill in developing lesson plans and knowledge of a variety of age-appropriate learning activities to supplement the material in the individual workbooks.

Leader Preparation

If adapting for group use, leader could easily spend at least an hour per session, selecting activities and writing the lesson plan.

---

Strengths

Wonderful resource for home and family settings (including home schooling).
Excellent interpretation of the seven Principles and related objectives in the Leader's Guide.
Principles-centered.
Very flexible and could form the basis of a creative curriculum for church schools, if someone has the time and expertise to develop lesson plans.
Very useful for tiny church schools and non-age-graded programs.
Can be used as a resource of ideas for other UU programs.

Limitations

Workbook text is not graded for different reading levels. (Beginning readers will not be able to work independently even at Level 1.)
Cost of individual workbooks may be prohibitive for use with groups.
There is no overview of the Principles in children's language or introductory explanation to participants about the origin and importance of the Principles.
The Leader's Guide may not be purchased by parents if the workbook is to be used in the home, yet the individual workbooks do not include any information for leaders. Be sure the parent or teacher has a copy of the Leader's Guide.

Adaptability

Can be used individually with a mentor, or in the home with parents, or with a group. Can also be used with multiple ages or wide age spans within a church school.

Unitarian Universalist Values

All seven Principles are explored explicitly.

Reviewed on June 30, 1996

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100