The Magic of UU
Grades 4-5, 22 lessons, $65
Learn how to conjure a better world through social action!
Many tween-age children are drawn to the idea of wizardry to learn to take control of, and alter, the world around them. Children this age also have developed a strong sense of justice and wish to make the world a better place.
The Magic of UU marries these two ideas in a fun wizarding curriculum that focuses on social justice and social action. While enjoying wizarding activities, children also work on real-world social action projects, chosen to be both relevant and meaningful to them. They will be able to participate in the magic of making the world a better place.
The curriculum spends two to three classes on each social justice issue, with one class devoted entirely to social action. Video links make the class very easy to teach. Eight social justice issues are provided, with the goal of producing tangible results on real-world problems.
Social justice issues included in the curriculum are:
- Illiteracy
- Hunger
- Poverty
- Hatred
- Fair Trade and Child Labor
- Child Sickness
- Animal Cruelty
- The Environment
Instructions are also included to address disaster or humanitarian aid; to create your own social justice/action project; and to customize each project to your class and geographic area. All projects are applicable, regardless of geographic location or congregation size.
Illiteracy
Illiteracy
Illiteracy
The class ran a book drive and collected 420 books for donation to the local Little Free Library program.
Hunger
Illiteracy
Illiteracy
The class ran a food drive, collecting $3070 in cash and food items for a local food pantry. They stocked shelves at the pantry.
Poverty
Illiteracy
Poverty
The class ran a clothing drive for a local non-profit that services low-income county residents, collecting 259 pairs of gloves and mittens, scarves, hats and children's coats. They also made and donated fleece scarves.
Hatred
Fair Trade / Child Labor
Poverty
The class learned about non-biased sources of news information online, and how to respond if they witnessed hatred. They also participated in the Actively Caring for People movement which teaches the lesson of passing kindness forward.
Fair Trade / Child Labor
Fair Trade / Child Labor
Fair Trade / Child Labor
The class wrote letters and ran a petition drive, asking Warner Bros. to commit to fair trade chocolate in promotional merchandise. When it was announced that Warner Bros. had made the commitment, the class wrote thank you notes to Warner Bros.
Child Sickness
Fair Trade / Child Labor
Fair Trade / Child Labor
The class made bean soup mix and sold it, raising $380 for the local Ronald McDonald House.
Animal Cruelty
The Environment
The Environment
The class held a “Pennies for Puppies / Koins for Kitties” voting campaign to raise money for the local chapter of the Humane Society, plus a donation drive, using the items in an Easter Egg Hunt to benefit the H.S. Over $900 in cash and items were donated.
The Environment
The Environment
The Environment
The class educated the congregation about the plight of the Monarch butterfly, and raised money by selling “Save the Monarchs” kits. The money was used to place mason bee houses around the congregation's grounds.
