To introduce children to stories of Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists who have acted with courage and wisdom in their attempts to live their lives fully and make the world a better place for others.

To show how the lives of these people confirm the principles which we, as Unitarian Universalists, strive to promote. This is “biography as theology.”

To learn some of the traditions of our Unitarian Universalist faith movement and our individual congregations.

To encourage the children to lead their own lives fully and to use their own positive “super powers” as they interact with the world around them, and as they do so, to grow both spiritually and ethically.

Unitarian, Universalist and UU super heroes include Sophia Fahs, King John Sigismund, Lewis Latimer, Theodore Parker, Olympia Brown and a dozen more. Each lesson’s story begins with the super hero as a child, so that young children can relate to this distant person. It then goes on to tell a few instances in the super hero’s life which illustrate one or more of our UU principles. Exploring the out-of-doors, inventing, participating in a class pentathlon, creating a class magazine and cooperating on a social service project are examples of the activities which allow children to physically incorporate their new learnings.

To request a preview of UU Super Heroes, including the table of contents and a lesson (without illustrations), contact gaiabrown@me.com

Treasure Hunting - Take Two
co-authored with Ellen Schneider
illustrated by Terry Stafford

A Whole Year of Unitarian Universalist Treasures!

This is a fully reformatted, revised, and newly illustrated edition of that golden oldie, Treasure Hunting, updated with new stories and resources. Gaia and Ellen spent months on the phone between Reno and Madison to ensure an excellent curriculum, and Terry helped bring it to life with the wonderful illustrations she shipped down from British Columbia. This was truly a continental project!

Thirty-five cookbook style lessons are divided into three units:

Treasuring Ourselves and Others
Treasuring Our Church and Religion
Treasuring Our Neighbors and Our Planet Home

From the introduction to the original Treasure Hunting:

My goal in writing this curriculum is to try to reach the emotional and spiritual life of the child. Sunday services challenge, reorient, and energize me. I would like to be able to give that same sort of experience to children.

The theme of treasure hunting was chosen to involve children in the excitement of the search for meaning in life at the concrete level of their understanding. Each week through games, crafts, songs and stories, the children explore the meaning behind a Unitarian Universalist principle or value. For example, the first week the children treasure hunt among themselves to find people who have "curly hair," "like chocolate ice cream," "have a little brother," etc. The story and discussion that follow emphasize that Unitarian Universalists treasure people’s differences as well as similarities.

Central to the "Treasure Hunting" curriculum is the class treasure chest, and each child’s treasure chest which he or she makes to take home. The treasures discovered through the year include: the importance of each person, the power of feelings, the joy of friendship, the excitement of the search for truth, Unitarian Universalist heritage, the interdependence of people, and the fragile harmony of nature. In the end, what the Treasure Hunting curriculum hopes to inspire is a gentle way of knowing. Only with eyes informed by love and respect can we find life’s treasures.

Treasure Hunting - Take Two is aimed at kindergarten and first grade children, but can be adapted to include children from ages 4-7. You can request a preview of the table of contents and several lessons by contacting gaiabrown@me.com

Compass Points

A full year program for middle schoolers (grades 6-8) exploring themselves, their beliefs, their UU faith, their relationships with others and the world

co-author Michelle Richards, CRE
illustrations by Terry Stafford

Goals of Compass Points

Compass Points will lead its adolescent participants on a year long spiritual journey during which they will have opportunities

To sort out their feelings about themselves and their world as they do the difficult work of starting to create their adult selves;