In The Middle

A Soul Matters Middle School Curriculum
Our monthly middle school youth packets are filled with creative, UU identity building, hands-on ways for teens and preteens to explore our monthly Soul Matters themes and engage the middle school age journey together. 
  • Each packet contains 4-5 weeks of session material. 
  • ​While the packets are structured around our Soul Matters themes, these themes are general ones that speak to the universal journey of early youth. So even if you are not a theme-based congregation, the packets will work for your program.
  • ​Packets are published through the year, with each packet being uploaded to your online archive 6 weeks prior to the month it will be used.
Here are some more details about our approach:
  • Extra Attention to Games: Simply put, younger youth love games. Knowing that games engage youth, support experiential learning and build community, we place a high priority on making sure our middle school packets are packed full of numerous great games! 
  • Flexible Design: We encourage you to think of these packets as toolboxes, full of building blocks that help you create the experiences that are right for your youth and your setting. 
  • Experiential Learning & Fun: Each session contains exploration questions, discussion starters, games, meditations, stories, art engagement, etc. We are committed to experiential learning and believe the best lessons evoke a sense of fun, not just convey information.
  • Engaging the Whole Person: Session components are designed wholistically and with multiple intelligences in mind:
    • ​Body - Games
    • Imagination - Creative projects
    • Mind - First thought sharing & issue exploration
    • Heart - Storytelling & personal sharing
    • Soul - Active meditation & spiritual practice
    • Interconnect Self -Justice & faith-in-action engagement
  • Partners for the Journey: Connection is as important to us as learning content. So sessions are designed to cultivate trust and bonding among the group. We want to reinforce the idea that none of us can navigate life's journey alone.
  • Developmentally Sensitive & Relevant: Sessions are written with the unique challenges and growth opportunities of the early teen years in mind. The aim is not simply to teach youth about our UU faith but to bring our UU faith into conversation with the real-world issues youth are facing. We want to make sure we are providing them with "tools for the journey."

Resource Creator
Liv Radue, our Middle School RE Resources Developer, creates the packets. Learn more about Liv here.  If you have questions about the program, don’t hesitate to reach out to her at [email protected]​

Sample Packet
Click here to get a sample packet. 

Purchase Options 
We offer two subscription levels, one for larger congregations and another for smaller ones:
  • $155 for congregations of 150 members or more ($15.50 per packet) 
  • $125 for congregations with less than 150 members ($12.50 per packet) 

​You can also purchase individual theme packets for In the Middle HERE.
CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE
  For more information contact Susan: [email protected].                           Soul Matters Sharing Circle LLC