C3 Exchange: Rivers to the Ocean curriculum

The values identified by the church remain the focus of the C3 Exchange youth curriculum.

These values are incorporated into units that allow the children to explore our guiding principles and develop their own sense of spirituality. The Children’s Program endeavors to support the spiritual development of each child by promoting interaction, increasing self-awareness and encouraging reflection. Regular programming runs from September through May and focuses on The Rivers to the Ocean curriculum.

Each lesson revolves around an open-ended question related to the weekly topic.

We typically devote four weeks to each value resulting in a better understanding of how these abstract concepts present themselves in the lives of the children. Our focus for the Community Unit included:

• What is Community?
• Where do you find Community?
• What do world communities look like?
• How do communities cooperate?
• How do you serve others?

Lessons incorporate a variety of activities selected to provide insight and expression for children of all learning styles and abilities.

• A Movement Activity allows development of the mind-body connection. Movement activities range from parachute play that allow children to identify the communities to which they belong (family, school, teams), walking a labyrinth or emotional freeze tag.
• A fiction story related to Question of the Week adds clarity to the lesson and promotes discussion. Active questioning requires the children to actively participate rather than being passively receptive to information. We honor every response and accept all perspectives empowering them to express their thoughts freely and develop their own beliefs.
• A creative experience further supports the child’s understanding of the idea explored.  Using a variety of media encourages the development of different modes of expression. The children create a product to remind them of the idea explored.  Materials may be used to create collages, mobiles, sculptures, cooperative structures or puppets.

Classrooms are divided into age groups beginning with the Nursery (2 years and under), Preschool, Kindergarten, First & Second Grades, Third and Fourth Grades, Fifth and Sixth Grades, Middle and High School.
Each classroom enjoys consistent leadership provided by two teachers with support by parent volunteers.

Summer Programming runs from June through August with a focus on one of the four elements.

• Earth – In the Garden – Nurturing Your Spiritual Nature
• Water – The Current of our Lives – Making our Waves in the World
• Fire – Expressing Your Passion  The Fires Within
• Air – The Breath of Life