Grades 3-5 (PGG)

JacKie Bowman and Emily Matthews form our energetic teaching team for Grades 3-5. We affectionately call this group the PGG – which stands for the Peanut Gallery Group – because their enthusiasm creates a strong tendency for comments from the “peanut gallery”. This group likes to move around, so we try to use kinesthetic learning, as well as crafts, cooking, and other experiential approaches. One of their favorite kinesthetic activities is their Body Prayer. Each Via they are given a new prayer, and they provide their own motions. Every once in a while, we get to see the results of their efforts upstairs during the Celebration.

Like the first- and second-graders, this group focuses on the basics of Creation Spirituality, the Judeo-Christian Bible stories, and some of the holidays celebrated in other religions (like Sukkot, Hannukah, Diwali, solstices/equinoxes/cross-quarter holidays), and some modern, earth-based celebrations (like Earth Day and World Water Day). This group is continually reminded to appreciate all of nature and to recognize the sacred in everything.

The basic storylines of popular Bible stories are taught more quickly so that the kids have greater opportunities to ponder the values and emotions expressed in each story. A Bible story about fear or anger can be translated into an opportunity to “find your voice.” A Bible story about love and peace becomes an introduction to social justice.

We also continue to teach about other traditions. As with some of our other groups, most activities focus on the stories, food, and decorations associated with various holidays. They also learn about other people of great faith (like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Teresa).

This group loves to engage in community service. They regularly clean Wall Street and volunteer at Manna. Once a year, they also participate in the Turkey Bowl. Folks donate money based on their bowling skills, and all the proceeds go to Loving Food Resources.

But, they want to have fun, too. Ice skating, climbing, going to movies, spending the night at Jubilee!, and tubing are some of their favorite just-for-fun activities.