OWL Classes Spring 2026
Classes offered for K-1st Grade and 4th-5th Grades
This Spring, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign is offering OWL classes for two age groups starting in February.
Who can attend? Families in the UUCUC congregation and members of the community at large who are in agreement with the OWL program values. Class size is limited to 15 students per age group.
For more information, contact Kelly Skinner at
religious-exploration@uucuc.org.
Younger Elementary for Grades K-1
Dates: Sundays from February 1 through March 29 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at UUCUC
Facilitators:
Melissa Watson and Allison Hansen
The program supports parents in educating their young children about birth, babies, bodies, and families. It helps establish a lifelong family pattern of communication around sensitive topics. Following a Family Meeting and Parent/Child Orientation, the eight class sessions engage children with stories, songs, and activities, and include a weekly “HomeLink” – a homework project for parents and children to do together. Focusing on the “three R’s” of human sexuality—respect, relationship, and responsibility—it emphasizes that we believe every person should be treated fairly and kindly.
Class Schedule
A required Family Meeting and Parent/Child Orientation on Sunday, January 25, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Bluestem Room.
| February 1 | Workshop 1: Our Wonderful Bodies |
|---|---|
| February 8 | Workshop 2: Bodies and Gender |
| February 15 | Workshop 3: Body Boundaries |
| February 22 | Workshop 4: Families |
| March 1 | Workshop 5: How Babies Begin |
| March 8 | Workshop 6: Pregnancy and Birth |
| March 15 | No class - Spring Break |
| March 22 | Workshop 7: Babies |
| March 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. | Workshop 8: Sharing What We Learned & Family Potluck |
Families commit to having their child attend all 8 sessions to promote trust and sharing. After the Orientation, the class is closed to drop-ins and new participants.
Older Elementary for Grades 4-5
Dates: Sundays from February 1 through April 19 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at UUCUC
Facilitators: Kim Kranich and Paul Kaiser
The program helps children ages nine through eleven learn about and discuss the physical, emotional, and social changes of puberty. Participants explore values, communication, decision-making, and physical health and development. The HomeLinks feature opens lines of communication between parents and children. Although the class is targeted to the maturity and developmental level of fourth- and fifth-graders,
we will allow sixth-graders to participate after a conversation with the Director of Faith Development.
Class Schedule
A required Family Meeting and Parent/Child Orientation on Sunday, January 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
| February 1 | Session 1 Values and Sexuality |
|---|---|
| February 8 | Session 2: Media and Popular Culture |
| February 15 | Session 3: Body Image |
| February 22 | Session 4: Changes of Puberty |
| March 1 | Session 5: Gender |
| March 8 | Session 6: Feelings and Attractions |
| March 15 | No class - Spring Break |
| March 22 | Session 7: Reproduction and Staying Healthy |
| March 29 | Session 8: Decisions and Actions |
| April 5 | No class - Easter |
| April 12 | Session 9: Consent and Peer Pressure |
| April 19 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. | Session 10: Healthy Relationships and Family Potluck Celebration |
Families commit to having their child attend all 10 sessions to promote trust and sharing. After the Orientation, the class is closed to drop-ins and new participants.
