Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Religious Education

Program Planning:

Anti-racism Curricula and Resources:

  • Talking to Children after Racial Incidents An interview with Howard Stevenson, a clinical psychologist at Penn Graduate School of Education.
  • Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current Events  Links to specific current events and guidance for parents, families, and caregivers. Also: Explaining the News to Our Kids on the Common Sense Media website.
  • Coming Together: Talking to Children About Race and Identity Developmentally appropriate resources from Sesame Street for exploring racial justice and celebrating identity with young children. It’s Sesame Street, so there are songs, stories, activities, and familiar furry friends to help.
  • Talking About Racial Injustice with Children  includes a collection of current resources for families (published on PYM website June 2020)
  • Black Lives Matter Instructional Library compiled by Pheobe Defino. An excellent collection of children’s racial justice books all in read-aloud format. Sections/shelves focusing on: Activism and Advocacy, Self-love and Empowerment, Black History, Libros en Espanol, Additional Resources and Contact.
  • Protest Song Activity created by the KidsBridge Center. Explore songs created to encourage, inspire, and get people moving for change!
  • Racial Justice Curriculum for Young Friends by Lisa Graustein, NEYM. A 10-lesson curriculum helping middle and high-school age Friends to grapple with racial justice issues beginning with their own understandings of their racial identity.
  • Children and Youth Resources Exploring Racism and Racial Justice  list of websites, blogs, online articles, curricula and children’s literature that begins with framing queries:
    • How do we approach the work of teaching/learning about undoing racism for both Friends of European and African descent? Other People of Color?
    • What scaffolding or tools can we create/recommend for working with a book resource? (queries, wondering questions, etc.)
    • How do we prepare the way in our meetings and RE programs for ALL children to feel welcomed, included and fully participatory in the Religious Society of Friends? How do we signal welcome and inclusion to visitors?

Lessons for At Home & Online Together

Curricula