In this section you will find resources for children, youth, families, and religious education practitioners to explore Quaker faith and practice with young people.
Also shared on this page: Religious Education and “Quakerism 101” resources for Adults.
PYM Resources
Support for Adults: Teachers and Parents
- Choosing Excellent Children’s Books By & About American Indians
- Let love (and welcome, inclusion, knowledge, and action) be the first motion!
- Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives: A Journey of Spirit and Wonder
- Nurturing Quaker Children in Small Meetings
- Suggested Resource Bibliography: For First Day Programs and Meeting Libraries
- The Tote Bag Newsletter: Religious Education & Family Resources
Earlier issues are linked as PDFs - Top Ten List for New Teachers
- Youth Religious Education “Minute of Travel” for Religious Services
- [Video] Supporting the Ministry of Children’s Religious Education
- [Podcast] Freedom Means – How to talk to young people about justice issues
- Stories on the Journey to Easter — Ideas and Resources from Faith & Play Stories
Programs and Worship for Online and Hybrid Spaces
- Guidance and Practices for Online Youth Gatherings with participants under the age of 18
- How do we continue to engage our children,young people, and their families each week in worship and religious education, during “physical distancing?”
Planning and Welcome
- Planning Calendar for Religious Education Programs 2022-23
- Looking Back & Ahead: reflections, queries, articles and other resources for thinking about Children and Youth religious education in the time “after” Covid-19
- Fall Religious Education Planning: Connection and New Directions
- Families at the Threshold (welcome for families)
- Friendly Spaces for Families
- Welcoming Children and Families into Quaker Meeting – A series of 6 videos recorded by Melinda Wenner Bradley
Quaker Testimonies and Handouts
- Simplicity
- Peace
- Integrity
- Community
- Equality
- Stewardship
- Books to Support Spiritual Growth and Connection to Testimonies
Worship with Children and Youth
- Teaching the Practice of Worship
- Meeting for Worship: A How-to Guide by 6th Graders
- Worship Sharing with Children
- Exploring Vocal Ministry with Young People
- Being Present: The Worship Bowl Lesson
- Start with Worship
- Meeting for Worship in the Classroom
- Heart Sharing
- Foundations for Worship
- A Recipe for Intergenerational Worship
Curricula & Lessons
PYM Curricula:
Visit this section for curricula on various subjects and themes, mostly created between 1987-2009. Many Friends collaborated on creating these resources for First Day programs and children at Yearly Meeting sessions. Sections include: Faith and Practice, Spiritual Nurture, Teaching about Testimonies, Lives of Friends, Bible and Interfaith Studies, Celebrations, and Older Youth.
Racial Justice Curricula and Resources:
Visit this section for articles, curricula, children’s books, and other resources for families and adults working with children. Topics include how to talk to BIPOC and white children about racism and racial justice.
Lessons for At Home & Online Together:
- Flat Fox and Fell — adventures in 1652 country and at home with George Fox and Margaret Fell. Find the “Flat Fox and Fell” materials on the Faith & Play Stories website, including a lesson plan for home and sharing together.
- Being Present — worship at home
- “Treeing” Together — care for trees and our community
- Children’s Illustrations to Explain COVID
Religious Education for Adults
- Walking in the World as a Friend: Essential Quaker Practices by Nadine Hoover — follow how essential Quaker practices weave together the individual, Quaker community and Spirit, creating a unique, vital and transformative dynamic. The 15 short videos are great discussion starters. You can purchase the book here or at the FGC Bookstore.
- Quakerism 101: A Very Basic Introduction with Suggested Readings – an excellent collection of resources for adults and older youth to explore. curated by C. Wess Daniels
- Spiritual Deepening Library – from Friends General Conference
- Quaker Basics: An Introductory Course in Quaker Faith & Practice
- Deepening Meeting Life
- Revolutionary Roots of Quakerism: a 6-session journey with early Friends
- Quakers: The Quiet Revolutionaries – documentary
Books and Pamphlets
- Parenting 4-pamphlet set at Pendle Hill
- Quaker Faith and Practice 4-pamphlet set at Pendle Hill
- Quaker Quicks – Quakers Do What! Why? by Rhiannon Grant
- Quaker Quicks – Quaker Roots and Branches by John Lampen
- Quaker Quicks – What Do Quakers Believe? by Geoffrey Durham
Podcasts
- Quakers Today by Friends Journal
- A Quaker Take Podcast
- Quakers Faith Podcast
- The Seed — Pendle Hill Podcast
Quaker Religious Education Organizations
- Quaker Religious Education Collaborative
- Faith & Play Stories – Quaker Stories of Faith, Practice, and Witness
- Video “Listening for God” from Faith & Play Stories (an example Faith & Play story)
