Hari Om Parents,
(Resending as we missed a couple of pictures of the work submitted by the kids). Welcome to Week 4 of Balavihar 2020-2021 and the KG Sunday PM session. Today's was a fully packed class with multiple alphabets, fun stories, Geeta chanting verses and slokas. We are thankful for the kids for participating with attention and appreciate the enthusiasm shown by them to learn the new topics discussed.
Weekly Update
Oct 11th 2020 / 12:45 PM
Today's Activities
Om Chanting
Guru Stotram
om saha navavatu,
saha nau bhunaktu,
saha víryam karavavahai,
tejasvinavadhítamastu ma
vidvishvahai.
om shanti shanti shantih
Revision of the Alphabets that we learnt thus far
A - Aspiration
B - Brotherhood
C - Cleanliness
D - Daddy
As part of the revision of 'D' the kids presented the interview they performed at home of their Dads.
We followed this with repeating Ganesha sloka
Eka Dantam,Maha Kayam
Lambho Daram Gajananam
Vighna Nasham Karam Devam
Herambam Pranamamyaham
We learnt the new Alphabet E - Enthusiasm and the rhyme that goes with it. The kids learnt it with the actions moving their arms and flying
Go, go, go & fly
Soar, soar, in the sky
Work, Work, hard and try
You'll make it just dont cry
First we discussed the story of the enthusiastic chipmunk who helped his village to build a dam to prevent the flood water. Even though he was so small how that did hold him back and he enthusiastically worked to the best of his ability by rolling down the banks with sand
We further discussed with the children how they should behave when help is needed in school, home or anywhere and one should do their best. We also watched this short story and the kids learnt the story of the squirrel helping Lord Rama.
We took a short jumping jack break to get some energy back into the class.
And then we started a new Alphabet F: A Friend in need is a Friend indeed
At first we discussed the characteristics of being a good friend. What each child thinks they should do and act in order to be a good friend. The kids participated in this discussion with lot of inputs
Then we started discussing the story of Sudama & Krishna, first with the use of these pictures to discuss how they met in their childhood at Sage Sandipani's gurukul became thick friends, how they worked together in the forest, helped each other and finally grew up and left the ashram to follow their individual paths in life.
We then watched the rest of the journey of Sudhana & Krishna's life and friendship with this video. The kids learnt how each one them demonstrated their part of being a good friend. One has to be very kind and helpful to your friend. And also treat God as your friend by being very true to him, and worshipping him. Like how Krishna helped Sudhama without even him asking for it, God will also know your worries and help you.
We followed the Geeta Chanting Introduction Video of some basic pronunciation. And we started with the Verse #1.
Closing prayers: We recited the closing prayers
om sarve bhavantu sukhinah
sarve santu niramayah
sarve bhadrani pashyantu
Ma kaschid dukhabhagbhavet.
om shanti shanti shantih
And we finally closed with Aarti
Next Session Agenda
Revise alphabets covered in previous sessions
Proceed with our curriculum on Alphabet Safari and start with letter G & H
Practice our Slokas / Prayers
Geeta Practice Verse#1 and proceed to Verse#2
Continue with the class drawing / craft activities with stories
Please print and have the following slides from this PDF document ready for next week's session:
Slide# 17 & 18
Reminder & Activities for home
Please practice reciting the prayers & slokas
Please Practice Geeta Chanting using the video links shown in step# 11 above.
Feel free to finish coloring of slide#16 (E - Enthusiasm) as a homework assignment
We use this slide deck during class to drive our discussion and stories relevant to the letters we are learning in the class. Some slides contain links to youtube Videos that we have used throughout this year for showing some relevant stories.
Pranams
Rajesh Jayakumar
Ulka Powar
