हरी ॐ Dear Parents & Students,
Here's a brief summary of the previous 4 classes (Dec. 11th / Dec. 18th / Jan. 8th / Jan. 22nd):
1.) Started with chanting "OM" three times
2.) Opening Prayer:
OM saha naavavathu
saha nau bhunakthu,
saha veeryam karavaavahai,
tejasvinaavadheetamasthu
Here's a brief summary of the previous 4 classes (Dec. 11th / Dec. 18th / Jan. 8th / Jan. 22nd):
1.) Started with chanting "OM" three times
2.) Opening Prayer:
OM saha naavavathu
saha nau bhunakthu,
saha veeryam karavaavahai,
tejasvinaavadheetamasthu
maa vidhvishavahai
OM shanthi shanthi shanthi
"B" for Brotherhood
"C" for Cleanliness
OM shanthi shanthi shanthi
3.) Recap of Alphabet Safari:
"A" for Aspiration"B" for Brotherhood
"C" for Cleanliness
"D" for Daddy
"E" for Enthusiasm
"F" for Friendship
"G" for GOD
4.) Lesson on Alphabet , "H" for Happiness, "I" for Intelligence, "J" for Japa & "K" for Kindness
We learnt how :
--- "Happiness" is a choice & state of mind. It's an attitude.
We talked about simple ways to cultivate Happiness.
We teachers, along with our little kiddos had a super exciting journey riding the "Chinmaya Happy Train" & blowing the whistle "Harih Om Harih Om", at each stop. Through this great adventurous train ride we understood
how we cannot control many situations in life. However, if we decide that, no matter what life throws at us, we will remain happy - nothing can prevent us from being so. We can spread happiness to the world around us,
because happiness is contagious.
---"Intelligence" is the mental ability of understanding / learning new facts. We can use our intellect wisely by making the right choices.
---"Japa" is repeating God's name with devotion. It builds concentration & which in turn helps us succeed.
We talked about "OM" which is the sound of the Universe - that encompasses everything in the world. It's a mantra or a vibration.
By chanting "OM" we connect to the universe & each other.
Also, how japa/chanting "OM" will spread calming vibrations around you...the room...& the universe.
---"Kindness" is being gentle, generous & good natured.
We talked about how being kind/helpful through our actions can bring us close to God.
5.) Short Story -
On letter "I" we did the story of 'The Celestial Fruit'.
Through this story we learnt how god Ganesha uses His intelligence and wins the race over his brother Kartikeya/Muruga.
Also, how, our intelligent & wise Ganesha thinks about the situation carefully & chooses the wisest solution by going around his parents, Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvathi and could win the celestial fruit.
Moral: Just like Ganesh, think before your act & think before you speak. Ganesha did not jump on his rat right away, but he stopped & thought his steps through and then acted upon to win the race.
So, an Intelligent person:
- thinks before he speaks & thinks before he acts.
- does not rush to do anything.
- is a good listener (big ears of Ganesha symbolic of this)
- good memory / remembering what you learnt (big head of Ganesha - elephant head)
- has wisdom to choose between right & wrong (long trunk of Ganesh - how it uses differently as per the situation - it can pick a tiny needle or uproot a mighty tree)
On letter "K" we did the story of "Kindness Of Prince Siddhartha".
Through this story we learnt how the handsome, charming, strong & athletic prince Siddhartha (Gauthama Buddha) saved the life of the bird (Swan) through his kindness.
How his unkind cousin Devadatta shot the bird & how prince Siddhartha ran fast to save it by gently picking it up & nursing it back to life and freeing the bird into the wild.
Moral: Kindness does good things for others and brings good things to us. When we are kind to others, we feel good within.
6.) Completed learning (Gita Chapter 2) - Prelude, Verse 1, Verse 2, Verse 3, Verse 4, Verse 5 & Verse 6
7.) Activities / Games / Bhajans:
Kavita & Pranjali
Friday, Grade KG Sevikas
Please refer to Balavihar Handbook Page 18
Please make children practice with the audio file sent out through our WhatsApp group.
We are extremely pleased seeing our kids interest in learning & their superb grasping power.
Keep up the good work 👏👏👏
7.) Activities / Games / Bhajans:
As part of letter "J" for Japa, kids were super excited to make a Japa Mala with string & beads in class.
Amazing to see our intelligent & focused kids practicing & chanting (Japa) "Om Namah Shivaya", for 11 times.
Our energetic & enthusiastic kids learnt/sang the bhajan, "khate bhi rama kaho" with actions /gestures.
We love, love to see all the kids participating/enjoying thoroughly ☺
Also, so wonderful to see everyone's involvement in the activity to discriminate between 'kindness' & 'unkindness'
Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow at 7pm sharp.
Sincerely,
Kavita & Pranjali
