Mar 12 and Mar 19, 2021 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om Parents 

March 12th, 2021,

 

After our opening prayers and japa of 'Rama naam' We learnt sholka 17 , 18 and 19. from hanuman chalisa. We talked about Hanuman meeting Vibheeshana and Vibheeshana's surrender. we mentioned about fearlessness and explained Akbhar and Birbal story.. Here birbal answered in a witty way without fear to the king. We talked about power of Rama Nama and showed a video of how vanaras built the bridge by writing Rama nama over the rocks.  We also had a quiz as a recap about Ramayana. Discussed Jatayu and Sampathi story. We also watched a video about search for Sitaji.

March 19th, 2021. 

Started the class with opening prayers and asked few kids to chant shloka 'buddhir balam' . We talked about how difficulties or obstacles we encounter in life, are overcome by the grace of Srí Hanuman. We talked about Saint Malidasa story and how with God as the protector at our side, we have nothing to fear.  Also, we narrated another story about baking cake and its ingredients even though does not taste well by itself, it forms a delicious cake when combined.  Had our weekly Geetha chanting and ended the class and joined the monthly program . Hari Om

Thank you

2nd Grade Teachers

Feb 26 and Mar 5, 2021 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om Parents 

February 26th, 2021,

 We started the class with opening prayers. After chanting 'Shri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ' with Japamala we revised the chaupai done in the past classes. Learnt new stanzas from hanuman chalisa. The topic for this class was how Lord Shiva wanted to serve Rama and took avatar of Hanumanji . we discussed the story and watched a video related to the topic. 
We ended the class with Aarti and pledge. 

March 5th, 2021. 

Started the class with opening prayers and made sure all of them were able to chant shloka 'buddhir balam' .We did chapaui 10 to 16. Stories discussed are about Hanuman saving Lakshmana and showed a video for that too. We played a puzzle called 'No, I am not Ravana'.  There was a story about exhibition and display of art. After that we asked all to say something nice about fellow classmates. This activity was enjoyed by all very much. We also showed them video about Sugreeva meeting Lord Rama. Had our weekly Geetha chanting and ended the class with arati and pledge. Hari Om

Thank you

2nd Grade Teachers

Jan 29 and Feb 5, 2021 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om Parents 

January 29th, 2021,

 We started the class with opening prayers and talked about Hanuman - the bestower and Hanuman - the Divine messenger. we also learnt the next two verses and talked about how Hanuman got his name. We played two videos one about his mother Anjana and another about how he got it by Vajrayudha and saved by Brahma.  We discussed about the qualities of good messenger. We ended the class with Aarti and pledge. 

Feb 5, 2021. 

Started the class with opening prayers and made sure all of them were able to chant shloka 'buddhir balam' . It is on page 152 in the My Prayers book so please encourage them to chant while praying. After that we learn the next verses and talked about Hanuman- the strong9bira) and hanuman - the attractive. We talked about five different types of courage and what is Kumati and Sumati. Asked children to take a paper and write the negative thought they want to get rid of and crumble the paper and dispose it in the garbage bag. It is an activity to understand the value of having positive thoughts.  we talked about two stories which you can ask your kids to narrate it to you. We discussed how beautiful and calm looking Hanuman is and it is because he is noble and humble person. We watched a 7 minutes video about a story of a noble monkey. children enjoyed it very much. We also played unjumble words with the two verses of Hanuman Chalisa we learnt. Thank you.

Jan 8 and Jan 22, 2021 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om Parents

Happy New Year to all of you!

 January 8th, 2021.

We had a fun class for the start of the year and kids were excited to be back. in this class we talked about Hanuman Chalisa and showed Video about the author, and how he composed this, in which language. we also had a short movie about Ox and the farmer and talked about the emphasis on using sweet words while conversing. Madhuri aunty taught them hanuman bhajan which is in My prayers book. Please sing with them so that they get familiarized. We did Geetha Chapter 2 and encourage them to chant it to you. Concluded the class with Arati and Pledge.

January 22nd, 2021.

During this class we started the class with opening prayers and bhajan. here we spent the time in making sure all of them were able to chant the first two verses of Hanuman Chalisa. Children were very enthusiastic to show what they learnt so far. some of them are attending Wednesday Hanuman Chalisa learning class and so they were comfortable while chanting. Played missing word game with verses 1 and 2 .  Concluded the class with arati and pledge.

Than you

2nd Grade Teachers

Dec 11 and Dec 18, 2020 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om Parents

Dec 11 - In this class we talked about 'Arogata' and 'Ajadyam' Madhuri aunty explained the meaning and shared the examples from our book. We also played puzzle games created by Harinee aunty and available online for Balavihar class. For Ajadyam we showed them the video ' how Leo learned to be the King'.  Please talk to them about the story. We also Played a Game called 'Posture and Smile check' Kids had fun with these games. Ended the class with Arati and pledge.

Dec 18th - Since this was the last Balavihar class for the Year we planned to have 20 minutes of our regular class followed by movie night. We announced that kids can bring snacks and drinks while watching the movie. We started the class with opening Prayers and did Japa using the japamala. Madhuri aunty explained about backbone 'Vakpatuthvam' -the ability to communicate effectively and pleasantly. Talked about when to speak, what to speak, how to speak, and how much to speak. After that we watched movie -'Hanuman'. it went for 51 mts and we all enjoyed it very thoroughly. Once the movie over we all moved to class play by 9th grade and concluded with closing prayers. 

Thank you

Harinee Aunty And Madhuri Aunty

Nov 20 and Dec 4, 2020 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om Parents

Here is an update about what was happening at our second grade Balavihar class for the past two classes.

November 20th - We started the class with chanting Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram with Japa mala made by each kid on their own. After that we wanted to continue the Story of Hanuman and watched a video about Hanuman being taught by Surya deva. The Next backbone we learnt in the class is Yasas - Fame. we learnt about famous people. we read about Swami Chinmayananda ji - our Gurudev life story. After that we watched a video about Mahatma Gandhi life story with all the major events from his life. We also Read from the book about Dr.RadhaKrishnan our president of India. Concluded the class with Arati and Pledge.

December - 4th

For this class we discussed Dhairyam and Nirbhayadatvam. We played two videos one about Rathnakara - Valmiki Story and another about Rosa Parks. we encouraged kids to talk about what was the quality that they found in the story relating to the topic. We did a popcorn reading about Tapovan Maharaj ji. On a lighter note, Madhuri aunty narrated story about the Foolish timid Rabbit. Kindly ask your kids to narrate them to you. Many kids are memorizing the Gita chapter 2 and were excited to chant them in class. So had few kids chanting up to shloka 9 and one of our student have memorized up to shloka 15. There are Gita practice classes happening on Friday before Balavihar and on Saturday,

Thank you and Hari Om

Harinee aunty and Madhuri Aunty

Nov 6, 2020 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om

This Friday we continued with the qualities of back bone. and this class we talked about fame-Yas'as. How to achieve greatness and fame? Greatness and fame are achieved through hard work and perseverance for a noble goal. ♦ Who are some of the famous people of India? Some of the great and famous Indians include: Swami Chinmayananda, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Radhakrishnan, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, and Rabindranath Tagore. for this week we talked about Swami Chinmayananda. We did popcorn reading and each kid had a chance to read from the book. Please ask them what they learned and what are the stories they remember from the class.

They were very enthusiastic to learn hanuman Chalisa and so Madhuri Aunty taught them, while they repeated. we also played Gita learning video where our Swamiji teaches the Gita to all. Please encourage them to read from the handbook. This year we are learning Chapter 2.

Concluded the class with Arati and Pledge where the pledge is led by two kids from the class. for Arati we play the video of the Radhakrishna from the ashram and sing along with that.

Thank you and Hari Om

Madhuri and Harinee

2nd Grade Teachers

Oct 9 and Oct 30, 2020 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om

  This is the month of festival and Poojas. In the class we did talk about Navratri and discussed how each of them are celebrating in their homes. As according to the curriculum, next back bone is Balam. So we talked about physical strength and mental strength. There was story about Bhima meeting Hanuman from the Mahabharata. Without realizing whom he is talking to Bhima behaves with arrogance. You can talk to kids and ask them to narrate the story and what did they learn from that. We used cartoon videos to talk about the stories. Similarly, we talked about a story from Mahatma Gandhi's life history. Here it explains his mental strength in not cheating even when he is prompted to. For this too we shared the video.

October 30th, class had House activities where kids participated in a craft and a crossword puzzle. They enjoyed both of them . they were happy to make the house flag and very excited to participate in solving the puzzle. They solved the puzzle very quickly within their time and got points for their houses- Bajrangi Bolts.

They came to class wearing all Yellow and we concluded the class with Arati and pledge.

Thank you

Harinee and Madhuri

2nd Grade Teachers

Sept 25 and Oct 2, 2020 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om 

       We had excellent weeks of Balavihar session on September 25^th and October 2^nd.  We started the class with opening prayers, and we encourage children to write likitha japa ' Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ' once they enter the class. Make sure they do have a notebook and pen/ pencil with them so that they would be able to enjoy this likitha japa.  

      We discussed two stories 'Empty pot and Akbar Birbal 'from each session. The stories talk about the qualities of Hanumanji -Balam and Buddhi. Encourage children to narrate the stories to you and discuss what was the interesting part they find with that. 

    Also, thanks to all parents who helped their kids prepare the japa mala and in case if you have done it please do so in the coming days. The instruction video is posted in our what's up group.  

From these sessions all the kids are very familiar with Dhyana slokham  " Buddhibalam Yasodairyam….." They were excited to chant them individually and we did that during our last sessions. We also watched a video of 'Hanuman Chalisa' which has cartoon depiction of Hanumanji, and his stories and kids loved it very much. Our curriculum requires that we would be able to make sure kids learn Hanuman Chalisa thorough this year. Please encourage them to chant whatever they learnt and help them too. 

        We played a guessing game with the children which helped them to use their imagination and able to express them in words and questions. That opened all the children to converse and was very interactive. 

We concluded the class by playing Arati video and singing along with that and kids lead the Chinmaya pledge. Looking forward for our next session. 

Best Regards

2nd Grade Balavihar Teachers

Sept 18, 2020 - Grade 2 (Friday)

Hari Om 

               We had a wonderful start of the BV 2020-2021. We started the class with opening prayers after that we used the time to let the children talk about themselves. They mentioned what they like about and the language they are familiar with etc. We as teachers found out all the kids are all from last year.  

               They knew each other from last year and are excited to be meeting them and be together. Madhuri Aunty taught them "veera Maruthi" bhajan from My prayers book and each of them tried singing them on their own and they did it exceptionally well.  

             We also talked about Hanumanji and as an activity to make Japa mala during the week. Madhuri Aunty sent a video to the class group demonstrating how to make the Japa mala so that they can follow that and make one at home. Also, we are planning to go over that in the next class too. 

The 2^nd grade class is an amazing group of children who are very enthusiastic, energetic, sincere, and lovely kids. We are happy to be a part of this learning journey for everyone. 

Hari Om see you next week!!! 

Best Regards

2nd Grade Balavihar Teachers

Welcome to Gr 2 - Friday Session

Please look out for regular updates from the teachers soon after the session starts on Sept 18th