Next Class: April 6th

Opening Prayers

Om Sahanavavatu


Shlokas

Saraswati Namastubyam
Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Ekadantam Mahakayam
Mookam Karoti Vaachalam
Manojavam maruta tulya
Ganapati Ganapati



Gita Chanting

Chapter 14 verse 1, 2 and 3, 4


Activities

Concentration Time : Shell game

Letter of the day : V for Victory

Story : Harishchandra how he was victorious by being truthful and keeping his promises

Game :
Playing in groups to arrive a destination
Krishna vadati


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Section A : Ruchi Vyas and Reshma Arun

 

We had a class full of curiosity and fun. We love it when children are inquisitive and ask thoughtful questions and give great comments. In addition to our regular routine of shlokas, chants and quiet time, the topic of the day was 'V' for 'Victory'. First we brainstormed about what 'V' stood for. We had different answers like valentine, vase, violin, viola and even vampire!! But some of us did guess 'Victory'. What is Victory? and What is required to be victorious? Well Victory is when you attain your goal and to be victorious, work hard and always speak the truth. We did an activity to learn what is the true meaning of the word "victory". We divided the class in four groups. Each group was named as team Ram, Sita, Hanuman and Krishna. The children were given a goal to touch the book at the other end of the classroom and return. However each group was asked either to walk, hop on one foot, jump or run. some of the children felt that these rules were not fair but they still played the game. All groups were timed. Who was the winner? Well everyone was a winner.The goal was to touch the book and return and everybody did it. So the goal was achieved by all. Victory is when you attain your goal. Some difficulties may come, but keep the focus on the goal and keep moving.

We heard a beautiful story of "The Marathon Race". This story was about nine handicapped children who were to run a marathon. All of them tried hard to run as fast as they could but one of the boys tripped and fell down and started to cry. The other children saw it and felt his pain but one brave girl decided to help the boy. She held his hand and helped him, and when all the other children saw this, they all came forward to help. Then all the children ran the marathon holding each others hand. Who was the winner? All of them won the race and audience clapped in awe.

We also did exploration on what is required to win? We saw the picture of emblem of India with the inscription "Satyamev Jayate" means truth always wins. We heard a beautiful story of a woodcutter who lost his axe in the river and even though the goddess of river tried giving him gold, diamond and silver axe, he did not take those. He only took his old wooden axe because he did not want to tell a lie. The result was that the goddess became so happy that she gave him the axe made of gold, silver and diamond as well. This is what happens when you are truthful.

Towards the end of the class we did some lilkhia japa to make our minds quiet. Aarti and pledge was done in the auditorium and we watched a beautiful performance by grade 6th. We hope that everybody enjoyed the play and dance.

Our next class will be held on April 6th. Till then have a great week.

Section B : Jacqueline Gaines and Meena Rajan

It was beautiful bright and sunny outside and children with all their smiles joined in Balavihar today. We missed our favorite Jacque Aunty her energy and her smile.  It was wonderful to have Venkatesh uncle and Sid's grandma to join our class today. Thanks for joining and all your help.

 

We started the day with 3 om's followed by our shlokas. After shloka it was gita time and yes we did the first four verses. We did the fourth verse quite a few times because we recognized that some of us need to get their pronounciation correct. We have a long gap till we meet on April 6th so mom's and dad pls make the most of it.

 

This was followed by our favorite shell game. Kids were amazing silent counting in their heads concentrating and many kids counted correctly. Following shell game was alphabet safari. As we did a recap of all the letters from A to U we saw how the children have made their own interpretation It was then turn for letter of the day V. Children had suggestions from V for violin, victory, vulture and violence. As we realized the word would be victory we played a game by making group's of 3 children. 1st group ran and touched the goal table, 2nd group walked, 3rd group waled 2 steps forward and 1 step back, 4th group walked picking up things on the way to reach the goal. The group was divided few of them saying all won and few saying the group they belonged won. Then we learnt how each and every child was victorious as they had reached their goal no matter how fast and easy or how many obstacles they had.

 

This was followed by Harishchandra story. Harishchandra was a king who lost his kingdom because he had promised in a dream to give the kingdom to a sage. When the rishi appears in front of him next day reminding him of his promise he immediately gives his kingdom away and leaves the palace in simple clothes with his wife and son. He still needed to pay the rishi his dashina. So he was forced to sell his son and wife as slaves which  was followed by his separation from his queen and his son to pay to the new king his dakshina. Later his son kids terribly sick and he is reunited with his wife and son but during bad times. Inspite of all the tough times Harishchandra always told the truth and kept his promises so then his son is cured, his wife and son join him and he gets his kingdom back.

 

After the story we did Krishna vadati and did our ganapati ganapti bhajan to release our energy. We did likita japa to come back and settle down. Finally we went to the auditorium for the play by the 6th grade kids followed by arati and pledge.