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Children are not vessels to be filled but lamps to be lit.
- Swami Chinmayananda
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Nov 3, 2019 - KG (Sunday PM)


Hari Om Parents,

We had an almost full class this Sunday afternoon. Kids were looking wonderful in their traditional colorful attire. 
Request parents to try and make the kids repeat the Shlokas at home. This will help them remember the words. And PLEASE make sure they have everything they need for the class which is repeated in the reminder section every week. This will help us be more productive in class. 
 Weekly Update
Nov 3rd 2019 / 12:45 PM

Today's Activities

  1. Guru Stotram 
  2. Om Chanting with the kids in the classroom
  3. Repeated our Shloka 
OM Sahana Vavatu
Sahanau Bhunaktu
Saha Viryam, Karavavahai, 
Tejasvi Navaditamastu, 
Ma Vidvishavahai

May the Lord protect us,
May he nourish us
May we acquire the capacity to study scriptures
May our studies be thorough and faithful.
May we never quarrel with each other.
Om Peace ! Peace! Peace!
Here is the video of this sloka by our class kids.
  1. Repeat of Ganesha Sloka
Ekadantam Mahaakaayam
Lambodara gajaananam
Vighnanaasakaram devam
Herambam pranamaamyaham
  1. Quick re-cap of what we learnt so far along with characteristics & qualities that goes with each letter
    1. A - Aspiration
    2. B - Brotherhood
    3. C - Cleanliness
    4. D - Daddy
    5. E - Enthusiasm
  2. Following this we had a fun session reviewing what each of the kid found out about their Dads from the interview homework. It included some funny moments, with kids providing their opinion on what their Dad does over the weekend: "He watches TV on the weekends"!! But overall kids really enjoyed talking about the good qualities of their Dads.
  3. We followed this up with a story reading from the monthly balavihar book that conveyed to the kids the importance of Dad and how they also love you equally and might have different ways of expressing it as compared to a mother
  4. We also briefly reviewed the letter E-Enthusiasm from our last class. And the kids also sang the go, go, go & fly song: Here is the video of our kids performing this song
  5. We then started discussion on our next topic letter F - Friendship and what are the qualities of a good friend and how you should treat others if you want them to make new friends and remain friends for a long time. Good traits: forgiving, sharing, courteous, kind, listener, fair. 
  6. The kids performed a coloring activity for the letter F which they can complete at home as well
  7. We followed this up with the story on the friendship of Lord Krishna & Sudama
    1. We started with how Sudama and Krishna became inseparable friends during their schooling days in the Ashram and helped and looked out for each other when they went in the jungles

    1. Then they became older and settled into their own lives. Sudama as a humble but poor brahman, and Krishna as a king of Dwaraka. On Sudama's wife's urging Sudama decides to take a journey to visit his friend in Dwaraka with just a small pouch of Poha wrapped in a cloth. Sudama walked great distances to reach Dwaraka and was able to walk through the gates into the palace

    1. He was welcomes by Krishna with great affection and provided him all the comforts, washed is tired feet and fed him with his own hands. Krishna noticed that Sudama was shy to give him the poha that he had brought has gift from home
    1. Krishna enjoyed the poha even though he had dropped it while trying to take it from Sudama. After resting for a few days and enjoying his stay with Krishna, Sudama decided to return home. But he was very hesitant to approach Krishna for any help. He was just happy meeting his friend and left without asking for any monetary help, for which his wife had actually sent him to Dwaraka. Sudama was worried all through his long return journey. But when he reached home, he was pleasantly shocked to see how his house was turned into palace with hundreds of servants, all the luxury, food & clothes for his family. He immediately knew that Krishna has made this happen without even asking. How Krishna was a true friend who understood Sudama's hardship without him even mentioning it. Sudama and his family lived in comfort for the rest of their lives

  1. We repeated our sloka from last class:
Saraswati Namastubhyam 
Varade Kaama-Roopini
Vidyaarambham Karishyaami 
Siddhir-Bhavatu Me Sadaa

Here is the video of our class chanting this sloka. 

  1. We repeated the first verse of Geeta chanting 
  2. Closing Prayers & Pledge in the Auditorium

Next Session Agenda

  1. Proceed with our curriculum on Alphabet Safari and try to cover G
  2. Practice our Slokas and Bhajans
  3. Class drawing / craft activities with stories


Reminder & Activities for home
  1. Please practice singing the slokas and geeta chanting with children at home. This will help us progress faster in our class. The Geeta chanting verses are provided in the Balavihar handbook. Also here are the recordings for reference
    

  1. Parents please send the following with the children next class: Pencils, Crayons / Color Pencils, Pocket Folder, a notebook, My Prayers Book & Water Bottle 

Pranams
Rajesh Jayakumar
Priya Nambiar
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