Hari Om Parents!
Today was the seventeenth class of Balavihar!! Here is the summary of what we covered in class today:
After everyone joined the Zoom session:
1. We started the class with Opening prayers. The opening prayers were led by one of the kids who chanted 'Om' three times and then chanted Sahana vavatu and we all joined.
2. Then we did the alphabet chant and revised with the kids the key message for each letter we learnt in the Alphabet Safari so far.
3. During Exploration time, we discussed that though the next letter of the alphabet is P, but it's not so in the Vedanta alphabet. In the Vedanta alphabet, letter "R" comes after "O." Why? Because we first need to learn all the values of the alphabet except "P" and "Q." After we learn all these values, we become fit to do prayers, and learn about the letter "P" which stands for prayer. When we offer prayers to
the Lord, what is the result? The result is, we become quiet, and learn about the letter "Q."
4.We introduced that the next letter of the day R stands for Right-is that which is morally good, just, fair, or means correct action.
5.During Brainstorming time, we discussed what Doing the Right Thing means. We played a game where kids were asked to raise their hand, if they think it's right thing to do, or stay quiet if they think it's the wrong thing to do, we went over different scenarios to help kids reflect on the right thing to do in each scenario. And discussed that we need to do the right thing even if no one is watching and we ourselves know what the right thing is and that we ourselves know when we don't do the right thing.
6. During Storytime for the letter R, through the story of The Rock on the Road, we learnt that we need to Do the right thing, even if nobody else is doing it. Doing the right thing always brings good rewards and happiness in the end.
7.Then we introduced the letter of the day as S for Smile - a facial expression of joy and happiness. We discussed that happy and funny things makes us smile. And when we smile, people want to talk to us and make us happy.
8.In the Brainstorming session, we discussed various scenarios which makes us happy and smile. And to smile is easy and a simple thing to do to make everyone happy. When we smile, we stay healthy and a Smile is contagious, hence everyone around us also smiles and is happy as well.
9.For Exploration time, we asked kids to use the Activity sheet to find the Hidden Smile. And kids were taught 'Wear a Smile and stay in Style'.
10. For Activity time, we asked one of the kids to volunteer and to not smile, while the rest of the kids participated and shared jokes and funny stuff to make the volunteer kid to Smile.
11. During today's attendance we asked each of the kids to give a sweet smile and say HariOm. All the kids followed the same, and it was wonderful to see their beautiful smiles.
12.For Yoga time, we all did stretch exercises while laughing out loud (similar to laughing therapy sessions). Kids shared funny jokes and made everyone laugh.
It was another wonderful session with kids actively participating. And thank you parents for sitting through the session to help the kids and for your participation. Please note, to make the best use of time for some kids who are joining early, we are making them practice bhajans /Geeta chanting to help them learn.
Have a wonderful week ahead!!
Pranams
Selvi and Mahalaxmi