Nov, 2018 - Kindergarten

Amritam

Our Kindergarten class studies Vedantic Alphabets and following is the typical flow of the class:

• Recite the opening prayer - Om Saha Navavatu followed by Ganesha, Saraswathi and Guru slokas.
• Recite curriculum specific prayers. We have introduced Ganesh sloka* till date.
• Revise the previous class lessons. 
• Introduce new Vedantic Alphabet and we convey the message through story, games, art project and/or coloring) 
• Closing Prayers (Om Sahana Vavatu and Om Purnamadah Purnamidam)*

Slokas 

Opening Prayers 

Om Saha Navavatu, Saha Nau Bhunaktu,

Saha Viryam Karavavahai, Tejasvinavadhitam-astu Ma Vidvishavahai,

Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi

Ganesh Sloka1

Vakratunda Mahakaya, Surya Koti Sama Prabha

Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva, Sarva Karyesu Sarvada.

Saraswati Sloka

Saraswati Namastubhyam, Varade Kaama-Roopini

Vidyaarambham Karishyaami, Siddhir-Bhavatu Me Sadaa

Guru Sloka

GururBrahma GururVishnu, GururDevo Maheshwaraha

Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahma, Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha

Ganesh Sloka 2 

Ekadantam Mahakayam, Lambodara Gajananam,

Vighna Nashakaram Devam, Herambam Pranamamyaham

Closing Prayers

Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah,

Sarve Bhadhrani Pashyantu, Ma Kashchid Duhkha Bhagbhavet.

Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi

Om Purnamadah Purnamidam, Purnat Purnamudachyate

Purnasya Purnamadaya, Purnamevavashisyate

Om, shanthi, shanthi, shanthi.

Main Lessons / Alphabets that we have covered so far

Three Lessons

A Story was told to convey following message

1. Who is God? - God is one who can do what no one else can.
2. Where is God? - God is everywhere
3. What does God do? - God makes impossible things possible.

Alphabet Safari

• How to see God? - We see God through a special instrument "sweet mind"

If we learn Vedantic Alphabet and follow that, we can become sweet person, and sweet person is one who have sweet mind.

A is  for Aspiration

Aspiration is the strong determination to achieve our goal. It can be fulfilled through hard work. We learnt about Best Archer Arjuna,who worked very hard and practiced regularly.

B is for Brotherhood

Brotherhood is a sense of togetherness and belonging among members of a family, neighborhood, organization and the world. 

We belong to Chinmaya Balavihar family. We should treat the entire world as one family. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Vasudhaiva means earth and Kutumbakam means a family. Meaning, the whole earth the whole world is one family.

Tale "The complete picture" about the "Box of Crayons" was told to make them understand that Brotherhood can be achieved by realizing that each of us posses individual and unique characteristics that make the world interesting and special . 

C is for Cleanliness

• What is cleanliness ? - Cleanliness is being free from dirt.
• What is Cleanliness of the mind? - A clean mind is a mind that is full of good thoughts. We learnt of three monkeys (hear no evil,see no evil,speak no evil). 

Tale: The royal horse - We learnt from the  royal horse  tale that royal horse like to bathe in only clean water. We the royal children of the lord should always keep our surroundings, body and mind clean.

D is for Daddy

Daddy is the head of family. Daddy is the protector of the family just as god is the protector of the world. "Pitrdevo Bhava"

Tale: Father's Day - How the fathers day started in America

Craft / Activities - "I love you "card, Questionnaire about Interview with Dad

E is for Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is to experience joy and excitement while striving for a goal. We cultivate enthusiasm by loving everything we do.

We learnt following song

Go,go,go and fly

Soar,soar in the sky,

Work,work hard and try,

You'll make it,just don't cry.

Tale: Gitu's  place and  Make a Difference - How a small chipmunk by name Gitu, helped in getting the sand, by rolling down the hill, to construct the dam to prevent the forest being flooded. Later chipmunk was appreciated by the LORD himself. 

The moral conveyed was "When we do things with enthusiasm, we can accomplish anything no matter what physical impediments we may have.  

F is  for Friendship

Friendship is a feeling of mutual affection and respect. A true friend is one who helps without being asked we maintain friendship by helping our friends,being nice and being happy for them.

10 ways how to start the friendship 

Smile at others often - Treat others nicely - Take turns in playing - Give complements frequently - Offer to help in times of need - Invite others to join in your activities - spend time with family - always be forgiving - be a good listener - be happy for others 

10 ways how we end the friendship. 

Always expect to have your way - try to be bossy - expect to be the only friend - complain a lot - Spread gossip - force friends in doing things they don't like to do - listen to ugly things about a friend - ignore your friend on purpose - behave in a rude manner - refuse to share. 

Tale: Krishna and Sudama friendship - A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Craft - We did flower project with the qualities of good friend.

G is for God

God is "The Father" who loves and cares for all of us. He lives everywhere and he protects us and gives us everything we need . We should thank him by praying to him every day.

We brainstormed on Who is God", revised the story of "King and his minister - three questions" from first lesson. God is He who can do what no one else can do . He can make a brown cow eat green grass, and make her produce white milk. 

We performed a Puja in the class and each child was made to come perform arathi and offer flowers to the altar. 

We learnt the song "Thank you to God" and Bhajan 

Thank you god for world so sweet 

Thank you god for food we eat

Thank you god for world so sweet

Thank you god for everything.

Krishna here, Krishna there,

Krishna Krishna everywhere.

God is one, God is one.

God is one for everyone

If kids can learn the opening and closing prayers at home that would be great for them to be confident and comfortable. May be asking our bright kids to tell the story we talked about in class.

With Warm Wishes,

Suganya, Praveena and Shruthi