Oct 2022 - 2nd Grade

Hari Om!

Thank you for sending your kids every week and helping us grow along with them.

What we did: 

·       We completed making the Japa Mala. There are 27 beads in the japa mala. There is a big bead (28^th bead) to guide them where to start and finish.

·       We started learning Dhyana Shloka which describes Hanumanji’s virtues

·       We talked about the first 5 virtues so far. Buddhi (Intelligence), Balam (Physical and mental strength), Yashas (Fame), Dhairyam (Courage), Nirbhayatvam (Fearlessness)

·       They have heard various stories pertaining to each of the virtues. Ex: Birbal’s intellect, Mahatma Gandhi’s mental strength, our famous beloved Gurudev’s life, Ratnakara’s courage to transform to Valmikiji, Tale of Timid Rabbit showing that when God is our friend what is there to fear.

·       We discussed about how we can lead our lives based on these good qualities and virtues.

 

Ideas for Parents: 

·       Encourage Kids to narrate the story that they have heard in class.

·       Practice Dhyana Shloka with your kids. Ask your kids what Buddhi, Balam, Yasas, Dhairyam and Nirbhayatvam mean to them. 

·       It would be nice for children to use the japa mala they made every day to help focus and improve mental health. They can pick any specific time and any favorite simple chant and repeat it 27 times.

Activities we did:    

·      Japa Mala

·       Hand wrestling (to learn Physical strength)

·       Sorting beans (learning to sort thoughts for mental Balam)

·       Started to make the Hanumanji’s Backbone.

 

Sep 2022 - 2nd Grade

 Hari Om!

We had a great start this year. Thank you all for sharing your kids with us. We have an awesome group of kids.

Our 2^nd grade (Anandam) Class will learn about Hanumanji and his virtues. 

Curriculum:

• Dhyana Shloka
• Hanuman Chalisa

 Typical flow of the class:

• Opening prayers: Om Saha Navavatu, Ganesha, Saraswathi and Guru shlokas.
• Shlokas: Learn curriculum specific Shlokas (Dhyana Shloka and hanuman Chalisa).
• Movement: As needed
• Brief review of the previous class lesson. 
• Lesson: Try to convey the qualities of Hanumanji’s through stories, activities, art, games, quizzes and/or coloring
• Closing Prayers: Om Sarve Bhavantu and Om Purnamadah Purnamidam

So far Kids have learnt about the invisible Backbone. Similar to a strong backbone that allows us to stand tall and erect we humans also have a mental backbone that allows us to stand tall and erect under all situations. Our goal is to inspire each of us to adopt the virtuous qualities that made Hanumanji great. 

Parents meet and great was great. We have an amazing group of Parents. We had Ramayana quiz to review what we learnt last year. 

Activities: We started to make Japa mala and will complete it in next class.

January 2020 - 2nd Grade

Hari Om!

We continue to learn Sri Hanuman Chalisa and practice Likita Japa in January and it was great to have the parents visit our class.

We learnt the following about Hanuman Chalisa:

• In January, we learnt up to 15 Chaupais!
• Studied the meaning of each verse while learning the glories of Sri Hanuman
  • How resourceful Sri Hanuman is (Chaupai 9 &10) and how he acted in service of Lord Rama with noble qualities. On the contrary how Ravana in spite of his 10 heads used them for his own selfish motives
  • Chaupais 11-15 taught us how Lord Rama, Sages, Yama, Kubera, the scholars and others praise Sri Hanuman for his service and valor

One of our curious children asked while learning Hanuman Chalisa from their Sthothra book is “Where can you see this big Sri Hanuman Murthi?” (homework for the holidays). Answer: One of the children found the answer-the big 22 feet Hanuman Murthi is in Sidhabari Chinmaya Mission

Activities we did:

We had learnt how Sri Hanuman inherited many of his qualities from his parents. We asked your kids to find out how much they have in common with their parents. Kids were eager to share the interviews and you could see the joy in their discovering how some of your favorites are theirs too!

We had learnt how resourceful Sri Hanuman is and how he used his buddhi and strength when he delivered the Sanjeevini mountain and quickly brought Lashman back to life. We tried to be like Sri Hanuman when we competed to see who can wear winter clothes left in various sections of the classroom very fast. Some kIds were much faster than two of the teachers!

Sri Rama was generous and genuine in praise of Sri Hanuman, when he praised him and compared him to his dear brother Bharatha. We talked about how hard it is sometimes to praise, although we know the other person deserves it. Kids picked a name from their class and were asked to praise that person.

Ideas for Parents:

Please chant Hanuman Chalisa with them. Tell them why you chant the Chalisa. See your kids chanting here. You may have to download it before you can play it. We are so proud of them.

What is coming up in January? Continue to learn Hanuman Chalisa. Please get them to listen to Lakshmiji singing Hanuman Chalisa from this link.

With love from sevaks

Lakshmi,Jayanthi,Kalpana,Balu

Nov-Dec 2019 - 2nd Grade

Hari Om! 

November and December were filled with activities at Balavihar and at home. 

Happy New Year to you all!  We have started learning Hanuman Chalisa.

We learnt the following about Hanuman Chalisa:

• Significance and benefits of chanting Hanuman Chalisa
• Who wrote it and in what language? (Answers: Saint Tulsidas and Awadhi)
• How long ago was it written (over 500 years ago)?
• How come still millions of people chant it? 
• Kids have learnt to chant the first two Dohas and upto Chaupai 8 
• Studied the meaning of each verse while learning the glories of Sri Hanuman

One of our curious children asked while learning  Hanuman Chalisa from their Stotra book is “Where  can you see this big Sri Hanuman Murthi?” Parents: Do you know the answer? Also, the kids have a parent interview sheet and will  ask you some questions to see how they have inherited some of your qualities ( just like  Sri Hanuman inherited some of his qualities from  his parents)

Activities we did: 

Learnt to make lamp wicks for  Karthigai Lamp

Sri Hanuman had to be reminded  of his abilities; we made a reminder  bracelet to make us remember what  we usually forget.

Ideas for Parents:  

Ask (or tell) the kids about the stories of Sri Hanuman as to what he did when 

Mother Sita gifted him a pearl necklace and what he did with kumkum when he saw 

Mother Sita adorning herself with it.

Ask them to find other names for Sri Hanuman in Hanuman Chalisa 

What is coming up in January? Continue to learn Hanuman Chalisa. Please get them 

to listen to Lakshmiji singing Hanuman Chalisa  from this link. 

With love from sevaks,

Lakshmi,Jayanthi,Kalpana,Balu

Oct 2019 - 2nd Grade

Hari Om! 

In October, we learnt Buddhi, Balam, Yasas, and Dhairyam from Dhyana Shloka. 

This month we continue to build our “virtue”al backbone with four more virtues -

Virtues	Meaning	What did we do
Nirbhayathvam	Fearless	We shared about our fears and ways  to overcome
Arogatham	Free of diseases	Kids told us how to keep healthy and we went out played an obstacle relay race
Ajadyam	Being alert  (mentally and physically)	Talked about the importance of mental  and physical alertness. We played a number game where we counted numbers 1-50 and had to say Hari Om, when we  got a number with 3 in it. Sounds easy, but harder than they thought!
Vakpatuthvam	Eloquence	When, how, what and how much to  talk. We talked about how Sri Hanumanji  was a perfect example of that virtue

Activities we did: 

Japamala

We talked about the power of Japa and how we can use Japa mala to guide us.  Kids made a small mala with beads. Encourage them to pick an Ishta Devata name for Japa.

Our “Virtue”al Backbone

See for yourself the eight virtues that keep us straight and strong in life! 

Ideas for Parents:  

Practice Dhyana Shloka with your kids. 

Ask your kids what Nirbhayatvam, Arogatham, Ajadyam and Vakpatuthvam mean 

to them.  Talk about the people that exhibit the four virtues.

Do Japa with them before going to bed; ask them to use the Japa mala.

What is coming up in November? We will start learning Hanuman Chalisa. Please get them to listen to Hanuman Chalisa  from this link

With love from sevaks

Jayanthi, Kalpana, Lakshmi, Balu

Sep 2019 - 2nd Grade

Hari Om! 

We are Anandham class with a wonderful group of happy kids!

This year we learn all about Sri Hanumanji and his virtues.   

We all know how important our backbone is to keep us straight. Kids are learning that

just as our “visible” backbone needs vitamins and minerals to keep it strong and straight,

our “invisible” backbone is strengthened by our virtues. 

In September and October, kids are learning Dhyana Shloka. It teaches us the eight virtues of Sri Hanumanji that will help our invisible backbone stay strong all through our lives. 

                            **See if you can find the Dhyana Shloka on this page.**

So far, kids have learnt  about first four virtues: Buddhi, Balam, Yasas, and Dhairyam.

They heard from us stories from Ramayana and how Sri Hanumanji exhibits those

virtues. In turn, we heard from the kids about people that symbolize those virtues for them. 

Activities we did: Riddles (use Buddhi) and sorting beans (learning to sort thoughts for

mental Balam)

Anandham Kids Authored Class Virtues	Bookmark Your Time to General Assembly! Kids get a sticker on their bookmark for being on time to GA. Don’t forget to bring it!

Ideas for Parents:  Practice Dhyana Shloka with your kids. Ask your kids what Buddhi,

Balam, Yasas and Dhairyam mean to them. Talk about the people that exhibit the four virtues. 

What is coming up in October? Discuss four more virtues of Sri Hanumanji and finish

our “virtue”al backbone project. Learn the importance of Japa and make Japa mala.

Nov 2018 - 2nd grade

Anandam

• Revisited everything we have learnt about Hanumanji so far
• Learnt about visible (physical) and invisible (mental) backbone and how backbones support us to lead our lives
• Learnt about Hanumanji’s virtues through the Dhyana Shloka
• Buddhi (Intelligence), Balam (Physical and mental strength), Yashas (Fame), Dhairyam (Courage), Nirbhayatvam (Fearlessness), Arogataam (Health), Ajaadyam (Alertness/Awareness) and Vaakpatuthvam (Eloquence)
• Talked about how we can lead our lives based on these good qualities and virtues.

Made a Japa Mala in class. Recommendation is for children to use this japa mala every day/night to help focus and improve mental health. They can pick any favorite simple chant and repeat it 27 times. There are 27 beads in the japa mala. There is a big bead (28^th bead) to guide them where to start and finish.

With warm wishes,

Jayanthi, Kalpana, Srividya