December 10, 2011

Yoga

One of our class parents  was kind enough to jon our class to demonstrate Surya namaskar and other yoga positions.  She explained the concept of "silence" to the class and the children were very excited and cooperative for the whole session.  they may like to continue half hour sessions in the future as well. Thanks. Shlokas/ Bhajans:

We learnt the new bhajan for December.  The class has to lead the assembly on December 18.

General Hindu Philosophy:

We continued our study of Hindu values with  "Karma".  We discussed the "random act of kindness" that they had performed over the week.  We compared karma to a piggy bank with credits and debits and again asked them to think about the credits and debits of any one day this week.

Upcoming Events/ Comments

One of our class families has kindly offered to host the Bhiksha for Swamiji on Sunday Jan 22, 2012.  I will send out a food sign up sheet etc in January.

If any other parents would like to share something with the class for 1hr at any lesson, please let us know.  I am sure the children would enjoy your visit.

Editted to remove names of people.

December 03, 2011

Shlokas/ Bhajans:

We learnt the new bhajan for November as we didn't have too many classes in November.

General Hindu philosophy

We studied the meaning of "values", "ethics" and ethical dilemmas.  We talked about the 6 pillars of character as taught in Nj public schools.  We enumerated various other good and bad values. We learnt about the concept of "Dharma" and how it can be applied to our lives.  The children were assigned a task to perform a "random act of kindness" and talk about it in the next class.
Mahabharata:

We continued our story of Mahabharata Chapters 7, 8  from the book. 

November 19, 2011

After a month's break we returned to the classroom.  It was great to see so many of the children at the three field trips. 

Shlokas/ Bhajans:

We learnt the bhajan for October/ November.  We continued to learn Gurupaduka sthotram.

Mahabharata:

We continued our story of Mahabharata Chapters 6,7  from the book.  We talked about Draupadi's swayamvara and the kingdom of Kandavaprastha.  We are slowly reaching a point where there are so many characters to remember.

Activities:

We had a quiz of the first 7 chapters we have learnt in Mahabharata.

Coming up:

Biksha - January 21, 2012

Thanks, Malathi / Muni

October 16, 2011

Shlokas/ Bhajans:

We learnt the new bhajan for October

Mahabharata:

We continued our story of Mahabharata Chapters 5, 6  from the book.  We had an animated discussion about Ekalavya and whether Arjuna/Drona were fair in this situation what we discussed the other options they had in the situation.  We also discussed Draupadi's swayamvara.

Activities:

We played 7 up  and incorporated a quiz of the first 6 chapters we have learnt in Mahabharata.

Announcements:

CORD Walk-a-thon next Sunday.

Homework:  Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_temple_architecture

Think of a contest for a Swayamvara

Coming up:

Visit temple at Pomono, NY on Nov 6

Ashram cleanup on Nov 13.

Thanks, Malathi / Muni

October 2, 2011

Points discussed with parents:

1. Class Curriculum

Our general format will be: 

1.  15 minutes of invocation prayers led by one of the students each week

2.  30-45 minutes of new sthothra and bhajan

3.  30-45 minutes of Mahabharata – about 1 chapter per class

4.  15 minutes of activity selected by students

5.  15 minutes of concluding prayers led by a student

2. Websites

http://www.bbnjdharmam.blogspot.com/

http://www.bbnjbalavihar.com/

3. Events:

Oct 23 - CORD

Nov 6 - Field Days Pomona temple

Nov 13th - Ashram Cleanup Seva Day

December 1st week -  Vrindavan Surabhi (Annual Fundraiser for Chinmaya Ashram Construction)

4. Competitions

Geeta  chanting Practice sessions / Swaranjali programs held in Basking Ridge

Geeta Chanting Competition 2012 - Chapter 12 (pre-finals on Apr 21st and Finals on April 28 2012

Essay Competitions 2012 -5th Grade and above.

5. Samskriti

Annual End of the Year Event -->10 minute Stage performance by All children and Adult Study Circles

6.  Bhiksha

Sign up

7. Other 

Celebrate some festival as a class - Deepavali/ other suggestions

September 25, 2011

Shlokas/ Bhajans:
We chanted the first 2 shlokas in Gurupadukastotram. We will continue to learn other stanzas in the  next few classes.  We had a lively discussion on what we can consider to be a Guru and the children shared symbols/padukas from their lives - not only teachers/parents/ siblings but also  xbox and Harry Potter books!

Mahabharata:
We continued our story of Mahabharata Chapter 3 from the book.  We are trying to discuss various  meanings in each chapter rather than tell the story which the 6th graders are capable of reading themselves.  We try to discuss what they consider to be right and wrong from each story and try to put it in the context of the time period and also to see how it applies in their lives.  For example:  Did they feel it was right for Dhirithirashtra to not be placed on the throne just because he was blind?

Activities:

We played silent ball (which was far from silent) and tried to name the characters so far.

Announcements:

Back to Balavihar day is Oct.2. Please attend this. We would like to meet and talk to all the parents.

Homework for the following week are:

Read Chapter 4 and listen to Gurupaduka sthothram from mp3 attached to e-mail.

Coming up:

CORD Walkathon

Thanks, Malathi & Muni

September 18, 2011
Hari OM!

Beginning Prayers
Om Saha Navavathu
Vakratunda Mahakaya
Saraswathi Namastubhyam

Bhajans:
Rama Lakshmana Jaanaki Jai Bolo Hanuman ki
Om Shiva Om Shiva Paraatpara Shiva

Stotram:
GuruPadukaStotram (Slokathan-pg 4) - We did sloka 1

Mahabharata

In Mahabharata we have studied Chapter 1 and 2 – how Sage Vyasa and Lord Ganesha worked together to write the epic, introduction of some of the characters – Shantanu/Ganga/Bhishma and Shantanu/Satyavati/Vichitraviryan/Chittrangada.

Activity:
Hangman

Conclusion:
We conluded the day with

Om Jaya Jagadeesha Hare
Pledge
Om Purnamadah