September 16th, 2012 class journal

Next Class: Sept 23rd, 2012

We started with the prayers and shlokas. Harshala aunty explained the meaning of the prayer Om Sahanavavatu to the kids. She also explained to the kids why we do prayers. God gives power. Be polite and thank god for everything. God is our battery to operate!

Prayers/Shlokas

• OM (3 times)
• Om Sahanavavathu - Harshala aunty explained the meaning of this prayer to our kids.
• Karaagre Vasate Lakhsmi (Early morning prayer to say each morning after waking up)
• Vakratunda Mahakaya (Prayer for Lord Ganesha)
• Saraswati Namastubhyam (Prayer for Goddess Sarawathi)
• Gurur Brahma (Prayer for Guru)
• Brahmaarpanam (Prayer before eating meals)
• Subhamkaroti Kalyanam (Evening prayer before lighting lamp)
• Karacharana Kritam  (before sleeping)

Bhajans

• Ganesha Sharanam
• Ambam Bhajami
• Gauri Nandana
• Rama Nama Tarakam
• He Shivashakar 
• Shri Ganaraya jai ganaraya (NEW BHAJAN, page 48 in new prayer book). This bhajan was sung to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi on sept 19th. 

Guru Names - What is Guru? Guru means teacher.

• Swami Chinmayananda
• Swami Tejomayananda
• Swami Shantananda

Activity

Harshala aunty explained (using a Lord Ganesha mask) to the kids why Ganesha has small eyes.

Small eyes - to focus
Big trunk - High efficiency and adaptability

Yoga

The kids had a great time doing yoga.

• Tree pose
• windmill 
• quiet mouse
• candle pose
• lion pose
• butterfly pose

Quiz 


Names of Butterfly - Monarch butterfly/swallowtail butterfly




Meditation


Our kids meditated on Lord Ganesha's picture for 2 minutes. 

Sanskrit colors and body parts

First we played 'Krishna Says' game for learning Sanskrit Body parts.

• Shirah (Head)
• Karnah (ears)
• Nasika (nose)
• netram (eyes)
• hastah (hands)
• Padah ( feet)
• Jivah (Tongue)
• Udanam (Stomach)
• Dantaha (teeth) 
• kandaha (shoulders)
• janu (knees)

The kids sung head, shoulders, knees and toes using sanskrit body parts. 

Second, we played the recognizing sanskrit colors games.

• RED - Raktah
• BLUE - Nilah
• YELLOW - Pitah
• GREEN - Haritah
• WHITE - Shvetah
• BLACK - Shamal 

Sanskrit Vowels 

The sanskit vowels that were taught last year were revised. The kids played the sanskrit alphabet match game. Please have the kids practice the sanskit vowels in the LATIKA workbook.

Storytime 

Today's story was Ganesha's mousecapede.

Arti - Om Jai Jagadish Hare

Ending Prayer

Om Poornamadah Poornamidam 

Homework Assignment

Harshala aunty explained the meaning of the Prayer Om Sahanavavatu. Older children (kindergarten and up) will be explaining the meaning of this prayer to the little kids in the class next time.

Comments

We celebrated Raghav's (Anisha's son) birthday in class by singing the balavihar Happy Birthday Song. The birthday song was extra special as it was created by Pujya Swami Tejomayananda.