Oct 27th, 2013 Jersey City Balavihar Class Journal

K Blog 

Because of Indian Halloween Parade ,classroom time was limited.

Om
Shanti path Sahanavavtu
Bhagvan Ganeshji’s Prayer : Vakratunda Mahakaya
Daily Prayer : Students are doing well on recalling Karagre Vasate Prayes
Yoga : This is a popular demand!
Sanskrit : Students are enjoying participation in the games for learning body parts and Sanskrit colors.
Lesson letter D :  We could only partially cover the lesson because of Diwali –Halloween Parade. Students received homework page of interviewing their Dad. Moms will help to read the questionnaire prior to interview. Please encourage them to be professional, bold while interviewing. Do not make fun if children make mistakes. Please be serious when you answer as students are learning Pitrudeo Bhav ! Students will be given opportunity to present before class and discuss answers.

Happy Diwali to all !

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1st Grade 

It was wonderful to see the kids all dressed up for the Indian fancy dress this past weekend. Here is the update for the previous balavihar session.

We did a quick run through of the Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) followed by attendance and the daily prayers (Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book).
We also revised the Gruru Sthothram till verse 8 (pg 85-86). Please be sure to practice the verses at home as some kids are having trouble saying them with the rest of the class.

In Ramayana, we discussed the story of how Janaka, the king of Mithila, found Sita while ploughing the fields for a yagya and accepted her as a gift from Bhumadevi, took her home and brought her up as his own daughter. The kids also learnt about Valmiki reaching Mithila along with Rama and Lakshmana and how Rama took up the challenge of breaking Rudra’s bow to marry Sita. Everyone in class was in a festive mood as they were dressed up as the characters at the wedding.

For the activity we continued to trace Lord Rama’s journey on the map of India. All the kids are requested to please bring this map to every class along with their folders. Also, since we were attending a wedding, we discussed what gift we should give. For this, each kid got a sheet of paper on which they were asked to write down whatever bad habits they wanted to get rid of. They folded the sheets and put it in a gift bag that I assured would reach Lord Rama. The idea is that God will accept these bad habits and convert them into good ones for the kids. That would be the best gift we could give!

We concluded the class with the closing prayer - Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha (pg-19). We also revised the meaning of this prayer.

For their homework, please make sure the kids revise their vowels and the Gurusthothram upto verse 8. Also, color the picture of Sita Swayamvar that has been sent home.

See you at the next class. Please dress up in traditional clothes as we will be celebrating the festival of Deepavali.