Dec 21,2014

Om 3 times

Prayers : Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Gururbrahma

Bhajans : Shree Ganaraya, Amba Parameshwari, Sharade Visharde, Jaya Durga Laxmi Saraswati

                    Manasa Bhaj re,  New Bhajan Guru Hamare Mana Mandir me.

Sanskrit : Writing consonants : Ka, Kha, Ga, Gha ,Da, cha,chha, ja ,za, dnya

Lesson : We continued learning about pledge. We learned how service of various community workers is important that makes life easy and comfortable. The service to the country is saying " Thank You".

We brainstormed what are the different ways we can serve country. We can serve by being

conscientious Citizens. Service is love made visible. Where there is a love, the service is not a burden.

Activity : Coloring page. Drawing pictures how we can serve.

Dec 14

Om 3 times

Sahanavavatu

Prayers : Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Gururbrahma

Daily Prayers: Karagre Vasate Laxmi, Karamadhye Saraswati, Brahmarpanam, Karacharan Kritam

Bhajans: Shree Ganaraya, Amba Parameshwari, Sharade Visharde, Jaya Durga Laxmi Saraswati

                    Manasa Bhaj re,

Sanskrit : Writing vowels. Writing Consonants : Ka,kah, ga,gha,da.

Lesson : We continued learning about Pledge. We learned God's grace is His Blessing. It helps us to build our character strong. We get it when we follow the path of virtue (good values we observe like telling truth, Being kind and helpful) courage( Facing fear while doing right thing) and wisdom ( Listening to our Iloo. ) We do not know there is a grace because we are not receptive. We are not receptive because our bad tendencies create a hole in our personalities and grace is lost.

We also learned that we are instruments of God. Our body is like Flute with holes. If holes are blocked we cannot hear music. Same way there are  holes ( sensory channels)  eye, ears, mouth, skin, nose we need to keep them clean by watching good movies, not saying bad words etc.

When we fill ourselves with positive virtues, such as love happiness, good morals intelligence, Bhagvan Krishna will use us for the noble cause. The noble actions will flow through us to the world around us.

Story : Bhakta Prahlad , how he followed the path of virtue, courage and wisdom.

Dec 7th

Om 3 x

Invocation of Peace : Om Sahanavavatu

Daily Prayers : Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Gururbrahma

Bhajans : Shree Ganaraya, Amba Parameshwari, Sharade Visharde, Jaya Durga Laxmi Saraswati

                    Manasa Bhaj re,

Sanskrit : Writing Vowels ( a,aa etc)

Lessons : We continued learning about Pledge.  Producing is making something. Consuming is taking, buying using. We continuously keep taking something. We do not think about giving back. We learned Sharing is allowing someone to take part in your possession, giving is offering something you have without expecting anything in return. However Bhagvan ensures that we receive something in return. The more we give more we will receive.

Story :  Story of Mongoose

Activity : Coloring page, Santa Spirit.

Nov 23

Nov 23,2014

We had a combined class with first graders. Some were our past graduates and some were new.

Om 3x

Prayers : Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswatim Nmastubhyam, Gururbrahma

Daily Prayers : As there were new students we memorized Karagre Vasate Laxmi

Bhajans : Sharade Visharade , Jaya Durga Laxmi Saraswati,  Manasa Bhaj Re ( My Prayer book)

Yoga : Tree ,windmills ,lion , butterfly poses

Sanskrit colors : Identifying  Haritah ( green) Raktah ( red ) Shamalah ( black) Shwetah ( white ) Pingalah ( brown)

Sanskrit Writing :   First four vowels

Lesson : We continued learning about pledge. We learned about honesty and nobility . Honesty is telling truth, speaking and acting according to  what we are thinking. However if speaking truth hurts feelings of others, we must keep quiet. It is not OK to be dishonest and speak or do what we really do not mean.

We leaned noble values . Students wrote noble values in the bubbles. We learned that noble values save us whereas holding bad values is harmful to ourselves

Story : We learned a story of a fox and a lion. How the arrogance of a dishonest lazy fox killed him.

Activity : Coloring page 

Nov 17th

3x Om

Invocation of peace : Om Sahanavavatu ( pg 9  My Prayer Book)

Beginning Prayers : Vakratunda Mahakaya ( pg  37 My Prayer book), Saraswati Namastubhyam ( pg 15                                                  My  Prayer book)  , Gururbrahma ( pg    My Prayer book)

Daily Prayers  : Pg  14  My prayer book . We sang all prayers. New students learned Karagre Vasate                                         Laxmi (  track 7 on CD Morning Prayer

Bhajan : Shree Ganaraya ( pg 48 Track 36 ), Durga Laxmi Saraswati( pg 74, track 48 on CD Sharade Visharde ( pg 74 track 48 ). We learned new Bhajan Manas bhaj re

Sanskrit :  Naming Body parts ( Krishna says game ), New students learned Haritah, Raktah, Shyamala,Shwetah ( green,red,black,white respectively.

Lesson : Students learned the 5th line of Chinmaya Pledge ( Ever ready to fight against low tendacies) We learned that low tendencies are bad habits in us . We need to develop good habits such as waking up early, eating fruits and vegetables, watching good movies, doing homework everyday, being kind and helpful. We need to get rid of our bad habits such as nail biting, making fun of others, watching TV all the time. As a Chinmya Army our goal is to read more books learn about God ,noble people and get rid of our bad habits  .

Activity : Students made Iloo and Miloo parrot puppets. Miloo is a bad puppet that tells us to do wrong things. Iloo in us is a good puppet . It tells us to do right things. Students had fun answering what should Iloo say when Miloo tells us to do wrong things.It was amazing that some kids gave positive commands than negetive ! For example When Miloo says chew you pencil ,Iloo should say "use your pencil for writing !" rather than saying" don't chew your pencil." We need to keep Miloo and Iloo all the time in front of us.

Worksheet : Students checked all useful things and crossed all useless things that need to go in the garbage box. So we learned all good habit need to stay with us and we pretended we are throwing bad habits in a trash can.

Home work : Write your good and bad habits and what did Iloo tells you to get rid of them . Also memorize all bhajans and daily prayers.

Nov 8th 2014

3 x Om

Invocation of Peace : Om Sahanavavatu

Prayers : Vakratunda Mahakaya, Saraswatim Namastubhyam, Gururbrahma

Daily Prayers: My Prayer book. Practiced all prayers.

Bhajans : Shree Ganaraya, Sharde Visharde, Jay Durga Laxmi Saraswati. We prepared  for the end of the balavihar presentation.

Yoga Postures

Sanskrit : Body parts, colors

Lesson: We are focusing on pledge , so we learned about  Meaning and how and why of words service, army, courage, discipline in the second line of the Chinamya pledge.  We pretended various roles and discussed how community workers serve . We discussed and finally agreed that physical and mental discipline is important. I will email the summary and the coloring page.

Story: How Pundalika serviced parents and pleased Panduranga.

Activity : Making  Chinamaya Army head band.

We had a visitor to we had to slow down the pace to enable the new friend catch up. We enjoyed having our new friend !

10/26/14

3x Om

Prayers : Vakratunda, Saraswati namastubhyam, Gururbrahma

Daily Prayers : We focused more on prayer before sleep ( Karacharan  Kritam ) and tried to memorize the verses.

Bhajans : We sang Amba Parameshwari . We learned two new bhajans pg 74 ( No 3, track 48,Sharade Visharde) ( No4 ,track 49 Jaya Durga Laxmi Saraswati) .

Bhagavad Geeta Chanting: 15th Chapter first 2 lines of the first verse

Writing : Letter K (consonant) and ru( rishi)( vowel) in sanskrit.

Lesson : We learned D for Dad . Why we say Pitru dev bhav. How Sonara took initiative for father's day. We also learned the first line of  Chinmaya pledge.

Story : United we stand ( How flock of birds escaped from a hunter).

Activity: A Coloring page for the pledge.

Yoga poses

Sanskrit : Reviewed colors and learned names of the body parts in Sanskrit

Sept 21 ,2014

• Invocation of peace( Om Sahanavavatu)
• Prayer of  Bhagvan Ganesh, Saraswati , and Gurustrotram
• Bhajan Shree Ganaraya and Amba Parameshwari
• Geeta Chapter 15 1 st verse
• Lesson: Review of A for Aspiration , Learned B for brotherhood.  We learned brotherhood  is sense of togetherness and belongingness amongst families, neighborhood and organization and the world.  sense of brotherhood is achieved by realizing each of us is unique and special . Entire world is one family. We solved the riddle" Home" and leaned importance of praying together as a family. Since the story "The complete picture "for the lesson  was presented as a play last year and students were participants ,we just briefly reviewed the story and moved to lesson C for cleanliness. We partly completed the lesson. We learned how we can keep surrounding, and body clean.
• Activity ; B for brotherhood coloring page.
• Writing first 6 vowels of Sanskrit.
• Learning red ,green, black and yellow colors in Sanskrit
• Homework  : worksheet on C for cleanliness. Draw pictures or write words by taking assistance for spellings.

I would like our class to present bhajans,so it is important everyone memorize.

September 14,  2014

We had our first class.

3x Om

Bhagvan Ganesha's Devi Saraswati 's prayer and Guru stotra


Bhajan Shree Ganaraya

Yoga poses

Sanskrit color words for green and red.

Lesson : A for Aspiration , both students responded they
want to be an Astronaut when they grow. We discussed what we do to reach our target or goal

Story : The best archer

Activity : coloring worksheet

April 24 ,2014

• 3X Om
• Shanti Paath Invocation of peace ( Sahanavavatu)
• Prayers ( Vakratunda Mahakaya… , Gururbrahma….)
• Daily Prayers( Karagre Vasate, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Brahmarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara charan Kritam) My Prayer book.
• Bhajans : I am proud of all K students who presented two bhajans ( Shree Ganaraya and OM Dhimiki dhimiki). In the classroom we sang Amba Parameshwari bhajan
• Writing Sanskrit Vowels : Thank you parents for practicing writing ! It took less time writing . All students wrote on line and neat! We wrote 11 letters ( Ref Latika book). Two more to go !
• Yoga : ( Tree, wind mill bird,candle,lion,mouse,butterfly)
• Sanskrit colors
• Meditation
• Lesson T for truth: Students said they never lie! We learned the benefits of lying such as saving us from trouble are temporary .Truth always wins ultimately.
• Story : A boy who cried Wolf.
• Homework Coloring page for T for truth

I am proud of Satvik who took initiative in learning 2 lines of Chinmaya Pledge and presenting it with first graders!

K blog March 30^th 2014

Shanti Paath ( Invocation of peace) Om Sahanavavatu

Prayers of Bhagvan Ganesha ,Saraswati Goddess, Guru

Daily prayers ( karagre Vasate, Brahmarpanam, Shubham Karoti, ( My Prayer Book)

Students learned second verse of Kara charan kritam( night prayer)

Bhajans : Shree Ganaraya, Amba Parameshwari, Dhimiki Dhimiki ( My prayer Book)

Yoga poses

Sanskrit colors ( Latika book)

Activities: Right and wrong worksheet, Writing Sanskrit vowels ( pl refer Latika Book), coloring

Lesson: O for obedience. Students learned what is obedience, and obeying is important to save us from trouble and brings harmony in life.

Story: Vikram’s Obedience

K Blog                                                           2014, March 23^rd

Shanti Paath (Invocation of peace): Om Sahanavavatu

Prayers: Vakrutunda Mahakaya, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Gururbrahma

Daily Prayers: besides chanting previously learned prayers (karagre vasate, Brahmarpanam, Shubham Karoti), students learned a new prayer: One that is sung before sleeping (Kara charan kritam).

Bhajans: Shree Ganaraya, Amba parameshwari, Om Dhimiki Dhimiki

Most of the students did well recalling lines of bhajans

Lesson: N for nobility. We learned what the act of nobility is.

Story: Noble cow

Yoga poses

Sanskrit colors: Students pointed to colors on each other’s dresses when name of the color was called out.

Writing: Writing vowels, we reviewed previously learned letters and new letters.

We sang Birthday song for Rupali auntee.

Home work: Coloring pages for M and N.

K blog March 10 th

1        Shanti Paath.

2        Daily Prayers

3        5 verses of the Guru stotram

4        Bhajans :  Shree Ganaraya, Subramanyam

5        We learned L for love., what is love ,how we express , most important is to serve the person you love, how Shabari and Hanuman showed their love for Prabhu Ramchandraji,

6        Stories: 1 Mahatma Gandhi, how he changed a thief with his love 2 The best gift, what do the teachers love to see in a student.

7        Activities :

8        1 Building a house with a popsicle stick with a message, Glue binds a house, Love binds a home. Love binds and keeps family together.

2        A puzzle, build a word with beginning letters of  the names of pictures.

3        Coloring L for love. 

 We had a classroom party. It was good to see all of you !    

 K blog March 16^th, 2014

Shanti Paath ( Invocation of peace)

Bhagvan Ganeshji’s prayer(Vakratunda Mahakaya)

Devi Saraswati’s prayer ( Saraswati namastubhyam)

Daily Prayers ( Brahmapanam Brahmahavir, Shubham Karoti) 

Bhajan: Amba Parameshwari, Dhimiki Dhimiki Dhim( pg 119 My Prayer)

Lesson : M for moher. We discussed what do mothers do for us. Students talked about how dads play roles of mom many times in the absence of mom. Guru is mother of all who protects , nurtures us all the time.

Story : The Kissing Hands

Activity: Students drew pictures of mom and designed their own picture frames

for the picture

Meditation

As class began at 10.30 am we had to shorten lesson,  cancel writing, and learning Sanskrit

 K blog March 2 ,2014

Shanti Paath : Om Sahanavavtu

Prayers :  Vakratunda Mahakaya, Gurur Brahma,Saraswati Namstubhyam

Daily Prayers :  We completed memorizing Evening Prayer : Shubham Karoti ( Pg 16 My Prayer)

Bhajan : We chanted Ambam Bhajami ( My Prayer pg 74   )

Activities :

1.  Writing :  Today we focused on writing  OM  ( Sanskrit) and Sanskrit vowels Latika book : 

अ  आ   उ  ऊ  इ ई  ए ऐ  

2. Worksheet for L: Students glued Shiny sparkles on glue for the worksheet on Letter L ( love binds home

Lesson : K for Kindness, we discussed what is kindness, how to it is presented. Students marked act of kindness and unkindness as smiley and sad faces next to sentences.

Meditation

Home work :

• Please write act of kindness Students did during the week and present in the next class.
• Color worksheets for letters j,k,l.

K blog Feb 23

OM 3x

Shanti Paath

Prayers of Bhagvan Ganeshji,Mother Saraswati and Guru

Daily prayers : We chanted morning prayer, prayer before food, and studying. We learned  first verse of evening prayer (Shubham Karoti)

Bhajans: Shree Ganaraya,  bhajan:  Amba Parameshwari

Sanskrit Colors and names of body parts

Yoga Poses :  Tree, Bird, Windmill, Candle, Butterfly, lion ,mouse

Lesson : J for Japa . We learned why it is important to repeat the name of God.

What is Om, why it is important to focus and have good attention?

Activity/ Game: Game of concentration.

We also talked about upcoming lesson on K,L and partly completed  one of worksheets of lesson L and found a secret code.

We greeted four new students and introduced each other

                                

January 12th, 2014 Jersey City Balavihar Kindergarten Class Journal

Peace Invocation: 3x OJanuary 12th, 2014 Jersey City Balavihar Class JournalM

Bhagvan Ganeshji’s Prayer:   Vakratunda Mahakaya

Goddess Saraswati’s Prayer: Saraswati Namstubhyam

Guru’s Prayer: Gururbrhama

Daily Prayers:

Karagre Vasate

Brahmarpanam: We practiced second verse today.

Bhajan: We practiced Shree Ganaraya Bhajan 2x to get ready for presentation

Lesson: I for Intelligence

Story: We learned how Bhagvan Ganesha was winner of the fruit Naradmuni brought

by using intelligence.

Activity: Coloring page. We learned special feature about Elephant’s trunk.

How it can discriminate a blade of a grass and log of wood and adjust force to pick them

Sanskrit: We revised naming colors in Sanskrit, continued Bingo game for the vowel identification. We did not have enough timing for writing letters today.

Meditation: We pray Bhagvan Ganesha to give us an ability to remember to use our intelligence.

January 5th, 2014 Jersey City Balavihar Kindergarten Class Journal

Invocation 3x OM
Bhagvan Ganeshji’s prayer Vakratunda Mahakaya
Guru’s prayer: Gururbrahma
Daily prayers
Most of the students have learned Karagre Vasate ( CD track 7, pg 14 and Saraswati
Namastubhyam Cd track 10 ,pg 15 My Prayers)
 We are learning the prayer before eating Brahmarpnam students learned and memorized
the first line. Please help them to memorize during weekdays.
Bhajan: We practiced the Bhajan Shree Ganaraya( CDTrack 36 Pg 48 My Prayers) to be
presented on Jan 26th
Lesson : H for happiness. We explored how happiness is a state of mind and does
not depend on toys or food etc. Students had a ride on Chinmaya train . They had an
agreement that they will always be happy all the time when they are aboard. We stopped
at various stations and ……..
Activity : Coloring page for H is in Happiness. Students did good job on sharing and
saying thank you to each others .
Game :
• Bingo Sanskrit. This is to help kids to identify/match and name Sanskrit vowels.
Those of who who do not have Latika book, please use Learn Sanskrit App. App
costs 1 dollar. If you have iPhone/iPad that has touch screen, this App will help
students to trace on vowel letters.
• Haritah raktah( green light /red light It lifted the chills in weather. Satwik Rajiv.
responded I am happy! And smiled.
Meditation
We could not practice writing Sanskrit Alphabet. Please practice writing letters
learned in the past. Also Practice Bhajan Shree Ganaraya.
 in the auditorium.