2013 – SSE Group 2 Lesson Plans

Teachers: Radhika Dokku and Manorama Saxena

Attendance: Diya, Sahit, Tejus, Gopal Krishna, Omkar, Pravarna, Ateesh

We discussed mainly about the importance of Aarthi and how it should be given . Also we discussed about their new year resolutions and what they would try to implement in the new year . Lesson plan attached.

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Teachers: Vijaya Mani and Jaya Krishnan

Attendance: Tanvi, Tanisha, Akshaya, Pravarna, Omkar, Sahit, Ateesh

Value: Love

Sub Value: Compassion

Objective: To stimulate thinking about the meaning of compassion

Lesson Plan Document Enclosed

Life Application

During this Christmas week, find one way you can show compassion to anyone (by donating toys, donating clothes, giving money to the Salvation Army). Record and share your feelings in next class.

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Teachers: Vijay Reddy and Bhaskar Anant

Attendance: Tanisha Mohan, Pravarrna Prathibhan, Akshaya Swaminathan, Atesh Suresh, Pranav Paranji, Sahit Dokku

Value: Right Action;
Sub value: Love and Kindness to Mother Nature

Nature and environment is property of God, the Creator, any injury caused to it gives us punishment … Sri Sathya Sai baba. Lesson Plan attached

Life application: Write down at least 3 acts in the week where you have seen the trash on the floor/street and picked it and placed in a right recycle bin.

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Teacher:Mangala Shankar

Attendance: 1. Atesh suresh, 2. Pranav Paranji, 3. Sahit Dokku, 4. Gopal Krishna Baliga, 5. Diya Rajput, 6. Akshaya Swaminathan

Value: Right conduct, Subvalue: Faith

Life Application: Practise dharma and faith everyday in your life. Chant Gayathri 3 times every morning before going to school

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher: Vijeya Mani Ayer

Attendance: Atesh, Pravarna, Gopalkrishna and Shriya

Value: Right Action

Sub Value: Environmental Cleanliness

Objective: To stimulate thinking about the Garbage and Recycling ideas on students.

Lesson Plan attached.

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Teacher:Mani Sundaram

Attendance: Tanisha, Tanvee, Diya,Shreya, Sahit,Tejus, Pranav, Athesh,Pravarrna,Krishna, Kruthik

Lesson Plan Purpose: To understand why Seva is important in our lives

Value: Non Violence Sub-value: Service ….

197- 202 from SSE Group II Manual

” Service to Man is Service to God”. ? Sai Baba, Sathya Sai news leter, Summer 1994, p. 32. Affirmation

“I am an instrument of the Divine Will.”

Story: “A story from Abraham Lincoln’s life”

Explain the following: What is Seva and who is it for?

Life Application :

Find a way to serve someone in need this week.. Write down what help you provided everyday.

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Teacher:Suhasini Jonnavithula

Attendance: Tanisha, Sreetanvi, Prahlathan, Atesh, Sahit, Tejus, Gopal krishna, Kruthik

Deepavali Story: The evil demon Narakasura brought darkness to the world with his mis-deeds and heinous acts. Lord Krishna defeated and killed him in a battle and brought light and life back to the world. People rejoiced with this good news and lit lamps and celebrated this as the festival of Lights or Deepavali.

Significance of Deepavali: Swami’s message of lighting the lamp of happiness to dispel sorrow. We lit a candle and observed the flame. Discussed about being like the flame which is upright and pointed upwards all the time. Remember to be kind, caring, sharing and helping others to bring light and happiness to the world.

Discussed Life application from Last class about Mother’s Unconditional LOVE and how we must be useful to society with serving all with every part of our body.

EDUCARE LESSON PLAN #2

Value: Nonviolence

Subvalue: Unconditional Love

Spiritual Principle (Purpose): To learn that your ultimate duty is to love yourself and others, especially those with disabilities.

Quote

“Duty is the responsibility one has to respect and revere others, and to serve them to the best of one’s ability.” – Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Speaks vol. 19, p. 44

“To love always, that is duty.” – H.F. Amiel, 1849

Affirmation

“I am friendly to all, especially those in need.”

Narrated a Story of a grandfather playing and teaching his little grandson how to walk, talk and be smart. The grandfather is hospitalized with a stroke and comes home paralyzed and unable to talk and walk again. Through the sheer love of his grandson who spends time with him and interacts very lovingly and encourages him to walk and talk, the grandfather shows good improvement in his medical condition. The story exhibits the power of Love which can move mountains.

Activity

: True or False

Disabilities happen to people who do something bad. True False
People who cannot walk or speak very well are not smart. True False
Disabled people don’t like children to ask questions. True False
People in wheelchairs can never drive cars. True False
If you were a person with a handicap, how would you answer the following?

Physical Handicap __________________________________________________

Things that are difficult for me to do: ___________________________________________________________

Things that are easy to do: ___________________________________________________________

How I like to be treated: ___________________________________________________________________

Mental Handicap ____________________________________________________

The ways people put me down: .___________________________________________________________

Ways people make me feel important: ___________________________________________________

Life Application:

Be a friend to someone disabled in your school, either physically or mentally challenged, reach out to them and make them feel happy.

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Teacher:Vijaya Ayer and Chie Fujishima

Attendance: Sahit, Tejas, Pravarnna, Athesh, Krithik, Diya, Tanisha, Tanvee

Value: Love

Sub Value: Unconditional Love or Selfless Love

QUOTATION: You may feel that you are suffering because of love, but that suffering is due to a constricted love. When your love is all embracing, there will be no room for suffering.

Affirmation: I will develop the Love that asks for no returns: build faith on that basis(sss 8.9,49,58 PN7-23-71)

Lesson Plan attached

Life Application:

Take one thing from what we discussed in the group activity and apply it in practical life and note down how did you feel and share it in the next class.

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Teacher: Mangala Shankar

Attendance: 1. Tanisha Mohan, 2. Krithik Jeygandhi, 3. Pravarrna Prathiban, 4. Atesh suresh, 5. Pranav Paranji, 6.Sahit Dokku, 7. Tejus Bhalla, 8. Gopal Krishna Baliga, 9. Diya Rajput, 10. Sritanvee Dabburi, 11. Sruti Manish

Value: Contentment, Subvalue: Peace

a)Welcome Swami: 3 Om’s Gayathri

b)Discussed Avatarhood day significance

Avatar is the ‘descent of God in human form’. Avatar comes in response to the prayers of seekers, aspirants and devotees.

When did Sathya break His worldly bonds and start the mission He had incarnated for?

On October 20, 1940, Sathya was on His way to school when He suddenly returned home and flung His books away and declared, “I am no longer your Sathya. I am Sai.I don’t belong to you. I have My work. My devotees are calling Me. I am going. I can’t stay here any longer.”

Walking up to a neighbor’s house, He sat on a rock in the middle of the garden there while people flocked, bringing flowers.

As the people sat around Him, He started singing this bhajan, which is sung all over the world now:

Manasa bhajare Gurucharanam,
Dustara bhavasagara tharanam.

c)Reviewed life application from previous class

d)Lesson plan: To realize the importance of peace and contentment in our lives.

Reference : Gautama Buddha Story

e)Taught Manasa bhajorey Guru charanam bhajan.

Life Application: Practise contentment and peace next week at home. Chant 3 Sai Gayathri’s every night before going to bed.

Retire Swami: 3 Sai Gayathri’s

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher:Raji Iyer, Srividya Rajagopalan

Attendance: Diya, Tanvee, Tanisha, atheesh, pravarna, Krishna, Sahit, Omkar, Pranav

Value: Right action

Subvalue: Self-control

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher:Tanuja Sankar and Manorama Saxena

Attendance:Tanisha, SriTanvee, Diya, Akshaya, Shruti, Sahit, GopalKrishna, Tejus, Kruthik, Pravarna and Athesh

We had another session on meditation in continuation to last months class and kids learned about Vivekananda’s life and Meditation.

As a part of life application, kids were asked to do meditation daily at a particular time (Recommended to do it at 8 pm every day evening). Also they were asked to learn more about Vivekananda’s life and get back to the class next week.

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher:Vijeya Ayer and Radhia Dokku

Attendance: Sahit, Tejus, Pravarrna, Gopalkrishna, Kruthik, Pranav, Atesh, Sreetanvi, Tanisha, Shruthi, Joshitha.

Lesson Plan — see document

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Teacher:Mani Sundaram Ayer

Attendance: Joshita, Diya, Akshaya, Tanvi, Sahit, Tejus, Gopalkrishna, Pranav, Pravarrna, Kruthik, Atesh

Value: Love

Subvalue: Respect

Lesson Plan:

Value: Love & Respect for Mother, Father and Guru

The Children told us the story of Ganesha and Karthikeya going around the whole universe to prove themselves to fastest and strongest . Ganesha ultimately wins the Fruit from his Divine Parents , by going around them three times . He won over his parents with his love and respect in action.

Parents are the representatives of Divinity. You must, at all times show them love and respect.

We learnt a new bhajan on Mata, Pita and Guru being Divine

Sai Mata Pita Guru bandhiu Sakha
Tere Charnon mein Sai Mera Koti Pranaam
Mujhe Shakti do mere Sai Shiva
Mujhe bhakti do mere Sai Shiva
Mujhe Mukti do mere Sai Shiva
Sai Mata Pita Guru bandhiu Sakha
Tere Charnon mein Sai Mera Koti Pranaam

We learnt the meaning of the bhajan.

We also learnt a Ganesh Shloka :

Gajananam Bhoothganadhi Sevitham
Kapithha Jambuphala Sara Bakshitham
Uma Sutham Shoka Vinasha Karanam
Namami Vigneshwara Pada Pankajam

Home work:

Learn a bhajan on Mother & Father and sing it next time. Also learn this Ganesha Shloka.

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Teacher:Tanuja Sankar and Manorama Saxena

Attendance: Sahit, Tejus, SaiOmkar, Diya, Tanvi, Tanisha

Value: Right Action

We had a good interaction together yesterday for 1st SSE session for this academic year. We try to focus on refreshing what they have learned last year and to what extent and how they have tried to put the teaching into practice through out the summer.

Then we have screened a short video of the story “End of the Education is Character” explaining how Swami comes to rescue and take care of you when you indulge in right action and good deeds of taking one step forward to help others.

At the end, under the guidance of Manorama Aunty, kids have learned to do the meditation and asks for Swami’s love to be passed on to the people in need of his blessings. And have requested kids to practice the meditation every day for 5 minutes

Life application: We have asked them to practice to help other in need and pray for them.

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Teacher: Srividya Chandrasekhar

Attendance: Diya, Arthika, Riya, Sai Vishudhi, Hruday, Tejas, Sahit, Anish

VALUE: Peace SUBVALUE: Seeing the good in everything

QUOTE: Seeing a glass half-filled with water, the optimist is glad that it is half-full, while the pessimist is sad that it is half-empty. Though both statements are correct, the optimist hopes to fill the other half, too, while the pessimist gives up in despair. The one has faith; the other has no faith to sustain him. So we must develop faith by steady effort. Faith must lead to effort. Faith is essential for human progress in every field.
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba (SSS 15:12, June 27, 1981)

AFFIRMATION(S): I am optimistic. I see only good in life.

Lesson Plan Enclosed

ACTIVITY: Materials: one container of water, a container of lemons labeled “problems”, a container of sugar labeled “optimism”, a stirring spoon, some paper cups, a large sticky- note pad, pens or pencils, and a lemon.

Instructions: Give your students sticky notes and have them write or draw a stick-figure sketch of a problem they have, or one they have had in the past.

Have students stick their “problems” on the outside of the lemon container. Cut one or more lemons and squeeze the juice into the container with water. Pour a small bit of this sour mixture into cups and have the students taste it. Ask: “How does it taste? How is this like a problem?” Then have students describe the situation they wrote on the sticky note, and different ways they could react to the problem. What good can they see in the situation?

After each student shares, allow the student to spoon a small amount of sugar from the “optimism” container and stir the sugar into the lemon juice and water. After everyone shares and stirs, pour the sweetened mixture into a cup and let the students taste the “lemonade” made with their “optimism.”

Share with students the proverb, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Discuss how the activity and proverb show what it means to look for the good in things.

LIFE APPLICATION: This week when you have a problem, be like Optimouse. Say, “I see the good in what is happening. I will keep working at this, and God will help me.” Be cheerful, look for a solution, and keep trying.

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Teacher:Manorama Saxena

Attendance: Saiomkar, Hruday, Sahit, Riya, Diya and Tejus

Lesson Plan Enclosed

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Teacher: Renuka

Attendance: Sai Omkar, Hruday, Sahit, Gopal Krishna, Dia, Vishudhi

Value: Love

Sub-value: Respect, sacrifice, duty, kindness, etc. (as discussed by the children when we spoke about parents. I asked them to tell me what they thought the value and sub-value should be.)

Quote: Parents are given that name, because it is through them that we have the wonderful chance of life on earth. For the sacrifices that they have made for us, we must PAY RENT to them.

Lesson Plan: We reviewed last week’s life application and went into the lesson for today. We spoke about our parents and how they take care of us. Went over the quote and got into a discussion about ways we “pay rent” to our parents. We then read a Chinna Katha titled, “Revere Parents and Earn God’s Grace” and had a discussion. The children were able to relate to the story and shared some personal stories about listening to their parents.

The children then had an art project in which they had to write some of things they were grateful for that their parents have done for them. The children were very responsive and followed through with some great work.

Life Application: Children are to write down 5 ways in which they paid rent to their parents this week.

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Teacher:Tanuja Sankar and Sindhura Kunaparaju

Attendance: Diya, Gopal Krishna, Sahit and Hruday

Lesson Plan attached

As a part of activity the kids were given a situation of how to coup up with anger and they were given two scenarios to enact and asked to come up with their own scenario and enact it. As usual it was wonderful working with them.

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Teacher: Vijaya Ayer and Manorama Saxena

Attendance: Diya, Tanvi, Aarthika, Riya, Sai Vishudhi, Gopala Krishna, Sai Omkar, Anish, Julien, Sahit, Tejas

Value: Peace Sub Value: Patience

We discussed about the Meaning of the word ‘Patience’ ,is it a innate quality or to be taught and cultivated, if it can be cultivated, how do we do it.

We also discussed about Mother’s patience towards her children, how she was enormously patient during the whole time of our birth and further nurturing us till we are grown up and independent.

Kids were as usual very active and participated well in the class.

See the attachment for the lesson plan.

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Teacher: Tanuja Sankar and Suhasini Jonnavithula

Attendance: Riya, Arthika, Vishudhi, Diya, Tanvi, Gopal Krishna, Tejus, Omkar, Aneesh, Julian

Value: Love

Quote: “More fragrant than the sweet – smelling flowers, like the Jasmine and the Champak, Softer than the cheese and the butter, More beautiful than eye of the peacock, More pleasant than the moonlight, Is the love of the mother.” (Sathya Sai Speaks Vol 32, Part 2 Chapter 13 ‘Importance of Mother’s Grace)

Story on Mother’s Love and sacrifice that won over God’s Grace and even defeated Death.

Discussed about the Love of Sai towards the divine mother and how Swami fulfilled the 3 noble desires of mother Eswaramma. Also discussed about what Swami says about Mother.

Lesson Plan enclosed

Activity: Children decorated and made art project with a Quotation to present to their Mother next week on Mother’s day.

Life application:

Respect your parents, help your mother in household chores and show your gratitude for all the things she does for you.

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Teacher:Srividya, Maritza

Attendance: Arthika, Riya, Sai Vishudhi, Omkar,Sahit,Tejas,Gopal Krishna, Anish, Julian

Omkar, Gayathri

Mahasamadhi day

We discussed what is meant by mahasamadhi: the soul of divine personality, consciously chooses to leave the mortal coil and the divine body is enshrined for generations to come.

Discussion: Significance of mahasamadhi

We read the writeup about the significance of mahasamadhi explaining, how the divine energy is tuned down when the avathar is moving amidst us, but is in a higher energy level when the body takes the mahasamadhi followed by discussion.

Jeopardy- The divisions were biography, life and message, Teachings, Sathya Sai Organisation and Complete the bhajan sung by swami

Prayer: Asathoma

Life application:

Write some sentences about how swami and how his message has inspired your life.

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Teacher:Tanuja Sankar

Attendance: Riya, Vishudhi, Diya, Artika, Tanvi, Tejus, Omkar, Sahit, Hruday, Julian and Anish

Value: Right Action Sub-value: Trust

Spiritual Principal: Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

Lesson Plan : Attached

Life application: Rise to the occasion, stride through

Baba has said “Life is a challenge, meet it! Life is a dream, realize it! Life is a game, play it! Life is Love, enjoy it!” Know that behind every problem there lies an opportunity to learn, to shine, and to grow. All you have to do is be willing to move past the point of worrying and trust that Baba has your back. Be like the Lotus which chooses to blossom even though it lies in swampy waters.

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Teacher: Radhika Dokku

Attendance: Aarthika, Riya, Diya, Vishudhi, Tejus, Sai Omkar, Sahit, Gopal Krishna, Julian

Discussion: Reiterated all the topics covered in this year (september to now ) like Self esteem, anger management, being thankful, wastage of food, learning from mistakes etc . Also discussed the change in their attitude/personality from previous year. Many answered they became more matured in handling things and found ways of controlling their anger, developed positive attitude towards others and patience.

As an activity we had charades game on Swamy’s quotations, holybooks.

Life Application : Find and Write ten Swami’s quotes ( aim is to just get familiar with the new ones which they are not aware of ) yay

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Teacher: Vijaya Mani and Manorama Saxena

Attendance:1.Saiomkar, 2.Gopala Krishna, 3.Anish, 4.Sahit, 5.Vishudhi, 6.Aarthika, 7.Riya, 8.Diya

Value: Right Conduct Sub Value: Gratitude

We discussed about the meaning of the word “Gratitude” and to whom we should show our gratitude? Whether we should show gratitude only to human beings or we can extend to animals and other things in the world.

Kids enjoyed the group activity and responded very well.

See the attached lesson plan.

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Teacher: Tanuja Sankar

Attendance: Hruday, Julian

WATCH your Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character & Heart

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has instructed us to WATCH our Words, Actions, Thoughts,

Character and Heart. Today He is not with us in His physical form but His words will remain with us forever. Once when Swami was blessing a group of devotees a lady called out to Him loudly and said, “I Love You Swami”. Baba turned to her and responded and said, “Love My Words”! Swami’s words are not to be taken lightly.

March 31, 2013

Teacher: Maritza Hernandez, Jaya Sundar, Raji Iyer

Attendance: Anish, Sahit, Hriday, Tejus, Gopalkrishna, Diya, Riya, Sai Vishu, Julian Lopez, SaiOmkar, Aarthika,

Purpose: To carry out simple acts of kindness to spread love to all

Activity: The kids were divided into 3 groups. They each performed an act of kindness. Role playing–Pictures are attached.

Group 1 Anish, Sahit, Hriday, Saiomkar performed a scene where 2 boys were freezing cold in NY, when 2 kids walked by and gave them some warm clothes. 2nd scene there were two servants and the king (who was getting old) left the throne to the servants.

Group 2–Tejus, Krishna, Julian Lopez–A lucky charm is missing and they accuse this old man, they investigate in order to prove that the old man did not steal the lucky charm. One character confesses and returns the lucky charm and all is forgiving.

Group 3–Diya, Riya, Vishnu, Aarthika—Four friends were determined to climb Mt Everest, there was a prize of $100,000 for the one that reached first. In order to reach Mt. Everest they needed oxygen packs for each one. But at the rest stop they did not reload the pack, and they realized that they had only one left. One of the girls had asthma, so they decided to give her the oxygen pack. That girl won the prize and shared the winning with her other friends. The friends did not want the money or prizes. They said “We get our happiness from your happiness”.

Life application- kids are to create a “love note” to one to two family members. The note should express how special that person is to them. Then they will place the note someplace in the house where the relative will find the note. They are to write about this experience, who they wrote the note to and what happened.

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher: Vidya Rajagopalan & Chia Fujichima

Attendance: Gopalakrishna, Tejus, Anish, Omkar, Sahit, Hruday, Diya, Riya, Aarthika, Vishu. Prayers: Three OMs, Three Sai Gayathri.

QUOTE: Mind is like a mad monkey, body is like a water bubble, don’t listen to the body or the mind, listen to the conscience -Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Discuss Quote: What does Swami mean by mad monkey? how would you control mind-analogy of monkey trainer, time spent for ourselves and others-both to be productive. bring the use of various hobbies vis a vis time spent in useless activities

SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE: Bend the body, mend the senses and end the mind.

PRAYER

Think through me all day.
Feel through all day.
Speak through me all day.
Act through me all day.
And above all, O Lord, love and serve through me all day.

Anecdote: Once warden complained to bhagwan that the students are overworked, swami said that change of work is rest. Don’t allow the mind to be idle. It will rust and make the man into dust. Simply change the activity.This is why you have integrated curriculum in the University

ACTIVITY:

Provide every child with a quotation, ask the child to pick a word and write it down, then write the first word that comes to your mind on looking at the word. repeat the procedure at least 5 times.

Note how the mind travels

ART: The use of curriculars in mind control/peace (art class with chie)

Things needed: colors or markers, crayons and white paper.

Students were asked to close their eyes and listen to 3 types of sounds from waves, nature and instruments Then they were asked to draw their visualisations using shapes and lines. Later, students discussed their experience while they were drawing and how they did not concentrate on anything else except their drawings.

– Give a task to the monkey. Go to inside. Use the senses and the mind as a tool.

Affirmation: I use my mind and body to do right actions. (Repeat three times).

Life Application:

Try a hobby you like (art, music etc) for 10 minutes everyday and offer it to swami

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Teacher:Radhika Dokku and Manorama Saxena

Attendance : Aarthika, Riya, Diya, Sai Omkar, Tejus, Sahit, Gopal Krishna, Anish

Value: Love Sub-value : Honest

Topic: ACCEPTING AND LEARNING FROM MISTAKES

Lesson plan attached

Life Application : Every evening when you go to bed, be the star in your own movie. Review your day and ask yourself:

What could I have done better today?
How could I have phrased something so as to have spoken more kindly?
How might I have helped a situation?
Keep a diary of any useful information you discover about yourself. Note any changes in the way you deal with situations? Congratulate yourself on any improvements you see.

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Teacher: Tanuja Sankar

Attendance: Vishudhi, Arthika, Diya, Tejas, Gopal Krishna, Sahit

Value: Nonviolence

Subvalue: Interrelatedness of all living things

Purpose of lesson: To show students how the practice of nonviolence in daily life is a better choice than anger, that it has more long lasting positive effects, and that its beginnings lie in understanding the interrelatedness of all living things.

Lesson Plan document attached

Life Application:

This week, write down one or more times that you see yourself or another person putting nonviolence into practice. Be prepared to share it at next week’s lesson.

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Teacher:Vijaya Ayer and Jaya Krishnan

Attendance: Aarthika, Vishudhi, Riya, Diya, Julian, Sahit, Omkar, Gopala Krishnana

Value: Peace Sub Value: Concentration

Purpose – To stress the importance of concentration in our daily lives and to realize the value of clearing your mind of all thoughts.

We discussed about what is concentration and how it is different from meditation? How do we develop concentration during studies?

To test their concentration I gave them a picture with many hidden pictures and asked them to find as many pictures as they can within 10 minutes and list them.

Kids are very interactive and attentive in the class.

Please see the attachment for the lesson plan.

Life Application: Ask them to practice Jyothi meditation for few minutes whenever they feel distracted during their studies and write down their experience whether it improves their concentration or not.

Lesson Plan, Attached

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Teacher:Manorama Saxena

Attendance: Diya, Riya, Arthika, Sahit, Hruday, Tejus, Saiomkar, Vishudhi

Value: Peace Sub value: Concentration

Quote: Concentration is the Foundation of all successful endeavors- Baba

Story: Swami Vivekananda was in Chicago and saw some young children trying to shoot eggshells with their toy gun and missing the target most of the time. When he was challenged to do better, Swami Vivekananda was able to shoot the target every single time without missing and amazed the children.

Swami Vivekananda shared the secret of his success with the children and told them to concentrate wholly on the task completely with total attention and think of nothing else. He assured the children that their aim will not fail if their mind is completely on the target. ” Concentration works wonders. When you sit for your study, you must concentrate only on that and nothing else. This will ensure success in whatever you undertake.”

This explains why the power of concentration is the secret of success on many great scientists and men of achievements.

Activity: Ways to Improve the power of concentration

1) Breathing exercise, Sohum
2) Thumb Meditation for 12 seconds

Life Application: Practice breathing exercise 10 mins everyday and Thumb meditation for 12 seconds three times a day. Did it help you in improving your concentration power? Please explain.

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Teacher:Srividya Rajagopalan, Shloka Reddy

Attendance: Hruday, DIya, Vishudhi.

SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE: Your voice is a powerful weapon, which can wound or heal.

Value: Right Conduct Subvalue: Right Speech

QUOTE: “If you can not oblige, speak obligingly.”-Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Discuss Quote: What does Swami mean by speaking obligingly? Would you like someone who disagrees with you, but speaks obligingly?

STORY :Once there was a king who wanted to know what would make every one of his subjects wise and happy. So, he organized an exhibition and invited all the wise men in his kingdom to keep therein the articles which could bring happiness into everyone’s life. The king himself came to see the exhibition. There he saw rows and rows of good things like flowers, fruits, beautiful plants, sweets, clothes, books, instruments, gold ornaments, things of art and so on. But none of these things appeared to him to be things which would make every man happy. At last he came to a colored model of clay. It was the mouth of a man showing the tongue while talking to a poor, lean and hungry old man on the road. At the bottom of the model were written two words: GOOD TONGUE.

The sculptor of the model was sent for, as the king wanted to know more about it. “My Lord,” said the sculptor, “All other things in this exhibition make man happy for only some time. But a good tongue, by speaking a few words of sympathy and love makes others happy for years and tears. It gives hope and cheer to the suffering, strength and confidence to the weak, and sympathy and love to the orphaned. Only a good tongue can make all men happy for all time.”

The king, who was immensely pleased to hear these words gave the sculptor a gold casket full of gold coins.

After some days the king was very keen to know what could make every man unhappy. So he organized another exhibition asking the wise men of his land to keep articles which could fill everyone’s life with misery. This time the exhibition hall was filled with objects like sticks and whips, knives and swords, thorny plants and bitter fruits, liquor and poison, barking dogs and cawing crows. But in none of them did the king see a satisfactory answer to his question. At last, he came to a clay model just like the one he had seen in the earlier exhibition. But this time, it showed big, red eyes and a blackish tongue abusing a poor, lean, hungry old man. At the bottom were written two words: BAD TONGUE. The sculptor was sent for. He came and explained to the king, “My Lord, a bad tongue can kill others’ happiness and joy, destroy their hope and courage and push them into a pool of misery. It can cause to other’s hearts wounds which may not heal of years and tears. A bad tongue is the worst enemy of man.

The king gave the sculptor a good casket full of gems and diamonds. “Indeed, your clay models teach us a lesson more precious than these gold caskets, gems and diamonds all put together,”said the king to him. “A good tongue is the best friend of every man and the simplest way to the happiness of all.”

QUESTIONS:

1. How does a man with a good tongue please everyone?
2. How does a man with a bad tongue make everyone miserable?
3. Do you think that material pleasures can truly make you happy? Name something you have that will not give you true pleasure(iPod, iPad, etc.).
4. “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Do you agree with this maxim?

ACTIVITY:

Materials: 10-15 sheets of pink or red origami paper, Sharpie marker, black duct tape.

Hearts Can’t Be Mended: Pass out one sheet of pink or red origami paper to all the children in the class. Demonstrate how to make a heart with them, and have all the children do the same. This heart represents a newborn heart, pristine and perfect. Then, take a Sharpie marker and make five or six scratches on the heart. These represent insults which are small, but do hurt. Then have the children think of soothing remarks to “cure the pain”. For every soothing remark, draw a straight line across the scratches. However, the heart’s journey isn’t done yet. After this, rip your heart five or six hearts. Tell the children that these represent bigger insults and comments, which can hurt even more. Then, have the children think of apologies and compliments. For every compliment, take a piece of black tape and tape the heart back together.

Although the heart appears to be “mended”. ask the children to compare it with their own hearts. It looks quite ripped and is obviously much worse off than the new hearts. So, point out that bad remarks have a permanent effect on the heart, and no amount of apologies or compliments can remove those marks.

Affirmation: I speak softly, sweetly and moderately. (Repeat three times).

Life Application:

This week, keep your heart as a Heart Journal. Whenever you say something nice to someone else, draw a happy symbol (heart, flower, star, etc). But whenever you say something mean to someone else, draw a sad symbol(sad face, cross, etc). Share your Journal with the class next week.

Bhajan:

Repeat His name, Sai Ram, Sai Ram
Say it with love, Sai Ram, Sai Ram
Picture His form, Sai Ram, Sai Ram
He’s everywhere, feel Him shining within you

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Teacher:Vijaya Mani Ayer

Attendance: Hruday, Tejus, Sahit, Gopala Krishna, Diya, Riya, Aarthika, Vishudhi

Value: Right Conduct Sub Value: Waste Not

We discussed about the time management and how to prioritize our activities from most important to least important.

Objective: To stimulate thinking about how we use time, and how we waste time

QUOTATION : TIME WASTE IS LIFE WASTE

THEME FOR THE WEEK : EVERYONE HAS ONE THING IN COMMON: A TWENTY-FOUR HOUR DAY.

Lesson Plan: Attached

Life Application:

RECORD HOW MUCH TIME YOU SPEND ON EACH ACTIVITY IN MINUTES

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Teachers: Suhasini Jonnavithula and Chie Fujshima

Attendance: Riya, Diya, Arthika, Julian, Gopalkrishna, Tejus, Sahit, Saiomkar, Hruday

Value: Non-Violence

Topic: CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Objective: To understand the delights of nature and looking after the environment.

SILENT SITTING :

Imagine your world expanding to cover all the earth …
Be aware of your own gentle breath …, Feel the gentle life force throughout the planet …, In all people, animals, trees and plants …
Be aware of your love for all things …, Be aware of your wish for peace and happiness for all and everything …

STORY: About the four boys who thought it great fun to play on the old man’s Garden, running down the rows of vegetables, jumping over fruit bushes, breaking down walls, playing football among the flowers, picking the fruit before it was ready to eat and spitting it out, wasting it. And the old man as a punishment with the help of the children’s families teaches these boys how to tend the garden. The children gain so much satisfaction by the fruits of their hard work and labor to see the beautiful flowers which bring a smile to the faces of their mothers and the ripe fruits and vegetables enjoyed by their families.

GROUP ACTIVITY

Making a Flower Garden

DISCUSSION: ON issues which follow an uncaring attitude towards the planet, such as global warming, pollution, and deforestation.

What is global warming?

Global warming is when the earth heats up (the temperature rises). It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature. This hurts many people, animals, and plants. Many cannot take the change, so they die.

Although the greenhouse effect makes the earth able to have people living on it, if there gets to be too many gases, the earth can get unusually warmer, and many plants, animals, and people will die.

Global warming is affecting many parts of the world. Global warming makes the sea rise, and when the sea rises, the water covers many low land islands. This is a big problem for many of the plants, animals, and people on islands. It is not only killing algae in the ocean, but it is also destroying many huge forests. The pollution that causes global warming is linked to acid rain. Acid rain gradually destroys almost everything it touches in the Plant and Animal kingdom. Global warming is also causing many more fires that wipe out whole forests.

What causes global warming? Greenhouse gases are caused by electrical pollution, burning of fossil fuels, oil and petroleum. Some examples of using energy and polluting the air are when Turning on a light, Watching T.V., Listening to a stereo, Washing or drying clothes, using a hair dryer, Riding in a car, heating a meal in the microwave, Using an air conditioner, Playing a video game, Using a dish washer.

What are people doing to stop global warming? People are carpooling which minimizes the amount of greenhouse gases put into the air by a car; being more careful about leaving things turned on like the television, computer, and the lights, spending more time outdoors, riding buses, walking to school, and riding their bikes to lower the amount of greenhouse gases in the air. Planting trees and recycling also helps. If you recycle, less trash goes to the dump, and less trash gets burned. As a result, there are fewer greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.

LIFE APPLICATION: SAVE our PLANET – Practice Ways in our daily life to decrease greenhouse gases and stop Global warming, make a note of them in your diary and bring it next week.

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Teacher: Radhika Dokku

Attendance: Diya,Riya, Aarthika,Vishudhi,Sahit,Gopal,Julian,Hruday,Tejus

Reveiwed the last week’s lesson plan (on violent behavior ) . Continued on that and discussed the cause/reason for violent behavior.

Discussed about the anger and how to overcome it. In most, cases, we came to a conclusion that not to react immediately and keeping calm will help us to overcome.

Lesson plan – Enclosed

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Teacher:Tanuja Sankar and Chie Fujishima

Attendance: Gopal Krishna, Hruday, Omkar, Sahit, Tejus, Anish, Arthika, Vishudhi, Diya

Please find attached the lesson plan. We have great time with kids learning about living with non-violence and love. Chie went a step further and researched about what is cold war and Naxalism and brought extra material for kids understanding.

Kids were asked to avoid watching violent movies, cartoons, magazines etc. and not to speak ill about others and try to speak softly and lovingly with all. Please remind parents to follow up with life application.
Attachments: Lesson Plan

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Teacher:Raji Iyer, Srividya Chandrashekar

Attendance: Riya, Arthika, Vishudhi, Diya, Tejas, Hruday, Julian, Omkar, Sahit, GopalKrishna

Value: Peace Sub Value: Simple Living

Quote: Waste not want not.

Discussion

Do not waste Food … do not overindulge in food.

Do not waste Energy … electricity, water, your own energy, (too much talking, anger, jealousy and other negative expressions are equally a waste of Divine energy).

Do not waste Time …. and whatever genuine knowledge you have, use it well.

Do not waste Money

How can we minimise wastage: ceiling on desires- prevents misusing of energy

Prayer

Dear heavenly Father, We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry;
We thank Thee for health and remember the sick;
We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless;
We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved
May these remembrances stir us to service, that Thy gifts to us be used for the good of others

Affirmation / Aim:

“I am simple and sincere. I preserve food, water, time, money and energy.”

Story

Picking up the Food Thrown Away Then from Tapovanam

Questions

If you are served a variety of food and many of your favorite items. What are some of the things you can do to minimize wastage of food?

7. Group Activity/Discussion

Food Distribution Around the World: How Much Food Do You Get to Eat?

Objective: To provide a visual example of the distribution of the world’s food and wealth as well as to encourage discussion amongst participants about fairness and justice.

-Divide the participants into three groups, as indicated below, to represent high-income countries, middle-income countries, and low-income countries. The high-income countries will have the fewest people in the group, but the most “food”; the low-income countries will have the most people and the least amount of “food”.

-Explain that the three groups represent the rich, medium and poor countries. A spokesperson from each group reads the group description starting with High Income Group. After each group’s description, give them their cookies/cracker and explain that this represents the amount of food the group gets.

Discussion

1. For Income Group 1: How does it feel to have so much food, especially when others don’t?
2. For Income Group 3: How do you feel about the people in the wealthy group? What would you want them to do?
3. Is this distribution fair? Why or Why not? What would make it fair? (bring out the importance of sharing the food – especially since this is part of the purpose of the lesson)
4. If you lived in the poorest group, what are some other things you may not have besides food?
5. How can you minimise wastage of resources – ceiling on desires, simple living

Group Discussion:

Simple Living: Get rid of Clutter / Contentment

Eliminating Clutter makes our life less complicated and beautiful

Simplicity brings less worry, not more. We don’t have to worry about having what others have, maintaining knowledge of the latest digital gadgetry, or wearing the latest style glasses.

Conclusion:

We are at peace inside ourselves. We know that the people who are our friends like us for our qualities, not because we exemplify a certain image

Life Application

Practice self-control this week. Only take as much food as you think you can eat (you can always go back for seconds!). Write about the experience and share with the class next week.
Identify one resource that you waste often. work on it. share the experience.
Reduce clutter in your room

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Teachers: Vijaya Ayer and Manorama Saxena

Attendance: 1.Vishudhi, 2.Aarthika, 3.Diya, 4.Hruday, 5.Sai Omkar, 6.Gopala Krishna, 7.Anish, 8.Sahit, 9.Tejas

Main Value: Truth, Sub Value:Faith,Self Confidence

We discussed about what is Self-Esteem? What do you mean by that? What is the part of Self Esteem in each and everyone’s life?

Self-Esteem can have a big part to play in how you feel about yourself. Why is it very important? How Kids get Self-Esteem and what is the big difference between “I can do it” and “I am the only one can do it”.What is the difference between Self confidence and Ego.

Activity: We paired them and each one got a handout which got the below information:

Today’s friend is: Date:

List three qualities, traits or talents that you love, like or enjoy about your friend.
List three qualities ,traits or talents that they love or like about you.
and we discussed and asked them Had they ever realised and admired their own good qualities?

Life Application:

We gave them three options to pick any one and write about that.

1. Make a list of the stuff you are good at.
2.Give yourself three compliments every day.8
3.Remember that your body is your own, no matter what shape, size or color it is.

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