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Children are not vessels to be filled but lamps to be lit.
- Swami Chinmayananda
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11/3/18

Nov 2, 2018 - Grade 3 (Friday)


Jayashree Vedamurthy has shared OneDrive files with you. To view them, click the links below.

Hari OM Everyone,

Happy Deepavali! We had a very small class last week as there were a lot of kids absent! Since we are behind on our Geeta chanting, we decided to spend more time on that and practiced the first two verses several times. It is very difficult for the children to read directly from the book - so we taught them where to split and how to read the transliterations. It took a while but hopefully all of them got it and will find it easier going forward. We recorded them chanting the first two verses in class. They did a very good job! Please help them practice at home by playing Swamiji's video repeatedly. It helps to listen to the recording and learn. 

After a quick review of the earlier lessons, we then narrated the story of Kardama Rishi and Devahuti's marriage and the birth of Kapila Muni. We started talking about his teachings to his mother. We covered how we should follow Dharma - don't do unto others what you don't want to be done to you! Then we discussed how work should be done as worship. We told them the story of the greatest devotee of Lord Vishnu - Narada is surprised to find out that he is not the greatest devotee instead a farmer is who chants the Lord's name only when he wakes up and then again when he goes to sleep! Lord then challenges Narada Muni to balance a pot of oil on his head and go to Kailash and bring back nectar from there without spilling. Narada Muni does this but is so engrossed in not spilling that he doesn't think of the Lord even once. Then he understands how devoted the farmer is. 

All of them then had fun trying to walk across the room balancing a book on their head and chanting 'Om Namo Narayanaya'!

We have class again this Friday Nov 9. Hope to see everyone in class this week!

Thanks & Regards
Jayashree & Suja


From: Jayashree Vedamurthy <jayaveda@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2018 8:22 AM
To: mallik.andavolu@gmail.com; arunamanju@gmail.com; janeesh.sankar@gmail.com; anjalivjoshi@yahoo.com; nicenilesh@gmail.com; hema.kondeti@gmail.com; subkumar@gmail.com; krapesh@hotmail.com; patel.vishal@yahoo.com; vpriya.kannan@yahoo.com; thamarai.selvan@yahoo.com; sukhtankars@gmail.com; shuba.venkat2008@gmail.com; venkatachalapathi@yahoo.com; venuthika@gmail.com; tggirish@hotmail.com; patel.vishal@yahoo.com; shobanaca@yahoo.ca; sudhakar457@yahoo.com; anumodali@gmail.com; appuvenky16@gmail.com; Srividya Srinivasan; infoatcmtc.teachersblog@blogger.com
Cc: sujakalyan@yahoo.com; Ram Ramachandran; Swami Shantanandaji; Sankar Mahadevan; Rabindra Gaan
Subject: Oct 19, 2018 - Grade 3 (Friday)
Hari OM Everyone,

We had a shortened class this last Friday as children went to the main temple hall to do the Saraswati Puja. Most of them were dressed beautifully in Indian clothes. Please find attached the class picture we took. We probably have to do it again as many of the kids were absent this week ! We did have one new student join us! 

We started off with our daily prayers (pg 11) and the first 4 slokas of Guru Stotram and learnt one more stanza from the Dasavatara Stotram. Since it was Saraswati puja, we also learnt a short Sarada bhajan. We then discussed what would be done in the temple during the puja, how we invoke Saraswati Devi in the the picture, and offer all upachaarams like we do for a guest at home. It was nice that some of them remembered the puja from last year - the M&Ms especially :-) We reminded them not to eat the raisins before they were offered to Devi! They all washed their hands before going to the temple hall. 

We did a small word search activity for Navaratri and colored a picture of Goddess Durga. We told them to finish it at home. We didn't have the Geeta telecast last week. But please do play Swamiji's recordings at home for them to practice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BZmHJrILJI&list=PLVaQ1AsTFVEI9cHOqjnFcAsR9gi42Yu-6
We have to send a class recording next week for us to earn points for our House! 

There is no class this Friday but we do have the CORD Walkathon and Field day for the kids this Sunday at the Mercer County Park. Field day activities for 1st - 4th graders will start at 11. No registration necessary. Please make sure the children wear sneakers and warm clothes. There will be fun relay races and carnival games. There are activities planned for adults too.

Request you to consider registering for CORD walkathon if you haven't already - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHxCnH0D6CuKzs6ugd4pD6BUjrmumC4jWUHF067xFvah2JfQ/viewform

Thanks & Regards
Jayashree & Suja



From: Jayashree Vedamurthy <jayaveda@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, October 8, 2018 10:14 PM
To: mallik.andavolu@gmail.com; arunamanju@gmail.com; janeesh.sankar@gmail.com; anjalivjoshi@yahoo.com; nicenilesh@gmail.com; hema.kondeti@gmail.com; subkumar@gmail.com; krapesh@hotmail.com; patel.vishal@yahoo.com; vpriya.kannan@yahoo.com; thamarai.selvan@yahoo.com; sukhtankars@gmail.com; shuba.venkat2008@gmail.com; venkatachalapathi@yahoo.com; venuthika@gmail.com; tggirish@hotmail.com; patel.vishal@yahoo.com; shobanaca@yahoo.ca; sudhakar457@yahoo.com; anumodali@gmail.com; appuvenky16@gmail.com; Srividya Srinivasan; infoatcmtc.teachersblog@blogger.com
Cc: sujakalyan@yahoo.com; Ram Ramachandran; Swami Shantanandaji; Sankar Mahadevan; Rabindra Gaan
Subject: Oct 5, 2018 - Grade 3 (Friday)

Hari OM Everyone,

We started off last class reciting Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya and Om Namo Narayanaya. We then did the Daily prayers (pg 11). We did the first 5 slokas of Guru Stotram and the last Sloka. 

We started learning the Dasavatara Stotram (pg 94 in My Prayers book)  - we added a small twist to it to make it more interesting and active-  we are learning to do simple garba steps for the tune! This week it was only hand movements sitting down. Next week we will add more. Please ask your children about it 😊You may have seen that there is Garba Night at the Ashram on Saturday Oct 13th!

We then reviewed all the stories from last week - Lord taking avatar as Varaha - We learnt the dance mudra for Varaha from our friend Sanjana! We reviewed the story of how Jaya and Vijaya were cursed by Sanat kumaras and how Hiranyaksha challenged Varaha and lost.

We then discussed what Pralaya means - we did a small activity - everyone learned to make a boat from a square piece of paper - that is like creation. We then unfolded the boat to get a flat piece of paper - that is like dissolution or pralaya. This happens several times but over long periods of time.

We told them the story of how the Lord invited everyone to a feast once and then laid out the condition that no one can bend their elbows to eat! While the Asuras were frustrated and stormed out the Devas fed each other. We discussed how it is possible to create heaven where we are. We discussed various situations where children are faced with disappointment like their parents promising to take them to a movie and not doing it and how they can respond in those situations - they have the capacity to make it heaven or hell with their response. Children came up with various creative ideas to deal with these situations! 

We learnt the 45th and 46th verse of the 18th Chapter. You may find Swamiji's recordings given below useful to practice the first 6 verses with the children -

Please note that we have the CORD walkathon and Field day combined this year at the Mercer County Park on Oct 28. There are a lot of fun relay races and team games planned for the children and some games for adults too. So please come as a family and bring your friends too to enjoy and support a good cause. Please register at http://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/cord-walkathon/

This Friday there is no class because of Navaratri. Next Friday children will do Saraswati Puja during Balavihar. Please ask them to come dressed up colorfully in Indian clothes. We would like to take a class picture. 

Questions to ask your children this week:

  1. Where did Varaha Avatar come from? (Their answer might surprise you and their reaction too!! 😊)
  2. Ask them to show you the Mudra for Varaha
  3. What are the four Yugas?

Wishing you all a very Happy Navaratri! See you on Oct 19th.

Thanks & Regards
Jayashree and Suja
From: Jayashree Vedamurthy <jayaveda@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 4, 2018 7:33 AM
To: mallik.andavolu@gmail.com; arunamanju@gmail.com; janeesh.sankar@gmail.com; anjalivjoshi@yahoo.com; nicenilesh@gmail.com; hema.kondeti@gmail.com; subkumar@gmail.com; krapesh@hotmail.com; patel.vishal@yahoo.com; vpriya.kannan@yahoo.com; thamarai.selvan@yahoo.com; sukhtankars@gmail.com; shuba.venkat2008@gmail.com; venkatachalapathi@yahoo.com; venuthika@gmail.com; tggirish@hotmail.com; patel.vishal@yahoo.com; shobanaca@yahoo.ca; sudhakar457@yahoo.com; anumodali@gmail.com; appuvenky16@gmail.com; Srividya Srinivasan; infoatcmtc.teachersblog@blogger.com
Cc: sujakalyan@yahoo.com; Ram Ramachandran; Swami Shantanandaji; Sankar Mahadevan; Rabindra Gaan
Subject: Sep 28, 2018 - Grade 3 (Friday)

Hari Om,

    Hope everyone had a great week. We wanted to touch base with all of you and inform you of all the fun we had during our last class and provide you all with a weekly update! Last Friday, your kids learned about... 

  1. Varaha Avatara
      2.First Man And Woman on Earth 
         Manu and Satarupa
      3.Reason and history of why Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu was born as a demon to a Rishi. 

Alongside all of this, with Swami Ji's guidance through a recording our class chanted verses 43 and 44 of Chapter 18. Our class was cut short for the annual Inaugural House Assembly. Part of the group of children from all grades, your kids enjoyed themselves by participating in fun games and chanting Bhajans alongside their fellow Arjuna Arrows. We were very happy to see you children supporting their house and wearing the color green! Please encourage your children to keep on participating! 

Questions to Ask Your Children This Week:
1) Who were the two sons of Rishi Kashyapa and Diti?
2) Who were the first man and woman created by Brahma Ji?
3) Who were Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu in their previous birth?

We look forward to another great week of class this coming Friday. 

Thanks & Regards 
Sujatha Iyer and Jayshree Vedamurthy




From: Jayashree Vedamurthy <jayaveda@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2018 8:52 PM
To: mallik.andavolu@gmail.com; arunamanju@gmail.com; janeesh.sankar@gmail.com; anjalivjoshi@yahoo.com; nicenilesh@gmail.com; hema.kondeti@gmail.com; subkumar@gmail.com; krapesh@hotmail.com; patel.vishal@yahoo.com; vpriya.kannan@yahoo.com; thamarai.selvan@yahoo.com; sukhtankars@gmail.com; shuba.venkat2008@gmail.com; venkatachalapathi@yahoo.com; venuthika@gmail.com; tggirish@hotmail.com; patel.vishal@yahoo.com; shobanaca@yahoo.ca; sudhakar457@yahoo.com
Cc: sujakalyan@yahoo.com; Ram Ramachandran; Swami Shantanandaji; Sankar Mahadevan; Rabindra Gaan
Subject: Friday 3rd grade - Balabhagavatam - 9/21

Hari OM Everyone,

We had a fun class yesterday. The first few minutes were spent doing their Name tags and decorating while we welcomed two new students to our class, Diya and Yug. After attendance, we did the Daily prayers (pg. 11 in My Prayers book)  - we made them repeat it for the benefit of the new students.

We  learned a couple of lines from our House Bhajan - Bolo Bolo Sab Mil Bolo. We have the House Inaugural Assembly - please make sure they all wear our House color green for Arjuna's Arrows!

We then reviewed our story from last week and continued with the Parikshit meets Kali story. We reviewed what Austerity, Purity, Kindness and Truthfulness, the 4 legs of the Bull which represents Dharma meant.

We discussed ways in which Austerity can be developed - taking vows and keeping them. 

We did an activity with water showing how sometimes even though it looks pure (when we add sugar/salt) but it actually is not  - and how there is similarly dirt in our mind which may not be visible to others - giving gifts or helping someone expecting something in return. We should do things for the right reason.

We then discussed the places where Parikshit gave Kali permission to stay - wherever the Lord's name is forgotten - places where there is gambling/drinking/cruelty/hoarding of wealth etc. 

We then played a fun ball game where the kids had to keep out Kali from entering. Ask them for the score! 

We told them the story of how Parikshit put a dead snake on Sage Samika and was cursed by his son Shringi to be killed by a snake within 7 days. We discussed how we cannot set right one bad thing by doing another bad thing.

We have the CORD walk-a-thon on October 28 at the Mercer County Park - they have the pledge form with them. It will also be FIELD day that day and we will have a lot of fun and games. We hope all of you can register and join us that day and help with a good cause. 

We started the Geeta chanting yesterday - Chapter 18 verses 41 and 42. We listened to Swamiji explain why we have to learn the Geeta! And then repeated the 2 verses after him.

Questions to ask your children this week:
  1. What was the third thing we added to the water?
  2. Why was Kali not killed by Parikshit?
      3. Why do we have to learn the Geeta?

If any of you haven't joined the whatsapp group yet, please use this link to join - https://chat.whatsapp.com/EnDWHdzOzDjD81HwYASizI



Thanks & Regards
Jayashree & Suja




From: Jayashree Vedamurthy <jayaveda@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2018 10:47 AM
To: mallik.andavolu@gmail.com; arunamanju@gmail.com; janeesh.sankar@gmail.com; anjalivjoshi@yahoo.com; nicenilesh@gmail.com; hema.kondeti@gmail.com; subkumar@gmail.com; krapesh@hotmail.com; patel.vishal@yahoo.com; vpriya.kannan@yahoo.com; thamarai.selvan@yahoo.com; sukhtankars@gmail.com; shuba.venkat2008@gmail.com; venkatachalapathi@yahoo.com; venuthika@gmail.com
Cc: sujakalyan@yahoo.com; Ram Ramachandran; Swami Shantanandaji
Subject: Friday 3rd grade - Bala Bhagavatam - Recap of first 2 weeks

Hari OM Parents,

We were happy to see many of you in class this last Friday. To those who missed please check your child's bag for the Welcome letter that we handed out. We also sent a form that we would appreciate if you would fill up and return with them next week.

First week, we started off with introductions and talking about the Birth of Ganesha. We learnt to sing a Ganesha Bhajan - they were given a printout of the lyrics. But before we could do the activity we had planned, we lost power. 

We started discussing about the topic for this year BalaBhagavatam and mentioned about the Dasavatarams - some of them already seemed to know the names of all the 10 Avatars - in fact Sanjana showed us the Mudras for all the 10 Avatars! We will all learn it from her this year!

Second week, we gave them a word search activity which kept them engaged while we were talking to parents. After that we told them the story of who wrote the Bhagavatam and why. We started off with the Parikshit meeting Kali story - and discussed the 4 legs of the Bull - Austerity, Purity, Kindness and Truthfulness. We discussed what all these words meant. We will continue with the story next week.

We had a discussion on what children expected to get out of a Balavihar class - it ranged from learning right from wrong, learning about Gods , listening to stories, to candy, movie night, fun stuff! :-) We then brainstormed how best we can achieve all that - and together we came up with a set of classroom rules to ensure minimum disruption.

We do the daily prayers from page 11 of the My Prayers book. We will learn the Guru Stotram, Dasavatara Stotram and Madhurashtakam too over the course of the year.

We will leave the Balavihar bags in the classroom when we go for Arathi. Please pick up the children only after Arathi. 

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILDREN THIS WEEK

1. Name of the Rishi who wanders with a Tambura in his hand saying Narayana Narayana (Should be easy)
2. What does Austerity mean? (Little bit harder :-) 


Thanks & Regards
Jayashree & Suja


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