A. Reciting and memorizing prayers
As you have surely noted, by starting each class with prayers, the children are gradually learning to begin every effort by beseeching the assistance of God. Here is the prayer that we suggest you say to open the class today.
"O my Lord! Make Thy beauty to be my food, and Thy presence my drink, and Thy pleasure my hope, and praise of Thee my action, and remembrance of Thee my companion, and the power of Thy sovereignty my succorer, and Thy habitation my home, and my dwelling-place the seat Thou hast sanctified from the limitations imposed upon them who are shut out as by a veil from Thee. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Powerful."
As you have surely noted, by starting each class with prayers, the children are gradually learning to begin every effort by beseeching the assistance of God. Here is the prayer that we suggest you say to open the class today.
"O my Lord! Make Thy beauty to be my food, and Thy presence my drink, and Thy pleasure my hope, and praise of Thee my action, and remembrance of Thee my companion, and the power of Thy sovereignty my succorer, and Thy habitation my home, and my dwelling-place the seat Thou hast sanctified from the limitations imposed upon them who are shut out as by a veil from Thee. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Powerful."
From HERE
From HERE
After one or two students have also said some prayers, you can dedicate some time to helping the children memorize the prayer they began to learn in lesson 1. You should make sure that all of them can say it in its entirety.
B. Songs (including a review of previous songs)
The next activity starts by having the children sing the two songs they learned in the previous lessons. When you feel they have learned these songs well, you may introduce today's song:
Love, Love, Love
Love, love, love, love
Love your fellow man,
Love, love, love is
How the world began.
God loved creation,
So He created thee to
Love, love, love Him
And humanity.
Love, love, love the
Everlasting good
Love, love, love the
Seed of brotherhood
Love all creation
For He created thee to
Love, love, love Him
And humanity
Love God's creatures
Be they near or far
See each human
As a shining star
Love all creation
For He created thee to
Love, love, love Him
And humanity.
The next activity starts by having the children sing the two songs they learned in the previous lessons. When you feel they have learned these songs well, you may introduce today's song:
Love, Love, Love
Love, love, love, love
Love your fellow man,
Love, love, love is
How the world began.
God loved creation,
So He created thee to
Love, love, love Him
And humanity.
Love, love, love the
Everlasting good
Love, love, love the
Seed of brotherhood
Love all creation
For He created thee to
Love, love, love Him
And humanity
Love God's creatures
Be they near or far
See each human
As a shining star
Love all creation
For He created thee to
Love, love, love Him
And humanity.
C. Memorizing quotations
Before introducing the next quotation for memorization, you could ask some of the children to recite the two quotations they already know. Then explain the following:
The love of God shines upon humanity like the rays of the sun. The sun's rays fall on deserts and gardens alike. Our love should be like the rays of the sun: we should love everyone, even those who mistreat us. In order to help us love all of humanity, let us memorize this quotation of Baha'u'llah:
"O Friend! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love..."
Put to music HERE.
Song from Badasht Vol.III HERE.
[In Maori: E TE HOA! I te māra o tō ngākau, kaua e whakatō mea kē atu i te rōhi o te aroha…]
Before introducing the next quotation for memorization, you could ask some of the children to recite the two quotations they already know. Then explain the following:
The love of God shines upon humanity like the rays of the sun. The sun's rays fall on deserts and gardens alike. Our love should be like the rays of the sun: we should love everyone, even those who mistreat us. In order to help us love all of humanity, let us memorize this quotation of Baha'u'llah:
"O Friend! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love..."
Put to music HERE.
Song from Badasht Vol.III HERE.
[In Maori: E TE HOA! I te māra o tō ngākau, kaua e whakatō mea kē atu i te rōhi o te aroha…]
In this quotation, the only word that may require explanation is naught, which means 'nothing'.
1. Agot loves to sing songs about the sun and the flowers, and he does not sing songs about anything else. Agot sings of naught but sunshine and flowers.
2. Ta Jen wanted to go down to the river, but had not done his household tasks. His father said he could not leave until he finished his work, and unfortunately Ta Jen became angry. His grandmother said, "Dear, all your plans will come to naught if you don't obey your father."
1. Agot loves to sing songs about the sun and the flowers, and he does not sing songs about anything else. Agot sings of naught but sunshine and flowers.
2. Ta Jen wanted to go down to the river, but had not done his household tasks. His father said he could not leave until he finished his work, and unfortunately Ta Jen became angry. His grandmother said, "Dear, all your plans will come to naught if you don't obey your father."
D. Story
The next activity is storytelling. Remember that in order for the children to enjoy the story, you must read it carefully to yourself, thinking about the main theme and the details that will hold the children's attention.
While 'Abdu'l-Baha was a prisoner in 'Akka, there was a man in that city who behaved very badly towards Him. The man believed that he was following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. He thought that 'Abdu'l-Baha was not a good man and that God did not care how badly the Baha'is were bad. In fact, he believed that he was showing love for God by showing hatred to the Baha'is. He hated 'Abdu'l-Baha with all his heart. That hate grew and festered inside him, sometimes spilling out of him the way water spills out of a broken pot.
In the mosque, when people came to pray, this man would cry out against 'Abdu'l-Baha and say terrible things about Him. When he passed 'Abdu'l-Baha on the street, he would cover his face with his robe so that he would not see HIm. Now, this man was very poor and had neither enough to eat nor warm clothes to wear. What do you think 'Abdu'l-Baha did about him? He showed him kindness, and sent him food and clothes, and made sure he was being taken care of. For example, once when this man became very ill, 'Abdu'l-Baha sent him a doctor, paid for his medicine and food, and also gave him some money. He accepted the gifts from 'Abdu'l-Baha, but did not thank him. In fact, he held out one hand to the doctor to take his pulse, and with the other hand, covered his face so that he would not have to look upon the countenance of 'Abdu'l-Baha. And so it went on for many long years. And then, one day, the man's heart finally changed. He came to 'Abdu'l-Baha's house, fell at His feet and with a very heavy heart and tears flowing down his face like twin rivers, cried, "Forgive me, Sir!"For twenty-four years I have done evil to You. For twenty-four years You have shown only goodness to me. Now I know that I have been wrong. Please forgive me!" Thus did the great love of 'Abdu'l-Baha triumph over hatred.
The next activity is storytelling. Remember that in order for the children to enjoy the story, you must read it carefully to yourself, thinking about the main theme and the details that will hold the children's attention.
While 'Abdu'l-Baha was a prisoner in 'Akka, there was a man in that city who behaved very badly towards Him. The man believed that he was following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. He thought that 'Abdu'l-Baha was not a good man and that God did not care how badly the Baha'is were bad. In fact, he believed that he was showing love for God by showing hatred to the Baha'is. He hated 'Abdu'l-Baha with all his heart. That hate grew and festered inside him, sometimes spilling out of him the way water spills out of a broken pot.
In the mosque, when people came to pray, this man would cry out against 'Abdu'l-Baha and say terrible things about Him. When he passed 'Abdu'l-Baha on the street, he would cover his face with his robe so that he would not see HIm. Now, this man was very poor and had neither enough to eat nor warm clothes to wear. What do you think 'Abdu'l-Baha did about him? He showed him kindness, and sent him food and clothes, and made sure he was being taken care of. For example, once when this man became very ill, 'Abdu'l-Baha sent him a doctor, paid for his medicine and food, and also gave him some money. He accepted the gifts from 'Abdu'l-Baha, but did not thank him. In fact, he held out one hand to the doctor to take his pulse, and with the other hand, covered his face so that he would not have to look upon the countenance of 'Abdu'l-Baha. And so it went on for many long years. And then, one day, the man's heart finally changed. He came to 'Abdu'l-Baha's house, fell at His feet and with a very heavy heart and tears flowing down his face like twin rivers, cried, "Forgive me, Sir!"For twenty-four years I have done evil to You. For twenty-four years You have shown only goodness to me. Now I know that I have been wrong. Please forgive me!" Thus did the great love of 'Abdu'l-Baha triumph over hatred.
 "In the mosque, when people came to pray, this man would cry out against 'Abdu'l-Baha and say terrible things about Him." |  When he passed 'Abdu'l-Baha on the street, he would cover his face with his robe so that he would not see HIm. |
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá speaks to Corinne True about love: “Mrs True, when you go back I want you to look at every human being and say to yourself, “you are a letter from my Beloved, and I must love you because of the Beloved Who wrote you. The letter may be torn, it may be blurred, but because the Beloved wrote the letter, you must love it.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, from the book, Corinne True)
- One day in London the hour for ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s private audiences had arrived. Appointments had been made and, of necessity, an attempt was made to adhere to them rigidly. But Abdu’l-Baha was a Man who taught moderation and consideration. A woman arrived without an appointment and was told it was not possible to fit her in, as Abdu’l-Baha was talking with some ‘most important people’. Descending the stairway, she was greatly disappointed. Suddenly, to her astonishment, a messenger from the Master dashed down to her saying that Abdu’l-Baha wished to see her. With authority His voice was heard, saying: ‘A heart has been hurt. Hasten, hasten, bring her to Me!’
E. Game
A game called "The Bridge" follows the story. Using benches, boards, bricks, or tiles, make a line on the ground called "the bridge". Two groups of children have to cross the bridge at the same time, going in opposite directions, without letting anyone fall off the bridge. The children have to help each other change places, passing each other one by one.
[Love, List & Listen Game
Using a timer have each child tell the group as many things as they can that they love in 15-20 seconds. After everyone has had a turn to share their loves go around and ask how many things the group can remember about what each one said. Don't tell the children ahead of time that you'll be going back to ask them what they remember from their friends lists. This is a great way for the kids to learn more about each other.]
Listing memorization game:
1. sitting in a circle, a child starts "I plant love in my heart by ... sharing my toys..."
2. The next child would say "I plant love in my heart by... sharing my toys, letting my brother go first..."
and so the group goes on, making the list longer and longer. We managed to go around the circle three times with our list growing each time!
A game called "The Bridge" follows the story. Using benches, boards, bricks, or tiles, make a line on the ground called "the bridge". Two groups of children have to cross the bridge at the same time, going in opposite directions, without letting anyone fall off the bridge. The children have to help each other change places, passing each other one by one.
[Love, List & Listen Game
Using a timer have each child tell the group as many things as they can that they love in 15-20 seconds. After everyone has had a turn to share their loves go around and ask how many things the group can remember about what each one said. Don't tell the children ahead of time that you'll be going back to ask them what they remember from their friends lists. This is a great way for the kids to learn more about each other.]
Listing memorization game:
1. sitting in a circle, a child starts "I plant love in my heart by ... sharing my toys..."
2. The next child would say "I plant love in my heart by... sharing my toys, letting my brother go first..."
and so the group goes on, making the list longer and longer. We managed to go around the circle three times with our list growing each time!
F. Colouring
You can give the children each a copy of Drawing 3, as the final activity today. Afterwards, close the class by asking the children to sit quietly while prayers are being recited.
You can give the children each a copy of Drawing 3, as the final activity today. Afterwards, close the class by asking the children to sit quietly while prayers are being recited.
| On the second page, collage in the heart, then cut it out, trimming off the edges, and then it can be glued onto the first page with the quote on it. | ||
Other art activities:
- In My Heart Painting or Drawing
Cut large paper hearts and have the kids paint or draw pictures of things/people they love in their heart. - A world made of love posters
Cut out a large pile of various colored little hearts. Have the kids use all the little hearts to make collage pictures. - Growing Hearts
Have the kids paint or draw pictures of hearts growing like flowers in a garden.
 | 4. Activity from ruhi crafts HERE
|
Extra activities: Draw a garden of flowers - and the sun; what will it look like if the sun shines on all of the flowers? Will the sun help the flowers grow? What happens if we show to love everyone v. just some people?
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