A. Reciting and memorizing prayers
By this time, you will have memorized the four prayers that you said to start the first few classes. You can continue to use one of these prayers to begin each lesson. The children, themselves, will know at least one new prayer by heart, and a few of them should recite it after your opening prayer. Every child should have an opportunity to recite a prayer at least once every three or four classes.
In this class, after the opening prayers, you will continue helping the children to memorize the prayer that you introduced in Lesson 4. They will focus on learning this prayer until Lesson 8, when it is expected that all of them will know it by heart. The other activities of today's class are as follows
By this time, you will have memorized the four prayers that you said to start the first few classes. You can continue to use one of these prayers to begin each lesson. The children, themselves, will know at least one new prayer by heart, and a few of them should recite it after your opening prayer. Every child should have an opportunity to recite a prayer at least once every three or four classes.
In this class, after the opening prayers, you will continue helping the children to memorize the prayer that you introduced in Lesson 4. They will focus on learning this prayer until Lesson 8, when it is expected that all of them will know it by heart. The other activities of today's class are as follows
C. Memorizing Quotations
The following ideas will help you introduce the quotation that the children are to memorize today:
God is very generous with His creation. He looks after all of us. He gives daily nourishment to everyone. He has given us many gifts, such as hearing, sight and intelligence. In the same way that God is generous with us, He wants us to be generous with each other. We should give of what we have to those who need out help. In order to remember to be generous, let us memorize this quotation of Baha'u'llah:
"To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues." listen HERE.
The following ideas will help you introduce the quotation that the children are to memorize today:
God is very generous with His creation. He looks after all of us. He gives daily nourishment to everyone. He has given us many gifts, such as hearing, sight and intelligence. In the same way that God is generous with us, He wants us to be generous with each other. We should give of what we have to those who need out help. In order to remember to be generous, let us memorize this quotation of Baha'u'llah:
"To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues." listen HERE.
B. Songs
Fountain of generosity listen HERE
Be a fountain, be a spring
Be an ever-flowing thing
It is true that if you do
Happiness will come to you
Search your heart every day
Is there something you can give away
Happiness should be your goal
Give your heart, and give your soul
It is true that if you do
God will always be with you
Search your heart every day
Is there something you can give away
Happiness should be your goal
Give your heart, and give your soul
It is true that if you do
God will always be with you
Fountain of generosity listen HERE
Be a fountain, be a spring
Be an ever-flowing thing
It is true that if you do
Happiness will come to you
Search your heart every day
Is there something you can give away
Happiness should be your goal
Give your heart, and give your soul
It is true that if you do
God will always be with you
Search your heart every day
Is there something you can give away
Happiness should be your goal
Give your heart, and give your soul
It is true that if you do
God will always be with you
Generous
1. Ram and Rajish had saved a little money. They decided to buy some books for their younger brothers and sisters. Ram and Rajish are generous.
2. Mrs Murphy spent the whole morning baking cakes. Before taking them to town to sell, she gave two large cakes to the neighbours. Mrs. Murphy is generous.
Attribute
1. Joel took a beautiful rose to the teacher. Beauty is an attribute of the rose.
2. The stone is very hard. Hardness is an attribute of stones.
3. "One of your attributes is that you are willing to work hard," the teacher said to Charlene.
Adorn
1. Tonight there is a devotional gathering at the community centre. The children picked flowers to place in the meeting room. The children adorned the meeting room with flowers.
2. Li Feng has a beautiful smile. Most of the time, a smile adorns his face.
3. In springtime, the cherry trees are adorned with beautiful blossoms.
1. Ram and Rajish had saved a little money. They decided to buy some books for their younger brothers and sisters. Ram and Rajish are generous.
2. Mrs Murphy spent the whole morning baking cakes. Before taking them to town to sell, she gave two large cakes to the neighbours. Mrs. Murphy is generous.
Attribute
1. Joel took a beautiful rose to the teacher. Beauty is an attribute of the rose.
2. The stone is very hard. Hardness is an attribute of stones.
3. "One of your attributes is that you are willing to work hard," the teacher said to Charlene.
Adorn
1. Tonight there is a devotional gathering at the community centre. The children picked flowers to place in the meeting room. The children adorned the meeting room with flowers.
2. Li Feng has a beautiful smile. Most of the time, a smile adorns his face.
3. In springtime, the cherry trees are adorned with beautiful blossoms.
 |  Colour in the pictures on the left, and glue into the boxes on the right, coupled with examples re: how to demonstrate generosity. (quote memorization activity, good for the younger children) |
D. Story
You can now tell the children the following story, which will illustrate for them the concept of generosity.
One day Bahá’u’lláh sent Abdu’l-Bahá to inspect the work of the shepherds who were taking care of his sheep. Abdu’l-Bahá was a small child at the time, and the persecutions against Bahá’u’lláh and his family had not yet started. Bahá’u’lláh then had a good deal of land in the mountains and owned large herds of sheep.
When the inspection was finished Abdu’l-Bahá was ready to leave, the man who had accompanied Him said, “It is your father’s custom to leave a gift for each shepherd.” Abdu’l-Bahá became silent for a while, because He did not have anything to give them. The man, however, insisted the shepherds were expecting something. Then Abdul-Baha had an idea that made Him very happy! He would give the shepherds the sheep they were taking care of! Bahá’u’lláh was very much pleased when He heard about Abdu’l-Bahá’s generous thoughts towards the shepherds. He humorously remarked that everyone had better take good care of Abdu’l-Bahá because someday He would give himself away. Of course, this is exactly what Abdu’l-Bahá did for the rest of his life. He gave everything he had, each and every moment of his life, to humanity, to unite us and bring us true happiness.
You can now tell the children the following story, which will illustrate for them the concept of generosity.
One day Bahá’u’lláh sent Abdu’l-Bahá to inspect the work of the shepherds who were taking care of his sheep. Abdu’l-Bahá was a small child at the time, and the persecutions against Bahá’u’lláh and his family had not yet started. Bahá’u’lláh then had a good deal of land in the mountains and owned large herds of sheep.
When the inspection was finished Abdu’l-Bahá was ready to leave, the man who had accompanied Him said, “It is your father’s custom to leave a gift for each shepherd.” Abdu’l-Bahá became silent for a while, because He did not have anything to give them. The man, however, insisted the shepherds were expecting something. Then Abdul-Baha had an idea that made Him very happy! He would give the shepherds the sheep they were taking care of! Bahá’u’lláh was very much pleased when He heard about Abdu’l-Bahá’s generous thoughts towards the shepherds. He humorously remarked that everyone had better take good care of Abdu’l-Bahá because someday He would give himself away. Of course, this is exactly what Abdu’l-Bahá did for the rest of his life. He gave everything he had, each and every moment of his life, to humanity, to unite us and bring us true happiness.
E. Game: "The Twins"
For the game today, ask two, three or four children to stand back to back and squat down. Then tell them to hook elbows and try to stand up.
For the game today, ask two, three or four children to stand back to back and squat down. Then tell them to hook elbows and try to stand up.
F. Colouring
You can hand out copies of Drawing 5 for the children to colour as the next activity.
You can hand out copies of Drawing 5 for the children to colour as the next activity.
Use a white oil pastel to draw the sheep’s bodies and some lines on the ground. Then wet the entire paper with water, and use blue/purple/pink watercolors. Make sure the colours run together and mix.
When the paint dries, use black watercolour or ink to add in the heads, tails, and legs. Let that dry, and then use white acrylic or tempera paint to splatter all over.
When the paint dries, use black watercolour or ink to add in the heads, tails, and legs. Let that dry, and then use white acrylic or tempera paint to splatter all over.
G. Closing prayers
The class closes with prayers recited by a few children in the usual way.
The class closes with prayers recited by a few children in the usual way.
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