Opening Prayer:
Quiet Time Activity: Bhajan and Shell Dropping
Story: Silly Goose Story
Craft/Activity: Connect the Dots - Duck
Comments:
A big thank you to Anuska's dad for for coming in early to stick the posters on the boards! We now have 3 pictures to decorate the class. There are several more pictures joining them over the next few classes.
We had the opening prayer: Sahana vavathu followed by a beautiful song by Meera Aunty. We said the Vakrathunda Mahakaaya stotra and the children now know several of Lord Ganesha's names. We said the Saraswathi stotra and had some very excited discussions about the objects held in her hands. Mamatha Aunty has promised to bring a Veena to class one day - we might hold her to it (though the thought of 30 kids trying to touch it is very scary).
Geetha Chanting went very well! We learnt the 8th verse. After this, we will practice reciting the entire 8 verses in each class. We encourage the parents to register the kids for the competition. It is not about winning. Our kids are still quite small and most have a lisp which is perfectly normal at this stage. But each child will feel that wonderful sense of accomplishment that comes from participation in a good event and working towards a goal. Each child will receive a medal for their participation.
This weeks story was about the Silly Goose who thinks she is special only because she has a red feather. She realizes she is even more special when she loses the red feather because losing the feather makes her a really nice goose. Being Special is about our 'Inside', not the 'Outside'. Auntie thanks all the kids for the sound effects particularly the kids who did the 'snoring'. The story could not have been told without them. After the story we did a Connect the Dots of a Duck and practiced 1-20 in Sanskrit. We will work more on the numbers next time.
Aarathi was in the Auditorium led by our wonderful High School kids. Just imagine, our pre-K kids will be like them one day! We are so proud of our Graduating Seniors. We were truly impressed by the strong voices all reciting the Shanti Mantra and the Pledge perfectly in unison. It made us feel that our community will be in good hands in the future.
For the next time: Practice Hee- Haw like a donkey, Howling like a dog, Meowing like a cat and Cock-a-Doodle-Do like a rooster --- and of course 'snoring'. We will need all those sounds for the next class.
NOTE TO PARENTS:
- Please sign up for volunteering in the class. Sign-up are available with any of the Pre-K teachers. Please ask for it while dropping off/ Picking up your kids for class. I have added the link for Volunteer LIST and Backup LIST for your reference.
- Practise Geeta with your kids. Have them LISTEN to the shlokas everyday. Listening is just as important as memorizing.
- Please do take the kids to bathroom before they are dropped off. As you know, in this age group one raises the hand, the entire class wants to go to bathroom.
Sevikas:Nanda, Meera, Jacqueline. We had two Parent Volunteers
