Lesson Plan

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1. Lesson Description The Importance of Human Body Moral/value We should not waste even 1 day of our life. We should always make conscious right choices. Prayer/Slo ka/Bhajan Gayatri Mantra Shanti Mantra Activities/discussion themes Discuss the immensity of the Universe. Compare the views of modern science versus traditional Hindu teachings. Compare and contrast the abilities of humans with that of animals and plants. What is the law of the jungle? Discuss how we do not appreciate our human abilities by pursuing trivial things. The analogy of the chariot and the importance of a good understanding. The example of water pot and the five animals who die due to addiction to 1 sense. How things like drugs, smoking and alcohol make us lose our correct sense. How meditation can help us control our mind and therefore the senses. Good habits and bad habits cartoons. Ask kids if they do any of the bad stuff. Stories of Pundalika. Discussion on page 24-25. Good habit, bad habit cartoon. Story of Anandapala Shahi, discussion on page 43. Doing your own research, not have blind faith story of Dayanand Sarasvati, frog in the well. Story of Totaka on page 50. No Bullying. Qualities of good friends on p. 53 Good habit, bad habit cartoon on p. 55 Fill out the table on good and bad foods, and answer the questions after it. Hindu cultural norms on sacredness of food, on p. 62 Why dont Hindus eat beef (I can provide a Homework reading Read the chapter on Shraddha, especially the stories.

The science of the Mind and the Sense organs

Learn to control your mind and senses

Read the chapter on Meditation (Dhyna)

3.

Parents and Sibings

Respect parents. Love your siblings.

4.

Teachers

Respect your teachers Support education in your society. Choose the right friends. Respect your classmates. Eat healthy

Read remaining stories at home from the two chapters. Other stories of this chapter.

5.

Friends & Classmates Good eating habits

Story of Krishna and Sudama Investigate reasons why Hindus do not eat beef. Give answers in the next class.

6.

Good recreation

All work and no play

habits

makes Jack a dull boy

8.

Good study habits

The five characteristics of a good student

handout on this). Discuss the bad habit of sleep and getting up late. And causes of it. Harms of watching too much TV, playing too much video games. Discuss the Hindu cultural norms of taking care of books on p. 57. Narrate a few stories in chapter 11. Discuss strategies of time management (section 11.7) Discuss the table on pages 72 and 73. Ask students if they have every behaved in the same manner. Narrate the story of Vashishtha and Vishwamitra. Discuss how we want new video games, clothes, shoes every day but our desires never end. The story of the 7th jar of gold. Story of Tulsidas and Dhanurdas. May bring in topics of girlfriends and boyfriends, and how this desire can be a hindrance in our studies. Narrate the stories on delusion to discuss how we never become happy by pursuing material goods. Discuss how knowledge of the soul (Jnana) helps us place things in the correct perspective. Stories on pages 248-249 on equanimity. Section 40.3 Medical and other harms of becoming angry. Abraham Lincolns technique of overcoming anger. Other methods of overcoming anger. Story of Tukaram on page 92-93 Why some anger is good like that of parents when we misbehave. When parents get angry on you for your misbehavior, their health suffers.

Taking care of your books

9.

Six inner enemies and ladder of downfall Desire

We are our own best enemy as well as friend. Desires never end, but they can be controlled.

Read pages 300301

10

Read page 302

11

Delusion, Equanimity

We bring nothing we us, we take nothing with us. Only our Soul is permanent.

Read page 303

12.

Anger

Anger hurts the angry man.

Read chapter on Equanimity

13.

Greed & NonHoarding

The world has enough for everyones need, but not enough for even one mans greed.

14.

Pride, Humility and Respect Jealousy

A dry twig snaps, but a fruit laden branch bows. A jealous person is like a dog in the manger. Be the change you wish to see in this world. Mind your own business

Story of Purandaradasa; Story of Draupadis laughter. Choosing the correct and ethical employer. Distinguish between need and want. Discuss how our greed and consumerism is wrecking our environment and causing other problems. Read long quotation on page 269 (the example on computer etc.) In the class, read only the stories from these chapters. Use these stories to draw a moral about pride, humility and respect. Discuss the example of crabs in a bucket, and dog in the manger, Discuss section 18.5 and 18.6 Discuss how the jealousy of Duryodhana lead to the Mahabharata war Discuss the stories of Duryodhana, Mahatma Gandhi and the Thief/Drunkard/Sage. Explain the example of the three monkeys. Sanskrit proverbs on page 139 Ask students if they know someone who does not know how to mind their business. Ask them to give examples of gossiping in schools sending nasty emails and texts about some etc. Section 26.6 distinguishing between bravery and foolhardiness. Read stories on Guru Tegh Bahadur, Unniyarcha, Swami Vivekananda and Nadir Shah Discuss how the world wars led to great loss of life. Story on Ganesha and the Cat. Story of snake that stopped biting. Meat Eating and vegetarianism.

Contentment & Environmental Awareness

Self Respect

15

Research Nancy Kerrigan and Tanya Harding controversy

16

Fault Finding & Complaining Back-biting and Gossiping

17

Bravery, Absence of Fear

Fear is death

Remaining stories from this chapter.

18

Ahimsa

Love and Peace are the two eyes of God.

19

Shanti

20

Compassion & Gentleness Charity

21

Compassion is the strength of the powerful. You get what you gave.

The four step process to solve conflicts, and the example of Krishna. Why violence is necessary to fight terrorism. Discussion question on this on page 173. Read only the stories in these chapters. Discuss the question on Euthanasia on page 180. Narrate the story of Karna, Sita Dokamma, Rantideva and King Shveta. Introduce Seva. How can kids do Seva in the Mandir? Story of how Krishna did Seva Discuss examples of how teamwork is needed to win sports like Football, Soccer and Cricket. Discuss practical applications like working with friends and classmates for doing group assignments and research projects. How can we make sure that everyone does their part in the group effort? Read some of the stories. Read Aesops fable. Discuss 36.3, 36.4, 36.5 and ask students to give their own examples. Discuss 36.8 about joking and how it can lead to bitterness among friends. Is joking the same as speaking lies? Read story of Birbal on page 231, Story on Gandhi on page 232. Class discussion questions on page 235. Story on how Rama forgave Kekeyi, Vishnu forgiving Bhrigu on page 242. Cover items on pages 243-244. Story of Jiva Goswami on page 245. Discuss the question on page 246. Story of crow, Valmiki, Pandit Shivadas, Yavakrita and Guru Nanak/Lalo

Chapter on Hatred.

Empathy

Seva

22

Unity and mutual cooperation

United we stand, divided we fall.

Remaining stories of the chapter.

23

Truth and Honesty, Straightforwardness

Truth alone Triumphs Mundaka Upanishad

Read remaining stories of the chapter.

24

Forgiveness & Forbearance

An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind. Gandhi

25

Hard Work, Commitment

God helps those who help themselves.

Read chapter on Fickleness.

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Cleanliness of body and Purity of Mind

We humans judge by appearances, but God looks into our hearts. Worship is our greeting card to God. Gods letter to us is called scripture.

What are the advantages of keeping your body clean, and wearing clean clothes? Analogy of a cup clean from inside and outside. Story of Ravidas Discuss story of Bhadrachalam Ramadas on page 284 sqq. Explain different types of Hindu worship. Emphasize the benefits of prayer. Emphasize that Hindus have the largest number of scriptures in the world, just as we study many books on physics and chemistry because all knowledge cannot fit in one book, and because there are many different subjects to study. Read the different stories. Show some scriptures to students like the Gita, and other books that can be borrowed from Mandir library.

Read chapter 49 on Modesty and Shame

27

Performance of Worship

28

Studying Scriptures

29 30

Meditation Meditation

General Guidelines:
1. DO NOT get into the minutiae of virtues and vices. Focus on stories, and discussion items to highlight your points. This book is meant as a reference manual and those who want to dig deeper can do so at their own leisure in their homes. 2. You can chose to give an year long project for research. See Appendix I for suggestions. Students can make 1-2 of the following: Trifold display, PPT (for presentation in HATS Assembly), or write an annual paper. You can pair the students, or just have them do individually. Check on the progress every month or so. Those who complete these can do the assembly presentation if they have a power point. 3. Chapter on meditation can be read just before meditation is done in the classroom. 4. For chanting, use the HATS prayer booklet.