Categories
Uncategorized

BAHÁ’U’LLÁH HAS COME TO UNITE THE HUMAN FAMILY

Grade 4 Set 4 Lesson 14

Welcome Grade 4 Rughi Book 3

Introducing The Principal Theme

Although we already have some understanding of what it means that Bahá’u’lláh has come to unite the human family, this lesson should help us deepen our awareness of His purpose for humankind. Let us begin by reviewing what we have learned in the preceding lesson.

We know that God created us out of His infinite love, and all the love we have in our hearts for our families and friends and for humanity is a sign of this limitless love. For forty years Bahá’u’lláh revealed the Word of God, which, like the life-giving warmth of the sun, enables us to grow and develop.

The Word of God has the power to transform us.

The theme of this lesson:

Just as the Word of God can transform each of us, it also has the power to make this world a new world, one in which human beings can live together in unity and harmony. All the people of the world desire to live in peace, but they do not seem to be able to settle their disagreements. The result is a world filled with suffering. Bahá’u’lláh is the Divine Physician. He has told humanity that the remedy for the ills which afflict it is to recognize that we are all the children of one God and belong to one single family.

Without unity, it is not possible to solve the problems that face humankind. Imagine two people who have bad feelings towards one another. If they do not become friends and learn to love each other, how are they going to work out their differences? They may decide not to fight because they do not want to get hurt. But is this what peace means?

In the quotation that you will memorize today, Bahá’u’lláh tells us that the time has come for people to resolve their differences, to live in peace, and to work for the happiness of everyone. For centuries the peoples of the world have waited for such a Day. Now Bahá’u’lláh has shown the way that will lead to the unification of the human race.

 Bahá’u’lláh wishes us to show love and goodwill towards all of humanity—every race, every nationality, and every religion. So, when we meet people of different races, nationalities, and religions, we should think of them, not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters. We should remember that God loves all of us equally, cares for us, and wishes us to grow together in harmony.

Prayer Grade 4 Ruhi Book 3
MEMORIZATION AID FOR 3 PRAYERS HERE

PRAYER 1

“I implore Thee, O my God and my Master, by Thy word through which they who have believed in Thy unity have soared up into the atmosphere of Thy knowledge, and they who are devoted to Thee have ascended into the heaven of Thy oneness, to inspire Thy loved ones with that which will assure their hearts in Thy Cause. Endue them with such steadfastness that nothing whatsoever will hinder them from turning towards Thee.”

PRAYER 2
“O my Lord and my Hope! Help Thou Thy loved ones to be steadfast in Thy mighty Covenant, to remain faithful to Thy manifest Cause, and to carry out the commandments Thou didst set down for them in Thy Book of Splendors; that they may become banners of guidance and lamps of the Company above, wellsprings of Thine infinite wisdom, and stars that lead aright, as they shine down from the supernal sky. Verily, art Thou the Invincible, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.”
PRAYER 3
“O my Lord! O my Lord! This is a lamp lighted by the fire of Thy love and ablaze with the flame which is ignited in the tree of Thy mercy. O my Lord! Increase his enkindlement, heat and flame, with the fire which is kindled in the Sinai of Thy Manifestation. Verily, Thou art the Confirmer, the Assister, the Powerful, the Generous, the Loving.”
Quote Grade 4 Ruhi book 3

It is incumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences, and, with perfect unity and peace, abide beneath the shadow of the Tree of His care and loving-kindness.

Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh,

Meaning Of Words In Quote

Write any words you don’t know and look them up. Use this PDF

SEND A POSTCARD

SEND TO A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOUR

USE EMAIL, SNAIL MAIL, OR HAND-DELIVER IT!

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Song Grade 4 Ruhi Book 3

Historical Episodes

This historical episode describes Edward Granville Browne’s visit to Bahjí and the fate of the kings and rulers of the time who ignored Bahá’u’lláh’s call to put aside their differences. The episode might well be divided into a few stories, narrated over two or more sessions.

In listening to the account of the historical episode, you will recognize a pattern with which you may already be familiar from the lessons in Grade 3, for example, in the stories of Abraham and Moses, that the Will of God will always prevail. 

You know that Bahá’u’lláh raised the banner of universal peace and revealed the Word of God to humanity for some forty years. We have seen how His Message revived the hearts of thousands of people in the East. By the end of His earthly life, despite the efforts of the most powerful kings of the region, Bahá’u’lláh was held in esteem and veneration by people of all backgrounds. The prestige of the community of His followers was well established in the Holy Land, and the number of believers continued to multiply in Persia. Communities had begun to emerge as far east as India and Burma, and the Faith had been carried all the way to China.

As for the Western world, you know that Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed His Message to its kings and rulers. But there were others who, during His lifetime, became aware of the Prisoner of ‘Akká and the great influence He had on all those with whom He came into contact. One of these was Edward Granville Browne, who was mentioned in an earlier class. He was a well-known British scholar. In 1890, he visited Bahjí and was granted four interviews with Bahá’u’lláh. Professor Browne has left us a description of his historic first meeting. Here is what he said.

Professor Browne tells us that, when he reached the Holy Land, he spent the first night in ‘Akká. He was taken to Bahjí the next day, where he passed the evening. In the morning, one of Bahá’u’lláh’s younger sons entered the room where Professor Browne was sitting. He asked the Professor to accompany him and led him to the entrance of a room, in front of which was hanging a large curtain. Professor Browne was not told what to expect

However, he removed his shoes as was the custom at the time. Then Bahá’u’lláh’s son pointed to the curtain, encouraging the Professor to enter.

Professor Browne now found himself in a large room. Immediately opposite the entrance, he saw two or three empty chairs. But, along the wall on the other side, was a long couch. Suddenly he became aware that he was not alone. His heart throbbed with wonder and awe. In the corner on the couch sat the most majestic Personage. He was wearing a felt headdress called a “táj”, round the base of which was wound a small white turban. Professor Browne tells us that he could never forget the face he saw, but he found it impossible to describe it in words. Power and authority radiated from this face, and the eyes, he said, seemed to read his very soul. He did not need to ask in Whose presence he stood. The Professor knew in an instant that he had attained the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, and he bowed before Him as before a king or an emperor.

Professor Browne recorded some of the words spoken to him by Bahá’u’lláh during his interviews. There is one passage, in particular, that is now well known among Bahá’ís everywhere:

“A mild dignified voice bade me be seated, and then continued:—‘Praise be to God that thou hast attained! . . . Thou hast come to see a prisoner and an exile.       We

desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment       That all

nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease and differences of race be annulled—what harm is there in this?       Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away,

and the “Most Great Peace” shall come.       Do not you in Europe need this also?

Is not this that which Christ foretold? . . . Yet do we see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind.       These strifes and

this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family        Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory

in this, that he loves his kind.     

The words recorded by Professor Browne soon began to reach the ears of many in the West. There was one particularly important meeting where the words of Bahá’u’lláh were read: the World’s Parliament of Religions. It was held in the city of Chicago, in the United States, a few years after Professor Browne visited the Holy Land. The meeting was attended by a few thousand people, and some two hundred speakers from around the world were invited to give presentations. Most of the speakers were Christian ministers, but several other religions were also represented. A paper written by a Christian missionary in Syria was read there, and it made mention of Bahá’u’lláh. This passage was quoted for all to hear:

“That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease and differences of race be annulled— what harm is there in this?  Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the  ‘Most Great Peace’ shall come.”

Regrettably, the kings and rulers at the time of Bahá’u’lláh, many of whom had received Tablets from Him, did not follow His guidance to set aside their differences. Each thought only of his own power, and they persisted in their divisive and destructive ways. Eventually, almost all of them lost their power and glory, while wars and revolutions multiplied.

The fate of the Persian king, Náṣiri’d-Dín Sháh, was already mentioned in an earlier class. It was he, of course, who had ordered the execution of the Báb, who had imprisoned Bahá’u’lláh in the Síyáh-Chál, and who had banished Him from His homeland and urged that He be sent farther and farther away, eventually to ‘Akká. It was he who, together with the religious leaders, had tried to wipe out the Faith in Persia. And it was he who, having received from the hand of the heroic Badí‘ a Tablet addressed to him by Bahá’u’lláh, chose to ignore it and to arrest instead its bearer, who was tortured mercilessly and finally slain. What became of this despotic king? We know that the night before the celebration of the anniversary of his rise to the throne, he was shot by one of his own people, and his sons soon lost the throne and their family name faded into history.

The Sulṭán of the Ottoman Empire, the other ruler who, in collaboration with Náṣiri’d- Dín Sháh, rose to oppose Bahá’u’lláh, sending Him to Constantinople, Adrianople and then to ‘Akká, had a similar end. He lost his throne in a palace revolution and four days later was killed. The throne was given to his nephew, but he could not hold the Ottoman Empire together. Once the mightiest power in the region, the empire fell apart and soon disappeared, and new countries and nations arose in its place.

Meanwhile, in the West, many of the kings, too, lost their thrones in the upheavals and conflicts that persisted. One of these was Napoleon III of France. He was considered the most powerful ruler of the time in Europe. A proud and ambitious man, Napoleon sent troops to seize other lands in order to increase the size of his dominion. Thousands upon

thousands of young men died on the battlefield because of his ambition and hunger for greatness. When he received the Tablet from Bahá’u’lláh, he showed little respect and sent an irreverent reply. In a second Tablet addressed to him, Bahá’u’lláh predicted his downfall. Not long after Napoleon was defeated in battle and lost his throne. He had no other choice but to go into exile.

Of course, the other kings in the region were equally proud and ambitious. William I of Prussia greatly benefited from the fall of Napoleon. He consolidated his power and grew stronger, creating the German Empire. Bahá’u’lláh warned, however, that he not make the same mistake as Napoleon, to think that he was more powerful than God’s Manifestation and, because of his own folly and greed, bring suffering to his people. Needless to say, in the end, two attempts were made on his life by his own subjects, and though he survived them, the German Empire did not. It was taken apart, following a most terrible war, the First World War.

During that war, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and the Russian Empire, whose rulers had also failed to respond to Bahá’u’lláh, came to an end. In Russia, tired of conflicts and bloodshed, the people rose up in revolution against the royal family that had ruled the masses like slaves for some three hundred years. They were swept forever from power.

Sadly, the First World War took the lives of millions of people. It left great destruction, but there was also the hope that the rulers and leaders of the world would come together in peace once and for all. Yet it was not to be so. Soon the Second World War broke out. Nations took sides against nations, and again millions were killed. After several bitter years, the war ended, but distrust between nations did not. And so governments used their resources and the benefits of modern science to build up stores of weapons. To this day, governments and rulers cannot seem to put aside their disagreements and to recognize that the earth is, in truth, one country and we are all its citizens. Conflicts continue in different parts of the world, and the ills of humanity are multiplying everywhere. Even within nations, groups of people are pitted one against another.

It would be truly sad if this was the whole story. But we know that, however dark the world looks, humanity’s future is bright. Though the leaders of the world are still struggling to establish true peace, the spirit of loving solidarity that Bahá’u’lláh breathed into the world has continued to spread. His call for humanity to unite as one family is penetrating the hearts and minds of people. Some are fortunate enough to recognize Him as God’s Manifestation for this new Age and to work directly for His Cause. But even those who are not yet aware of His teachings are affected by the forces released by His Revelation. More and more people are beginning to appreciate one another and to see that we are children of one God, that we are all drops of the same ocean. Their hearts are warmed by the Sun of Truth and their minds are illuminated by its rays. Such is the power of the Word of God to make the world anew. No matter how long it takes for the leaders to come together, humanity will be united as God has so willed.

“Yet so it shall be,” Bahá’u’lláh declares, “these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the ‘Most Great Peace’ shall come.”

For any of the figures we heard about, use the biography page to write down the information you would like to remember

Teachers Pay Teachers Free Biography page

DOWNLOAD MY STORY REPORT HERE

facts about Bahá'u'lláh Grade 4
  • Professor Edward Granville Browne had his historic interviews with Bahá’u’lláh in April 1890.
  • The first mention of the name of Bahá’u’lláh at a public gathering in the West took place on 23 September 1893 at the World’s Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in the United States.
      games/ drama grade 4 ruhi book 3
      YOU ARE A WRITER/REPORTER AND YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO INTERVIEW AN IMPORTANT FIGURE IN HISTORY OR MESSENGER OF GOD

      ( remember we do not portray the Messengers of God)

      Retell what happened in your meeting to a coworker/friend/family.

      Take turns being the reporter/writer and coworker/friend/family

      YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT FIGURE RULER WHO ACCEPTED / REJECTED THE LETTER FROM BAHA’U’LLAH

      IMAGINE WHAT THE RULER MAY SAY OR DO IF THEY REALIZED THAT THIS LETTER COULD HAVE CHANGED THEIR PATH IN HISTORY.

      crafts grade 4 ruhi book 3
      OUR CRAFT IS ABOUT TRANSFORMING PAPER INTO POPUP AND OTHER 3D OBJECTS.

      1. Matthew Reinhart: is pop-up cards are actual transformers. great to make and give to a fan.

      Bumblebee and Optimus Prime

      2. Rob Ives is one of my favorite paper engineers and he turns flat paper into working models and toys

      His free designs to print, cut and glue are here

      3. Simple paper toys like airplanes and fidget spinners  here

      4. Make a flipbook to “transform” the robots. A free printable to cut, colour and staple together. Download  here

      Turn Milk into Plastic

      This project takes one to two days and can be done after the lesson and shown in the next class

      instructions here

      TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS

      All about me resources – download and use to interview someone

      Here is the link

      I like the iPhone to fill in info about a person: here

      DRAWING

      Draw a picture of the Mansion of Bahjí. Here is a drawing of the corner windows of Bahá’u’lláh’s blessed room—Can you do a similar drawing?  Do not depict any images related to war as we would like to focus on peace.

      “The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men.”

      Download the memorization PDF (as seen above) HERE

      resource grade 4 ruhi book 3

      Have a resource? Message me and I would love to add here in the blog

      Categories
      Baha'i Children class

      BAHÁ’U’LLÁH WAS AT ALL TIMES AND UNDER ALL CONDITIONS VICTORIOUS, ACHIEVING GODS HOLY PURPOSE

      Welcome Grade 4 Rughi Book 3

      Introducing The Principal Theme

      It is hoped that, in this lesson, you will get a further glimpse of Bahá’u’lláh’s grandeur and majesty and gain an understanding that He was at all times and under all conditions victorious, achieving God’s Holy Purpose.

      Let us review the following ideas:

      We have already learned that Bahá’u’lláh’s life on this earth was filled with suffering. What were some of the afflictions and ordeals that He endured?

      1. In His homeland, Persia, He was imprisoned, put in chains, and stripped of His worldly possessions.
      2. He was then exiled four times. To where was He banished the last time, and what were the conditions like there?

      Yet we also saw that, despite the efforts exerted by His enemies to still His Voice and destroy His Faith, Bahá’u’lláh continued to proclaim His Cause, to high and low alike, and He called upon the kings and rulers of the earth to uphold the principle of justice and to work for the welfare of the people of the world.

      How did the kings and rulers respond to His summons?”

      You will remember that, when imprisoned and in chains in the Síyáh-Chál, Bahá’u’lláh heard these words on every side:

      ‘Verily, We shall render Thee victorious by Thyself and by Thy Pen.’

      Years later He arrived in ‘Akká, outwardly a prisoner and an exile. But you know that what He saw in the spiritual world was different. He said that He was welcomed with banners of light and that the Voice of the Spirit cried out, saying: ‘Soon will all that dwell on earth be enlisted under these banners.’

      God promised  Bahá’u’lláh that He would be made victorious.

      Today you are going to see that soon in ‘Akká, as in other places, the hearts of the people were transformed by the loving words of Bahá’u’lláh, and the wish of His beloved son, Mírzá Mihdí, was fulfilled. His followers were able to attain His presence, and His Cause became stronger and spread wider each day. Though outwardly Bahá’u’lláh remained a prisoner, He continued to gain more and more ascendance over the powers of the earth. Every time His enemies had devised a new way to silence Him, His fame and following grew. The rulers of Persia and the Ottoman Empire were too blinded by ambition and greed to understand that they were powerless to inflict harm on His Cause.

      In the passage you will memorize in this lesson, Bahá’u’lláh assures us that the Cause of God has the power to withstand all opposition. Think of all the forces that rose up against Bahá’u’lláh, and yet He was unshaken. Little did the rulers of the time realize that history would prove the Prisoner of ‘Akká to be the King of Glory.

      Prayer Grade 4 Ruhi Book 3

      Prayer 1

      “O Lord! Enable all the peoples of the earth to gain admittance into the Paradise of Thy Faith, so that no created being may remain beyond the bounds of Thy good- pleasure. From time immemorial Thou hast been potent to do what pleaseth Thee and transcendent above whatsoever Thou desirest.”

      The Báb

      Prayer 2

      “I adjure Thee by Thy might, O my God! Let no harm beset me in times of tests, and in moments of heedlessness guide my steps aright through Thine inspiration. Thou art God, potent art Thou to do what Thou desirest. No one can withstand Thy Will or thwart Thy Purpose.”

      The Báb

      Prayer 3

      “O my God, the God of bounty and mercy! Thou art that King by Whose commanding word the whole creation hath been called into being; and Thou art that All-Bountiful One the doings of Whose servants have never hindered Him from showing forth His grace, nor have they frustrated the revelations of His bounty. Suffer this servant, I beseech Thee, to attain unto that which is the cause of his salvation in every world of Thy worlds. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

      Bahá’u’lláh

      MEMORIZATION AID

      DOWNLOAD THE MEMORIZATION AID FOR ALL PRAYERS IN THIS SET HERE

      Quote Grade 4 Ruhi book 3

      Though the forces of the nations be arrayed against Him, though the kings of 

       the earth be leagued to undermine His Cause, the power of His might shall stand unshaken.

      Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

      MEANING OF SOME OF THE WORDS IN THE QUOTE

      Use this to write all the words you don’t know but want to remember!

      SEND A POSTCARD

      SEND TO A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOUR

      USE EMAIL, SNAIL MAIL, OR HAND-DELIVER IT!

      DOWNLOAD IT HERE

      Song Grade 4 Ruhi Book 3

      Historical episodes

      This lesson is about the period of Bahá’u’lláh’s life spent in ‘Akká and its vicinity after being released from imprisonment in the barracks. 

      You know that Bahá’u’lláh’s suffering in the fortress-town of ‘Akká was so immense that He designated it the “Most Great Prison”.

      Confined to the army barracks by order of the Sulṭán, He and the small band of exiles that accompanied Him were subjected to the severest hardship. The loss of His beloved son Mírzá Mihdí, the Purest Branch, was a source of unspeakable sorrow. But four months later, He and His companions were asked to leave the army barracks to make way for troops. They were moved from house to house, staying only a few months in each and kept watch over by guards.

      Bahá’u’lláh and His family finally settled in what is now known as the House of ‘Abbúd.

      They remained there for several years, and it was in that house that He revealed His Most Holy Book, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, which you will learn more about in a later class period.

      Gradually the restrictions on them were relaxed, as the inhabitants of the city began to recognize their innocence and to admire and revere Bahá’u’lláh. An increasing number of pilgrims from Persia were able to attain His presence during this period, and thus the wish of the Purest Branch that the gates of the city would be opened wide to his Father’s followers was fulfilled.

      Although Bahá’u’lláh and the believers enjoyed much freedom in ‘Akká, He remained confined within the city walls, for the order of the Sulṭán was still in force. But this situation was not to last. People of influence and authority eventually grew friendly towards the Faith and came to respect Bahá’u’lláh.

      There was even a governor of ‘Akká who seemed to have caught a glimpse of His station. He was so deeply moved by Bahá’u’lláh’s majesty that he begged Him to be given the privilege of serving Him in some way. Bahá’u’lláh refused, not wanting anything for Himself, but instead suggested that he restore a disused water canal for the city.

      The water in ‘Akká was terribly foul, and the canal, once fixed, allowed the people of the city to have fresh water.

      One day, Bahá’u’lláh mentioned that He had not seen greenery for nine years. The country, He commented, was the world of the soul and the city the world of the body. When ‘Abdu’l- Bahá heard these words, He realized that the time had come for His Father to go to the countryside and enjoy the beauty of nature.

      There lived a prominent man in ‘Akká in those days who owned a lovely place in the country called Mazra‘ih. Unfortunately the man was not friendly to the Faith. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá went to his home and asked to rent Mazra‘ih from him. Surprisingly, the owner agreed. ‘Abdu’l- Bahá acquired the place at a low rent, repaired it, and beautified the garden.

      He then went to the presence of Bahá’u’lláh and informed Him that Mazra‘ih was ready for Him and that there was a carriage waiting for Him outside. But Bahá’u’lláh refused to go, saying that He was still a prisoner. There was a highly respected religious leader in ‘Akká who loved Bahá’u’lláh and was greatly favored by Him. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained the situation to the man and asked him to go to the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, fall on his knees, take hold of Bahá’u’lláh’s hands and not let go until He promised to leave the city.

      The man did exactly as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had asked him to do. But Bahá’u’lláh refused again, repeating that He was a prisoner. “God forbid! Who has the power to make You a prisoner?” insisted the man.

      “You have kept Yourself in prison. It was Your Own Will to be imprisoned . . .”

      He begged Bahá’u’lláh to leave the walls of the prison-city and go to Mazra‘ih. “It is beautiful and verdant,” he told Him. “The trees are lovely, and the oranges like balls of fire!” For a whole hour the man pleaded until finally his patience and persistence were rewarded, and Bahá’u’lláh agreed to move to Mazra‘ih.

      The next day, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá brought the carriage and drove Bahá’u’lláh to His new residence. While everyone knew that Bahá’u’lláh was still a prisoner by the order of the Sulṭán, no one dared raise any objections. He was, in reality, as loved and respected as a king.

      Two years after Bahá’u’lláh went to live in Mazra‘ih, a beautiful mansion not too far distant fell vacant. It had been built as a country home for a wealthy man and his family. The mansion was on a property called Bahjí, which means “delight”.

      When an epidemic broke out in the area, killing many, people panicked and abandoned their homes. ‘Abdu’l- Bahá was thus able to rent Bahjí for His Father, and in the tranquility of its surroundings, Bahá’u’lláh would pass the remaining thirteen years of His life on this earth.

      He was now held in esteem and veneration by people of all backgrounds, and the prestige of the community of His followers was well established. Leaders and local officials would often request the honor of attaining His presence.

      And although His Faith had not yet spread to the Western world, there were some who were aware of the Prisoner of ‘Akká and the great influence He had on all those with whom He came into contact. One of these was Edward Granville Browne, a well-known British scholar, whom you will learn about in another class.

      During this period of His life, Bahá’u’lláh visited the nearby town of Haifa three times. The third visit was the longest. He remained there for three months. It was while in Haifa, over the course of the visit, that news reached Bahá’u’lláh of the martyrdom of seven believers in the city of Yazd in Persia. All seven had been put to death in a single day, one after another, in the most cruel and barbarous ways, in front of the jeering and enthusiastic crowds.

      Then the governor of the city called a holiday; shops were closed and the city lit into the night for the festivities. You see, Náṣiri’d-Dín Sháh, the king of Persia, never gave up his efforts to destroy the Faith in the land of its birth. Whenever it suited his own despotic purpose, his government and the religious leaders would tell lies and falsehoods about the Faith, so that people would feel hatred towards the followers of Bahá’u’lláh and would attack and harm them.

      Many were called to the field of martyrdom. So deep was Bahá’u’lláh’s sorrow at learning the circumstances of the deaths of the seven believers in Yazd that, for nine days, no divine verses flowed from His pen, and no one was admitted into His presence. On the ninth day, He summoned the believers and foretold of the king’s doom.

      Before long, Bahá’u’lláh said, Persia would be released from the king’s tyrannical reign. And, indeed, some years later, the night before the celebration of the anniversary of his rise to the throne, he was shot and killed by one of his own people, and his sons soon lost the throne and their family name faded into history.

      What you should also know is that it was during that same visit to Haifa, while standing on the slopes of Mount Carmel, that Bahá’u’lláh pointed out to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the spot where the Shrine of the Báb was to be built. Later, of course, in the vicinity of the Holy Shrine of the Báb, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice was established. Today the twin cities of Haifa and ‘Akká have become the administrative and spiritual world center of the Bahá’í Faith, which has spread to countries throughout the globe.

      Bahá’u’lláh raised the banner of universal peace and revealed the Word of God to humanity. Although the powers of the earth combined their forces against Him, He was victorious over them as God had promised Him when under chains in the Síyáh-Chál. During His own lifetime, His Message revived the hearts of thousands of people, and today His Cause continues its onward march.

      The forces of the entire world are not capable of preventing it from achieving its ultimate goal, which is to unify humankind in one universal Cause and in one common Faith.

      From the lessons in earlier grades, we already have a profound connection to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and this historical episode gives us an indication of how devoted He was to His beloved Father. You may wish to reflect for a moment on the station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the perfect Exemplar of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings. What insights does it reveal into the greatness of the Cause? What other spiritual insights do the historical episode offer, and how will you ensure the children glean such insights as you narrate the events to them?

      For any of the figures we heard about, use the biography page to write down the information you would like to remember

      Teachers Pay Teachers Free Biography page

      DOWNLOAD MY STORY REPORT HERE

      facts about Bahá'u'lláh Grade 4
      • Bahá’u’lláh spent twenty-four years in ‘Akká and its vicinity, from 1868 to 1892.
      • After nine years of confinement in ‘Akká, Bahá’u’lláh consented to leave its gates.
      • Bahá’u’lláh spent the last thirteen years of His life on this earth in Bahjí.
      • In one of His visits to Haifa, Bahá’u’lláh pointed out to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the spot on which the Shrine of the Báb was to be built.
      • The twin cities of Haifa and ‘Akká are the administrative and spiritual world center of the Bahá’í Faith.
      games/ drama grade 4 ruhi book 3

      You are a fellow prisoner in  Most Great Prison and you have come to love and respect Baha’ullah. You just heard that the new water canal will be fixed and water will start to flow again into the city.

      Act out this scene, how you are feeling before the news, and after the news.

      You and a group of your friends want to do something to help improve the living conditions of everyone in this prison.

      In your groups discuss what you may be able to do. Share your idea(s) with your class.

      Can you think of how you can make your neighborhoods a better place to live?

      crafts grade 4 ruhi book 3

      BASED ON: BAHA’U’LLAH MISSED SEEING GREENERY.

      1. DESIGN A GARDEN FOR SOMEONE WHO ALSO MISSES GREEN STUFF

      THIS WEBSITE HAS SOME FREE PRINTABLES TO HELP WITH THE PLANNING

      CLICK HERE

      2. Plant bulbs and watch them grow or give them to a friend. Did you know that pilgrims took bulbs on the trip to Akka?

      Among the villagers who had travelled on that pilgrimage were two who bore the same name, Muhammad. As there were no family surnames to distinguish them one from the other, the friends called them Muhammad the first and Muhammad the second. Together they suggested to their fellow Bahá’ís that nothing could be more befitting than flowers for such a Beloved. And what flower better than the fragrant narcissus, in Persia a symbol of purity and love, a symbol too of the coming of the spring and the joyful passing of life out from the darkness and cold of winter!

      https://bahai-library.com/faizi_flowers_akka
      3. Make Seed Paper
      4. MAKE SOME SEED MATS TO GIVE TO SOMEONE TO GROW

      CHECK OUT HOW HERE AND HERE

      5. MAKE GRASS SEED HEADS

      HERE

      Walk Through Paper

      In Burlington we just did a lot of seed bombs at the Ayyam-i-Ha party so for the lesson, I focused on an activity. (walking through paper)

      Baha’u’llah spent so many years as a prisoner, it is what the world saw, but we know that at any time, He could have been free.

      One account explains:

      Soon the believers from Sayessan became familiar with the prevailing bitter conditions of confinement within the fortress of ‘Akká. Their hearts brimmed with sorrow for the Holy Ones, for they were surprised that such inadequate food was given the exiles, with no fresh vegetables. The bad-tasting water, the poor diet, the prevalence of epidemics of every kind, the barren city with scarcely a blade of grass inside its forbidding double walls, all evoked sadness and a deep rage. Worst of all, the Blessed Beauty with His great love of the open spaces, of the mountains and the gardens, of flowers and trees and all the beauty of the natural world had not been able to walk abroad for about nine long years. Therefore, one day when in His presence the pilgrims opened their hearts and entreated Him:

      “Come to our village,” they proposed. “Here in ‘Akká it is warm and damp, and there are no trees.”

      “We cannot,” replied the Beloved.

      “We promise that the weather will be more agreeable, and we will do everything we can to make you more comfortable.”

      “We cannot. We are imprisoned here.”

      “Imprisoned?” they replied, with tears in their eyes. “Imprisoned! Who could ever do that to you? You are the King of this world.”

      But the Blessed Beauty could not be released from bondage even by these boldest and most resolute of His followers, for God’s destiny had ordained His lifetime stay in the Holy Land, that place of fulfillment of prophecies for all mankind.

      Print (or draw) an image of a prison on one side and on the other a beautiful garden and a view.

      HERE IS MY VERSION

      Remind the class that Baha’u’llah willingly spent many years as a prisoner, and just like this demonstration or walking through paper, Baha’u’llah could have at any time NOT a prisoner.

      Have them try to walk through the paper.

      Here is the video (below) on how to cut the paper so that we can easily walk through it.

      Sometimes when things look impossible, it is not!

      DRAW THE GARDENS IN HAIFA

      There are so many images that this lesson offers as possible ideas for drawings.

      One, for example, is the Mansion of Bahjí.

      Another example is a picture of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice as a symbol of the triumph of Bahá’u’lláh’s Cause over the forces that rose up against Him. 

      BRILLIANT STAR

      CHANGE OF HEART

      CHANGING ENEMIES INTO FRIENDS

      DIVINE POETRY

      WHAT A CHANGE

      Suffer not yourselves to be shut out as by a veil from God after He hath revealed Himself.

      Selections from the Writings of the Báb

      DOWNLOAD THE MEMORIZATION AID

      HERE

      Categories
      Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3

      BAHÁ’U’LLÁH WAS AT ALL TIMES AND UNDER ALL CONDITIONS VICTORIOUS, ACHIEVING GODS HOLY PURPOSE GRADE 4 LESSON 11 RUHI BOOK 3

      Introducing The Principal Theme

      It is hoped that, in this lesson, you will get a further glimpse of Bahá’u’lláh’s grandeur and majesty and gain an understanding that He was at all times and under all conditions victorious, achieving God’s Holy Purpose.

      Let us review the following ideas:

      We have already learned that Bahá’u’lláh’s life on this earth was filled with suffering. What were some of the afflictions and ordeals that He endured?

      1. In His homeland, Persia, He was imprisoned, put in chains, and stripped of His worldly possessions.
      2. He was then exiled four times. To where was He banished the last time, and what were the conditions like there?

      Yet we also saw that, despite the efforts exerted by His enemies to still His Voice and destroy His Faith, Bahá’u’lláh continued to proclaim His Cause, to high and low alike, and He called upon the kings and rulers of the earth to uphold the principle of justice and to work for the welfare of the people of the world.

      How did the kings and rulers respond to His summons?”

      You will remember that, when imprisoned and in chains in the Síyáh-Chál, Bahá’u’lláh heard these words on every side:

      ‘Verily, We shall render Thee victorious by Thyself and by Thy Pen.’

      Years later He arrived in ‘Akká, outwardly a prisoner and an exile. But you know that what He saw in the spiritual world was different. He said that He was welcomed with banners of light and that the Voice of the Spirit cried out, saying: ‘Soon will all that dwell on earth be enlisted under these banners.’

      God promised  Bahá’u’lláh that He would be made victorious.

      Today you are going to see that soon in ‘Akká, as in other places, the hearts of the people were transformed by the loving words of Bahá’u’lláh, and the wish of His beloved son, Mírzá Mihdí, was fulfilled. His followers were able to attain His presence, and His Cause became stronger and spread wider each day. Though outwardly Bahá’u’lláh remained a prisoner, He continued to gain more and more ascendance over the powers of the earth. Every time His enemies had devised a new way to silence Him, His fame and following grew. The rulers of Persia and the Ottoman Empire were too blinded by ambition and greed to understand that they were powerless to inflict harm on His Cause.

      In the passage you will memorize in this lesson, Bahá’u’lláh assures us that the Cause of God has the power to withstand all opposition. Think of all the forces that rose up against Bahá’u’lláh, and yet He was unshaken. Little did the rulers of the time realize that history would prove the Prisoner of ‘Akká to be the King of Glory.

      GRADE 4 HEADING PRAYER
      MEMORIZATION AID FOR PRAYERS

      Download the memorization aid for all prayers here

      Quote Grade 4 Ruhi book 3

      Though the forces of the nations be arrayed against Him, though the kings of the earth be leagued to undermine His Cause, the power of His might shall  stand unshaken.

      Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
      MEANING OF SOME OF THE WORDS IN THE QUOTE

      Use this to write all the words you don’t know but want to remember!

      SEND A POSTCARD

      SEND TO A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOUR, USE EMAIL, SNAIL MAIL, OR HAND-DELIVER IT!

      DOWNLOAD IT HERE

      Song Grade 4 Ruhi Book 3
      Story grade 4 ruhi book 3
      Historical episodes

      This lesson is about the period of Bahá’u’lláh’s life spent in ‘Akká and its vicinity after being released from imprisonment in the barracks. 

      You know that Bahá’u’lláh’s suffering in the fortress-town of ‘Akká was so immense that He designated it the “Most Great Prison”.

      Confined to the army barracks by order of the Sulṭán, He and the small band of exiles that accompanied Him were subjected to the severest hardship. The loss of His beloved son Mírzá Mihdí, the Purest Branch, was a source of unspeakable sorrow. But four months later, He and His companions were asked to leave the army barracks to make way for troops. They were moved from house to house, staying only a few months in each and kept watch over by guards.

      Bahá’u’lláh and His family finally settled in what is now known as the House of ‘Abbúd.

      They remained there for several years, and it was in that house that He revealed His Most Holy Book, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, which you will learn more about in a later class period.

      Gradually the restrictions on them were relaxed, as the inhabitants of the city began to recognize their innocence and to admire and revere Bahá’u’lláh. An increasing number of pilgrims from Persia were able to attain His presence during this period, and thus the wish of the Purest Branch that the gates of the city would be opened wide to his Father’s followers was fulfilled.

      Although Bahá’u’lláh and the believers enjoyed much freedom in ‘Akká, He remained confined within the city walls, for the order of the Sulṭán was still in force. But this situation was not to last. People of influence and authority eventually grew friendly towards the Faith and came to respect Bahá’u’lláh.

      There was even a governor of ‘Akká who seemed to have caught a glimpse of His station. He was so deeply moved by Bahá’u’lláh’s majesty that he begged Him to be given the privilege of serving Him in some way. Bahá’u’lláh refused, not wanting anything for Himself, but instead suggested that he restore a disused water canal for the city.

      The water in ‘Akká was terribly foul, and the canal, once fixed, allowed the people of the city to have fresh water.

      One day, Bahá’u’lláh mentioned that He had not seen greenery for nine years. The country, He commented, was the world of the soul and the city the world of the body. When ‘Abdu’l- Bahá heard these words, He realized that the time had come for His Father to go to the countryside and enjoy the beauty of nature.

      There lived a prominent man in ‘Akká in those days who owned a lovely place in the country called Mazra‘ih. Unfortunately the man was not friendly to the Faith. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá went to his home and asked to rent Mazra‘ih from him. Surprisingly, the owner agreed. ‘Abdu’l- Bahá acquired the place at a low rent, repaired it, and beautified the garden.

      He then went to the presence of Bahá’u’lláh and informed Him that Mazra‘ih was ready for Him and that there was a carriage waiting for Him outside. But Bahá’u’lláh refused to go, saying that He was still a prisoner. There was a highly respected religious leader in ‘Akká who loved Bahá’u’lláh and was greatly favored by Him. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained the situation to the man and asked him to go to the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, fall on his knees, take hold of Bahá’u’lláh’s hands and not let go until He promised to leave the city.

      The man did exactly as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had asked him to do. But Bahá’u’lláh refused again, repeating that He was a prisoner. “God forbid! Who has the power to make You a prisoner?” insisted the man.

      “You have kept Yourself in prison. It was Your Own Will to be imprisoned . . .”

      He begged Bahá’u’lláh to leave the walls of the prison-city and go to Mazra‘ih. “It is beautiful and verdant,” he told Him. “The trees are lovely, and the oranges like balls of fire!” For a whole hour the man pleaded until finally his patience and persistence were rewarded, and Bahá’u’lláh agreed to move to Mazra‘ih.

      The next day, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá brought the carriage and drove Bahá’u’lláh to His new residence. While everyone knew that Bahá’u’lláh was still a prisoner by the order of the Sulṭán, no one dared raise any objections. He was, in reality, as loved and respected as a king.

      Two years after Bahá’u’lláh went to live in Mazra‘ih, a beautiful mansion not too far distant fell vacant. It had been built as a country home for a wealthy man and his family. The mansion was on a property called Bahjí, which means “delight”.

      When an epidemic broke out in the area, killing many, people panicked and abandoned their homes. ‘Abdu’l- Bahá was thus able to rent Bahjí for His Father, and in the tranquility of its surroundings, Bahá’u’lláh would pass the remaining thirteen years of His life on this earth.

      He was now held in esteem and veneration by people of all backgrounds, and the prestige of the community of His followers was well established. Leaders and local officials would often request the honor of attaining His presence.

      And although His Faith had not yet spread to the Western world, there were some who were aware of the Prisoner of ‘Akká and the great influence He had on all those with whom He came into contact. One of these was Edward Granville Browne, a well-known British scholar, whom you will learn about in another class.

      During this period of His life, Bahá’u’lláh visited the nearby town of Haifa three times. The third visit was the longest. He remained there for three months. It was while in Haifa, over the course of the visit, that news reached Bahá’u’lláh of the martyrdom of seven believers in the city of Yazd in Persia. All seven had been put to death in a single day, one after another, in the most cruel and barbarous ways, in front of the jeering and enthusiastic crowds.

      Then the governor of the city called a holiday; shops were closed and the city lit into the night for the festivities. You see, Náṣiri’d-Dín Sháh, the king of Persia, never gave up his efforts to destroy the Faith in the land of its birth. Whenever it suited his own despotic purpose, his government and the religious leaders would tell lies and falsehoods about the Faith, so that people would feel hatred towards the followers of Bahá’u’lláh and would attack and harm them.

      Many were called to the field of martyrdom. So deep was Bahá’u’lláh’s sorrow at learning the circumstances of the deaths of the seven believers in Yazd that, for nine days, no divine verses flowed from His pen, and no one was admitted into His presence. On the ninth day, He summoned the believers and foretold of the king’s doom.

      Before long, Bahá’u’lláh said, Persia would be released from the king’s tyrannical reign. And, indeed, some years later, the night before the celebration of the anniversary of his rise to the throne, he was shot and killed by one of his own people, and his sons soon lost the throne and their family name faded into history.

      What you should also know is that it was during that same visit to Haifa, while standing on the slopes of Mount Carmel, that Bahá’u’lláh pointed out to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the spot where the Shrine of the Báb was to be built. Later, of course, in the vicinity of the Holy Shrine of the Báb, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice was established. Today the twin cities of Haifa and ‘Akká have become the administrative and spiritual world center of the Bahá’í Faith, which has spread to countries throughout the globe.

      Bahá’u’lláh raised the banner of universal peace and revealed the Word of God to humanity. Although the powers of the earth combined their forces against Him, He was victorious over them as God had promised Him when under chains in the Síyáh-Chál. During His own lifetime, His Message revived the hearts of thousands of people, and today His Cause continues its onward march.

      The forces of the entire world are not capable of preventing it from achieving its ultimate goal, which is to unify humankind in one universal Cause and in one common Faith.

      From the lessons in earlier grades, we already have a profound connection to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and this historical episode gives us an indication of how devoted He was to His beloved Father. You may wish to reflect for a moment on the station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the perfect Exemplar of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings. What insights does it reveal into the greatness of the Cause? What other spiritual insights do the historical episode offer, and how will you ensure the children glean such insights as you narrate the events to them?

      For any of the figures we heard about, use the biography page to write down the information you would like to remember

      Teachers Pay Teachers Free Biography page

      DOWNLOAD MY STORY REPORT HERE

      facts about Bahá'u'lláh Grade 4
      • Bahá’u’lláh spent twenty-four years in ‘Akká and its vicinity, from 1868 to 1892.
      • After nine years of confinement in ‘Akká, Bahá’u’lláh consented to leave its gates.
      • Bahá’u’lláh spent the last thirteen years of His life on this earth in Bahjí.
      • In one of His visits to Haifa, Bahá’u’lláh pointed out to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the spot on which the Shrine of the Báb was to be built.
      • The twin cities of Haifa and ‘Akká are the administrative and spiritual world center of the Bahá’í Faith.
      games/ drama grade 4 ruhi book 3

      You are a fellow prisoner in  Most Great Prison and you have come to love and respect Baha’ullah. You just heard that the new water canal will be fixed and water will start to flow again into the city.

      Act out this scene, how you are feeling before the news, and after the news.

      You and a group of your friends want to do something to help improve the living conditions of everyone in this prison.

      In your groups discuss what you may be able to do. Share your idea(s) with your class.

      Can you think of how you can make your neighborhoods a better place to live?

      crafts grade 4 ruhi book 3
      BAHA’U’LLAH MISSED SEEING GREENERY.

      DESIGN A GARDEN FOR SOMEONE WHO ALSO MISSES GREEN STUFF

      THIS WEBSITE HAS SOME FREE PRINTABLES TO HELP IN PLANNING

      CLICK HERE

      MAKE SOME SEED MATS TO GIVE TO SOMEONE TO GROW

      CHECK OUT HOW HERE AND HERE

      MAKE GRASS SEED HEADS HERE
      DRAW THE GARDENS IN HAIFA

      There are so many images that this lesson offers as possible ideas for drawings.

      One, for example, is the Mansion of Bahjí.

      Another example, a picture of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice as a symbol of the triumph of Bahá’u’lláh’s Cause over the forces that rose up against Him. 

      BRILLIANT STAR

      CHANGE OF HEART

      CHANGING ENEMIES INTO FRIENDS

      DIVINE POETRY

      WHAT A CHANGE

      DAYSPRING MAGAZINE

      WATER

      REVIEW QUOTES GRADE 4
      Categories
      Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3

      THE QUALITIES OF CONSULTATION G2 L21

      WELCOME

      LESSON 21: THE QUALITIES OF CONSULTATION

      When people come together to consult, they share their ideas with the purity of heart and radiant spirits. They all know that, in order to discover the right way forward, they must each contribute their thoughts and understanding. They speak courteously to one another and use kind and gentle words. More importantly, they know that they must listen carefully to one another and think about what each person is saying.It is in listening and thinking, not just speaking, that ideas come together; new and wonderful ideas are born. 

      EACH SET HAS PRAYERS TO MEMORIZE

      For lessons 8 and 9 we will continue to memorize the prayer below

      O my God! O my God! Thou seest these children who are the twigs of the tree of life, the birds of the meads of salvation, the pearls of the ocean of Thy grace, the roses of the garden of Thy guidance.

      O God, our Lord! We sing Thy praise, bear witness to Thy sanctity and implore fervently the heaven of Thy mercy to make us lights of guidance, stars shining above the horizons of eternal glory amongst mankind, and to teach us a knowledge which proceedeth from Thee. 

      Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá!

      SEND A POSTCARD
      Get Link here
      Quote for class to memorize

      You may wish to draw on the following ideas in presenting the quotation the children are expected to learn today:


      When people come together to consult, they share their ideas with purity of heart and radiant spirits. They all know that, in order to discover the right way forward, they must each contribute their thoughts and understanding. They speak courteously to one another and use kind and gentle words. More important, they know that they must listen carefully to one another and think about what each person is saying. It is in listening and thinking, not just speaking, that ideas come together; new and wonderful ideas are born. Think of making a soup. Many different ingredients are put together in a pot, like carrots and beans, salt and water, and as they cook over the fire, all the separate things melt together into one whole and become a delicious meal for everyone to enjoy. In consultation, as all the participants share their thoughts lovingly, listen patiently and think carefully, with their hearts turned to God and confident in His blessings, the most beautiful ideas emerge. Of course, in the way ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke to others, we see the perfect Example of how people should consult together. He was detached, patient and humble. He always
      encouraged others to talk and listened with calm attentiveness. He never argued or insisted on an idea. One friend who lived at the time of the Master wrote that He spoke “as if offering a gift to a king”. Imagine you were giving a gift to a king. With kindness and gentleness, you would present your gift. When we share our ideas with one another, we do the same, wherever we are, whatever we are doing—in our classes here together, with our family and friends, at home and school. To help us remember some of the beautiful qualities we try to show when we speak with another one, let us memorize the
      following quotation:

      They must then proceed with the utmost devotion, courtesy, dignity, care and moderation to express their views

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
      MEANING OF WORDS
      Proceed


      1. Paulo saw that there was a large tree blocking the road ahead. He could not move forward because of the tree. He could not proceed.
      2. After children finish their classes for Grade 1, they move on to those for Grade 2. After Grade 1, children proceed to Grade 2.

      Devotion


      1. When Soraya prays, she shows her love for God and her wish to follow His teachings. When she prays, Soraya shows her devotion to God.
      2. Mark gets up early every morning and works hard all day. Mark shows great devotion to his work.


      Dignity


      1. When Lillian recites prayers, she sits up straight and uses a calm, clear voice, knowing
      that the Word of God is precious. When Lillian says prayers, she shows dignity.
      2. Amos was playing a game with other children, and one of them knocked him over by
      mistake. Amos did not get upset and told his friend not to worry. Amos responded with dignity.


      Moderation


      1. The human body must have the right amount of nourishment. If we eat too much or too
      little, our bodies will not be healthy. We must eat with moderation.
      2. Bhojraj likes to ride his bike very fast down the hill. His mother told him to slow down or
      he might fall and hurt himself. Bhojraj’s mother wants him to use moderation when
      riding his bike.

      MEMORIZATION AID FOR QUOTE

      PICTURES TO REMEMBER THE QUOTE HERE

      ruhi book 3 grade 3 song
      STORY RELATED TO LESSON
      Now explain to the children that you are going to tell them a story that will help them understand the importance of exercising moderation in one’s speech.


      During His visit to the West, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and a group of friends met with a man who was writing an article about the Bahá’í Faith. The man had many long and complicated questions, mainly about the history of the Faith. Throughout the interview, the Master sat quietly, listening with patient attention to the man’s inquiries. Now, his questions were
      quite lengthy indeed, and the man seemed to talk on and on. He did not seem to realize the importance of moderation. Only every so often did he pause long enough for others to say a few words, sometimes no more than a yes or no.

      Most of the friends in the room grew impatient—but not ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He sat perfectly relaxed, His eyes full of love and understanding. If the man hesitated for a moment, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke briefly in reply to his question and then waited courteously for him to continue.
      At last the man finished speaking, and there was a long silence. Then ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addressed the man with great dignity and care. His melodious voice filled the air. In only a few short minutes, the man was transformed. His heart had been touched by the Master’s gentle and loving words. Now he could see the spirit of the Faith. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá rose, warmly embraced the man, and walked with him to the door. At the doorway He paused. A large bunch of roses brought by one of the friends had caught His eye. So large was the bunch and so long the stems that they had to be placed in a stand for umbrellas. No vase was big enough to hold them. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gathered the flowers in His arms and presented them to His guest. The man’s head could barely be seen peeking out above the mountain of flowers, but the joy radiating from his face could not be missed. Sometimes a few words said with thoughtful care are all that is needed.

      Draw any part of the story
      GAMES FOR GRADE 2 TO PLAY
      DRAMA / GAMES

      After carrying out some warm-up exercises, similar to those in previous lessons, the children can undertake the following activity, which is intended to help them think about the qualities mentioned in the quotation they memorized earlier.
      First ask the children to imagine they are offering a gift to a king or queen. How do they hold the gift? How do they approach the king or queen? What tone of voice do they take? What words do they choose? Then divide the children into pairs, and have one child in each pair pretend to be the king or queen and the other the gift-bearer. They can then switch roles. Afterwards, gather the children together and ask them some questions:

      How did they show courtesy?

      How did they demonstrate care?

      What did it mean for them to conduct themselves with dignity?

      Help them think through how their words and actions became a reflection of these qualities.
      Next ask the pairs to improvise a few short scenarios, in which they will demonstrate the
      same qualities discussed above. You should think of some situations suited to the capacity of the students in your class. For instance, one child could pretend to be an older brother or sister helping a younger sibling in his or her efforts to learn a short quotation by heart.

      In another scenario, two children could be trying to decide what game to play—one wanting to play a particular game and the other wanting to play something else. With your help, the pairs can embellish the scenarios with the relevant details before acting them out.

      Remind them, as they do so, how they spoke and acted when offering the gift to the king or queen.

      Content coming soon

      DOWNLOAD COMPONENTS HERE

      CRAFT IDEAS
      LISTENING: HAVE YOU EVER MADE A “TELEPHONE” OUT OF TIN CANS AND A PIECE OF TWINE?

      Well, you really need to know how to listen and take turns talking for the telephone to work. 

      Materials:

      1. Two empty  cans (like one’s canned pears or beans come in) 
      2. Twine, about 3 to 4 meters. Longer is even more fun

      Instructions

      Make a hole in the bottom of each can 

      Pass the twine from the bottom to the inside of the can and tie in a knot. ( the knot is inside the can) do the same for the other can. 

      now stretch the twine out by holding on to and moving the cans apart. Hold the can to your ear to listen, or to your mouth to speak.

      Here is a website where they made the telephones with fruit cups

      Make some talking lips and start consulting!
      Based on the story, make a rose, then combine everyone’s roses and give as a gift to someone.
      Make a prayer book with all 7 prayers from grade 2

      Today was a celebration of all the things we learned over the last 21 lessons of Grade 2 – wow! Over this past year, we have worked our way through 7 different themes: PRAYER, OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S LAWS, SEEKING KNOWLEDGE, LIVING IN HARMONY, BEING A GOOD FRIEND, SERVICE AND CONSULTATION.

      All of them represent patterns of conduct, that show the inner qualities of the virtues we studied in Grade 1. It’s been quite a journey.

      To remember the 7 prayers the children have memorized as part of these lessons, You can compile them, if you have not already done so, into a special prayer book.

      It is suggested that you review with the children the quotation they memorized earlier today, before asking them to recite the two below they learned in Grade 1 related to sincerity and detachment:


      We should at all times manifest our truthfulness and sincerity . . .

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,

      Know that thy true adornment consisteth in the love of God and in thy detachment from all save Him . . .

      BThe Summons of the Lord of Hosts
      ruhi book 3 grade 2 resources
      BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

      Two Ears, One Mouth 

      Mild as Milk 

      What Do You Say? 

      Clash at the Monster Bash 

      Mine rich in gems feast pages

      Volume 1 and Volume 2

      POWERPOINT LESSON PLAN
      HERE
      Categories
      Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3

      THE BENEFITS OF CONSULTATION G2 L20

      WELCOME

      LESSON 20: THE BENEFITS OF CONSULTATION

      True consultation leads to greater understanding and is a source of good and well-being.

      iI is important to have frank and loving consultation on all matters, in the context of fostering unity in the Bahá’í community. Bahá’í consultation can be understood as the collective search for truth. Participants in consultation see reality from different viewpoints and, as these are expressed and discussed with the purity of motive and radiant spirits, clarity emerges. In this way, we are able to gain insight and understanding and find solutions to problems that we might not otherwise discover. Consultation provides the opportunity for us to approach situations and challenges in new ways and opens up
      new possibilities for fruitful action. In this respect, whether concerned with reaching a specific decision, solving a problem, or simply analyzing an issue, consultation is one of the most powerful instruments for building unity, both of thought and of action.

      EACH SET HAS PRAYERS TO MEMORIZE

      For lessons 8 and 9 we will continue to memorize the prayer below

      O my God! O my God! Thou seest these children who are the twigs of the tree of life, the birds of the meads of salvation, the pearls of the ocean of Thy grace, the roses of the garden of Thy guidance.

      O God, our Lord! We sing Thy praise, bear witness to Thy sanctity and implore fervently the heaven of Thy mercy to make us lights of guidance, stars shining above the horizons of eternal glory amongst mankind, and to teach us a knowledge which proceedeth from Thee. 

      Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá!

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
      SEND A POSTCARD

      DOWNLOAD HERE

      Quote for class to memorize
      The ideas below will assist you in explaining to the children the quotation they are expected to learn today:

      We know that all of creation- the entire universe and all that is in it-is held together by the force of love. Everything is connected into a beautiful whole, and humanity is like one family. Unity and harmony are part of creation. And when we come together to consult and share ideas, we are able to understand the world around us better and better. We see its unity and harmony, and we become more and more united in our thoughts and understanding. Sometimes we may need to talk for a long while to see a united way forward; other times we see the path more quickly. And with our thoughts and views united, we are able to make better and better plans and to carry them out more and more effectively. We all understand what we need to do. That is how consultation enables great things to be achieved.

      In the same way that the strength of several people, ‘Abdu’l-Baha tells us, is greater than the strength of one person, it is better to have the views and ideas of many people than just one. Through the coming together of views, solutions are revealed; truth can be seen. For example, ‘Abdu’l-Baha explains, if the people of a village consult about their affairs, the right solutions will surely be made clear to them. To help us remember that true consultation is the source of good and well-being, let us memorize the following quotation:

      Say: no man can attain his true station except through his justice. No power can exist except through unity. No welfare and no well-being can be attained except through consultation

      Bahá’u’lláh
      MEANING OF WORDS
      Station

      In some places, the king is considered the foremost person in the land. The king holds the highest station in the land.

      To tell lies or speak badly of others is not noble conduct. It is beneath the high station that God has given us.

      Power

      Lucien’s flashlight cannot give light without a battery.  The flashlight draws its power from the battery.

      The cart that Delara’s family uses to take grain to the market is very heavy and is pulled by two large horses. One horse alone does not have enough power to pull the cart.

      Welfare

      A mother lion cares for her cubs. She shelters them, protects them, and teaches them to find food. She sees to their welfare until they are grown.

      During the storm, the first thing Miad did was to make sure that all of the children were in a safe place. The welfare of the children was Miad’s first concern.

      MEMORIZATION AID FOR QUOTE

      PICTURES TO REMEMBER THE QUOTE HERE

      ruhi book 3 grade 3 song
      STORY RELATED TO LESSON
      A story about the benefits of consulting

      Not long ago, in a country where many people farmed the land, heavy rains caused flooding across an entire region. The rivers overflowed their banks and the flood waters destroyed houses, bridges, schools, roads, and fields, sweeping away the crops that had been planted. When the floods were over, most people were left with nothing. They had no homes, and there was little food.
      Now, the Bahá’ís who lived in other parts of the country, knowing that the people of the region were suffering, came together to consult to find a way to assist. They realized, of course, that the people needed food. But, as the Bahá’í friends discussed the matter, it became clear that it would not be enough to simply send food. It would be important for the people to be able to grow crops again. How could they help this to happen?
      If they could only get seeds, the people of the region could farm and grow food for themselves as they had done before the flood. Everyone could see that this would be a good way for them to help. So what did they do? They decided to use money contributed by their community to buy many tons of corn seeds. Trucks were piled high with sacks of seeds and transported to the areas that had been worst affected by the floods. The people expressed joy and gratitude, singing and playing drums. With these seeds, they could start farming again, and in spite of the suffering caused by the floods, everyone felt hopeful, strong, and happy.

      DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THE STORY HERE
      Draw any part of the story
      GAMES FOR GRADE 2 TO PLAY
      DRAMA / GAMES

      Begin this period by having the children do select warm-up exercises in their imaginary squares. You can then help them carry out a large-group improvisation, which will serve to strengthen their understanding of the nature of true consultation. First, ask each of the children to create a character by thinking of someone who might live in a village.

      You can help them by asking each one, “Who are you? How old are you? What are you wearing? What are you doing?” Once they have all decided on a character, the story begins. It takes place in a village, and this is what happens:

      SCENE 1

      The story opens with a scene from an ordinary day in the life of the village. The children pretend to carry out activities related to their characters. Everyone in the village is well fed and happy. They work hard and enjoy life.

      Allow the children a few minutes to improvise the scene and then call out “Freeze”. You can then introduce scene two.

      SCENE 2

      A fierce hurricane hits the village. Everyone runs for shelter. The children can pretend they are trying to save their possessions and help one another.

      Again, allow the children enough time to elaborate on the scene, then call out “Freeze” and introduce scene three.

      SCENE 3

      The hurricane has passed and the villagers emerge from their shelters. No one has been hurt but most of the village has been destroyed. The villagers try to salvage what is left of their belongings. Their efforts are in vain; almost everything has been lost. They are upset but do not bemoan their situation. They come together to consult about what to do next.

      Encourage the children to remember their characters and to make suggestions about how to rebuild the village. Give them time to come up with different ideas. At the end of the consultation, they set about working to make the village even better than before.

      After the children have improvised the scene, call out “Freeze” and present the final scene.

      SCENE 4

      The village has been rebuilt, thanks to the hard work of all the inhabitants. And, to everyone’s delight, it is even better than they could have imagined. The villagers gather together and celebrate.

      CONTENT COMING SOON

      DOWNLOAD COMPONENTS HERE

      CRAFT IDEAS
      BASED ON THE STORY:

      We can also send seeds to people: try making some seed paper.

      This website has good instructions

      here is a video showing how to make seed paper

      Based on the quote where we know that the strength of many is better than the strength of one:
      1. Get popsicle sticks (large ones are great).
      2. Write the name of family members, or community members or friends or any combination of these
      3. Decorate the sticks as you like
      4. Tie with a ribbon to symbolize we are held together with love
      Based on Story: express your joy

      In the story, the community expressed their joy by playing the drums. If you also like to express yourself with music, why not make your own instruments or even just drums?

      See this website for easy-to-make instruments

      comic book template

      Review the quotation from today’s lesson, and then remind the children of the qualities of trustworthiness and radiance and the quotations they memorized in Grade 1:

      O Friend! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love . . .

       Baha’u’llah

      Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself

      Bahá’u’lláh
      ruhi book 3 grade 2 resources
      BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

      Nur’s Nook: Powerful Puppets Express yourself with puppets

      Maya’s Mysteries: Gift of Listening Quiz yourself on listening skills

      Picture of Unity — Consultation tips with missing words

      Zeke & Rhombus: Talking Peace — Consultation tips in Zilizag code

      Family Consultation — Practice consulting with your family.

      POWERPOINT LESSON PLAN

      HERE

      Categories
      Baha'i Free Ruhi Book 3

      ENLIGHTENING UNDERSTANDING G2 L19

      LESSON 19: ENLIGHTENING UNDERSTANDING

      These next 3 lessons are all about ‘consultation’ and how consultation leads to greater understanding. When we consult, we come together in search of truth, discussing possibilities, talking over ideas and sharing understanding. All the participants contribute in whatever way they can so that a unified vision of the way forward can emerge.

      How and when can use the gift of consultation? 

      As we continue to read and learn through prayer, quotes, songs and stories we will be able to better answer some of these questions

      For lessons 8 and 9 we will continue to memorize the prayer below

      O my God! O my God! Thou seest these children who are the twigs of the tree of life, the birds of the meads of salvation, the pearls of the ocean of Thy grace, the roses of the garden of Thy guidance.

      O God, our Lord! We sing Thy praise, bear witness to Thy sanctity and implore fervently the heaven of Thy mercy to make us lights of guidance, stars shining above the horizons of eternal glory amongst mankind, and to teach us a knowledge which proceedeth from Thee. 

      Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá!

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
      SEND A POSTCARD

      DOWNLOAD HERE

      The following ideas will assist you in presenting the quotation that the children are expected to memorize today:

      We have thought a great deal about the importance of showing our love for God through service to His loved ones. We try to contribute to the betterment of the world in all we do and to manifest at all times those qualities that help us to serve. We have God’s teachings to guide us, and we are all working together to build His kingdom on Earth. Sometimes, of course, we do not know how best to move forward, but God has given us a most wonderful gift to help us learn little by little how to put His teachings into practice and follow His Divine guidance. It is the gift of consultation.
      When we consult, we come together in search of truth, discussing possibilities, talking over ideas, and sharing understanding. All the participants contribute in whatever they can so that a unified vision of the way forward can emerge. We can use the tool of consultation to help us with all matters, great or small. We know that, as we take action, reflect on our efforts, discuss what we have learned in a loving and prayerful manner, and study God’s teachings and His creation, the path that lies ahead will become more and more illuminated. In this way, consultation is like a lamp that guides us to greater and
      greater understanding.
      During His travels in the West, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had the occasion to observe the discussions of a group that had come together to make some important decisions for their country. He was not impressed by what He saw. In this meeting, He said, fighting and arguing ruled the day. It had become a battleground, with everyone standing in opposition to the others, trying only to promote their own ideas and opinions. They had lost sight of their objective, which should have been to see the truth of the matters before them. The result was mostly confusion and turmoil. True consultation, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained, is spiritual conference and not the mere voicing of personal views in opposition and debate. To help us remember to rely on consultation to lead us to greater understanding, let us memorize the following quotation:

      Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding

      Bahá’u’lláh
      MEANING OF WORDS
      Exert every effort

      Collis and his family lived in the countryside.  He was tired from tending the crops but worked hard to finish the day’s work.  He exerted every effort to finish the work before the end of the day.

      The teacher spent many hours working with students to make sure they know their lessons well.  The teacher exerted every effort to help her students.

      Understanding

      Amelia read the lesson twice.  However, only after her sister explained the lesson to her did she gain the necessary understanding.

      Arnold’s mother always spoke to him about the importance of unity, but his understanding grew as he made friends with children of many different backgrounds and experienced unity firsthand. 

      Strain every nerve

      To climb to the top of the mountain required all of Franco’s strength.  He had to strain every nerve to reach the top.

      The jar was closed very tightly, and though Zayn strained every nerve, he as unable to open it.

      Accomplishments

      The old man never talked about his past, even though he had done much during his life.  He was a humble man and never spoke about his accomplishments.

      The discovery of fire was one of humanity’s earliest accomplishments.

      MEMORIZATION AID FOR QUOTE

      PICTURES TO REMEMBER THE QUOTE HERE

      The story today shows how consultation can be like a lamp, guiding people through difficult problems, leading to new solutions, greater understanding, and wonderful outcomes.

      This story is about something that happened not too long ago in a Baha’i community in a very big city in Europe.

      It was an exciting time for the Baha ‘is. They had prepared themselves well and were at last ready to start a special project to invite the people of their city to join them for devotional gatherings, study circles, and classes for children and junior youth. To make a plan, all the friends  came together and consulted. They decided to form teams that would be able to move around the whole city, going to different neighborhoods to tell people about the various activities and invite them to take part.

      As the meeting finished and the friends were going home, a few flakes of snow began to fall from the sky. No one thought much of it until after a couple of days, when the whole of the city was covered by a huge blanket of snow! It was quite unexpected and everyone in the city was taken by surprise. All the schools were closed because the teachers and children could not get there through the heavy snow. Shops were closed because the shopkeepers could not reach their shops. Buses and trains had stopped running and cars were stuck with so much snow covering them that you could not even see them. No one could travel anywhere in the city.


      So a few of the Baha ‘is consulted again about what to do. Here were all these wonderful plans that just could not be carried out. At first everyone felt very sad and discouraged. What was to be done? Should they give up? How could the obstacle of the snow be turned into an advantage? As they prayed together and consulted about these ideas, a new plan came to light.


      “If the friends can’t leave their homes to travel across the city, why don’t we all visit the people who live right next to us, on our own streets  or in our own apartment blocks?” said one of the friends.
      “That’s right!” exclaimed another, “We wouldn’t need any transport-no car or bus or train-we would just need to put on our warm boots and take a few steps through the snow!”


      Everyone began to get excited about this new plan. As soon as the consultation finished, they telephoned all the teams to share with them this new idea.  The friends were delighted! They had not thought about this possibility before, but visiting their neighbors and inviting them to join activities seemed like the perfect thing to do. Now the project could go forward! Everybody was able to carry out the plan and their hearts were filled with joy.


      The people receiving visits in their homes were very happy, too, that their Baha’i neighbors were visiting them during this difficult cold winter. One family said that their children would like to come to children’s classes, but even without snow it was hard for them to travel around the city. So they decided to start a new class in their own home and invite their relatives and neighbors.


      Because of the visits these teams made to people who lived close to them, within a short time, many new friends joined devotional gatherings and study circles, and four new children’s classes, just like the one we are having today, were started.

      Draw any part of the story
      DRAMA / GAMES
      You can begin this period with selected warm-up exercises. Then explain to the children that the next activity will help them think about how consultation can guide us and lead us to insights we might not gain alone.

      Ask the children to imagine they live in a small village in a large kingdom. One night, the king arrives riding an animal no one has ever seen before, called an elephant, and he camps just outside the village. The villagers hear about the king’s arrival, and are so curious to find out more about the elephant that they send a group of six young people out to the camp immediately, giving them a lamp to guide them through the dark, moonless night. Six children from your class can be asked to assume the part of the youth. When they arrive at the camp, everyone is already sleeping, and they put out the lamp so as not the wake the king. Now they cannot see a thing! But they can hear some strange noises coming from the edge of the camp and they follow the noises, thinking this must be the elephant:

      The first person is in such a hurry that he runs straight into the side of the elephant. He spreads out his arms and feels the wide side of the elephant and decides it is like a wall.

      The second person waves his arms about in the air, and suddenly grasps the elephant’s trunk. It feels like a snake to him, and he notes his discovery.

      The third person touches the elephant’s tusk. It is hard and smooth and has a pointed tip. She decides that an elephant is like a spear.

      The fourth person feels along the ground and finds one of the elephant’s legs. As she touches its rough skin, the elephant stomps its foot. So she thinks that an elephant is like a tree trunk that bends and can bang on the ground.

      The fifth person reaches out and happens to grab the elephant’s tail. He decides that an elephant is just like a small bit of rope.

      The sixth person runs up to the side of the elephant and feels a kind of breeze from the flapping of the elephant’s ear. She reaches out and touches the ear and decides that an elephant is like a living fan. Then she rushes to join the others, and they all head back to the village.

      Now ask the children to pretend they are back in the village. At first there is confusion, as each person repeats what he or she has found. Then, an old man happens by and reminds them that if they consult they might get a better idea of what an elephant really looks like. Taking turns, everyone explains what he or she felt to the villagers, who can be played by other children in the class. You can guide the children through the enactment of what happens next:

      All agree that the elephant is covered with rough skin and that it must be very large, for none of the youth could feel its back or the top of its head. They also know that the king rides the elephant, so they think it probably has four legs like a horse or camel or other animals that people ride. They realize that the “tree” was the only part of the elephant that rested on the ground and decide that this must be what its legs are like. Then they realize that the “rope” and the “snake” were at opposite ends. They suggest that one is a nose and the other a tail. And they think that the “fans” and “spears”, which were so close to the “snake”, might well be ears and teeth. As they discuss what they know and what they have learned, they slowly piece together a picture of the elephant as a very large animal with broad sides and rough skin, four thick legs and two very long teeth, a small tail and very long nose, and two big floppy ears. The next day, when the king rides through the village atop the elephant, they are delighted to see that the creature walking in front of them was exactly like the one they had drawn the night before.

      CONTENT COMING SOON

      DOWNLOAD COMPONENTS HERE

      THERE IS A SONG IN DAYSPRING MAGAZINE THAT GOES LIKE THIS:

      Consultation means Finding out What everybody Is thinking about.
      You listen to them. And they listen to you. Then you all do What most of you Want to do!

      LETS FIND OUT WHAT EVERYONE IS THINKING ABOUT

      Use the template below and draw or write what you are thinking about or anything you are thinking about.

      MAKE LISTENING EARS

      GET PRINATABLE HERE

      TAKE A VOTE AS TO WHAT YOU ALL WANT TO DO

      MAKE A YES AND NO SIGN TO HOLD UP DOWNLOAD HERE

      MAKE A POP UP CARD WITH ALL THE WORDS FROM THE QUOTE.

      SEE CLASS HERE

      MAKE A LAMP OF GUIDANCE

      Lots of different templates for lamps. Here is a link to a “lamp” made with a mason jar and lights from a dollar store

      You could have the children recite the two quotations below that they learned in Grade 1, one related to humility and the other to thankfulness after they have reviewed the quotation they memorized in this lesson.

      O Son of Man! Humble thyself before Me, that I may graciously visit thee

       The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

      Be thou happy and well pleased and arise to offer thanks to God, in order that thanksgiving may conduce to the increase of bounty.

      `Abdu’l-Bahá
      BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

      More Than Meets The Eye

      Word Robot

      Universal Language

      DAYSPRING MAGAZINE

      CONSULTATION

      POWERPOINT LESSON PLAN

      DOWNLOAD HERE

      Categories
      Baha'i Free Ruhi Book 3

      ENGAGING IN CONSULTATION SET 7

      WELCOME TO SET 7 ENGAGING IN CONSULTATION

      The three lessons in this set are:

      1. Lesson 19: ENLIGHTENING UNDERSTANDING
      2. Lesson 20: THE BENEFITS OF CONSULTATION
      3. Lesson 21: THE QUALITIES  OF CONSULTATION

      THE PRAYER WE WILL BE MEMORIZING IS:

      O my God! O my God! Thou seest these children who are the twigs of the tree of life, the birds of the meads of salvation, the pearls of the ocean of Thy grace, the roses of the garden of Thy guidance.

      O God, our Lord! We sing Thy praise, bear witness to Thy sanctity and implore fervently the heaven of Thy mercy to make us lights of guidance, stars shining above the horizons of eternal glory amongst mankind, and to teach us a knowledge which proceedeth from Thee. 

      Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá!”

      Each lesson will have a different quote to memorize:

      Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding

      Bahá’u’lláh

      Say: no man can attain his true station except through his justice.  No power can exist except through unity. No welfare and no well-being can be attained except through consultation

      Bahá’u’lláh

      They must then proceed with the utmost devotion, courtesy, dignity, care and moderation to express their views

      Abdu’l-Baha
      Categories
      Baha'i Free Ruhi Book 3

      WORKING IN A SPIRIT OF SERVICE G2 L18

      WELCOME

      LESSON 18: WORKING IN A SPIRIT OF SERVICE

      As we grow up, we each become engaged in different kinds of work and make an effort to learn the skills and abilities, knowledge, and qualities, we need to serve. Be it as a farmer, a doctor, a teacher, a scientist, a musician, or a factory worker. You too will need to think about how you will contribute to the welfare of society as you grow older.

      With this introduction, the children then brainstormed some ideas of possible occupations and specifically, what professions they would like to carry out – we had it all, from zoo keeper to fashion designer, to ornithologist – there are so many options out there!

      EACH SET HAS PRAYERS TO MEMORIZE

      This is the last lesson to memorize the prayer below

      O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity. O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness. Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving.

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
      SEND A POSTCARD

      Use this link to download and print

      Quote for class to memorize
      The following ideas will assist you in presenting the quotation that the children are expected to memorize today:

      With love and kindness, joy and eagerness, we work diligently throughout our lives, striving to contribute to the good of those around us. As we grow up, we each become engaged in different kinds of work and make effort to acquire the skills and abilities, knowledge and qualities, we need to serve. There are many things that must be done in this world, and each person must determine how best to apply the talents and capacities he or she has been given by God. Think of the farmer who works from early morning until evening to produce the food others need to survive; think of the factory worker who lends his or her skills to the manufacture of goods that will benefit many; the schoolteacher devotes his or her days to helping young students learn to read and write; the musician practices for hours upon hours in order to create music that will bring joy to the hearts of others; the scientist spends a lifetime observing the universe and looking for patterns in its workings, to make discoveries that will lead to new understanding and that will give rise to new technologies. The Baha’i Writings tell us that work done in the spirit of service is accepted by God as worship.

      You, too, will need to think about how you will to contribute to the welfare of society as you grow older. There will be many ways that you can apply the talents and capacities God has given to you, and as you make effort and work diligently, Divine confirmations will reinforce you, and you will begin to see more and more possibilities to serve others. You will, of course, continue to study and learn and will strive to achieve excellence, whatever path you take in life. Even the Baha’is who followed Baha’u’llah into exile from His homeland and who had little means learned the art of making rush mats. It was ‘Abdu’l-Baha who found an instructor to teach them this skill, a skill which He Himself had earlier acquired. During His travels in the West, ‘Abdu’l-Baha explained to one of the friends: “. . . it is incumbent upon every soul to acquire a trade and an occupation. For example, l know how to weave or make a mat, and you know some other trade. This, in itself is an act of worship, provided that it is conducted on the basis of utmost honesty and faithfulness.” To remember the importance of engaging in some form of work, in a spirit of service to humanity, let us memorize the following words of Baha’u’llah:

      It is incumbent upon each one of you to engage in some occupation – such as a craft, a trade or the like. We have exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship of the one true God

      Baha’u’llah
      MEANING OF WORDS
      incumbent

      Every parent must be responsible for making sure that their children receive an education. It is incumbent upon parents to see to their children’s education.

      It is incumbent upon every person to pray each day.

      Engage

      Jacob’s brothers all have different jobs. One is an electrician, one is a fisherman, one is a teacher, and one is a painter. Each of Jacob’s brothers is engaged in a different occupation.

      Each day, Marwan goes to school, assists her brother with his studies, practices playing football, and helps with the household chores. Throughout the day, Marwan engages in many activities.

      Occupation

      Ariadne spends most of her time looking after her family-caring for their home, tending to their well-being, and making sure they have what they need. Ariadne’s main occupation is the care of her family.

      Penelope is an architect. She spends her days designing apartment buildings in which families live. Penelope is an architect by occupation.

      Rank

      Firefighters must always follow the orders given to them by the head of the fire department. The head of the fire department holds the highest rank in the department.

      After many years of wood-working, Alberto became very skilled in carpentry.  He achieved the rank of Master Carpenter.

      Worship

      Once a week, Miguel’s parents invite their neighbors to their home to pray for the well­ being of their village and their families and to offer gratitude to God. They gather together to worship and praise God.

      In every part of the world, one finds special places where people gather to give praise and thanks to God. People go to these places to worship God together.

      MEMORIZATION AID FOR QUOTE

      PICTURES TO REMEMBER THE QUOTE HERE

      ruhi book 3 grade 3 song
      STORY RELATED TO LESSON
      The story below, about a young man named Muhammad who grew up in ‘Akka in the time of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, will help the children to see the joy that working hard to achieve excellence brings.

      In ‘Akka, ‘Abdu’l-Baha had organized a small school for the Baha’i children who lived in the Holy Land. There were very knowledgeable Baha’is in ‘Akka at the time, so the children had the opportunity to learn from a most wonderful group of teachers. Among the subjects taught at the school was calligraphy, which is an art highly esteemed by Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha. It is the art of writing profound and meaningful phrases, poems and tablets in a most beautiful way, almost as if they were paintings.

      On Thursday afternoons the children of the Baha’i school had a special bounty. Each would take the best piece of calligraphy he or she had written during the week and show it to ‘Abdu’l-Baha who would inspect it, praising and encouraging the child as He saw fit. If the calligraphy piece was particularly well done, He would write a short sentence of praise at the bottom of the paper in His own handwriting. For the children, a sheet ennobled by ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s handwriting was a treasure they would cherish for the rest of their lives.

      One year, there was a young boy of twelve or thirteen in the school who was intelligent, but eager to avoid unnecessary exertion. He loved to play and, as a result, did his homework hastily and poorly. Now this young boy, whose name was Muhammad, had an ardent desire to win the good pleasure of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. But when it was time to sit down and practice his calligraphy, he would get the urge to go out and play. Then one week Muhammad managed to show tremendous willpower. He worked hard, and when Thursday came, he presented to ‘Abdu’l-Baha a very nice piece of calligraphy. The Master was delighted and wrote at the bottom of the sheet words of commendation.

      As you can imagine, Muhammad was beside himself with happiness. He looked at the handwriting of ‘Abdu’l-Baha under his calligraphy, convinced he was the most fortunate boy in the whole universe. “Why could I not do this every week,” he thought, “and receive this honor every Thursday?” So the next week he tried again, but unfortunately his willpower was not strong. He did not produce a single piece of calligraphy that could possibly win ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s approval a second time. Then Muhammad said to himself, “‘Abdu’l-Baha is so busy. He has so many things to do. He would never remember the calligraphy of a little boy.” So he took a fine pair of scissors and cut off the bottom of the sheet that he had presented the week before, removing ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha’s words of praise. You can see what Muhammad’s intention was. He was going to show the same piece of calligraphy to ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha again. This was a blameworthy act, although Muhammad had always been a truthful and trustworthy child. He tried to forget his plan, but could not. His mind had been poisoned by a dishonest thought, and he was not strong enough to overcome it.

      On Thursday afternoon, Muhammad stood in line with the calligraphy piece from the previous week in his hand. He was already feeling the pangs of remorse. He was so ashamed of himself that he could hardly look at ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Then finally, his turn came. As always, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was loving and kind. But, of course, the moment He saw the calligraphy. He knew what had happened. How do you think the Master reacted? Did he announce Muhammad’s wrongdoing to his companions and shame him before the others? Not at all.  With great love, but also with unmistakable firmness, He noted how closely the piece of calligraphy matched the one that Muhammad had presented the week before. He said no more, but patted the boy in such a way that made it perfectly clear to Muhammad that ‘Abdu ‘1-Bahti realized what he had done.

      Download the story as a PDF here

      Draw any part of the story
      GAMES FOR GRADE 2 TO PLAY
      DRAMA / GAMES

      As always, have the children stretch in their imaginary squares as warm-up and then carry out one or two other exercises from the previous lessons. Then explain to them that the next exercise will help them to think about how they can serve humanity as they grow up.

      Ask the children to sit silently for a few moments and imagine what kind of work they might want to do in the future. Once each child has an idea in mind, call on them one by one to stand up and act out some of the tasks involved in the work they have chosen. For example, if one child hopes to be a doctor, he or she might pretend to examine a patient; another might think of being a teacher and pretend to give a lesson. After each child has finished his or her improvisation, the other students should guess what he or she was pretending to be and then discuss briefly how such an occupation can contribute to the betterment of the world. To begin the exercise, you might wish to choose a child with strong drama skills who can provide an example for the others to follow.

      CONTENT COMING SOON

      CRAFT IDEAS
      A Beautiful Piece Of Calligraphy

      Our craft/art activity was inspired by today’s story on calligraphy. During the time of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the children in ‘Akka were taught to do calligraphy. One boy found it very hard to concentrate and patiently practice it, as he would rather go out and play. One day, he used all his willpower to persevere and produced a beautiful piece of calligraphy, so when it came around to show his work to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he received praise for it and was the happiest boy in the world. But the following week, he hadn’t produced any more work to present and thought if he would show the same piece again, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá surely wouldn’t remember… But of course He did and commented on  the fact how closely this piece matched the one he showed last week…

      We noticed that doing calligraphy takes a lot of patience, perseverance and care – and probably a lot of practice to become good at it. The perfect exercise in endurance and excellence 

      We used the FREE FONTS FROM THIS SITE  to trace our names and practice a little calligraphy.

      THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO PRACTICE CALLIGRAPHY
      THERE ARE LOTS OF LOVELY IMAGES ON PINTEREST. HERE TO ARE SOME Baha’i CALLIGRAPHY

      Notice how some calligraphy looks like shapes. We can take any shape and write in it for a similar look. Try using a free shape and write in it

      After you have helped the children to review the quotation they memorized in this lesson, you can assist them in reciting the quotations below, which they learned in Grade 1, related to honesty and patience:

      Beautify your tongues, O people, with truthfulness, and adorn your souls with the ornament of honesty

       Baha’u’llah

      He, verily, shall increase the reward of them that endure with patience

      Baha’u’llah
      ruhi book 3 grade 2 resources
      BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

      MISSION OF PIECE

      A PRECIOUS GIFT

      LIFE’S BALANCING ACT

      THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

      CLUES TO YOUR CAREER

      YOUR CAREER ADVENTURE

      POWERPOINT LESSON

      HERE

      Categories
      Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3

      WORKING HARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL GRADE 2 LESSON 17

      WELCOME

      LESSON 17: WORKING HARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL

      The last lesson was about service – and how we need to work hard and make an effort every day for the benefit of humanity. Taking ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the perfect Example, we see how there is no time to be idle (or bored!) One way to work for the benefit of all was through service. In this lesson, we will continue to learn by memorizing the quote and listening to the stories.

      EACH SET HAS PRAYERS TO MEMORIZE

      We will continue to memorize the prayer below

      O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O, God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity. O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness. Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
      Quote for class to memorize
      The ideas below will assist you in explaining to the children the quotation they will learn today:

      If we are to serve God and humanity, effort is required. We must be diligent and hard working. Like trees that give forth goodly and wondrous fruits for the benefit and enjoyment of all, we make effort and work for the good of those around us. And we know that God promises to assist our efforts. So we rise every day, turn our hearts to Him in prayer, and then set out, confident that His love surrounds us and eager to do what little we each can to make this world an earthly paradise. And at the end of each day, we think about what we have done and thank God for His aid and assistance, knowing that we will try even harder the next day. How sad if we waste the time we have been given in this world, and all the talents and capacities with which we each have been blessed, and do not use them in service to God’s loved ones.

      Throughout His life, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was constantly active, working for the good of all. Early each morning He would make His round of visits to the inhabitants of ‘Akka. He would visit the elderly, the sick, and the suffering, seeing to their needs and offering them comfort and assistance. During the rest of the day, He would tend to the affairs of the Baha’i community. He would direct various projects, dictate letters, write, and receive visitors. People from all walks of life would bring their problems and concerns to Him, seeking His guidance and counsel. He would give them encouragement and advice and would help to ease their difficulties. Those who worked for the Master had difficulty keeping up with the fast pace of His busy life, but they were assisted and strengthened by His great spirit and words of encouragement. And we strive to follow ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s example and spend our time in active service to others.:,

      To help us remember to always be working hard for the benefit of all, let us memorize the following quotation:

      Waste not your time in idleness and sloth.  Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others

      Baha’u’llah
      MEANING OF WORDS
      Idleness

      When Furio came home from school, he did his homework, then helped his mother and assisted his younger brothers and sisters with their studies. Furio did not rest for a single moment. He was never idle.

      An old steam train ran through the town for many years but now it is no longer in use and sits idle by the side of the tracks.

      Profit

      Fei Li was very gifted at making crafts, which she had learned from her grandmother. Fei Liwanted to teach crafts to others so they could also develop the ability to make beautiful things. Fei Liwanted her talents to profit others.

      The doctor looked at the old woman. He could see she was not well and told her that her health would improve if she spent more time in the sunshine. She would profit, he said, from taking a long walk outdoors every day.

      MEMORIZATION AID FOR QUOTE

      PICTURES TO REMEMBER THE QUOTE HERE

      ruhi book 3 grade 3 song
      STORY RELATED TO LESSON
      Service To Humanity

      His heart filled with the love of God, ‘Abdu’l-Baha spent every moment in service to humanity.  He is the perfect Example of how we should serve.  I would like to tell you a story about Abdu’l-Baha.

      There once was a very proud man who did not understand the Station of ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha. One day, he approached Abdul-Baha in the street and said, “So, You are called the Servant of God.”  ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha replied that, indeed, that was His name. The name ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha actually means ” Servant of Baha” or Servant of God.

      “Well,” said the man proudly, “I am Moses.” Now, the man was referring to the Prophet of God, Moses, and it was not really his name at all. We will learn more about Moses next year when we study the lives of many of the Messengers of God, like Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad, the Bab and Bahau’llah, but for today you need to know that Moses was one of the Messengers of God that came long before Baha’u’llah.

      Why do you think he was calling himself Moses?

      The man was trying to annoy ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha, but Abdul-Baha did not respond to his jest. Instead, He told the man to meet Him the next morning at the same spot on the street, and they would go together and serve the people like the great Moses had done.

      The man agreed, and the next day from morning to evening he accompanied Abdul-Baha as He visited the sick and the suffering, served the needy and met with the people who were thirsty to receive His love and His wise counsel.

      By evening, how do you think the man who called himself Moses was feeling? He was extremely tired. Yet, he would not let go of his pride, and when ‘Abdu’l-Baha asked him to accompany Him the next day, he accepted.

      Again by the evening of the second day, the man was exhausted,  but he accepted to accompany  ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha for yet another day.

      On the third day when they returned from their arduous work, do you think he wanted to go again? No! The man could not bear the thought of working so hard, not even for another minute.

      He had learned his lesson and had caught a glimpse of  ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha’s greatness.  So as they went to part ways, and before  ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha could  invite him for another  day  of  work,  the  man  said  with  great humility:  

      ” ‘Abdu ‘l-Baha,  tomorrow morning I will no longer be Moses. “

      • What can we learn from this story?
      • What are some examples of ways we can serve others in our daily lives? (ex. sharing with others the Word of God)
      Download the story as a PDF HERE
      Draw any part of the story
      GAMES FOR GRADE 2 TO PLAY
      DRAMA / GAMES

      After the usual warm-up exercise, carry out one or two activities with the children that will strengthen their skills and abilities related to creative drama. They can then improvise in pairs a short scene that will help them gain further understanding of the theme of this lesson, working hard for the benefit of others. While all the children are seated, take them through the following scene, encouraging them to embellish it with their imaginations by asking them questions such as, “What do the characters look like?”, “What actions are they carrying out?”, and “What expressions are on their faces?”. In this way, you will assist them in working out the details of the scene before they begin their improvisations.

      A king is traveling through the countryside and sees a very old man working in a field. The king is surprised to see such an old man so hard at work and asks the man what he is doing. The old man explains that he is planting fruit trees. The king inquires how long it will take for the trees to bear fruit. The old man tells him it will take a very long time, indeed, and that he will not live to taste the fruit from the trees he is planting. The king is confused. He wants to know why the old man is using his energy to grow fruit that he will never be able to eat. The old man smiles and explains that, in his life, he has eaten fruit from many trees that were planted by others and that he wanted to plant trees for the benefit of those who will come after him. The king is pleased with this answer and gives the old man a gold coin. The old man smiles and tells the king that the trees did not take so long to bear fruit after all. He has hardly finished planting them and already they have brought him a reward from the king.

      CONTENT TO BE UPLOADED SOON

      DOWNLOAD COMPONENTS HERE

      CRAFT IDEAS
      BIRD FEEDERS

      As a craft we made some lovely little bird feeders – reminding ourselves, that we can extend our service to include the animal kingdom too  Cut out from egg cartons, decorated and attached with some string, they hand in the trees, full of breadcrumbs for the birds to feed on

      SERVICE PROJECT IDEAS

      Make a cupcake out of socks and send to a retirement home. We did this and it was so well received. My photo is lost but here is the original video we based it on. The second time we did this project, we purchased cupcake liners as time was short, and did not make our own. You will need stiff cardstock liners if you go looking, not the regular paper ones.

      Wash rag in a small flowerpot: this one was so easy we did not use felt but used green tissue paper to surround the flower like a gift

      AN ENDLESS CARD

      Service to humanity is a daily endeavor. we don’t stop. with this in mind, let us make an endless card. they are cool and moderately easy. I will try to upload one related to less soon. In the meantime take a look and maybe you can send me YOUR template and photo to add to this craft!

      SOME MORE IDEAS

      Make Things For Your Community:

      Knit scarves or hats for families in shelters.

      Bake cookies and snacks for food pantries.

      It is suggested that you review with the children the quotation they memorized from
      today’s lesson, after which you can help them recite the following quotations that they learned in
      Grade 1 about faithfulness and truthfulness:

      Happy is the faithful one who is attired with the vesture of high endeavor and hath arisen to serve this Cause

      Bahá’u’lláh

      Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues

      ‘Abd’u’l-Bahá
      ruhi book 3 grade 2 resources
      BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

      MUSIC: BOTTLE OF SUNSHINE

      AGENT OF SERVICE

      CHANGING THE WORLD

      BE GRAPE-FUL

      POWERPOINT LESSON PLAN

      HERE

      Categories
      Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3

      LIVING A VIRTUOUS LIFE RUHI BOOK 3 G2 L16

      WELCOME

      LESSON 16: LIVING A VIRTUOUS LIFE

      The next 3 lessons are about devoting our lives to service.

      What does that mean: to devote our lives to service? How do we even start to do this with so much going on in our lives every day? 

      The first step in this process is to live a virtuous life.

      What exactly does living a virtuous life mean?

      By reading the story, and learning the prayer and quote in the next three lessons, we will begin to understand how we can devote our lives to service. We can then also understand what service is and how we can serve every day of our lives.

      EACH SET HAS PRAYERS TO MEMORIZE

      For lessons 8 and 9 we will continue to memorize the prayer below

      O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity. O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness. Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving.

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
      SEND A POSTCARD

      Use this link to download and print

      Quote for class to memorize
      The following ideas will assist you in explaining to the children the quotation they are expected to learn today

      God loves us and always wants us to be near Him. One way that we are able to draw nearer to God is through service. We serve God when we serve His loved ones. There are many ways in which we can serve our fellow human beings. We can, for example, visit the sick, help those in need, and share what we learn with others. We should strive to serve all people, whether rich or poor, friends or strangers.

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was our perfect Exemplar. He showed us what it means to walk a path of service to humanity.  His entire life was dedicated to helping other people. In fact, His very name means “Servant of God”. He was never concerned for His own needs or comfort. He did not seek after wealth or power. He never wanted any titles or recognition. His only desire was to serve God and humanity. “My station is the station of servitude,” He often told the friends. This is the highest station-to place oneself in the service of others. This is the station that we are all trying to achieve. What greater joy than to bring joy to another soul. What greater honor than to be seen as a true servant of God and humanity. That we may all follow in the ways of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, let us memorize the following quotation:

      That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race

      ‘Baha’u’llah
      MEANING OF WORDS
      Dedicate

      Dervi always pays close attention during art class and spends many hours preparing herself for each class. Dervi dedicates much of her time to the arts.

      Hung Wei’s father has a vegetable garden. Everyday Hung Wei helps his father weed and water the garden. Hung Wei is dedicated to helping his father.

      Service

      Mumbi, Apiyo and Tocho cleaned the schoolyard after the storm had left it full of broken branches and leaves from the trees. They were happy to render this service to the school.

      Sachiko walks four kilometers to give a children’s class. She is happy to walk this far each week because she wants nothing more than to be of service to the community.

      Human race

      At school we saw pictures of people from many different countries. All of these people belong to the human race.

      The museum has musical instruments from all over the world. Looking at their many shapes and sizes, the children were reminded of both the diversity of the human race and of the love of people everywhere for music.

      MEMORIZATION AID FOR QUOTE

      PICTURES TO REMEMBER THE QUOTE HERE

      ruhi book 3 grade 3 song
      STORY RELATED TO LESSON
      A Story On How To Serve

      You can remind the children of the story of Lua Getsinger they heard in Lesson 2 regarding prayer and then tell them the following story about her, which will help illustrate for them what it means to be a servant of God.

      You remember from our lesson on prayer that Lua Getsinger was one of the early Bahai’s in the West who visited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the prison-city of ‘Akka. One day during her visit, the Master took her aside and explained to her that He had many pressing matters to attend to and would not be able to call upon a friend who was very sick. He wished Lua to go in His place. He told her to take some food to the sick man and care for him as He had been doing.

      Lua learned the address of the man and immediately set off to do as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had asked. She felt proud that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had entrusted her with a task that He would usually have carried out Himself. But, only a short while later, she returned to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in a state of excitement. “Master, “she exclaimed, “surely you cannot realize to what a terrible place you sent me. I almost fainted from the awful stench, the filthy rooms, the degrading condition of that man and his house. I fled lest I contract some terrible disease.”

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gazed at her sadly and sternly. If she wanted to serve God, He explained, she must serve her fellow man, because in every person she should see the image and likeness of God. Then He told her to go back to the sick man’s house. If the house was dirty, she should clean it. If he was hungry, she should feed him. He asked her not to come back until all of this was done.  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had done these things for His friend many times, and she should be able to do them this once, He told her with firmness. That is how Lua learned an important lesson about what it means to serve her fellow human beings.

      Draw any part of the story
      GAMES FOR GRADE 2 TO PLAY
      DRAMA / GAMES

      This period of the class can begin with the usual stretching exercise. You may then lead the class in the next set of activities related to the theme of this lesson, that is, the spirit of service. Explain to the children that today they will improvise a situation that will help them gain further understanding of what it means to serve humanity. Divide the youngsters into groups of three and then describe the following scenario for them:

      Ask the children to imagine that they arrive home one day and their mother tells them that their aunt is sick. Their mother has prepared some soup for her, and the children ask whether they can take it to their aunt and look after her for a while. Their kind offer brings joy to their mother’s heart, and the three children set off with the pot of soup. Have the children show you how they would carry the soup carefully to the aunt’s house, making sure not to spill it. When they arrive at the house, they greet their aunt and inquire after her health. First, they take care of her needs. Ask the children to tell you what specific things they would do for her. Perhaps she is cold and needs more blankets, or requires water or a book, and they bring these things to her. They can demonstrate for you how they would carry out these tasks. Next, they look around the aunt’s house to see what chores need to be done, for example, washing the dishes, sweeping the floor, or doing the laundry, and they practice performing these tasks. Once they are familiar with all the elements of the scenario, each of the groups can act it out in its entirety.

      Content coming soon

      DOWNLOAD COMPONENTS HERE

      CRAFT IDEAS
      We read earlier: What greater joy than to bring joy to another soul…

      There are many ways to bring joy. here are some suggestions:

      1. Bake a cake or make cookies for someone who is ill or sad.
      2. Send a card, or make one and send it.
      3. Help someone with a task they are struggling with
      4. Pick flowers or buy flowers and take them to someone who needs cheering up
      5. Can you sing or play an instrument? then why not do so to bring joy to the heart of a friend?
      Make Yummy Cookies

      This is also posted on my old blog Here

      The first cookie is known as Christmas Crack: don’t let the name scare you away. This cookie takes 5 minutes and is one of my cheating recipes, i.e. you do not make it all from scratch but use a prepared ingredient, in this case, saltine crackers.

      The first time I heard of using salt crackers in a cookie I was not interested but think “salted caramel” and it is close to what magic happens in this recipe.

      This cookie has semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips melted on top of salt crackers that have been covered in caramel.

      The second recipe I found in a children’s cookbook years ago and again the name scares you away: Fat Albert! The base for this cookie is graham crackers again a caramel covering and lots of sliced almonds.

      Use: To give to someone the gladden their hearts.

      We are thinking of using cookies in little cellophane bags for table decorations. I also make these for Naw-Rúz to have on hand when we have visitors.

      Age: Some of this can be “done” by children age 3 and up. All ages can help eat!

      Time 10 minutes

      Christmas Crack and Fat Alberts are the same measurements for the ingredients except for the fact that one uses almonds and the other chocolate. The cook time and temperature are also the same so the directions below are for both.

      Christmas Crack Ingredients

      28-30 Saltine Crackers

      250 mL (1 cup) Butter

      250 ml (1 cup) brown sugar

      500 mL ( 2 cups) chocolate chip

      Fat Albert Ingredients

      28-30 Graham Crackers

      250 mL (1 cup) Butter

      250 ml (1 cup) brown sugar

      500 mL ( 2 cups) chocolate chip

      Directions for both:

      1. Heat the oven to 400F (200 C)
      2. Cover the cookie sheet with graham crackers for Fat Alberts or saltine crackers for Christmas Crack crackers should be touching.
      3. Melt the butter over low heat in a saucepan.
      4. Stir in the sugar and bring mixture to a boil. Be careful not to let the mixture boil over.
      5. Pour the sugar mixture over all the crackers (graham or saltine)
      6. For Fat Alberts: sprinkle the almonds now.
      7. bake for 5 to 8 minutes until bubbly.
      8. Remove from the oven
      9. For Christmas Crack immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips and as they start to melt use a spatula to spread over the surface. try to cover all the surface and you can also let it seep in between the crackers.
      10. Let cool and then break into squares.

      TIP: I cut both sugar and butter to 3/4 cup without the taste or look of the cookie being affected.

      Download the pdf here

      Make a musical instrument

      Making musical instruments from items around the house is easy. Zing instruments blog has some easy ideas. It is sure to cheer the heart of someone. Have fun!

      Flowers

      We have made so many flowers in the past I am sure you are all experts. Here are a few easy flowers to make if you need them:

      BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE HAS A CRAFT SAVING FOR SERVICE

      The link is here

      Here are some other ideas for making a bank to save up for service:
      Coin Bank Made from any type of can with a plastic lid

      here

      DRAW SCENES FROM THE STORY

      comic book template

      You can review with the children the quotation from today’s lesson, before helping them to recite the following passages they memorized in Grade 1 regarding the purity of heart and sincerity:

      O Son of Spirit! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart

       Baha’u’llah

      We should at all times manifest our truthfulness and sincerity

      ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
      ruhi book 3 grade 2 resources
      BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

      SAVING FOR SERVICE

      WE CAN MOVE THE WORLD (MUSIC)

      LUA GETSINGER (STORY)

      WHAT IS YOUR SERVICE STYLE

      COOKING UP ACTION

      POWERPOINT LESSON PLAN

      HERE