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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
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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

JESUS CHRIST AND DIVINE LOVE G3 L9

GRADE 3 LESSON 9

WELCOME GRADE 3 RUHI BOOK 3
Jesus Christ and Divine Love

The purpose of this lesson is to help us understand that all the Manifestations of God brought the same message of Divine love to the world. 

In this context, they will learn about the life and teachings of Jesus, a Manifestation of God Whose Message of love and fellowship eventually spread throughout the entire world.  

Every Manifestation of God calls on people to love one another.  Through both the beauty of Their teachings and the example of Their lives, the Manifestations establish bonds of love and fellowship between people. 

Love is an attribute of God, and it is out of His love for us that He sends us His Manifestations. They explain to us, one and all, that human beings are created in the image of God, Who is the All-Loving and the All-Merciful.  So it is that we must strive to love one another and show mercy to one another. 

Love is one of the most powerful forces that exist.  It can change a cold heart into one filled with joy and happiness.  It can unite people and entire nations in peace and prosperity.  And there is no limit to love.  It is infinite.  And through the teachings of God’s Manifestations we learn to express the limitless power of love in the way we treat one another and in the good deeds we perform for our fellow human beings, in order to transform the world.

Jesus Christ was a Manifestation of God Who appeared some two thousand years ago.  He taught people to love everyone, even their enemies, as they love their friends.  His entire Being was an expression of love, and He was willing to suffer any hardship, and even the cruelest death, so that He could proclaim His life-giving Message, which spread to many people and nations, uniting them in loving fellowship.

QUESTIONS

What is the most powerful forces that exists?

LOVE

What force can change a cold heart into one filled with joy and happiness?

LOVE

What force can unite people and entire nations in peace and prosperity? 

LOVE

Is there any limit to the power of love?

NO

Through Whose teachings can we learn to draw on the limitless power of love? 

THE MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD

Who was Jesus Christ?

JESUS WAS A MANIFESTATION OF GOD

Why is it that Jesus was willing to endure hardship and even death?

SO THAT HE COULD PROCLAIM HIS LIFE-GIVING MESSAGE

 

ruhi book 3 grade 3 prayer
REMEMBER TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF TO HELP MEMORIZE THE PRAYERS FROM LESSON 4 IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO!
SET 1

Glory be to Thee, O my God!  Make manifest the rivers of Thy sovereign might, that the waters of Thy Unity may flow through the inmost realities of all things, in such wise that the banner of Thine unfailing guidance may be raised aloft in the kingdom of thy command and the stars of Thy divine splendour may shine brightly in the heaven of thy majesty. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee.  Thou, verily, art the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

SET 2

I beseech Thee, O my God, by all the transcendent glory of Thy Name, to clothe Thy loved ones in the robe of justice and to illumine their beings with the light of trustworthiness.  Thou art the One that hath power to do as He pleaseth and Who holdeth within His grasp the reins of all things, visible and invisible.

SET 3

I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defence.  Illumine my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendours of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, even as Thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of Thy favour.

SET 4

O my God, my Master, the Goal of my desire!  This, Thy servant, seeketh to sleep in the shelter of Thy mercy, and to repose beneath the canopy of Thy grace, imploring Thy care and Thy protection. I beg of Thee, O my Lord, by Thine eye that sleepeth not, to guard mine eyes from beholding aught beside Thee.  Strengthen, then, their vision that they may discern Thy signs, and behold the Horizon of Thy Revelation.  Thou art He before the revelations of Whose omnipotence the quintessence of power hath trembled. No God is there but thee, the Almighty, the All-Subduing, The Unconditioned.

ruhi book 3 grade 3 song
LOVE LOVE LOVE
MIRROR OF GOD
SAY GOD SUFFICIETH
SEALS AND CROFT THE LORD’S PRAYER
ruhi book 3 grade 3 quote

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

The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh

MEANING OF WORDS

Fundamentala basic principle or necessary part

A good attitude is fundamental in any group sport

Animatingto bring to life, lively; full of energy

The singer was very pleased to find such an animated audience

Safeguardto keep safe; guard; protect

The fireman taught us how to safeguard our home

Promote advance/further the progress of something

The boss promoted my father to a better job

Foster to aid and encourage the growth or development of

They fostered trust in their family by always being honest

Fellowshipa group of people who share common interests

Nina is part of the fellowship of chess players

USE THE WORKSHEET

For any words, you are not sure of or record the ones above and save them in your notebook/lapbook Download here

SEND A POSTCARD WITH THE QUOTE TO A FRIEND PRINT OR EMAIL
RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3 STORY
historical account

The overview and stories presented here focus on the Life and Mission of Jesus Christ, Whose Message of love and forgiveness will help as you explore the theme of this lesson further. 

Jesus Christ was a Manifestation of God Who appeared some two thousand years ago in the region we all know today as the Holy Land. You remember that Moses had led the Jewish people to this land after they had spent such a long time enslaved in Egypt. The teachings of Moses freed them from bondage and raised them to the highest state of civilization. But, now, hundreds of years had passed, and His people were beset by troubles once again, having been conquered by an empire that did not believe in one God or follow His teachings. The Jewish people were living under the rule of the powerful Romans when Jesus was born in the small town of Bethlehem. By then morals and conduct had become so confused and corrupted that there were many who awaited the coming of a new Manifestation from God, and a great prophet, John the Baptist, began to prepare them for this anticipated event.

Jesus was thirty years old when He made His Mission known, and He soon chose twelve disciples, whom He called “apostles”, to travel with Him and spread His Message. The first of these was Peter. Peter and the other apostles learned about the importance of love and compassion from the stories, or parables, that Jesus would share with them. Many would come to listen to Jesus, and He taught them to love everyone, even their enemies, as they loved their friends. The number of His followers gradually grew, and after some three years, those in authority began to fear His influence on the people. They arose to destroy Him, and He, as a demonstration of His love for humanity, allowed Himself to be put to death, knowing that His Message would spread to many peoples and nations, uniting them in loving fellowship. And, indeed, galvanized by Mary Magdalene, one of His most faithful followers, the apostles set out to share His teachings after He had been crucified. They traveled far and wide, and the entire world eventually became transformed by Jesus’ Message of love, which is recorded in the Holy Gospels. The word “gospel” means “good news”.

There are 4 Stories in today’s lesson
story 1

Before the birth of Jesus, His mother, Mary, had been made aware of His special station. One day she had a vision of an angel, which, at first, filled her heart with fear. But the angel addressed her, saying “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.” He told her that she would “bring forth a son” and would “call his name Jesus”. “He shall be great,” the angel said, “and shall be called the Son of the Highest.”

On the night Jesus was born, His mother Mary and her husband Joseph were traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Like all the Jewish people in the region, they had to return to their native city as required by the powerful Romans. Since the Romans controlled the land at the time, they demanded money, labor, and resources from the people. Every person had to be counted, one by one, in their native city, so that the Romans would know how much money they should take from each one. Now, Mary and Joseph had just arrived in Bethlehem after a long journey, and they stopped at an inn to spend the night. But the inn was full, so they had to stay in the stable with the animals. When Jesus came into this world, they had no place to lay the precious Child other than in a simple wooden box filled with hay.

Soon after the birth of Jesus, three wise men from a place far to the East noticed that a new star had appeared in the sky. Taking it as a sign of the appearance of a special Being, they followed the star. It led them to Bethlehem, to the Child that had been born in the stable. They laid gifts before Him as they knelt down in adoration.

From childhood, Jesus showed signs of His greatness, and everyone marveled at His knowledge and wisdom. One day, when He was still a young boy, Mary and Joseph traveled to the city of Jerusalem to celebrate a Jewish Holy Day, bringing Jesus with them. When they were ready to return home, He could not be found. They searched for three days until they finally discovered Him in the temple sitting with the Jewish elders, conversing with them and answering their questions. All who heard Him were amazed at the answers He gave and the depth of His understanding.

Story 2

Around this time many people, remembering their forefather Abraham and the teachings of Moses, were praying for God to send the Messiah, their promised Savior. They could see the corruption and confusion in the land, and they felt deeply in their hearts the need for Divine guidance. Among them was John the Baptist. He helped to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. He called upon people to purify both their inner and outer lives from those things that kept them remote from God. In a ritual called “baptism”, He immersed them in the water of the River Jordan as a symbol of their purification: just as one purifies and cleanses one’s body in water, one must strive to cleanse and purify one’s heart.

By now Jesus was nearly thirty years of age. He, of course, was in no need of baptism, for He was the essence of purity and detachment. But He went to the River Jordan and allowed John to baptize Him in order to show others that such an act was praiseworthy in the sight of God. It is said that, when Jesus came out of the water, He saw the Spirit of God coming down on Him, like a dove descending from heaven. At that moment He 

became aware of the Mission entrusted to Him by God, to deliver the people of the land from the darkness of despair. A new set of Divine teachings had been revealed to Him. To prepare Himself for the great work that lay ahead, He spent forty days and forty nights in solitude, alone in the desert without food or drink, communing with God. He then set out to proclaim His Message.

For the next three years, Jesus traveled on foot from place to place, largely around the Sea of Galilee, teaching the Word of God. Great numbers were drawn to His presence. From every direction they came to listen to His healing Message. During that time, He began to choose those who would act as His apostles, His closest and most trusted companions. He chose twelve in all, several of whom were fishermen, busy catching fish in the Sea of Galilee when they were called upon by Jesus to join Him. One was named Peter, and he was the first to testify to the station of Jesus as a Manifestation of God. Perhaps you know that the name Peter means “rock”, and Peter’s faith in God was unshakable, as firm as a rock. Another of those who joined Jesus around that time was a woman named Mary Magdalene. Mary came from a village near the Sea of Galilee, and she, like Peter, recognized the station of Jesus and was transformed by His Message. Though not one of the twelve disciples, Mary Magdalene became one of His most faithful followers.

Story 3

The Message of Jesus was essentially one of love. In His words and deeds people could perceive God’s loving-kindness and infinite wisdom. He taught them to love one another, as God loved them, and to forgive those who harmed them, as God forgave them. God loves all human beings, He assured the multitudes who gathered around Him, no matter who they are or what they may have done in the past. Thousands of people were transformed by the power of His words.

Many of the most important lessons that Jesus taught the people of His time were in the form of parables, which are stories with special meaning to guide our lives. These stories and other teachings of Jesus, as well as the events of His life, are recorded in the Holy Gospels. One of these parables is of the Good Samaritan. First you need to know that, in those days, the Samaritans and the Jewish people did not get along with each other very well. Here are the circumstances in which Jesus told that parable.

One day a Jewish man asked Jesus about how he could attain eternal life. Jesus answered the man with a question: “What did the laws of Moses teach the people?” The man replied: “Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and all your mind,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus confirmed that this was, indeed, the path the man should strive to follow if he wished to have eternal life. You realize, of course, that by “eternal life” Jesus was referring to the life of the soul. But, still, the man was not satisfied, and he asked: “But who is my neighbor?” To this, Jesus replied with a story: A man was once traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by two thieves who beat him and left him to die at the side of the road. Now, this man was of the Jewish people. Sometime later a priest passed by and saw the beaten man, but he crossed the street and hurried away. Then another man walked by. He, too, was of Jewish background, and, though he assisted the priests in the temple, he ignored the injured man as well. Finally, a Samaritan came along the road. Now this man, like 

other Samaritans, had been taught to hate the Jewish people, just as the Jewish people had learned to hate Samaritans. But seeing the injured man, the Samaritan immediately went to help him. He took him to an inn where he could rest and recover, attending to his every need. The next day he had to leave on business, but he spoke to the innkeeper and made sure that all of the injured man’s expenses were paid. When Jesus finished the story, He asked which of the three men who passed by the beaten man acted as a neighbor. “The one who helped him,” was the reply. “Those who wish to attain eternal life,” Jesus said, “should go and do the same.”

There are many other wonderful stories in the Gospels that tell us about the life of Jesus and the effect of His teachings on the people of His time. Once, for instance, a blind man by the side of the road called out to Jesus as He and His disciples entered a town. “Have mercy on me,” the blind man cried. When His disciples brought the man to Jesus, He told him to go and see again; because of his faith, Jesus said, he would be cured. Immediately the man could see. We know, of course, that the Manifestations are endowed with the power to do whatsoever God pleases. But what this story tells us, above all, is that inwardly the man had been blind, and Jesus restored his spiritual vision. He helped the man to fix his inner sight on God. In another story, Jesus turned five loaves of bread and two fish into baskets filled with bread and fish, enough to feed the large crowds that had gathered on the hillside to hear Him speak. Again, the deeper meaning of this story is that Jesus provided, without limit, spiritual sustenance to all who wished to listen.

STORY 4

Within a short span of time Jesus was so deeply loved that some authorities came to fear His rising influence. They could see that great numbers of the people listened to His words, and many had begun to follow Him. They grew more and more concerned. They wondered what His intentions were. To help people understand His station as a Manifestation, Jesus often referred to God as His Father, the Almighty, seated on His throne. Of course Jesus had no interest in worldly power, but, still, some authorities felt threatened. Around three years after He began His Mission, Jesus and His twelve disciples arrived in the city of Jerusalem, where throngs of people awaited Him, all hoping in adoration to greet Him. They called out in praise of Him. Jesus knew, however, that great suffering was ahead.

One evening, as Jesus ate supper with His twelve disciples, He told them that the following day His earthly life would come to an end. He called on them to take up the cause of spreading His teachings after His passing and promised that He would always be with them. Later that same night, with the love of God burning in His soul, and falling with His face to the ground, He prayed fervently that the Will of God would be done. And just as Jesus had predicted, before the break of day, He was arrested and brought before the authorities. Now, at that time, the Romans crucified people who were found guilty of crimes, and Jesus, though He had committed no crime, was condemned to death by crucifixion. With a crown of thorns placed on His head to mock His majesty and greatness, He was nailed to a cross and left to die. In His final moments, He prayed to God, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Jesus’ apostles were greatly shaken by His death, but Mary Magdalene strengthened them in their faith, reminding them of the assurance He had given that His Spirit would always be with them. The fire of the love of God that burned in the hearts of His apostles could not be extinguished, and they set off in different directions to share His teachings. Through acts of tremendous heroism and self-sacrifice, they laid the foundations of a great civilization, and the Message of Jesus, Who is often referred to as Christ, meaning the “Anointed One”, eventually spread to every corner of the earth.

RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3 FACTS ABOUT

Facts:

  • Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem
  • John the Baptist prepared the people for the coming of Jesus
  • Jesus chose twelve apostles
  • Peter was one of the apostles of Jesus
  • Mary Magdalene was one of the most faithful followers of Jesus
  • Jesus taught many of His lessons in the form of parables
  • Jesus taught the importance of love and forgiveness
  • Jesus allowed Himself to be put to death out of His love for humanity
  • After the passing of Jesus, Mary Magdalene helped to strengthen the faith of the apostles, who spread out to share His Message
Facts About Jesus
RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3 GAMES
ACTING

Today you may help the children enact the episode of the Good Samaritan.  Ask the children if they can remember the main parts of the story, reminding them of the details as necessary.  You may wish to divine the class into smaller groups of, say, four or five so that the story can be acted out with the following characters: the traveler who was robbed, the first passerby, the second passerby, the Samaritan, and the innkeeper.  If there are not enough children in each group, one child can act out more than one character.  The scene can start when the traveler has already been robbed and is left dying on the side of the road.  Help the children in the class to think about how they will act out the various characters, placing a particular emphasis on the praiseworthy conduct of the Samaritan.

Fruit basket

What you need:

Enough chairs for all of your players (minus one) and an open room big enough to hold all of the chairs in a circle.

How to play: First ask each person to choose a fruit.

If you have young players or a smaller group, you might want to assign the fruits yourself, labeling players as strawberry, orange, apple, etc. Instruct players to remember their fruit. It’s okay (in fact, preferable) if multiple people have the same fruit, so you might use only two or three fruits.

Next set up the game by arranging all the chairs in a big circle and having everyone sit in a chair. One player will be left standing THAT PERSON IS  IT.  the person who is IT  starts the game by calling out the name of a fruit, like “strawberries!” As soon as he calls out a fruit name, any player sitting in the circle who picked that as their fruit would jump up and try to find a new seat. Geoffrey would also try as fast as he could to sit in one of the open seats. In the end, a player would be left without a seat. That player would then call out another fruit and the game continues.

If you have some players that are the only ones assigned to their fruit , it would be a good idea to have the IT person call out more than one fruit.

The player in the middle also has the option of calling out “Fruit basket!” When that happens, all players get up from their chairs and find a new one. Mass pandemonium and good fun ensue as everyone tries not to be left without a seat. The game continues until you want to stop.

Reverse Musical Chairs

Start with enough chairs (or can use pillows) in the circle for everybody.  Music is played and one or two chairs are taken out.  When music is stopped, they have to all share the remaining chairs.  Continue in this way until they are all on one chair.  They don’t have to be sitting, but one body part of each person needs to be touching the chair (can be a hand or foot).  The goal is to collectively share smaller and smaller places in a spirit of love and unity.

RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3 CRAFTS/ ACTIVITIES
Based on Story 3: Loaves and Fishes

Fish and wooden block with paperclips craft. Burlington kids did this one

The hardest part was drilling a hole in the wood. the rest was pretty easy. See the video below and the fish/loaves

Get The Fish and Loves pdf here

Based on Theme PEACE, LOVE, UNITY

If you need a template, ask me and I will make one. We did not use this idea for our craft, so I did not make the template.

PAPERCLIP ANGEL BASED ON THE STORY OF MARY
IDEA FOR A CRAFT FROM YOUTUBE
FROM THE WEBSITE SPARKLEBOX

CRAFT TO SORT OR USE TO RETELL THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN

FROM BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE
Based on Story 2: Dove 

Dove fused/ Perler bead pattern. If you get a dove pattern and pearler beads this is an easy craft!

ruhi book 3 grade 3 review quote

Strive ye with all your might to create, through the power of
the Word of God, genuine love, spiritual communion and durable bonds among individuals


S E L E C T I O N S F R OM T H E WR I T I N G S O F ‘ A B D U ’ L – B A H Á

Download the memorization aid HERE

Resource
Lesson PowerPoint

Download here

Brilliant Star Music

LINK TO CONTENT HERE

Categories
Baha'i Children class Free Kids Can Do Ruhi Book 3

ZOROASTER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD CHARACTER G3 L8

GRADE 3 LESSON 8

WELCOME GRADE 3 RUHI BOOK 3
MUHAMMAD AND THE SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD

The purpose of this lesson is to help us understand that all the Manifestations of God call upon humanity to live in a state of submission to His Will. 

We  will learn specifically about the life of Muhammad, Whose teachings spread among the Arab people, making them, as Abdu’l-Baha explains, “superior to the other nations of the earth in learning, in the arts, mathematics, civilization, government and other sciences.” 

In this connection, we will gain a sense of the power of submission to the Will of God, one of Muhammad’s principle teachings, to unite people around a center and to promote order and prosperity.  

We know that, because of our deep love for God’s beauty, we constantly strive to do all that He asks of us.  The teachings that the Manifestations of God bring to humanity tell us what He wants us to do, and what we should not do.  By allowing the teachings of God’s Manifestations to fill our hearts and minds, we begin to want only what He wants, to desire only what He desires, and to take pleasure in that which is pleasing to Him. 

Order and harmony are brought about as more and more people live in a state of submission to God’s Will, all focused on His good pleasure.  Think of the planets, all circling harmoniously, with the sun at their center.  Through submission to the Will of God, humanity lives harmoniously and makes great progress- governments are just, communities are well organized, education flourishes, knowledge increases, and beauty is manifested in music and the arts. 

Muhammad was a Manifestation sent by God some 1,400 years ago.  He appeared among a people in a desert region at a time when their great capacity and rich potential were hidden behind selfish desires and ignorance.  He taught them to put away such desires, to trust God, and to submit to His Will.  He raised them out of the depths of cruelty and contention and showed them how to live in harmony according to Divine teachings, causing them to become examples of orderly and civilized life.

QUESTIONS

Whose good pleasure do we seek at all times?

Gods

How can we be sure that we are acting according to God’s good pleasure?

Order and harmony are brought about as more and more people live in a state of submission to God’s Will, all focused on His good pleasure

How are the planets that circle the sun orderly and harmonious?  Do they ever fight with one another?  Do the bigger planets ever want to control the smaller ones? 

Obey the laws of physics and are in harmony with one another. Don’t fight or want control

When everyone is focused on God’s good pleasure and carrying out His commands, how does it change people?  How does humanity progress?

humanity lives harmoniously and makes great progress- governments are just, communities are well organized, education flourishes, knowledge increases, and beauty is manifested in music and the arts

Who was Muhammad?

Messenger of God

What effect did the teachings of Muhammad have on the people of His time?

His teachings caused them to become examples of orderly and civilized life

ruhi book 3 grade 3 prayer
REMEMBER TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF TO HELP MEMORIZE THE PRAYERS FROM LESSON 4 IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO!
SET 1

Glory be to Thee, O my God!  Make manifest the rivers of Thy sovereign might, that the waters of Thy Unity may flow through the inmost realities of all things, in such wise that the banner of Thine unfailing guidance may be raised aloft in the kingdom of thy command and the stars of Thy divine splendour may shine brightly in the heaven of thy majesty. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee.  Thou, verily, art the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

SET 2

I beseech Thee, O my God, by all the transcendent glory of Thy Name, to clothe Thy loved ones in the robe of justice and to illumine their beings with the light of trustworthiness.  Thou art the One that hath power to do as He pleaseth and Who holdeth within His grasp the reins of all things, visible and invisible.

SET 3

I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defence.  Illumine my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendours of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, even as Thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of Thy favour.

SET 4

O my God, my Master, the Goal of my desire!  This, Thy servant, seeketh to sleep in the shelter of Thy mercy, and to repose beneath the canopy of Thy grace, imploring Thy care and Thy protection. I beg of Thee, O my Lord, by Thine eye that sleepeth not, to guard mine eyes from beholding aught beside Thee.  Strengthen, then, their vision that they may discern Thy signs, and behold the Horizon of Thy Revelation.  Thou art He before the revelations of Whose omnipotence the quintessence of power hath trembled. No God is there but thee, the Almighty, the All-Subduing, The Unconditioned.

ruhi book 3 grade 3 song
A RING UPON THE HAND
STRIVE THAT YOUR ACTIONS
ONE TREE
ruhi book 3 grade 3 quote

The source of all good is trust in God, submission unto His command, and contentment with His holy will and pleasure

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh/Words of Wisdom

MEANING OF WORDS

Source– where something comes from

  • The source of the river was high in the mountain

Submission- accepting and yielding to a higher force or will

Written submission for children’s class teachers was sent out to our community

Contentment- a state of happiness and satisfaction

They finally found contentment in living a life of service

USE THE WORKSHEET

For any words, you are not sure of or record the ones above and save them in your notebook/lapbook Download here

SEND A POSTCARD WITH THE QUOTE TO A FRIEND PRINT OR EMAIL
RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3 STORY

The story has a historical component to give some background content. Also, there may be props for the story, videos, and other resources to use as you like

As the final lesson, we will learn about the life and Mission of Muḥammad, the last Manifestation Who appeared before the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. 

Muḥammad was a Manifestation sent by God some 1400 years ago to the people who lived in the region we know as Arabia. You remember that one of the descendants of Abraham, Ishmael, was the father of the Arab people, and they had believed in the one true God and followed His teachings. But centuries had passed, and they had long turned away from Him and had forgotten how to live together peacefully. There were many warring tribes that worshipped idols and behaved in the most cruel and barbarous ways. The great capacity and rich potential of the Arab people were hidden behind veils of ignorance when Muḥammad appeared among them.

Muḥammad was born in the city of Mecca in the year 570 AD. As a young man, He became a merchant, and in His dealings with people He displayed such a sublime and noble character that He was known as “The Truthful” and “The Trustworthy”. At the age of forty, He became aware of His Divine Mission, while praying and meditating in the Cave of Hira. When Muḥammad began to share God’s Message, the people of Mecca rose up against Him, and for some twelve years, He and those who followed Him were the constant targets of the darts of hatred. At last, when Muḥammad’s very life was under threat, they migrated to the city of Medina. It was there that His Message spread rapidly, and many souls came to recognize His station as a Manifestation of God. He taught them that there is only one God to Whom we should turn in worship. It is God Whom we should trust, and by Whose Will we should all abide.

After several years in Medina, Muḥammad returned to His native city of Mecca, where the people also embraced His Cause. And through obedience to the laws and teachings that He revealed, the Arab people were eventually united and became renowned for their learning in the arts and sciences, reaching the greatest heights of civilization. The word “Islám” means “submission to God”, and the light of Islám, the religion founded by Muḥammad, shone across all of Arabia and beyond. His words were recorded in the Qu’rán, the Holy Book of His followers, and today all of humanity has access to His Divine Revelation.

There are 3 Stories in today’s lesson
story 1

Muḥammad’s father died before He was born, and His mother when He was only six. For most of His childhood and youth, He was raised by His uncle. There were no schools for formal education in Arabia at that time, and Muḥammad was not taught to read and write but learned the trade of His uncle, who was a merchant. Over time, as He helped His uncle with his business, Muḥammad gained a reputation for His integrity. He was called “The Truthful”, because He never told a lie, and “The Trustworthy”, because He never deceived anyone and always kept His word. His noble reputation eventually came to the attention of Khadija, a widow who was known for her purity. She came to admire Muḥammad’s honest and upright character. At the age of twenty-five, Muḥammad married Khadija, and they worked together as merchants.

Muḥammad was deeply disturbed by the way the people of Mecca lived. Thousands of years before, a sanctuary had been built in Mecca for the worship of one God as taught by Abraham. But this sacred place, known as the Ka’bah, had long been filled with idols, some say 360 of them, each with a different name and all worshipped by different tribes. These tribes were constantly at war, and when one tribe claimed victory over another, the women and children of the losing tribe were taken captive and suffered greatly as slaves to merciless masters. The region had sunk to the lowest depths of cruelty and despair. Muḥammad, unable to bear the godlessness and degradation of life in Mecca, would often retreat to the Cave of Hira, concealed in a mountain just outside the city, where He would pray and meditate. It was in this cave that Muḥammad, then forty years of age, became aware of His Divine Mission. All around Him He heard the voice of the Angel Gabriel, calling upon Him to speak out in the name of the Lord, God.

Muḥammad returned home and told Khadija what He had experienced. She became the first to recognize His station as a Manifestation and to accept His Message: that there is only one God, He Who had also spoken to the Manifestations of the past; that people should turn to God with humility, worship Him, trust in Him and be obedient to His Will; and that, in accordance with His Will, all people should be kind to one another, honest, and just. For some time, Muḥammad made His station known only to His close relatives and friends, some of whom chose to follow Him, including His cousin ‘Alí and His friend Abú-Bakr.

Story 2

Eventually, Muḥammad proclaimed God’s Message to the people of His tribe. Only a few, however, understood the importance of His words and began to follow His teachings. They became known as Muslims. The others did not want to give up their old ways and live according to the laws of God. The idea of change angered them. They behaved with the utmost cruelty towards Muḥammad and the small but growing band of His followers. When Muḥammad spoke of God’s Message, they laughed at Him and attacked Him with stones. For years Muḥammad and His followers endured violent persecution. Some of His companions were killed and their property confiscated. From time to time, members of His tribe would try to persuade Muḥammad to stop spreading His teachings, in return for wealth or power. He, of course, would refuse. His uncle and His wife were greatly respected in Mecca, and they were able to act as Muḥammad’s protectors for a time. But after their deaths, both in the same year, life for Muslims in the city of Mecca became even more difficult.

After many years of suffering, Muḥammad was visited by two leaders from other tribes. They had decided to embrace His teachings and offered, in the city of Medina, a safe place for the Muslims to live. Muḥammad instructed His followers to move to Medina, and they gradually left Mecca for that city. His enemies, however, were determined to put an end to His life while they had the chance. They devised a plot to kill Him, and one night they surrounded His house with the intention of carrying out their plan. They could easily see inside the house and would know whether He tried to leave. So Muḥammad turned to His faithful cousin ‘Alí. He asked him whether he would be willing to cover himself with a blanket and pretend to be sleeping in His bed. Without hesitation, despite the danger to his own life, ‘Alí gladly accepted. Such was his love for God’s Manifestation. And, while ‘Alí lay resting on the bed, Muḥammad was able to leave the house undetected and join His friend Abú-Bakr.

According to tradition, Muḥammad and Abú-Bakr then made their way out of the city in the dark of night, guided by the moon and stars, and took shelter in a cave in the mountainous desert. By morning it had been realized that Muḥammad was gone, and His enemies were in fast pursuit of Him. As the sun rose, the sound of galloping horses grew louder, and Abú-Bakr was filled with fear. How could he protect Muḥammad here in the desert, he wondered. Abú-Bakr held his breath and listened as the enemies drew closer and closer until there were footsteps just outside the cave. Abú-Bakr heard voices, but he could not make out the words. He was certain that they would be found. But Muḥammad reassured him, reminding him that God was with them. And, indeed, the search party soon left, without even looking inside the cave. You see, there was a spider at the opening of the cave, and right after Muḥammad had entered, it had spun a huge web, closing off the entrance. When the men searching for Muḥammad reached the cave, they assumed no one could be inside it because the web was perfect and unbroken. It must have been a very long time since anyone had entered that cave, they thought. So they continued looking elsewhere, but with no success. Tired, frustrated and confused, they finally returned to Mecca empty-handed. Muḥammad and Abú-Bakr remained in the cave for three days to make sure the enemies had gone and then left through another opening, preserving the web that had served as their protection. With camels brought by a trusted friend, they set out for Medina, traveling by night for several days, until they, at last, reached that city safely. Muḥammad’s move from Mecca to Medina is known as the Hijrah.

Story 3

From His new home of Medina, Muḥammad was able to teach God’s laws and commandments much more widely, and people from different tribes began to live together in harmony according to His teachings. Those who rejected them, however, were still determined to kill Muḥammad and His followers. The Muslims were steadfast in their faith and devoted to God and His laws. They did their utmost to avoid contention. But,  they knew the cruelty of their enemies, and at times they were forced to take up arms to defend themselves and protect their children from enslavement. Over time, the sacrifices of the Muslims and their transformed way of life helped people to realize the truth of God’s Message.

There are many accounts that show the transformative effect of the spiritual powers that emanated from the Person of Muḥammad. In one such account, it is said that Muḥammad once awoke to find a soldier armed with a sword standing above Him, intending to take His life. The angry man asked, “Who is there now to save Thee?” Muḥammad replied that God would save Him. The soldier became afraid and dropped the sword, which Muḥammad picked up. He then asked the soldier who would save him. The man did not follow God’s teachings and realized that he was alone, with no one to come to his aid. Muḥammad did not harm the soldier but handed the sword back to him, telling him to learn to show forth mercy. The man was changed by this experience and devoted himself to Muḥammad and His teachings.

After several years the people of Mecca agreed to let the Muslims visit the holy sanctuary, the Ka’bah, where they could gather once a year to worship God. But soon the agreement collapsed, and the city was once again closed to the Muslims. The followers of Muḥammad now numbered in the thousands, and they went to Mecca en masse, ready to draw arms if necessary. But the people, seeing the waves of His followers approaching the city, surrendered without resistance. Muḥammad then made a pilgrimage, or hajj, to the Ka’bah, which He restored to a place of worship dedicated to the praise and glorification of the one true God.

Eventually, many of those who had at first rejected Muḥammad’s teachings came to believe in one God and changed their ways, striving to align their will with the Will of God. Through His words, which were recorded in a Holy Book called the Qu’rán, they learned to turn their hearts to God, especially through prayer and fasting, and to reflect those heavenly qualities that Muḥammad had manifested throughout His life. Under His influence, the people of the region rose from the sad condition in which He found them to the highest state of civilization. The warring tribes united and systems for organizing communities into well-ordered nations were established. Great universities were founded, knowledge of arts and sciences expanded, and new and beautiful forms of architecture emerged. At a time when other parts of the world were in decline, the Arab world flourished and the effects of Muḥammad’s teachings ushered in a whole new era of human civilization.

FROM BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE STORY

RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3 FACTS ABOUT
FACTS ABOUT MUHAMMAD
  1. Muḥammad was a Manifestation of God born in the city Mecca, in the Arabian region, in the year 570 AD.
  2. While engaged as a merchant, Muḥammad was often referred to as “The Truthful” and “The Trustworthy”.
  3. Muḥammad taught that there is one God, that people should turn to Him, worship Him, trust in Him, and be obedient to His Will.
  4. Muḥammad and His followers were persecuted by the people of Mecca and went to Medina, where His Message reached many souls.
  5. After several years in Medina, Muḥammad returned to Mecca and the people soon embraced His Cause.
  6. The words of Muḥammad are recorded in a Holy Book called the Qu’rán.
  7. Muḥammad’s Message united the Arabian tribes and raised their level of civilization.
Facts Zoroaster
RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3 GAMES
ACTING

Today we will act out the story of Zoroaster’s visit to the court of Vishtaspa, culminating in the king’s acceptance of Zoroaster’s Message. 

  1. Need a Narrator: The part of the Manifestation Himself is never portrayed by a person. 
  2. Vishtaspa,
  3. the scheming priests,
  4. and joyful courtiers.  
  • How do the courtiers express the joy in their hearts? 
  • How does Vishtaspa react to Zoroaster’s words?
  • What expressions and gestures does he use to show his eagerness to hear more? 
  • How do the priests act when Zoroaster first arrives? 
  • How does their reaction change? 
  • What might they say to each other in plotting to have Him banished from the court?

Hula Hoop Pass

Have the group form a circle holding hands. Ask two people to let go of their grip long enough for them to place their hands through a hula hoop before rejoining them.

The team task is to pass the hula hoop around the circle in a specified direction until it returns to the starting point.

Silly Willy

  1. Two lines stand facing each other and become teams.
  2. One player from each team, at the opposite end of the line, start by bowing to each other and calling out “Silly Willy”
  3. The two players then walk toward and past each other without laughter or smiling, while the teams attempt to make the passer-by from the opposite team burst into laughter. (specify beforehand that it all needs to be clean and appropriate)
  4. If a player should crack a smile, they join the line of their opponents.

5. The game ends when there is only one team left, or everyone is too laughed out to continue!

RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3 CRAFTS/ ACTIVITIES
LAYERED PAPER: INSPIRED BY THE STORY OF ZOROASTER GOING TO THE MOUNTAINS

This is a layered paper scene of the mountain area where Zohrester went to pray and meditate to find the truth. The quote will be attached to this layered paper scene.

Instructions

  1. Download pdf, print, and cut
  2. layer using foam tape or cardboard pieces so that each layer is slightly raised

IMAGES TO DOWNLOAD, PRINT, AND LAYER HERE

ACTIVITIES FROM THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE PACK
THE AUSTRALIAN PEACE PACK

Puzzle for Zoroaster HERE

Craft for Zoroaster HERE

FROM BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE
based on transforming people’s character

Try making a never-ending card. the pictures can be all the same as the video below, or have them transform from something like a cocoon to a butterfly, etc.   

Watch here

SCIENCE transforming kernels to popcorn

Nice activity that becomes the snack. Show the children how kernels transform into popcorn but need something for this to happen: heat and oil. Once it transforms, it takes up a different space and looks different. Here is a link for more information if needed

ruhi book 3 grade 3 review quote

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

Bahá’u’lláh – From “Bishárát” [Glad-Tidings]
dOWNLOAD THE REVIEW QUOTE MEMORY AID HERE
Resource
ALL DONE MONKEY: A GREAT RESOURCE FOR KIDS TO LEARN MORE

LINK TO CONTENT HERE

TWINKL: RESOURCE THAT HAS  FREE AND PAID CONTENT

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Categories
Baha'i Cards Children class Free Kids Can Do Ruhi Book 3 Template

What Does Forgiveness Look Like? Lesson 11 Grade 1

Lesson 11 grade 1 ruhi book 3
Lesson 11 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Forgiveness

Forgiveness

  • What is Forgiveness?
  • How do we forgive others?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Forgiveness?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Forgiveness? 

What does forgiveness mean to you?  Forgiveness means letting go of hard feelings like anger, sadness, or frustration that happen when you or someone else makes a mistake. It’s saying “Thank you” or “That’s okay” when someone apologizes and does not stay upset about what they did. It’s having patience with yourself and others, and recognizing that no one is perfect—everyone makes mistakes. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that all of a sudden what someone did doesn’t hurt or isn’t wrong. It means that you find it in your heart to give the person another chance.

Did you know that forgiveness is one of the attributes of God?  We all make mistakes, and God forgives us when we ask for forgiveness and try our best to do better.  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá modeled forgiveness and always told us to be forgiving with one another. He said we should see with eyes of forgiveness and overlook one another’s faults. If we follow ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example, we will show forgiveness not only to our friends when they make mistakes but also to those who are unkind to us.

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 11 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Forgiveness

We are Memorizing The Prayer: Blessed is the spot

Blessed is the spot, and the house,

and the place, and the city,

and the heart, and the mountain,

and the refuge, and the cave,

and the valley, and the land,

and the sea, and the island,

and the meadow where mention

of God hath been made,

and His praise glorified

Lesson 11 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Forgiveness

Memorize

“. . . let your adorning be forgiveness and mercy and that which cheereth the hearts of the well-favored of God.”

Meaning Of Words

Cheer

Ursula was not feeling well. Her friend Elsie brought her flowers and sat with her for a long time, telling stories and talking. Elsie’s visit made Ursula feel much better. Ursula was cheered by her visit.

Mrs. Sanchez received a long letter from her husband who had gone away to a nearby town for work. The letter brought the good news that he would soon be coming home. The news greatly cheered her.

Favored

The teacher loved all of her students and paid special attention to each one. She favored them all.

James liked all of the subjects at school, but he did best in science. Science was the subject he favored most.

Send a Postcard

Send a postcard to a friend

G1L11 Postcard
Lesson 11 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Forgiveness
let your adorning be forgiveness

Looking For Good
Lesson 11 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Forgiveness

Story Of Forgiveness

Note, while telling the story, have a few props available to show the children: WORDS IN BOLD: A sign saying CLOSED, KEYS, TELEGRAM, PRESENT, LETTER. a ticket for the trip is additional if you like.

During the days the Master lived in ‘Akká, there was a governor who, time and time again, tried to harm the Bahá’ís. On one occasion he came up with a plan to destroy their means of livelihood: he ordered his guards to close down the shops of all the Bahá’ís and to bring him the keys. But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá learned of the governor’s plan and advised the friends not to open their shops the next day. He told them to wait and see what God would ordain. 

Imagine the governor’s surprise when he heard that his guards could not bring him the keys because the shops had not been opened. But before he could think of what to do next, something unexpected happened. A telegram arrived from his superiors dismissing him from his post as governor of the city. And so the shops of the Bahá’ís were saved. The ex-governor was ordered to leave ‘Akká and go to another city called Damascus. He did not know what to do. He had to leave quickly and alone. What would happen to his family? Who would help someone who had lost the favor of the government? The Master heard the news and went to see him. He showered the unhappy man with great kindness, as if he had never been an enemy of the Faith. Not once did He mention his past wrongdoings. Instead, He offered to help him in whatever way possible. The ex-governor was worried about leaving his wife and children behind. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá assured him that He would take care of the matter. Later He arranged for a comfortable trip, provided someone reliable to accompany the wife and children, paid for all the expenses, and sent the family on its way to Damascus. 

When the ex-governor was reunited with his family, he rejoiced. With a heart filled with gratitude, he turned to the man who had traveled with his family and asked him about the cost of the journey. The man explained that it had been paid by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Then the ex-governor offered him a present for his kindness and diligence during the journey. But he would not accept the present; he said that he was merely obeying ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and did not wish to receive anything for his services. The ex-governor then asked the man to stay the night as a guest in his home. He said, however, that he was eager to follow the instructions of the Master, Who had told him to return to ‘Akká without delay. The ex-governor asked the man to wait at least long enough for him to write a letter to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This he accepted and upon his return to ‘Akká delivered the letter to the Master. The letter read: “O ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, I pray you to pardon me. I did not understand. I did not know you. I have wrought great evil on you. You have rewarded me with great good.”

Other Stories:

Shaykh Mahmúd of ‘Akká

Zillah Sultán and his Sons

The Unfriendly Governor

BALLOON ACTIVITY

Each person has a balloon.  First, we are going to see what happens when we build anger up and don’t forgive.

Someone calls out names of emotions (sadness, anger, hurt, resentment, impatience, pain…) and with each name you hear, you blow into your balloon until it becomes pretty big.  Hold onto it.  When gets big, then have everyone let go and release it.

Okay, now let’s practice with forgiveness.  Blow anger into the balloon.  Now forgive- let it out, blow sadness into your balloon, now let it out.  Blow frustration into your balloon, now let it out! GREAT JOB!

HOT POTATO

Children form a circle.  Then ask: 

What are some of the things your body feels when you feel angry or frustrated? One thing is that you might get really hot. I call those feelings “hot feelings” because sometimes your face can get red, you might feel a burning feeling in your stomach, and you might even feel like a volcano full of hot lava! When you touch something hot, do you want to hold onto it? No! You want to let it go as quickly as you can.

  • In this game, the ball/[potato is a “hot feeling.” Pass it around the circle while the music plays, letting it go as quickly as you can.
  • When the music stops, everyone looks at the person holding the hot potato and says: “We’re sorry!”
  • The person holding the ball puts it down and says, “That’s okay. I forgive you.” Then the game continues…

People to People

Tell the children to walk around randomly, while clapping and saying, “people to people”. When you call out “back to back”, they should stop, and each back up to a partner. On your signal, they start to move around again, clapping and saying “people to people”. When you call out “face to face”, they stop and each face a partner, bowing heads. The game continues in this way, with these two commands being repeated several times. Other commands can include “knee to knee” and “elbow to elbow”.

Role Plays: What Forgiveness Looks Like

Invite kids to give responses and act them out. Ask, “What does forgiveness look like when . . .” (HAVE ON SLIPS THAT THEY PULL OUT)

  • Your friend accidentally broke your favorite toy
  • You did something you feel is very bad (forgiving yourself)
  • Your brother takes something of yours without asking
  • Your friend got angry and said something unkind to you and then apologized.
  • Someone keeps doing something hurtful to you over and over without being sorry*

*There are sometimes when forgiveness won’t help someone change their behavior, and it isn’t the only virtue you need to call on. While you can let go of the hurt feelings, sometimes, you need to stay away from that person (if you can) and stop giving tem the chance to hurt you. In these cases, respect for yourself and justice (making sure everyone is being treated fairly, including yourself) are just as important as forgiveness.

Lesson 11 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Forgiveness

An Experiment

Here is an experiment to try to help illustrate forgiveness 

Make a Paper Plane

Make 2 planes hiding a penny in one. They will look the same but not fly the same. Ask the children to look them over and figure out why. Explain “the airplanes are like us and the penny is when we hold a grudge. A grudge is when we hold bad feelings inside of us because of something someone did or said to us. These feelings can weigh us down and keep us from flying high.

Template for a paper plane here

Use the quote for the lesson (see below) in this craft idea Here is my template.

TEMPLATE FOR CRAFT

“. . . let your adorning be forgiveness and mercy and that which cheereth the hearts of the well-favored of God.”

Make A Crown

Write the quote

“. . . let your adorning be forgiveness and mercy and that which cheereth the hearts of the well-favored of God.”

on a crown for the children to decorate and wear