Categories
Baha'i Children class Ruhi Book 3

Steadfastness and Faith Lesson 24 Grade 1

Lesson 24 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Steadfastness

Steadfastness

  • What is Steadfastness?
  • How are we Steadfast?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Steadfastness?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Steadfastness? 

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 24 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Steadfastness

This is the last lesson where we will memorize the prayer “O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child…”

“O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child, exalt me by admitting me to the kingdom. I am earthly, make me heavenly; I am of the world below, let me belong to the realm above; gloomy, suffer me to become radiant; material, make me spiritual, and grant that I may manifest Thine infinite bounties.

“Thou art the Powerful, the All-Loving.”

View Here

Lesson 24 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Steadfastness

One of the most important qualities of a person who truly loves God is steadfastness. No matter what happens in life, we always remember God and our love for Him. Therefore, nothing that others can say or do to us can affect our faith in Him. We love Him and obey His laws and teachings. To remind us that we should remain steadfast at all times, let us memorize the following quotation of Bahá’u’lláh:

Supremely lofty will be thy station, if thou remainest steadfast in the Cause of thy Lord.

GLEANINGS FROM THE WRITINGS OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

Meaning Of Words

Supremely

  1. The gardens were supremely beautiful, more beautiful than any that had ever been seen.
  2. Maria’s mother made a very special cake for her family. They ate it with great enjoyment and all said it was supremely delicious.

Lofty

  1. Each night before she sleeps Martha prays and feels close to God. When she goes to sleep her spirit is in a lofty state.
  2. At the meeting, Kumar is giving a talk about world peace and the goodness of humanity. Kumar is speaking of lofty things.

Remain steadfast

  1. Her friend keeps telling Rosemary that stars are white spots painted on the sky, but Rosemary has learned that each star is really a far-away sun. Rosemary does not change her mind. She remains steadfast in what she knows to be true.
  2. Someone told Mona that it is not important to pray every day, but she kept praying because she knew it was a law of God to pray. Mona remained steadfast in following the law of prayer.

Send A Postcard

Lesson 24 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Steadfastness
Lesson 24 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Steadfastness
Lesson 24 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Steadfastness

Story About Steadfastness

Perhaps you know that Bahíyyih Khánum was the younger sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. She was only six years old when their beloved Father, Bahá’u’lláh, was arrested and sent to prison by an unjust government, that was fearful of the truth of the divine message He proclaimed. Her family had been one of the wealthiest in the city. Now all of their possessions were taken away. At times she had only a handful of flour to eat in place of bread.

When her Father was released at last and forced by the government to leave their homeland, Bahíyyih Khánum and her family set out on mules for the city of Baghdád, in a neighboring country. The journey took three months in the bitter cold of winter. Never again would she return to the land of her birth.

For ten years, the family remained in Baghdád, where Bahíyyih Khánum passed the rest of her childhood. Then, suddenly, her Father was ordered by the authorities, still threatened by His growing influence, to leave Baghdád, and Bahíyyih Khánum, now a young woman, went with her family, first to far off Constantinople and then to Adrianople. The danger was at its height. Opposition to her Father grew, and eventually, an attempt was made on His precious life.

After almost five years in Adrianople, living under such stress and strain, dear Bahíyyih Khánum was uprooted once again when the government banished her Father to the prison city of ‘Akká. For some forty years, that gentle soul lived with her family as a prisoner among the worst of criminals within the walls of the desolate city.

During that time the Father she so loved departed this world, and with His passing, it now became Bahíyyih 
Khánum’s duty was to support her beloved Brother, Who had been appointed the Head of His Father’s Faith. Many of their friends and relatives, jealous of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, turned against Him. But Bahíyyih Khánum faced each blow with quiet patience and fortitude.

And when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed into the next world many years later, Bahíyyih Khánum became the greatest supporter and staunchest defender of His grandson, young Shoghi Effendi, as he took over the duties that fell on him as his Grandfather’s successor. Bahíyyih Khánum was now an old woman, some seventy years of age. Her life had been filled with turmoil and upheaval. It moved from adversity to adversity, from calamity to calamity. But her spirit remained constant, and her heart always filled with the love of God. She was steadfast and firm. The dignity and joy, the kindness and grace, that were hers as a child stayed with her until the final days of her life.

Lesson 24 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Steadfastness

A Helping Hand

Ask the children to form pairs and hold hands with their partners. First have them walk around the area in pairs, with their eyes open. They should begin with tiny steps, and their steps should gradually become longer and longer. Each pair should take care not to bump into anyone. Then, one partner in each pair should shut his or her eyes, and they should repeat the walking exercise. Now if they are to avoid bumping into anyone, the other child will need to guide his or her friend. Tell them they must use signals given by touch alone. You should help them devise the signals before they start—for example, one squeeze of the hand could mean “stop”, two “go back”, three “turn right”, and four “turn left”.

Lesson 24 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Steadfastness

Rock Painting 

Let the kids paint big rocks that could be used as decorations outside, or smaller rocks that could be used as paperweights. Attach the quote to the botton of the rock or write Stadfastness on it .

Hot Rock Coloring 

Heat smooth rocks in an oven at approx 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Take them out with pot-holders and set them on thick mats of newspaper to work on. The kids color them with crayons while they are warm so the crayons melt onto the rocks. This is really fun but make sure the kids are old enough to understand how not to burn themselves on the rocks while they are hot.

Braclet

Use beads to make a braclet the spells out STEADFAST(NESS)

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

Reward Of Them That Endure With Patience.

Lesson 23 Grade 1

Lesson 23 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Patience

Patience

  • What is Patience?
  • How are we Patient?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Patience?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Patience? 

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 23 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Patience

In the next 2 lessons, we will memorize the prayer “O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child…”

“O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child, exalt me by admitting me to the kingdom. I am earthly, make me heavenly; I am of the world below, let me belong to the realm above; gloomy, suffer me to become radiant; material, make me spiritual, and grant that I may manifest Thine infinite bounties.

“Thou art the Powerful, the All-Loving.”

View Here

Lesson 23 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Patience

A faithful soul never forgets all the bounties that God has bestowed on it; it never ceases to love God. It is out of our faithfulness to Him that we always try our very best to follow His teachings and obey His laws, even when it becomes difficult. So it is that we work hard to serve others and to do worthy deeds, with no other thought than to attain His good pleasure. For the faithful soul, there is no greater joy than striving to please God. Let us memorize this quotation of Bahá’u’lláh:

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

Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

View Here On YouTube

Meaning Of Words

Reward

  1. Mrs. Anderson was very pleased with the excellent science projects that the students in her class prepared. As a reward, she took them to visit a nearby aquarium.
  2. Alena spent time every day learning how to play the guitar. When she played a sweet song for her younger brother, the joy on his face was all the reward she needed for her efforts.

Endure

  1. Lixin and her family moved to a faraway place. For the first few months, they had many difficulties. But, with the help of their kind neighbors, they were able to endure these difficulties and are now very happy in their new home.
  2. Hugh became ill. He was in a great deal of pain but did not complain. He endured his suffering with patience.

Send A Postcard

Lesson 23 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Patience
Lesson 23 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Patience
Lesson 23 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Patience

Story About Patience

Li Xin was very fond of peaches. They were one of his most favorite foods. Every day, he would bring a peach with him to school and eat it during his lunch break. He enjoyed every bite, but he always threw away the pit, with the seed inside.

One day, Li Xin’s class was learning about seeds. This gave Li Xin an idea. He would plant a seed from his peach and help it grow into a tree! At lunchtime, he saved the pit from his peach and wrapped it in a piece of paper. When school ended, he raced home and asked his father to help him find a place to start growing his tree. His father reminded him that he would have to wait for the pit to dry before he could get the seed out. Still, Li Xin wanted to plant the pit right away. “Li Xin,” said his father, “if you don’t have the patience to dry the pit, how will you have the patience to wait for the seed to sprout?” So Li Xin set the pit out to dry.

A few days later, Li Xin was finally able to crack the pit and pull out the seed. His mother showed him a corner of the yard where the tree could grow big and tall. Li Xin dug a small hole and dropped in the seed, then covered it with a mound of moist earth. He grinned with excitement. His tree was finally on its way!

Every day, Li Xin would visit the mound, hoping to see some sign that the seed had sprouted. But no sprout appeared for weeks, and Li Xin grew disheartened. Seeing Li Xin’s concern, his mother asked him what was wrong. “My seed is not growing,” Li Xin said. “I wonder if I will ever have a tree.” “Well,” said his mother, “this seed has a lot of growing to do. In that way, it is very much like you. When you were born, you were just a tiny little thing and all you did was eat and sleep. And now look at you! You are a young boy, walking, talking, and thinking for yourself! This tree may take many years to grow, but, if you care for it well, then someday you will be able to sit in its shade and enjoy its fruit.” Thinking of this, Li Xin grew hopeful again. He knew from his class that a seed had to go through many changes before it could even become a sprout.

Then, one spring day, Li Xin went out to visit the mound, as he always did, and to his great excitement, he saw a tiny green sprout poking up through the earth! His tree was growing! He ran to his neighbor, who was a farmer, and told her the exciting news. She gave him advice on how to care for the tree while it was so young and vulnerable, and he listened to her every word, eager to nurture it as best he could. “Soon I will have many peaches to give you as thanks for your good advice,” said Li Xin. But the neighbor just smiled. “Li Xin, do you remember how you had to be patient while you waited for the pit to dry?” Li Xin nodded. “And do you remember how you needed even more patience while you waited for your seed to sprout?” Li Xin remembered this, too. “Well,” said the neighbor, “it will take even longer before your sapling becomes a tree and sometime after that before it gives fruit. It could be years before the tree is ready to produce any peaches for you to enjoy.”

And so Li Xin cared for the tree and tended to its needs as it grew from a sprout to a sapling and from a sapling to a tree. Little by little, it grew taller and broader, just as he did. And then one day, as Li Xin returned from school, he saw the tree’s first peaches beginning to emerge where only blossoms had been before. Once again, he felt the joy that filled his heart when the seed had first sprouted. And once again he knew that he would have to exercise patience. For it would be some time still before the peaches would be ready to eat.

Lesson 23 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Patience

Find the Starter

Choose one child to go out of the group. While he or she is gone, the rest of the class picks another child to be “the starter”. All the children then follow the actions of the leader. For example, if he or she claps, everyone else does the same. If he or she starts waving goodbye, so do all the others. The one who was sent out must look carefully and try to discover who the leader is. At the same time, the others are careful not to look at the leader too closely or too much, which would make it easy for him or her to be identified by the one searching.

Lesson 23 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Patience

Little Plants

Throughout the year Dollar store and stores like Walmart and Target have grow-your-own plant kits. Sometimes as low as $1.The kids can plant the seeds in class and take them home and practice the virtue of PATIENCE. Care for it and watch the plant grow.

Make a Seed Paper

NASA: Seed paper

VIDEO: Seed Paper

Grow A Seed

Little Bins, Little Hands: grow a seed in a jar

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

Happy Is The Faithful One Lesson 22 Grade 1

Lesson 22 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Faithfulness

Faithfulness

  • What is Faithfulness?
  • How are we Faithful?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Faithfulness?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Faithfulness? 

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 22 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Faithfulness

In the next 3 lessons, we will memorize the prayer “O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child…”

“O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child, exalt me by admitting me to the kingdom. I am earthly, make me heavenly; I am of the world below, let me belong to the realm above; gloomy, suffer me to become radiant; material, make me spiritual, and grant that I may manifest Thine infinite bounties.

“Thou art the Powerful, the All-Loving.”

View Here

Lesson 22 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Faithfulness

A faithful soul never forgets all the bounties that God has bestowed on it; it never ceases to love God. It is out of our faithfulness to Him that we always try our very best to follow His teachings and obey His laws, even when it becomes difficult. So it is that we work hard to serve others and to do worthy deeds, with no other thought than to attain His good pleasure. For the faithful soul, there is no greater joy than striving to please God. Let us memorize this quotation of Bahá’u’lláh:

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

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh

View Here On YouTube

Meaning Of Words

Attired

  1. Mae has a good dress that she only wears on special occasions. She put on her dress for the community gathering. Mae was attired in her special dress.
  2. For the ceremony, the King put on his velvet robe. He was attired in his finest clothes.

Vesture

  1. In some places, judges must wear a white wig and a long black robe in a court of law. They must wear the full vesture of judges.
  2. Before leaving the palace, the prince puts on his sash and crown. He puts on his royal vesture.

Endeavor

  1. The students decided to plant trees around the school. The community supported their endeavor by providing seedlings and soil.
  2. Pierre and Arlene decided that they would climb to the top of the mountain. They knew that this would be a difficult endeavor, but they were determined to try.

Send A Postcard

Lesson 22 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Faithfulness
Lesson 22 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Faithfulness

Lesson 22 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Faithfulness

Story About Faithfulness

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was a young boy, His family, which was part of the nobility of Persia, had a servant by the name of Iṣfandíyár. He was very loyal to the family, and they trusted him a great deal. When the authorities, out of prejudice and ignorance, had ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s beloved Father, Bahá’u’lláh, arrested, all of the family’s possessions were taken away. They were left with nothing, and anyone close to Bahá’u’lláh was in danger. Still, Iṣfandíyár continued to look after the family. Knowing that many officers would be looking for Iṣfandíyár, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s mother urged him to leave the city. But Iṣfandíyár would not leave.

“I cannot go,” he said, explaining that he owed money to many shopkeepers for items he had purchased. “How can I go?” he asked. “They will say that the servant of Bahá’u’lláh has bought and consumed the goods and supplies of the storekeepers without paying for them. Unless I pay all these obligations, I cannot go. But if they take me, never mind. If they punish me, there is no harm in that. If they kill me, do not be grieved. But to go away is impossible. I must remain until I pay all I owe.”

For one month Iṣfandíyár went about in the streets and bazaars, selling small things he owed. When he had paid every last debt, he went to the family and said goodbye, for he knew he could stay with them no longer. A minister agreed to take him in and protect and shelter him during this dangerous time.

Many months later, Bahá’u’lláh was released from prison, and He and His family were exiled from Persia by the authorities. They went to Baghdád, a city in the neighboring country. Iṣfandíyár, ever faithful to Bahá’u’lláh, journeyed to Baghdád to ask whether he could once again serve in His household. Bahá’u’lláh said to him, “When you left us, there was a Persian minister who gave you a place to stay when no one else could give you protection. Because he gave you shelter and protected you, you must be faithful to him. If he is satisfied to have you go, then come to us; but if he does not want you to go, do not leave him.”

Of course, Iṣfandíyár was so upright, so trustworthy, and loyal, that the minister did not want him to go. “O Iṣfandíyár!” he exclaimed, “I am not willing that you should go, yet, if you wish to go, let it be according to your own will.” But Iṣfandíyár remembered Bahá’u’lláh’s words. He remained in the minister’s service until, sometime later, the minister passed away and Iṣfandíyár once again returned to the family he so loved, serving ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the end of his days. 

Lesson 22 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Faithfulness

Who Is Knocking at My Door

Blindfold one of the children, who should be seated on a bench with his or her back to the rest of the class. Now point to another child. He or she should go up to the blindfolded child and knock on the bench. The child who is seated says, “Who is knocking at my door?” The other, trying to disguise his or her voice, responds, “It’s me!” The seated child tries to guess who is knocking. The blindfolded child has three guesses, and then another child is given a turn.

Lesson 22 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Faithfulness

Use the quote in any of the crafts below

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

Enable Us To Be Radiant Lesson 21 Grade 1

Lesson 21 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Radiance

Radiance

  • What is Radiance?
  • How are we Radiant?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Radiance?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Radiance? 

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 21 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Radiance

The next 4 lessons we will memorize the prayer “O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child…”

“O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child, exalt me by admitting me to the kingdom. I am earthly, make me heavenly; I am of the world below, let me belong to the realm above; gloomy, suffer me to become radiant; material, make me spiritual, and grant that I may manifest Thine infinite bounties.

“Thou art the Powerful, the All-Loving.”

View Here

O Thou Kind Lord
O Thou Kind Lord!
O Thou Kind Lord!
Lesson 21 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Radiance

The light of the love of God never ceases to illumine our hearts. As this light grows brighter and brighter, our hearts become radiant with His love. The light of the knowledge of God—the knowledge of His greatness, of His glory—brightens our eyes. And, through our generous deeds and kind words, the light of love and knowledge shines forth. Those around us are touched by the radiance of our joy. To help us remember the importance of the quality of radiance, let us memorize the following quotation:

O Son of Being! Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it thy radiance and seek none other than Me.

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh
Full Quote to music

Meaning Of Words

Radiance

  1. Sometimes, when we leave a dark room and go outside, we have to cover our eyes until they get used to the bright light. We have to shield our eyes from the radiance of the sun.
  2. Mrs. Santos loves everyone like her own family. She is always generous, kind and helpful towards others. The love in her heart is felt by all the people she meets, bringing them joy. Everyone is touched by her radiance.

Seek

  1. When a baby bird hatches, the mother will look for food to feed it. The mother bird will seek food for the new chick.
  2. The school invited all the students on a special outing. In order to attend, they needed their parents’ permission. All the students were asked to seek approval from their parents to go on the outing.

Send A Postcard

Radiance
Lesson 21 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Radiance

Radiance
Radiant Heart
Lesson 21 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Radiance

Story About Radiance

Dorothy Baker, about whom you will probably learn more one day, had the honor of meeting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a young girl. It was Dorothy’s grandmother who took her to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His travels in the West. Arriving at a house that she had never visited before, Dorothy entered a crowded room. Many people were talking quietly and reverently while waiting for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to speak. The Master smiled as Dorothy and her grandmother came in and motioned to the young girl to sit near Him. Eager, but with some trepidation, she made her way across the room. Without looking up from the floor, she carefully walked past all the other guests to reach the footstool near His feet.

As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá began to speak, Dorothy sat with her eyes cast down, staring at her black shoes. She did not have the courage to look at Him. But soon her fear was gone. She felt attracted to the warmth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s loving presence. His radiance was magnetic. Without even realizing that she had moved, Dorothy found herself turned in His direction, with her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, gazing up at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s luminous face.

Dorothy could never remember what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke about that day. All she could remember was His kind face, His melodious voice, and the warmth of His presence. His loving eyes seemed to tell her of the spiritual worlds of God. In time, the love of God that had been ignited in her heart grew so strong that she decided to write to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. She begged Him that she might be allowed to serve Him and the Cause of His Father, Bahá’u’lláh. In His answer to Dorothy, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá praised her goal, assured her of God’s bounties, and expressed the hope that she would succeed in her desire. And, indeed, Dorothy dedicated her entire life to serving God and humanity.

Lesson 21 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Radiance

Two-Way Copy

Divide the children into pairs, each child facing his or her partner. Now ask one child in each pair to begin making simple physical movements, which the other child should try to mirror. After a few minutes, the partners can switch roles. You can also have them mirror facial expressions rather than movements. Next, have one child in each pair stand behind the other. As the one in the front moves, the one behind should shadow his or her movements.

Lesson 21 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Radiance

Make a lantern and use the downloaded quote

HGTV: Jar Lantern

Todays Parent: Northern lantern

Kitchen Fun: Fairy Lantern Mason Jar

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

Enkindled By The Love of God. Lesson 20 Grade 1

Lesson 20 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Enkindlement

Enkindlement

  • What is Enkindlement?
  • How are we Enkindled?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Enkindlement?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Enkindlement? 

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 20 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Enkindlement

This is the last lesson for us to practice the prayer “Thy Name Is My Healing…”

Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

View Here

Thy Name Is My Healing
Luke Slott: Thy Name Is My Healing
Lesson 20 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Enkindlement

Every human being was created to know God and to love Him, and we all have the spark of His love in our hearts. It is important for us to feed the flame of the love of God by praying to Him daily and by serving others, that it may grow stronger and stronger. As this flame burns ever brighter in our hearts, its warmth will be felt by all who cross our path. And their hearts, too, will be set aglow. When we are so enkindled, we become like burning candles that cannot help but to give light and warmth to those around us. Let us memorize the following quotation:

Be ye enkindled, O people, with the heat of the love of God, that ye may enkindle the hearts of others.

From a Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh

Meaning Of Words

Enkindle

  1. The house was cold, so Axel’s father decided to start a fire. He put large logs in the stove and lit some small twigs below. The wood soon became enkindled, and the fire warmed the room.
  2. A scientist came to the school and explained to the students’ many interesting things about the workings of the universe. They began to ask her various questions after the talk. She had enkindled in the students a desire to know more about the world.

Send A Postcard

Lesson 20 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Enkindlement
Lesson 20 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Enkindlement

Kindling the Fire of God’s Love
Lesson 20 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Enkindlement

Story About Enkindlement

Thomas Breakwell was a young man who held an important position in a cotton mill in the southern United States and spent his vacations in Europe. On his way to Europe in the summer of 1901, he met a woman on a steamship and began talking with her about spiritual subjects. When they arrived in Paris, the woman took him along to meet a friend of hers who lived in an apartment in the city and who, she knew, had similar interests. The young woman welcomed them, and the three talked for some time. Before leaving, Breakwell asked his hostess whether he might return to speak further. He was invited to come back the next morning.

When he arrived the next day, the young woman noticed that his eyes were shining brightly and his voice was full of emotion. She asked him to be seated. Breakwell looked at her intently for a moment and then described for her a strange experience. After he had left her home the day before, he had walked along an avenue, alone, in the warm and heavy evening air. Not a leaf stirred around him. Then, all of a sudden, a great wind came that seemed to bring with it the glad tidings of a new message from God!

The young woman urged him to be calm. You see, she knew of the message to which Breakwell referred. During the next three days, over the course of many hours, she told him everything she could about the Bahá’í Faith—its history and its teachings— and about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the perfect Exemplar of those teachings, Who was living in the prison city of ‘Akká in the Holy Land.

By the end of three days, Breakwell’s heart was so filled with joy and hope that he wanted nothing other than to travel to ‘Akká and visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. It happened that there was another young man who had already made plans to go to the Holy Land for this very purpose and who was most pleased to have Breakwell accompany him. So, a message was sent to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá requesting permission for him to come, and in a short time, they were on their way.

When the two men arrived at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s home, they were taken into a room where several other men were gathered. Looking around, Breakwell became deeply troubled. There was no one in the room to whom his heart was drawn, and thinking that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá must be among those present, he feared that he had failed to recognize that Heavenly Being about Whom he had learned in Paris. He sat down in despair. At that moment, a door opened, and Breakwell looked up. He saw there a brilliant light, from which the figure of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá emerged. He immediately knew that his dearest wish had been fulfilled.

Breakwell spent two glorious days in the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, during which the fire that had been enkindled in his heart grew stronger and stronger. When Breakwell told ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about his job at the cotton mill, where children were used as workers, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá advised him to resign from his post, which he did without hesitation. At the end of his visit, he returned to Paris, his spirit ablaze. For the rest of his short life, he burned like a bright candle, sharing the light enkindled in his heart with everyone he met. Upon his passing, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá revealed a Tablet in his honor, which includes the following verse: “O Breakwell, O my dear one! Thou hast lit a flame within the lamp of the Company on high, thou hast set foot in the Abhá Paradise, thou hast found a shelter in the shadow of the Blessed Tree, thou hast attained His meeting in the haven of Heaven.”

THE STRANGE STORY OF THOMAS BREAKWELL ON YOUTUBE

Lesson 20 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Enkindlement

Help the Sick

Choose one child to pretend to be the “sick patient”. Now have two other children stand face to face, their hands clasped around one another’s forearms, in order to make a “chair”. Depending on the size and skill of the children, you could have them form a chair in another manner. In that case, have both children clasp their own right wrists with their left hands and the left wrists of one another with their right hands.

The other classmates should now help the “sick friend” into the chair. Select a tree or another spot as the “health center” and ask the two children forming the chair to carry the “sick” child there.

With a larger group, the children can be asked to form a “stretcher” instead of a chair by standing in two lines facing each other. They should bend their arms at the elbows, with each one grasping the forearms of the child across from him or her. The “sick” child should then lie on the stretcher to be carried to the “health center”. Remind the children that everyone will have to work together if they are to get the “patient” safely to the health center. “If we let the sick person fall,” you could say, “he or she will get hurt, and we will all feel sad. But if we arrive at the health center without any problems, we can feel happy and content because we will have helped our friend.”

Lesson 20 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Enkindlement

Based On The Story

From supporting the core activities

Download Photos and written content from the site above or download them here with the template of the book as seen below.

Categories
Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3

How To Be A Trustworthy Person. Lesson 19 Grade 1

Lesson 19 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness

  • What is Trustworthiness?
  • How are we Trustworthy?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Trustworthiness?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Trustworthiness? 

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 19 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Trustworthiness

We will continue to memorize the prayer “Thy Name Is My Healing…”

Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

View Here

Thy Name Is My Healing
Luke Slott: Thy Name Is My Healing
Lesson 19 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Trustworthiness

One of the greatest qualities in the sight of God is trustworthiness. A trustworthy person is truthful and honest and can be counted on to keep his or her word. We should not say one thing but do another. Our actions should always reflect our words. When we are trustworthy, others can be sure that we will do our best to fulfill our responsibilities and carry out our duties. In this way, people are able to work together in harmony, knowing that everyone will do his or her part. To help us remember the importance of trustworthiness, let us memorize the following quotation:

Trustworthiness is the greatest portal leading unto the tranquility and security of the people.

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

Meaning Of Words

Trustworthiness

  1. Athos promised his mother that he would help her to prepare dinner. When his friends came to his house to invite him to play outside, Athos remembered the promise he had made to his mother and told his friends he would play with them another time. Athos showed the quality of trustworthiness.
  2. Sunita went to the store to pick up some things for her family, but she found she had not brought enough money to pay for everything they needed. She asked the store’s owner if she could bring the rest of the money the next day. The owner said this was fine because she knew Sunita was trustworthy and would pay for the items as promised.

Tranquility

  1. Whenever Emilio has to make an important decision, he tries to find a quiet place to think and meditate. He goes to a quiet garden nearby. In its tranquility, he is able to clear his mind and heart.
  2. Once the great storm had passed, everything became unusually quiet and still. Peace and tranquility followed the storm.

Security

  1. When a baby animal is frightened, it will often run back to its mother for safety. The mother provides security to her young ones.
  2. The hiker went off the trail and got lost in the woods. When he did not return, the guides from the village went out to look for him. He felt a sense of security when they found him, knowing that they would lead him back to safety.

Send A Postcard

Lesson 19 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3
Lesson 19 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Trustworthiness

Red Grammer Trust
Lesson 19 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Trustworthiness

Story About Trustworthiness

Years ago, in the early days of the Faith, there were only a small number of Bahá’ís, spread out over several countries. They faced many challenges and often wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Holy Land with news and questions. Their letters traveled over long distances before reaching Him, and He would answer each one with great love and care. His words of encouragement strengthened them and cheered their hearts. And so it was crucial that this stream of communication not be disrupted.

Now, there lived in the area at the time a Bahá’í by the name of Muḥammad-Taqí. He had come from Persia many years earlier as a young man and had established a small business. Gradually he became known for his unwavering reliability. So dependable was he that all the mail for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Holy Land and the responses sent abroad passed through the home of Muḥammad-Taqí. Everyone knew that he could be trusted to make sure each piece of mail was delivered promptly and securely.

But, then, the enemies of the Faith rose up against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. They became jealous of the love and respect people showed to Him. They hoped they could bring about His exile, or worse still, His execution. Spies were planted all around His house, and He was kept under constant watch. How pleased His enemies would have been if they could have stopped the flow of correspondence and broken the link between ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the devoted Bahá’ís in other countries; how much more if they could have stolen some document that could be used to mislead the authorities!

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, however, was not deterred. He could often be seen late into the night, writing by the light of His lamp; for He had ensured a secure means for the receipt and dispatch of mail. What do you think He did?

You see, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá knew His enemies recognized the important work Muḥammad- Taqí carried out. They would no doubt try to intercept the mail routed through him. So ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent Muḥammad-Taqí to a nearby place in a neighboring country, where he was out of danger. Then others, whom His enemies did not suspect, carried in and out of the Holy Land all the mail to Muḥammad-Taqí. And, from this safe spot, he continued to faithfully receive and dispatch mail, never faltering in the trust ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had placed in him. So it was that, even in the most difficult times, communication with the Holy Land was never cut off and guidance continued to reach friends in the most remote places.

Lesson 19 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Trustworthiness

A Guide

Divide your students into pairs and ask them to hold hands with their partners. Blindfold one child in each pair and have the other child lead him or her around, making sure he or she does not stumble along the way. For an added challenge, the blindfolded child can be guided around obstacles such as tree trunks, ditches, rocks, and tires. Once a bond of trust has been established between partners in this way, the blindfolded child can be guided using verbal instructions alone. In that case, the guide should follow close behind in order to catch the child should he or she stumble.

As an alternative to the above game, all the children can be blindfolded and form a train, led by you or one of the students.

TOWER OF TRUST

If your mom asks you to pick up your toys, can she count on you to do it?

Can she count on you to pick up those toys, even if she isn’t looking

come up with examples of how we can build trust in each other 

what happens if we lie about one of those things: It has taken a long time to build your mum’s trust in you. But it doesn’t take long at all to destroy the tower of trust. What if you tell your mum you picked up all your toys, and she finds them under the rug? Will that help her trust you?  Every untrue thing you say takes away a little of the trust people have in you. 

Lesson 19 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Trustworthiness

Based On The Story

Importance of letters. Have you ever written a note or letter to anyone and got worried it might not arrive? As we read in the story, the Baha’is across the world were always worried about the security of the mail they sent to the Holy land.

  1. Write a letter and post it to a friend, Your Local Spiritual Assembly, The National Spiritual Assembly, or even the Universal House of Justice
  2. Write a note to a family member This link has a cute template.
  3. Play a BINGO style game as seen here
  4. Use strips of paper for children to write a note. Join them up in a loop….this is from the story “the link between ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the devoted friends”

MAILBOX CRAFT

Make a mailbox and post letters and cards to each other.

A mini postbox can be made from a small box like a matchbox. Printable mini letters can be downloaded here

Trustworthy Friend KitCreate a “trustworthy friend kit”: Make a friendship kit to remind children of what it takes to be a trustworthy friend. Ask the students to label an envelope or ziplock baggie “Friendship Kit” and decorate it. Have them place the things on this list below inside the envelope. Cut out the list and put it in the friendship kit, too. Ask the children to take their friendship kit home and tell their family what each thing in the kit stands for. 

  • Tape- – Stick up for your friend. 
  • Bandage- Never let a friend do anything to harm himself or herself. 
  • Button- “Button your lips” and keep a secret for a friend. 
  • Candy Heart- Have the courage to do the right thing. 
  • Word Card: Truth- Remember to always speak the truth. Be honest and sincere with your friend. 
  • Eraser- Everyone makes mistakes. Forgive a friend’s mistakes. 
  • Mint- A trustworthy friend is worth a mint. 
Categories
Baha'i Children class Free Kids Can Do Ruhi Book 3

Never lose Thy Trust In God. Be Thou Ever Hopeful! Lesson 18 Grade 1

Lesson 18 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Hopefulness

Hopefulness

  • What is Hopefulness?
  • How are we Hopeful?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Hopefulness?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Hopefulness? 

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 18 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Hopefulness

We will continue to memorize the prayer “Thy Name Is My Healing…”

Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

View Here

Thy Name Is My Healing
Thy Name Is My Healing
Thy Name Is My Healing
Lesson 18 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Hopefulness

God’s love is always with us. He will never leave us alone and promises to help us throughout our lives. Though we do not know what will happen from one day to the next, we trust in God and remember that His gifts and bounties are all around us. And so we are hopeful when we look to the future, confident that we will receive a share of His infinite blessings. With hearts full of hope, we constantly anticipate the outpouring of God’s bounties upon us. To help us remember the importance of hopefulness, let us memorize these words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:

Never lose thy trust in God. Be thou ever hopeful, for the bounties of God never cease to flow upon man.

Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Meaning Of Words

Trust

  1. Edward had a problem and went to Hung Wei for help. Edward knows that Hung Wei will do all he can to help him. Edward trusts Hung Wei.
  2. Nirmala wants to repair the roof of her house but cannot do it alone. Nirmala’s friends offer to come the next day to help her. She trusts they will come as promised and gets everything ready.

Hopeful

  1. Iosefina plants a seed in a sunny spot and waters it every day. She looks forward to seeing it grow. Iosefina is hopeful the seed will one day become a strong plant.
  2. Antonio’s good friend Mattias moved to another town. Antonio missed his friend, but he was hopeful that they would see each other again soon.

Bounties

  1. Every night when Lilian prays, she thinks about the many things she is fortunate to have. She thinks about her parents, her friends, her teachers, and even the bed in which she sleeps. Lilian is always thankful for the bounties she has been given.
  2. Reza has many friends and relatives who love him and help him grow. Reza is grateful for the bounty of their love and support.

Cease

  1. When Tahir turns off the tap, the water stops coming out; the water ceases to flow.
  2. Even on cloudy days, the rays of the sun warm the earth. The sun’s rays never cease to reach the earth.
Lesson 18 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Hopefulness
Be Hopeful
Lesson 18 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Hopefulness
Be Hopeful
Lesson 18 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Hopefulness

Story About Hopefulness

There was once a man with no home, who lived alone on the banks of the River Thames in London. He was very sad and had lost all hope for happiness in life. One day, he walked past a shop and a photograph in a newspaper caught his eye. It was the face of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The man stood frozen, staring at the face. He had never seen ‘Abdu’l-Bahá before and did not know who He was, but he was certain that he must meet Him. The address of a house was given in the newspaper, so the man started walking, hoping to find Him there. It was a very long distance—nearly fifty kilometers—but he kept walking until he reached the house.

The man was tired and hungry when at last he arrived, and the lady of the house kindly invited him in, gave him some food, and let him rest for a while. As he rested, he told his story to the woman and then asked her whether ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was there. The woman assured him that He was.

“Will He see me?” he asked. “Even me?”

Just as the woman replied that she was certain ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would see him, the Master Himself appeared at the door. The man stood up, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stretched out His arms to greet him. It was as though the man was an old friend whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had long been expecting. He welcomed him with love and compassion and asked him to sit down next to Him.

Then ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who always knew how to bring lost joy back to people’s hearts, began to speak to the man. He encouraged him to let go of his sadness, reminding him that he was rich in the Kingdom of God! As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá showered the man with compassion, His comforting words began to heal his heart and give him strength. Little by little his sadness drifted away. Before he departed, the man told ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that he would not let his poverty bring him sadness anymore; instead, he would find work in the fields and save his money so that he could buy a bit of land, on which he would grow violets to sell in the market. The man learned from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to put his trust in God and to have confidence that God would confirm and bless his efforts. His despair turned into hope.

Lesson 18 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Hopefulness

Rainmaker

First have the children stand in a circle around you, and then introduce the game by asking them to imagine they are in the desert longing for rain. Start rubbing the palms of your hands together and tell the children that, when you look at each one, they should begin to do the same. Once you have gone around the full circle and all the children are rubbing their palms, tell them to keep going until you look at each one with a new motion, which they should imitate. Snap your fingers as the next motion and then clap your hands as the next, followed by slapping your thighs and then stomping your feet. The sound made by all the children together should resemble the first few sprinkles of rain in the beginning and a great thunderstorm at the end.

Lesson 18 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Hopefulness

A Hope Collage

From MeaningfulMama:

  • There are a lot of negative things happening in the world and on the news
  • There is hope for the future because of the kids we are raising. 
  • Explain to the kids that they are the future. They are the future politicians, missionaries, parents, doctors, teachers, and leaders in our world. 
  • Parents are doing their best to raise them to love God, love people, and develop their virtues
  • We then made a hope collage out of children’s faces: look through magazines and cut out pictures of kids, glue down the images onto a piece of paper. After the collage was created, cut the paper into quarters – to cut into four letters – H-O-P-E.  You can glue these letters to another piece of paper or hang the individually as a reminder that kids are part of the hope of the future.

Link to other crafts

Make a crown of Hope nd add the quote or prayer to it

Make a felt heart hanger for hope

Color the drawing or draw your own.

Categories
10 minute craft Baha'i Children class Felt Free Kids Can Do Paper Ruhi Book 3

Find The Source Of Courage Now! Lesson 17 Grade 1

Lesson 17 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Courage

Courage

  • What is Courage?
  • How are we Courage?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Courage?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Courage? 

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 17 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Courage

From lessons 17 to 24 we will be memorizing a new prayer and of course, each lesson will have a new quote.

Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

View Here

Lesson 17 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Courage

Memorize

To have courage means to stand for what is right even if we are the only ones who do so, to defend those who need our help even if it causes us discomfort, and to tell the truth even when we know it may lead to difficulties for us. It takes courage to face hardships in life with calm and grace. We draw courage from our love of God and our desire to please Him above all others. To help us remember that we should face every situation in life with courage, let us memorize the following quotation:

The source of courage and power is the promotion of the Word of God, and steadfastness in His Love.

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

Meaning Of Words

Source

  1. Kyongmi lives in a village in a valley. The melting snow from the top of nearby mountains provides water to the village. The source of the village’s water is snow from the mountaintops.
  2. Mrs. Putters has three loving and well-behaved children. Her children are a source of joy and happiness to her.

Promotion

  1. Two of Shoa’s friends started an argument and became angry with each other. Shoa helped each to see the other’s point of view and make peace. Shoa always promotes peace and understanding among his friends.
  2. A nurse visits the classroom to teach the children about foods that are good for their health. The nurse promotes healthy eating.

Steadfastness

  1. Promilla knew that she wanted to be a doctor. She always studied hard in school, and after many years of difficult work, she achieved her goal. She was steadfast in her efforts to become a doctor.
  2. Zvondai went to a very remote village to help open a new school. Although he missed his family and faced many difficulties, he showed steadfastness and stayed in the village for many years, training teachers and working with children.

Send A Postcard To A Friend

LESSON 17 GRADE 1 RUHI BOOK 3 Courage
Lesson 17 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Courage
Source of Courage
The Source of Courage
Lesson 17 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Courage

Story About Courage

‘Alí-‘Askar was a merchant in Persia. When he became a Bahá’í, he experienced much hardship at the hands of those who opposed the Faith. Within a short span of time, he had lost all he had. Even so, ‘Alí-‘Askar was not dispirited. Seeing that he would not be able to make a living in his homeland, he decided to move to Adrianople, a city in a neighboring country.

In Adrianople, though he still had little, he managed to acquire a small amount of merchandise. Before he was able to sell a single item, however, he was attacked by thieves who took everything he had in his possession, leaving him with nothing once again.

Not long after, the thieves were arrested, and the great fortune they had acquired from robbing many people was seized. One of the local authorities, dazzled by the riches, came up with an idea to keep the fortune for himself. He called ‘Alí-‘Askar to his office and explained.

“‘Alí-‘Askar,” he said, “these thieves are very rich. In my report to the government, I wrote that the amount robbed from you was great. Therefore you must attend the trial and testify that what I have written is true.” This way, the official thought, all of the money would be returned to ‘Alí-‘Askar, and the two would split it between themselves.

‘Alí-‘Askar knew that he could never go along with such a plan. “Your Honor, Khán,” he replied, “the goods stolen from me amounted to very little. How can I report something that is not true? When they question me, I will give the facts exactly as they are. I consider this my duty, and only this.”

The official tried again to convince ‘Alí-‘Askar. “We have a golden opportunity here,” the official said. “You and I can both profit by it. Don’t let such a once-in-a-lifetime chance slip through your fingers!”

But ‘Alí-‘Askar again refused, saying, “Khán, how would I answer to God? Let me be. I shall tell the truth and nothing but the truth.”

Now the official became angry. If ‘Alí-‘Askar did not go along with his scheme, all his planning would come to naught, and he would lose the great fortune now within his grasp. And so he began to threaten ‘Alí-‘Askar, hoping he could frighten him

into cooperating. “I will jail you,” he said. “I will have you banished; there is not a torment I will spare you.” Then he told ‘Alí-‘Askar that, if he did not agree, he would send him back to Persia.

‘Alí-‘Askar only smiled. “Jináb-i-Khán,” he said, “do with me as you please; I will not turn my back on what is right.”

Lesson 17 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Courage

Yes Or No

Begin the game by asking the children to form a wide circle, with you in the center. Now explain to the children that you are going to make several statements. Some of them will be correct; others will be incorrect. Tell them that, if the statement is correct, they should shout out “yes” and hop towards the center of the circle. If it is incorrect, they should shout out “no” and hop backward.

All the statements you make should be based on things the children can readily observe. Examples of “yes” statements are as follows: “The sun gives off light.” “Trees grow from seeds.” “Mountains are tall.” You could also make statements that describe what the children are wearing, like “Sera is wearing a blue shirt,” or what they see in the space around them, like “There are two benches over there.”

A few examples of “no” statements are: “Rain falls upward.” “Fish fly.” “Stones walk on feet.” Again, you could draw on your surroundings to make incorrect statements. Remember that you should have more correct statements than incorrect ones so that, by the end of the game, the children reach you at the center of the circle.

Lesson 17 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Courage

Superhero Mask

Download the template and decorate your mask

Hero Mask

Make a Badge of Courage

A badge is easy to make, cut some circles large and small out of paper, or felt, etc. Layer, add ribbon, and write COURAGE on it. Still not sure? Check out this blog here to make one.

Teachers Pay Teachers

Lots of free Courage crafts and activities. This one is the cup of courage.

Courage Token

This one is a cute ” COURAGE TOKEN” made from clay and stamped

Categories
Baha'i Children class Ruhi Book 3

How To Practice Kindness Now! Lesson 16 Grade 1

Lesson 16 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Kindness

Kindness

  • What is Kindness?
  • How are we Kind?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Kindness?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Kindness? 

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 16 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Kindness

We are Memorizing The Prayer: O Lord! Plant this tender seedling in the garden

O Lord! Plant this tender seedling in the garden of Thy manifold bounties, water it from the fountains of Thy loving-kindness and grant that it may grow into a goodly plant through the outpourings of Thy favor and grace. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

View Here

Prayer Lesson 15 Grade 1 Kindness
Prayer Lesson 15 Grade 1 Kindness
Lesson 16 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Kindness

Memorize

God created all of humanity to live together as one family. If we are to do this, we cannot let differences come between us. Instead, we should mingle with people of every religion, nation, and background with love and kindness in our hearts. To help us remember this, let us memorize the following quotation of Bahá’u’lláh:

Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Meaning Of Words

Mingle

  1. Egrets and cowbirds are two kinds of birds that live in the meadows. They are often seen together. These two kinds of birds mingle.
  2. In the devotional meeting, after the prayers were read, people stayed and mingled.

Send A Postcard To A Friend

LESSON 16 GRADE 1 RUHI BOOK 3 KINDNESS
Lesson 16 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Kindness

In Japan
Lesson 16 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Kindness

Story About Kindness

You know from some of our earlier stories that, when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá first arrived in ‘Akká, many of the people treated Him badly. They were cruel to the Bahá’ís and did not want to speak to them. Soon, however, they came to see that the Bahá’ís were loving and kind, and slowly most of the townspeople began to show them kindness in return. But there were a few who clung to their anger and hatred.

Now, one day, a man who still carried much hatred in his heart towards ‘Abdu’l- Bahá heard others praising His greatness and goodness. The man became outraged. He would show them, he said with anger, that this Person they all revered was not so wonderful after all. And off he went, his heart burning with anger. He knew that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá could be found praying in the mosque at that hour, and he rushed there, ready to lay violent hands upon the beloved Master. But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá looked at the man with serenity and dignity. Lovingly, He reminded him of the teachings of God that we are to be generous to all guests, even those that are different from us. At this, the man realized that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Bahá’ís were, indeed, like guests in ‘Akká, his home. And, like a generous host, he should welcome them with love and treat them with kindness.

Lesson 16 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Kindness

The Hidden Quality

Tell the children to form a circle, with their two hands cupped together in front of them. Stand in the middle of the circle, holding a small object like a pebble. The object will represent a quality, for instance, “kindness”. As you walk along the circle, pass your hand over the hands of each child and say, for example, “John is kind,” “Isabella is kind,” “Dervi is kind,” and so on. Each child should close his or her hands, acting as though you have given him or her the object. You should actually leave the item in the hands of one of the children. When you have gone around the entire circle, one child should try to guess who has the object by saying, for example, “Kenji is very kind.” Then Kenji should open his hands and show whether or not he has it. The child should be given three tries to guess who has the object, after which the game can be repeated using another quality. You should make sure that each child is given the object in at least one round.

Lesson 16 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Kindness

Kindness Jar 

Make a jar and fill it with ideas to be kind, or every time someone is kind to you, or you display the virtue of kindness, put a note in the jar.

Download here

Printable Kindness cards here

Need Some Ideas For Kindness? Download here

Teachers Pay Teachers

Many free kindness crafts to download

Also a game Kindness Bingo

Paint kindness rocks

Paint and decorate rocks with kind words on them. see the example on this blog.

Kindness Flower

Will upload a template soon

Categories
Baha'i Children class Ruhi Book 3

On the Wings of Detachment: Lesson 14 Grade 1

Lesson 14 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 DETACHMENT

DETACHMENT

  • What is Detachment?
  • How are we Detached?
  • Why should we practice the virtue of Detachment?
  • When do we practice the virtue of Detachment? 

This week we will focus on the virtue of detachment. We will try to understand what detachment is, how we recognize it in others and ourselves, how to practice it, and know when we are successful. Our prayers, quotes, stories, and crafts will all be aids in helping us on this journey. Optional read: Detachment from the Family Virtues Guide

VISIT MORE LESSONS HERE

L9G1 Prayer
Lesson 14 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 DETACHMENT

We are Memorizing The Prayer: O Lord! Plant this tender seedling in the garden

O Lord! Plant this tender seedling in the garden of Thy manifold bounties, water it from the fountains of Thy loving-kindness and grant that it may grow into a goodly plant through the outpourings of Thy favor and grace. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.

View Here

Lesson 14 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 DETACHMENT

Memorize

The children will memorize a quotation about the quality of detachment, which is the theme of the lesson. You can introduce the theme to them in the following way:

God has created every good thing in this world for us to enjoy – good health, delicious foods, love and friendship, the beauty of nature, and the powers of the mind, which enable us to make discoveries and create inventions to improve the way we live. We should make use of all the bounties of God and be thankful to Him for the joy of living. But we should be careful not to become attached to this world. Our souls must be free at all times; like free and strong birds, they should soar in the heaven of holiness. How sad if a bird remains on the ground, unable to take flight because it is attached to the things around it. Let us memorize the following quotation:

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

THE SUMMONS OF THE LORD OF HOSTS BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

Meaning Of Words

Consists

  1. Joey has two sausages and some potatoes for his meal. His meal consists of sausages and potatoes.
  2. An egg consists of three parts: the shell, the white, and the yolk.

Detachment

  1. Helgi really wanted to go swimming with his friends. However, he happily stayed home with his younger sister so that his mother could go to the store. Helgi showed detachment from his own plans because he wanted to help his family.
  2. At the end of the school year, Anjali thought it would be nice to bring flowers to her teacher. Her sister suggested they bake a cake instead. Anjali thinks this is a nice idea. She is detached from her own idea.

All save

  1. The children all did well on the examination, except one who did not study. All save one student did well on the test.
  2. The mother wanted to make a special meal for the family. Then she realized that she could not do so because she did not have one important ingredient. She had all save one ingredient.

Send A Postcard To A Friend

Lesson 14 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 Quote
Lesson 14 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 DETACHMENT
Arise To Offer Thanks Sung By Angela Bryan
On the Wings of Detachment
Will You Give Your Life

On the Wings of Detachment

Chorus:

One day a bird was flying in the sky above

Full of joy and confidence

Soaring in this Paradise, his home

As he flew, his hunger began to grow

So he turned to the water and clay below

Down below

He was trapped

By his desire

And his wings got covered in mud
Too heavy to fly,

He could not return to his home

Chorus

Like that bird I belong to the heavens So I will not cling to the earth below I will not cling to riches
I will not cling to my wishes

I will not cling to anything but God

So I will walk on the feet of detachment

I will soar on the wings of detachment
I will free myself of all attachment
To anything but God (repeat)

Lesson 14 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 DETACHMENT

Story About Detachment

One day two men, longtime friends, were discussing spiritual matters over tea. Now, one of these men had accumulated a great many riches during his life and wanted for nothing. The other had much less. “I would like to make a journey to the Holy Land,” said the second to his wealthy friend. The first man replied without hesitation, “This is a wonderful idea! I will join you.” The pair set down their teacups and arose at once, headed in the direction of the Holy Land.

They had been walking for only a short while when night began to fall. The poorer man slowed down and then stopped, saying, “My friend, let us return to our houses to pass the night. It will be more comfortable, and we can start afresh in the morning.” “But why would we turn back?” the other replied. “We are on our way to the Holy Land!” Still, his friend was not satisfied. “The Holy Land is a long distance to travel by foot,” he tried again. “At least let me go back and fetch my donkey, which I am reluctant to leave behind.”

“Then,” the wealthy friend said to the other, “perhaps you are not the one to accompany me on this journey after all. With joy, I have abandoned a great fortune—horses, lands, and fine clothes—but feel no sense of loss. For what greater bounty is there than to spend even a moment in the Holy Land. Are you not able to leave even your donkey behind?” Sadly, he could not let go of his one prized possession. And so he left his friend, who continued on his way to the Holy Land and never looked back once.

Another Story About Detachment

One day King Maḥmúd decided to go on a royal tour of his kingdom. Preparations began immediately and within a few days the magnificent procession was ready to leave. Ministers, ambassadors, and a great many people of prominence, all wearing their finest clothes, set out with the King, together with his guards and attendants. The King’s faithful servant Ayáz rode by his side, at the very front of the procession.

Each evening the splendid party made camp and the wonderful imperial tent was set up for the King. This tent was the most beautiful tent that anyone had ever seen. Woven from silk of the highest quality, it was decorated with hundreds of jewels and precious stones, which sparkled so brightly in the lamp-light that the light of the moon and stars paled in comparison. Each night the King and his companions feasted and sang. Each morning when the tent was taken down, the jewels were collected and put in a box in the King’s carriage. And so the royal procession went on its way, the King looking contentedly over his peaceful and prosperous kingdom, his companions happily riding and talking during the day, and feasting and singing at night.

One afternoon the King and his entourage were passing through some especially beautiful countryside. So beautiful was it that the King was overcome with a feeling of generosity. He took the jewels from the box and scattered them on the roadside for his companions. As he continued on his way, they all scrambled in great confusion, forgetful of their duties, trying to gather up the precious stones—all that is, except Ayáz. “Look at Ayáz,” they muttered to one another. “He is so proud and arrogant. He cannot even be bothered to pick up any of the jewels that the King has tossed on the roadside.”

“How is it, Ayáz”, the King asked him, “that you do not join the others to gather up my jewels? Are they not precious? Do you not value the things that were mine?”

“Oh, My King,” replied Ayáz. “I have always valued the very least thing that is yours. But to be near you and gaze on your face is more than sufficient for me. Why should I leave your side to scramble for that which you have thrown away?”

And the loyal and steadfast Ayáz rode on by the side of his grateful master, ever vigilant in serving his beloved King.

Alternative story (I have heard it referred to as “one of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s favourite stories” – but haven’t seen that documented in a reliable source.  It’s a little more straight forward, and would lend itself well to either a play, or puppet makings.

Once there was a king who had many spiritual qualities and whose deeds were based on justice and loving-kindness. He often envied the dervish who had renounced the world and appeared to be free from the cares of this material life, for he roamed the country, slept in any place when night fell and chanted the praises of his Lord during the day. He lived in poverty, yet thought he owned the whole world. His only possessions were his clothes and a basket in which he carried the food donated by his well-wishers. The king was attracted to this way of life. 

Once he invited a well-known dervish to his palace, sat at his feet and begged him for some lessons about detachment. The dervish was delighted with the invitation. He stayed a few days in the palace and whenever the king was free preached the virtues of a mendicant’s life to him. At last the king was converted. One day, dressed in the garb of a poor man, he left his palace in the company of the dervish. They had walked together some distance when the dervish realized that he had left his basket behind in the palace. This disturbed him greatly and, informing the king that he could not go without his basket, he begged permission to return for it. But the king admonished him, saying that he himself had left behind his palaces, his wealth and power, whereas the dervish, who had preached for a lifetime the virtues of detachment, had at last been tested and was found to be attached to this world—his small basket. (From Adib Taherzadeh’s Revelation of Baha’u’llah Volume One)

Lesson 14 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 DETACHMENT

Wheel

Ask the children to stand sideways in a circle and extend their left arms inward, joining hands at the center. They should now resemble a wheel, with their arms as its spokes. Next, have the children turn around the center of the circle like a wheel. After they have done so, ask them to move around the space where the class is being held, while turning in a circle and remaining in formation. To add to the challenge, they can try skipping and hopping.

You could make the game even more challenging by having the children sit on the floor in a circle and extend their legs straight out so that their feet touch in the middle. They should then place the palms of their hands on the floor beside their hips. They are now ready to get the wheel moving. To do so, they will all push themselves up with their hands and move one step to the right. They should continue step by step with their hands in this way, keeping their feet in the center of the wheel, until it makes a full rotation.

Lesson 14 Grade 1 Ruhi Book 3 DETACHMENT

Give Something Away

Detachment can look like giving something you love away to someone else. Is there something you would like to donate to a charity?

Make Something And Give It To Someone

Make A card

Draw A Picture

Make Any Craft

For ideas check out my Pinterest Board

Make this Photo Holder and put the quote for this lesson or the postcard for this lesson and give to someone.

Color

Color in the bird with the quote

Download here