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Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3

BAHÁ’U’LLÁH ENDURED ORDEALS AND HARDSHIPS FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY G4 L9 SET 3

LESSON 9 HE ENDURED ORDEALS AND HARDSHIP FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY GRADE 4 SET3

Welcome: Introducing The Principal Theme

This lesson revolves around Bahá’u’lláh’s fourth and final exile to the prison-city of ‘Akká, We will get a sense of the ordeals and hardships He endured there for the sake of humanity. Yet the purpose of the lesson is to help us understand that Bahá’u’lláh’s banishment to ‘Akká would become the means, as ordained by God, for the further promotion of His Cause. To prepare for the discussion, let us review what they learned in previous lessons, particularly in the last lesson.

Here are a few questions:

  1. Do you remember where Bahá’u’lláh was first exiled and what the Bábí community was like when He reached there?
  2. How did the community change during Bahá’u’lláh’s ten-year stay in Baghdád?
  3. What wonderful event occurred at the end of His stay?
  4. We know, of course, that Bahá’u’lláh was then exiled to Constantinople and eventually to Adrianople. Why did His enemies exile Him farther and farther away from His homeland?
  5. Did they succeed in achieving their purpose?”

Today you are going to learn about Bahá’u’lláh’s fourth and final banishment. It was to the prison-city of ‘Akká. Bahá’u’lláh referred to ‘Akká as the ‘most desolate of cities’ and the ‘Most Great Prison’, so immense were His sufferings there.

What does the word ‘desolate’ mean?

You know that all the Manifestations of God have suffered at the hands of leaders concerned only with their own wealth and power. They used their influence over the people who blindly followed them to convince them to rise up against God’s Manifestations. We have seen that Bahá’u’lláh, too, lived a life of suffering and affliction. In ‘Akká His sufferings grew even greater. But He accepted every affliction patiently because He was chosen by God and did only that which God commanded. He loved humanity and knew that the knowledge He brought from God would finally conquer ignorance.

When Bahá’u’lláh arrived in ‘Akká, He was outwardly a prisoner, forcibly sent there by two powerful kings. The people of the city had been told lies about Him, and they called out to Him with insults. But Bahá’u’lláh knew that soon the hearts of the people would change and that, from ‘Akká, His Cause would spread throughout the East and the West, to all parts of the world. Of course, He had foreseen His exile to ‘Akká years before His enemies had even decided to banish Him there. In a Tablet revealed much earlier, He refers to His arrival in that desolate spot, saying that He was welcomed with banners of light and received God’s assurance that soon all the peoples of the world would follow these banners.

You will memorize His words yourselves later in our class today. Imagine how beautiful the world will become when more and more people are enlisted under the banner of the Cause and following the light of God’s teachings.

MEMORIZATION AID FOR PRAYERS

Download the memorization aid for all prayers here

Quote Grade 4 Ruhi book 3
Quote Grade 4 Ruhi book 3

Upon our arrival, We were welcomed with banners of light, whereupon the Voice of the Spirit cried out saying: ‘Soon will all that dwell on earth be enlisted under these banners

Baha’u’llah

MEANING OF SOME OF THE WORDS IN THE QUOTE

Record the meaning of words you are not sure of here

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

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Song Grade 4 Ruhi Book 3

RUHI BOOK RESOURCE FOR SONGS

Listen To These Songs From The Ruhi Book Resource Site Here

  • The Shores of ‘Akká By  Leslie Garrett
  • We Are the People of Bahá By Donna Taylor
  • Who Is the Prophet of God for Today By Saul Accouche
Story grade 4 ruhi book 3

Historical Episodes

This historical episode describes events surrounding Bahá’u’lláh’s fourth and final exile, to the fortress town of ‘Akká. We will divide the episodes as follows: first, the journey to ‘Akká and the conditions of Bahá’u’lláh’s imprisonment there, and second, the tragic passing of His beloved son, Mírzá Mihdí.

We previously learned about Bahá’u’lláh’s exiles to Constantinople and Adrianople. With each exile, the corrupt leaders of Persia and the Ottoman Empire foolishly thought that they would succeed in putting an end to Bahá’u’lláh’s growing influence among the people. But you know, of course, that through the heroic efforts of dedicated believers like Aḥmad, the number of Bahá’u’lláh’s followers was steadily increasing. And so the authorities decided to exile Him once again, this time to the fortress of ‘Akká, a desolate prison city in which, they were sure, the new Faith would soon die.

Suddenly one morning, the house of Bahá’u’lláh in Adrianople was surrounded by soldiers, and everyone was told to prepare for immediate departure. For some time, no one knew what their destiny would be. The greatest fear of most was to be separated from their Beloved, for there were rumors that Bahá’u’lláh and His family would be exiled to one place and that the others would be forced to disperse.

On 12 August 1868, Bahá’u’lláh and the small group of exiles set out by land, under guard, for the port city of Gallipoli. For three nights, they remained in that city near the sea, still uncertain of what was to come. Then finally it became clear that Bahá’u’lláh was to be banished to ‘Akká, together with some seventy of His companions, including His beloved family.

Early in the morning, they were taken hurriedly to a steamer waiting in the harbor. They only had a few loaves of bread and a little cheese for the voyage ahead. The conditions were unspeakable, and they were all crowded together, with ten soldiers and two officers guarding them. Bahá’u’lláh had warned His companions of the dangers and trials that awaited them. “This journey will be unlike any of the previous journeys,” He told them. Sadly, one of their companions never reached their destination but died along the way. Then, after ten difficult and miserable days, in the sweltering summer heat, they finally approached the shores of the prison city of ‘Akká. Built as a fortress many years earlier, it was now used to confine the most unwanted prisoners. It was an unhealthy place to live; there was a saying at the time that, if a bird flew over ‘Akká, it would die, so polluted was the air.

Many of the townspeople had assembled to see the new arrivals disembark from their boat. They were yelling curses and abuse. You see, the inhabitants of ‘Akká were told that Bahá’u’lláh and His companions were enemies of God’s religion. The Sulṭán’s orders had been read out loud in a public place, and everyone understood that these Persians were condemned to life imprisonment and that it was strictly forbidden to associate with them.

Upon landing, the exiles were taken immediately to the army barracks. A section of the barracks was to be their prison. The first night, they were deprived of food and drink, and afterward they were each assigned three loaves of low-quality bread a day. Soon everyone, except for two, fell sick, and, shortly after, three of them died. The guards refused to bury the dead without receiving the money to cover the necessary expenses. A small carpet was sold, and the sum was given to the guards. Later it was learned that they had not kept their word and had buried the dead unwashed, unshrouded, and without coffins. They had in fact been given twice the amount required for the burial.

For the next two years, the conditions of imprisonment only slightly improved. Four of the prisoners were allowed to go out daily to buy food, but even they were heavily guarded. However, in spite of the order of the Sulṭán that no one should associate with Bahá’u’lláh and His family, a number of believers in Persia made the long journey to ‘Akká, often on foot, with the hope that they might be admitted into His presence. Upon arrival, these devoted souls, unable to approach Him, would stand at a distance facing His prison, content to catch even a glimpse of His figure through the bars of His window. A wave of His blessed Hand was sufficient reward for months of travel, and most would then turn homeward, thankful for the bounty they had received.

The most tragic event of this period was the sudden death of Bahá’u’lláh’s son Mírzá Mihdí, known as the Purest Branch, at the tender age of twenty-two. Mírzá Mihdí was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s younger brother. When his Father was first exiled from Persia, he was too small a child to make the difficult journey and had to be left behind with relatives. Eventually, he was reunited with his parents in Baghdád some years later and accompanied Bahá’u’lláh on the rest of His exiles. He had a beautiful character, and all his friends were attracted to his noble spirit. By the time he and his family reached ‘Akká, he served his Father as a scribe, writing and copying the Tablets He ceaselessly revealed.

Often, after transcribing Bahá’u’lláh’s words in the evening, Mírzá Mihdí would go to the roof of the prison to walk and pray. One evening, about two years after he and his family arrived in that forsaken place, he was pacing up and down the rooftop, deep in prayer, when he failed to notice the open skylight in front of him. He fell through it and landed on a wooden crate on the floor below that pierced his chest. Hearing the sound of his fall and the cries of the friends, Bahá’u’lláh rushed to His son’s side. Mírzá Mihdí explained to his Father that he had always counted his steps to the unguarded skylight so that he knew when to stop, but had become so engrossed in prayer that he had forgotten to do so. Bahá’u’lláh asked the Purest Branch what he wished. He replied, “I wish the people of Bahá to be able to attain Your presence.” “And so it shall be,” Bahá’u’lláh said; “God will grant your wish.”

Within twenty-two hours of the fall, Mírzá Mihdí’s soul had winged its flight to the next world. Now the loss of a son He loved so much was added to Bahá’u’lláh’s many other sufferings. But of course, Bahá’u’lláh could see past all these sufferings and knew that His Cause would spread throughout the world and hundreds of thousands would begin to follow His teachings. Remember that, long before the Sulṭán gave the order to banish Bahá’u’lláh to ‘Akká, He described His arrival in the prison-city in this way:

“Upon Our arrival, We were welcomed with banners of light, whereupon the Voice of the Spirit cried out saying: ‘Soon will all that dwell on earth be enlisted under these banners.’”

Remembering the ordeals and hardships suffered by Bahá’u’lláh makes us firm in His love, and this is one of the insights we should glean from the above episode. What are some others?

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

Teachers Pay Teachers Free Biography page

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facts about Bahá'u'lláh Grade 4
  • Bahá’u’lláh and His family were exiled from Adrianople to ‘Akká in 1868.
  • In ‘Akká, Bahá’u’lláh and His companions were imprisoned in an army barracks.
  • The phrase the “Most Great Prison” refers to ‘Akká.
  • Mírzá Mihdí was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s younger brother.
  • Mírzá Mihdí was known as the Purest Branch.
  • The Purest Branch was twenty-two years old when he died.

Download the fact cards here

GAMES DRAMA GRADE 4

Act out the scene below as one of the pilgrims who have left Persia on the way to ‘Akka, or tell someone about this trip. Remember we do not portray the figure of Baha’u’llah.

However, in spite of the order of the Sulṭán that no one should associate with Bahá’u’lláh and His family, a number of believers in Persia made the long journey to ‘Akká, often on foot, with the hope that they might be admitted into His presence. Upon arrival, these devoted souls, unable to approach Him, would stand at a distance facing His prison, content to catch even a glimpse of His figure through the bars of His window. A wave of His blessed Hand was sufficient reward for months of travel, and most would then turn homeward, thankful for the bounty they had received.

G4 CRAFTS

Paper Circut That Lights Up

“…He was welcomed with banners of light and received God’s assurance that soon all the peoples of the world would follow these banners.”

Baha’u’llah has now reached the last location of his exiles. In this activity, we will “map” the various dates and places in a fun way. (It’s easier than it sounds!)

You will need:

  1. Copper conductive tape. I got mine from Amazon (graphite pencils, and tin foil can be used but are not reliable)
  2. light bulbs (diodes) again from Amazon or Christmas bulb replacements with the wires accessible. There are more expensive options and the one that is very reliable is CHIBITRONICS
  3. My template modified from CHIBITRONICS website for more lights on the switch
  4. 3-volt battery
  5. Tape

Once you have the copper tape on all the lines of the template

Use clear scotch tape to keep the battery in place.

Line up the light with the dot on the template and check that it lights up.

Adhere the light in place with tape. 

The grey circles on the opposite side need to be cut so that the light bulbs stick out. Add the labels.

Now when you slide your finger the light will come on and go off in progression from Tehran to Akka.

You can also just have a light at Akka and the quote regarding banners of light.

TIPS:

the tape can tear and then no electricity will pass through. You can “mend” with pieces of tape.

Lights can be a bit finicky and may need a helping hand to hold in place until secured by tape.

Place tape only on the “legs” of the light and the tape strip it sits on. try not to tape all the way over to the next strip as we found it did interfere with the flow.

don’t let the “legs” of the lights touch

TEMPLATE HERE
Here is an example of what a slider switch looks like in action

Draw

1. Pictures of the barracks in ‘Akká where Bahá’u’lláh and His companions were imprisoned upon their arrival.

Do a drawing, and remember some of the events that occurred there.

2. Draw the scene of pilgrims crossing the desert to go to ‘Akká. Many times they carried tulip bulbs with them as they knew Baha’ullah missed seeing greenery.

Plant Tulips in memory of Bahá’u’lláh

DAYSPRING MAGAZINE AND BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE HAVE GREAT RESOURCES FOR THE LIFE OF BAHA’U’LLAH

BRILLIANT STAR:

Transforming Akka

The Most Great Prison

Nobility of Navváb

United in Love and Respect

Seeing with your own eyes

Shining Lamp

DAYSPRING

SPECIAL EDITION FOR BICENTENNARY

THE MOST GREAT BRANCH – A POEM

BAHA’U’LLAH

REVIEW QUOTES GRADE 4

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 Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

Review quote aid here

Categories
Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3

SEARCHING FOR TRUTH G2 L9

WELCOME

LESSON 9: SEARCHING FOR TRUTH

From the earliest days of our lives, we are seeking to make sense of the world around us, and our thirst for knowledge is great. Our natural desire is to look for answers and search for truth.

Many factors influence us as we progress in our development—whether it is physical, intellectual or spiritual development—but the issue of motivation is fundamental to our learning at every age.  As we have discussed in many courses, understanding is itself the greatest of all motivators. When we achieve understanding, the pursuit of learning becomes a source of continued joy. 

Searching for God

Abdu’l-Baha explains that, when we look at the world, we see the signs of God’s perfections everywhere.  As we think about His words and try to understand their meaning, we are able to see God’s tokens and signs all around us.  The sun shines and gives light, warmth, and life to the world, reminding us of the love of God, without which we would perish.  The rain falls on the earth just as the bounties of God are continuously showered upon our souls.  A mountain rises towards the heavens calling to mind His majesty and grandeur. 

When we start our search, we must purify our hearts,. We must open our hearts to the truth. We must not let “veils” get in the way of our search.  Does anyone know what type of Veils could prevent us from finding God? 

Here are a few examples:

  1. We think we know everything
  2. We think we are smarter than everyone else
  3. We are not detached
  4. We…

Today we will explore: Searching for truth

Some of the things we want to keep in mind when looking at this topic are:

How do you recognize Truth? Where do you start on your journey looking for truth? When do we search for truth? Why is it important to seek and find the truth? Who has to seek out the truth and Who has the answers we seek?

EACH SET HAS PRAYERS TO MEMORIZE

This is the last lesson to memorize the prayer below

O my Lord! Make Thy beauty to be my food, and Thy presence my drink, and Thy pleasure my hope, and praise of Thee my action, and remembrance of Thee my companion, and the power of Thy sovereignty my succorer, and Thy habitation my home, and my dwelling-place the seat Thou hast sanctified from the limitations
imposed upon them who are shut out as by a veil from Thee. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Powerful.

Bahá’u’lláh
SEND A CARD WITH THE PRAYER

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Quote for class to memorize
You can use the following explanation to help you present today’s quotation to the children:

To acquire knowledge, we spend our lives striving to learn about the world around us and searching after the truth. Our love for learning grows as we study the sciences and the arts, draw insight from the teachings of God, put into action the knowledge we gain, and feel the joys of true understanding. We ask questions of our parents, elders, and teachers and reflect on what we discover. Searching after truth requires us to be attentive—to listen, to observe, to think deeply. We strive, and we persevere. Often we make mistakes, but our understanding increases as we think about what we did and continue to put forth effort.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us that truth is one, no matter where we may find it. For example, light is good, from whatever lamp it may shine. A rose is beautiful, in whatever garden it may grow. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains that, in our search after truth, we must let go of prejudice and superstition. We must keep our minds open at all times, looking for answers. He always encouraged questions from the many people who came to visit Him, and He responded to them with great courtesy, love, patience, and wisdom. Through His answers, people were able to further their knowledge and understanding about physical and spiritual reality and to see how they could contribute to the betterment of society. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us that we can continue to learn throughout our lives. To help us remember to make every effort to search for truth and acquire knowledge, let us memorize the following quotation:

He must search after the truth to the utmost of his ability and exertion, that God may guide him in the paths of His favor and the ways of His mercy

Bahá’u’lláh
MEANING OF WORDS
Utmost

Matt pushed with all his strength but could not move the cart up the road.  Matt made his utmost effort to move the cart.

Stella tries her hardest to assist her little sister with her homework, no matter how much effort it takes.  Stella tries her utmost to help her sister.

Ability

Carmen is learning to do additions and subtractions at school.  By carrying out exercises every day, Carmen is developing the ability to add and subtract.

Naim’s job is to design buildings.  As part of his job, he must draw the buildings he wishes to create.  The ability to draw is important to Naim’s work.

Exertion

Alice wanted to help carry the shopping bags to their home, even though it was very heavy.  So, with great exertion, Alice lifted up the bag and carried it home.

The boys needed to meet their friends up the river, so they began to swim upstream.  Swimming upstream, against the flow of the river, requires great exertion.

So what does it say we need to do with the utmost of our ability and exertion? 

Search after truth. 

When we do that, what does God do? 

He guides us in the paths of His favor and the ways of His mercy. 

What is favor? 

What is mercy? 

What a blessing! We take steps towards him and He runs to us!

MEMORIZATION AID FOR QUOTE

PHOTO MEMORIZATION AID HERE

ruhi book 3 grade 3 song
STORY RELATED TO LESSON
Today we will read the following story of Ṭáhirih to help illustrate for them the attributes of those who search after truth:


There are many stories of those who have sought the truth and acquired knowledge in order to better understand and grow closer to God. This is the story of a brave and knowledgeable woman, to whom Bahá’u’lláh gave the name Ṭáhirih, meaning “The Pure One”.
Ṭáhirih was born in Persia in the early 1800s, some two hundred years ago. From a young age, she had a thirst for knowledge; she loved to study from books and was eager to learn as much as she could. She would listen to her parents and family as they discussed spiritual and religious matters, and her father, who was a famous clergyman in
the country, would give her lessons, which she followed with great ease. At that time, it was rare for women to be educated, but Ṭáhirih’s desire for knowledge was so keen that her father eventually found a teacher for her who guided her studies of the arts and the sciences. As Ṭáhirih progressed, her father even arranged for her to listen to his own
religious classes, though she had to do so from behind a curtain, as customs would not permit her to mix with the male students. Such was the degree of her accomplishments that her father was heard to remark that, had she been a boy, she would have succeeded him.
Of course, for everything she had learned, Ṭáhirih still had many questions and was eager to learn more. One day, while visiting a relative, she noticed some books in his library which interested her. They were written by Shaykh Aḥmad and Siyyid Káẓim, two
notable scholars of religion. Ṭáhirih’s relative was hesitant to lend her the books, which he feared were not in line with her father’s views. But Ṭáhirih was persistent and eventually persuaded her relative to give her the books to take home.

She read the writings of Shaykh Aḥmad and Siyyid Káẓim with great care and attention and found in them many gems of wisdom. She tried to share their writings with her father, but he refused to listen to their words. Still, Ṭáhirih’s heart was attracted to the beauty of their ideas, and she began to correspond with Siyyid Káẓim, asking him the many questions that her studies had raised in her mind. She sensed that she was being led to a new spiritual truth and determined that she must go to the city of Karbilá to study with Siyyid Káẓim. As a woman, she would not be permitted to travel alone, so she convinced her father to allow her to travel to Karbilá with her sister, and they set out on the long journey. When they eventually arrived, Ṭáhirih discovered that Siyyid Káẓim had passed away just a few days earlier. Imagine her disappointment! She had traveled so far and had hoped to learn so much from him. Siyyid Káẓim’s family could see how disappointed she was and how sincere was her desire to learn. So they invited her to stay for a while and made available to her the writings of Siyyid Káẓim that had not been published. What joy she must have felt to be able to study his words of wisdom and gain new insights. She was even able to share her understanding of profound matters with some of Siyyid Káẓim’s students, sitting behind a curtain, just as she had done in her father’s classes. Ṭáhirih did not return home for several years. In the city of Karbilá her search for truth would, by the grace of God, eventually yield its most precious fruit. For in that city she would be blessed to recognize the truth of the Divine message which had been brought to the people of Persia by the person of the Báb. How she was guided to recognize the Báb is another story that we will hear in a later class. But you should know that, after declaring her belief in the Báb, Ṭáhirih went on to become one of the most outstanding heroines of the Bahá’í Faith and a champion of the cause for women. Her courage and strength were indomitable, and her breadth of learning vast. She dedicated the rest of her life to gaining knowledge, composing poems and articles that reflected her deep understanding of the teachings of God and leading many a searching soul to the truth they sought.

want to know more?
Draw any part of the story
GAMES FOR GRADE 2 TO PLAY
DRAMA / GAMES

The activities that follow will help the children continue developing the skills and abilities of creative drama.

Ask your students to stand in their imaginary squares.  As you did in the previous lesson, have the children stand about 5 feet apart and imagine that they are in their own squares.  Ask them to walk along the border of his/her imaginary square.

Ask children to: raise up their arms and stretch from the tips of their toes to the tips of their fingers, reaching towards the sky.  Now you are going to relax and let your arms and head hang freely.  Repeat this several times.

For this next exercise, the children will remain in their imaginary squares.  Ask them to create a shape with their bodies, using their heads, arms and legs.  This is shape number 1.  Tell them to hold that shape for a few seconds. 

Next, have them move into a second shape.  This is shape number 2.  Again have them hold the shape for a few seconds.  Now count- 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 as the children move from shape to shape.  Call freeze when children are in shape number 2.  Now ask the students to find a completely new shape.  This is shape number 3.  Have them hold it for a few seconds, and then go back to shape number 1.  Now count 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 3- as the children move from shape to shape.  Call freeze when children are in the shape number 3. 

Finally, have the children create a fourth shape and ask them to hold it for a few seconds.  Then ask them to go back to shape number 1 and count, 1, 2, 3, 4 (mix it up) having children move from shape to shape.  Try to establish as rhythm as you count.

For the next activity, you can have the children act out parts of a story, which will help to consolidate in their minds, if only in a rudimentary way, what it means to search for the truth.  Begin by asking the children to demonstrate each of the following actions, without stepping outside of their imaginary squares:

  • walking
  • running
  • climbing
  • jumping
  • stomping
  • pushing
  • looking/gazing

Next explain to the children that you will tell them a story about a group of children, much like themselves, living in the village of Karu Karu.  They will need to listen attentively while you speak.  Whenever you refer to one of the actions mentioned earlier- for example, walking- they should follow suit, pretending to be the child in the story.  (to assist them, you may wish to carry out the relevant action yourself in each specific instance)

The village of Karu Karu was next to a beautiful river.  All of the people in the village used the water from the river to cook, clean, and grow their crops/food.  On very hot days the children from the local school would WALK down to the river to swim in the cool water.  One hot summer’s day after their school lessons were over, the children RAN down to the river.  But when they arrived, to their surprise, they saw that there was just a trickle of water coming down the mountain, where once an abundance of water had flowed.  They knew that if the water was drying up downriver, there must be problems upriver.  With such little water available, the whole village would be in trouble.  How would the farmers grow their crops?  How would everyone cook their food?  If only they knew what the problem was they could try to find a solution.  They wondered whether perhaps the source of the water had dried up.  In consultation with their teacher and their parents they decided that the next day they would set out on a journey with their teacher to WALK to the top of the mountain to try and discover the problem and see what they could do.

The next morning at dawn the children set out with their teacher and WALKED until they reached the foot of the mountain.  Looking up at the mountain some commented, “The top of the mountain is very far; how can we ever make it all the way up?”  The teacher explained, “We will have to go slowly and be patient with each other and with ourselves”.  Taking each other’s hands, they hesitantly began to WALK up the mountain.  They CLIMBED and CLIMBED and the higher they went, the harder it became.  But they learned to draw on their strength.  Sometimes their feet would slip but they would help one another to keep going. They WALKED and WALKED and it seemed like the journey would never end.  When they reached a muddy path, some STOMPED through it while others RAN across as quickly and carefully as they could.  After WALKING for some time, they suddenly came upon a tree fallen on the ground.  At first each of the children individually tried different things to move the tree, but nothing happened.  Then, putting all their efforts together, and with all their strength, they PUSHED until the tree rolled out of the way.

The further up they went, the steeper the mountain became.  They had to use their hands and legs and they CLIMBED up the steep path leading to the very top.  When one of them wanted to give up, the others would remind him or her that they had to keep going to help the village.  Finally, they reached the top of the mountain and in their excitement, they RAN to the source of the river.  But the water was flowing normally and there seemed to be nothing wrong.  Realizing the problem was not at the source, the children WALKED to another part of the mountain where they could LOOK down at the river, and as they stared into the distance, they suddenly saw that there was a blockage in the river, which was causing it to flow away from the village.  At last, after their long journey, they found the problem!  The children started JUMPING for joy, for they finally knew what to do to help bring water back to the village.

Simple Lapbook

For the simple version of the lapbook, we will use the behind-the-veil component and put this on the right-hand flap. This completes the simple lapbook for the unit lessons 7, 8 and 9

Download the file to print and cut here

Old Version of lapbook

Files you will need to print:

  1. Badge small or large
  2. Wheel to break the codes
  3. Pull tab for the meaning of words
  4. Behind the Veil large pull tab
  5. Meaning of words (strips with envelope)
  6. “Codebook” to practice writing secret messages
  7. Clipboard
  8. Tahirih book of facts

Get Files Here

DOWNLOAD COMPONENTS HERE

CRAFT IDEAS
Searching Is Making Sure We Are Observant

That means keeping our eyes open and always seeking knowledge. Let’s practice being observant and create an I-Spy Bottle.

here is what you will need:

1. Small items to put in the bottle, for example, a rubber band, a coin, a button, a paperclip small miniature toys items like shoes, 

2. A filler. use one type or many, for example, rice, sand, confetti, beads

3. A bottle that is large enough to hold items

4. Optional, a list to check off items and glue to the bottle.

Create your Own Board Game

It can be about searching for the truth. You can use the quote, the story of Ṭáhirih, or any other idea. Not sure what a board game could look like? Try the one on pg 16 in DAYSPRING magazine. Now try using the template here or this simple one here

Be A Detective

Create your Badge. Send Your Own Secret Messages. Break The Code. Be Observant. Are you a Truth Detective in good standing?

Make your badge to prove it!

What you will need:

  1. Print the template badge on cardstock
  2. Hole punch
  3. String
  4. Pen to fill in the information
  5. Decorate the outside with markers etc.
CODEBREAKER

You will need to print the template and cut it out. Cardstock is the best. Use a brad (split Pins) to keep circles together DONE!

Searching For Truth

As we search for truth, we have to be observant, think deeply, pursue learning, be attentive…. actually, it’s almost like being a detective!

Use your detective skills and solve :

  1. Word Search
  2. Cryptogram
  3. Find the hidden objects
  4. Spot the difference
MATCH THE MESSENGER TO THE SYMBOL

When we search for truth we have to keep our hearts and minds open.  When new messengers appear, we need to search for and recognize them. Make the mini book to match the Messengers with their symbols

DRAW SCENES FROM THE STORY

comic book template

Brilliant Star Magazine

PAPER AIRPLANE

WILD FOR BIO DIVERSITY

MAP YOUR FUTURE

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

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

 Baha’u’llahTablets of Baha’u’llah

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.

Baha’u’llah
ruhi book 3 grade 2 resources
POWERPOINT

HERE AND HERE

BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE

HOW OPEN-MINDED ARE YOU?

SHINING LAMP TAHIRIH

RIVER ROCKS

ZEKE INVESTIGATES

Categories
Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3 Uncategorized

SEEKING KNOWLEDGE SET 3 GRADE 2

SEEKING KNOWLEDGE GRADE 2 SET 3 LESSON 7 8 AND 9

WELCOME TO SET 3: Seeking Knowledge 

THERE ARE THREE LESSONS IN THIS SET:

  1.  Seeking the Knowledge of God
  2. Channeling Our Knowledge into Service
  3. Searching for Truth

These lessons are concerned with the subject of knowledge. The children will be introduced to the idea that they have been created to know God and to love Him and that seeking knowledge through His Manifestations and through the study of His creation will be a central occupation of their lives. You will strive to strengthen within them the thirst for knowledge that they already possess and to raise their awareness of the importance of applying knowledge to the betterment of humanity. Further, you will consider with them the qualities and attributes that are essential for the investigation of reality. 

THE PRAYER TO MEMORIZING OVER THE 3 LESSONS 7 TO 9 IS:

O my Lord! Make Thy beauty to be my food, and Thy presence my drink, and Thy pleasure my hope, and praise of Thee my action, and remembrance of Thee my companion, and the power of Thy sovereignty my succorer, and Thy habitation my home, and my dwelling-place the seat Thou hast sanctified from the limitations imposed upon them who are shut out as by a veil from Thee. 
Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Powerful.

EACH LESSON WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT QUOTE TO MEMORIZE

QUOTE LESSON 7

The purpose of God in creating man hath been, and will ever be, to enable  him to know his Creator and to attain His Presence

QUOTE LESSON 8

Exert every effort to acquire the various branches of knowledge and true understanding. Strain every nerve to achieve both material and spiritual accomplishments.

QUOTE LESSON 9

He must search after the truth to the utmost of his ability and exertion, that God may guide him in the paths of His favor and the ways of His mercy.

Categories
Baha'i Children class Free Ruhi Book 3

THE LIFE AND MISSION OF THE BÁB: SET 3

RUHI BOOK 3 GRADE 3

IN THIS SET THERE ARE 6 LESSONS:

  1. The Báb is a Manifestation of God
  2. The Báb was the Forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh
  3. The Báb burned away the veils that hindered people from recognizing Him and later Bahá’u’lláh as a Manifestation of God
  4. The Báb as the Herald of a New Era
  5. The Báb and the start of the Heroic Age
  6. The Báb joyfully sacrificed His life as He prepared the way for the coming of Bahá’u’lláh

There are 3 prayers The Báb to memorize. You can choose any of them in any order you like.

1. Is there any remover of difficulties save God?  Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!

2. Say: God sufficeth all things above all things, and nothing in the heavens or in the earth but God sufficeth. Verily, He is in Himself the Knower, the Sustainer, the Omnipotent.

3. O Lord! Thou art the Remover of every anguish and the Dispeller of every affliction. Thou art He who banisheth every sorrow and setteth free every slave, the Redeemer of every soul.  O Lord! Grant deliverance through Thy mercy, and reckon me among such servants of Thine as have gained salvation.

Get Memorization Aid here

Here are all the quotes for the lesson 11 to 16

I am the Countenance of God Whose splendor can never be obscured, the Light of God Whose radiance can never fade.

Indeed the hearts of them that truly believe in Him Whom God shall make manifest are vaster than the expanse of heaven and earth and whatever is between them.

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

These are the appointed days which ye have been yearningly awaiting in the past— the days of the advent of divine justice. Render ye thanks unto God, O ye concourse of believers.

Cheer our hearts through the potency of Thy love and good-pleasure and bestow upon us steadfastness that we may willingly submit to Thy Will and Thy Decree Himself.

O my God! There is no one but Thee to allay the anguish of my soul, and Thou art my highest aspiration, O my God. My heart is wedded to none save Thee and such as Thou dost love. I solemnly declare that my life and death are both for Thee. Verily Thou art incomparable and hast no partner.

The stories are focused on the life of The Báb.
  1. Lesson 11: The Báb is a Manifestation of God
  2. Lesson 12: The Báb was the Forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh
  3. Lesson 13: The Báb burned away the veils that hindered people from recognizing Him and later Bahá’u’lláh as a Manifestation of God
  4. Lesson 14: The Báb as the Herald of a New Era
  5. Lesson 15: The Báb and the start of the Heroic Age
  6. Lesson 16: The Báb joyfully sacrificed His life as He prepared the way for the coming of Bahá’u’lláh