Lesson plans & Activities

 
Lesson Plans-Learn about altar, Temple Hunt
Activities-Snack Fun, 3 poisons piñata

Learn About Altar / Temple -- An Introductory Activity

Grade Level: Preschool
Submitted by: Tamayo Matsumoto

Teachers and students walk around the temple, singing and repeating each altar and its function or meaning. . This is an activity to use during the first day or beginning  of Dharma school.

Overview:

1. Teacher (s) and children make a train. The teacher is the engine.

2. The train stops in at each area and  the teacher sings about the purpose of that area.  The children echo the teachers' lyrics.

3. The teacher then gives a brief description as to what can take place in each area  (meaning, purposes, etc).

Activity:

The center song is sung to the (partial) tune of Where Is Thumbkin?

Sample of  Learning objects in the Temple (Hondo): Amida Buddha, Shinran Shonin, Rennyo Shonin, Candle, Flower.

  1. This is Temple . (teacher sings)
    This is temple (kids repeat)
    Its a quiet place... (teacher sings)
    It's a quiet place (kids sing)-- 

  - teacher will then stop and give a brief description of activities children can do in this area

  1. This is Rennyo Shonin...  (teacher)
    This is Rennyo Shonin (kids)
    ......... (teacher)
    ........... (kids)
  1. This is Amida ... (teacher sings)
    This is Amida ..(kids sing)
    ..... (teacher)
    ... (kids echo)
  1. This is a candle. (teacher)
    This is a candle (kids)
    Light of Wisdom... (teacher)
    Light of Wisdom(kids)
  1. This is Shinran Shonin/. (teacher sings)
    This is Shinran Shonin (kids sing)
    Our founder..... (teacher)
    Our founder.. (kids echo)
  1. This is a flower. (teacher)
    This is a flower (kids)
    Compassion... (teacher)
    Compassion (kids)

 

Additional Comments:

You may try  other Optional objects :  7 Masters, Eshinni-sama, Gomonshu-sama, Ourakata-sama, Kansho, Kin, Obuppan etc. or arrange depending on your temple's altar.

Temple Hunt :Learn About Temple -- An Introductory Activity
 Grade Level: 
Adopted by: Tamayo Matsumoto

Teachers and students travel around the temple, singing and repeating about each center's attributes. This is an activity to use during the first day of Dharma school.

Overview:
  1. Hand out treasures hunt sheet to each students ( use attached sheet)
  2. Let students find the listed things.
  3. The teacher then gives a brief description as to what can take place in each (activities, safety or social rules, etc.)

Activity:

Amida Buddha, Shinran Shonin, Rennyo Shonin, 7 masters, Eshinni sama, Gomonshu, Ourakata Obuppan, Kansho, Kin, sutras, 48 vows, Gobunsho bako, Seiten/Service book , sutras(Pg…), songs, minister, teachers, each students,

Temple Hunt 

 Questions

 Answers

1.      Where is Amida Buddha?

 

2.      Is Buddha standing or sitting?

 

3.      Where is Shinran Shonin ? His wife?

 

4.      Where is Rennyo Shonin? 

 

5.      Where are 7 Masters?

 

6.      Where are The 3 sutras and the 48 Vows?

 

7.      (Put Kansho’s picture)What is this? 

 

8.    How about  Obuppan  ?

 

9.   The Shoshinge is found on  page            . 

 

10. The Gatha              is found on page            .

 

 

Snack Fun - Noble Eighthold Path
Grade Level:
Submitted by: Tamayo Matsumoto

Enjoying a snack and being reminded of the Noble Eighthold Path

Materials:
    1 Hilo macaroni cracker per child
    8 strings of carrot
    Peanut butter, Cream Cheese or Jelly to spread on the cracker

Activity:

Explain Eight Noble Truths and discuss.

1.       Take one cracker and spread creams on the top.

2.       Arrange 8 strings of carrot on the cracker to form the Dharma Wheel.

3.       Enjoy your space treat! Just as the craker (food) must be digested by the body to gain nutrients, the Teachings (Dharma) must be ingested by all of us.

Optional:

You may want to use pre-cut cheese instead of carrot.

Three Poisons Pinata

  Grade Level:
Submitted by: Tamayo Matsumoto

Materials:

Paper shopping bag

Goodies to be placed inside of Pinata

Place to hang pinata

Towels to cover eyesight

Stick to hit pinata

Activity:

Explain 3 poisons in Buddhism (Anger, Greed & Ignorance )

1.      Let students hit pinata

2.       Continue hitting until the bag is broken.

3.       Enjoy & share the goodies!

Optional:

You may want to adjust the hardness of bag depends on students.

 

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