Our quotation study for the past month of classes has focused on a beautiful passage from Gleanings:
“Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind… It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth.” –Bahá’u’lláh
This excerpt is so full of interesting and important concepts -- each of which can be explored with some depth: being a light, being a guide, mankind, distinguishing yourself by your good deeds. We have taken each of these ideas in turn, learning about their application to our lives and conduct.
Our first class looked at the concept of light. What kinds of things give light? What does light provide? How does it help people? How are your positive actions and good deeds like light to the world?
I like doing hands-on, physical activities to help the children make tangible connections to concepts under study. It can really help things stick. Sometimes I'll use drama and role play, sometimes an art and craft, we've created a couple of books.
As part of this lesson, we made candle collages out of colored paper and decorative scraps. In class or at home, children can write virtues and positive deeds they have manifested on the rays of their candle -- illustrating the metaphor of our good deeds and character being as light for others.
There are, of course, loads of art activities that can be done around the concept of light (and darkness). The children can draw pictures of the different types of light they know or make collages of images from magazines. If you're particularly crafty, you can make candles together, or decorate a candle with craft gems and make a holder. You can make paper lanterns or have fun with a variation of a lantern like this. Or create sun catchers like this.
Where there is no paper...
For those that don't have access to store-bought resources or would like other ideas for creative expression, consider what symbolic images might be made using natural materials. This sun is stunning. So is this one. Children can search for natural materials around them to create any number of images on this theme, or draw them on the ground.
Cities are abound with different types of lights. What would we do without street lamps? How do traffic lights help pedestrians and drivers? Take a walk and find all the sources of light and consider how they make our lives better.
Connect the children back to the spiritual concept conveyed in the quotation. Like physical lights, our good deeds and conduct are a source of warmth and light for others. Our actions can brighten people's days and make the world an easier, better place to live. How can you be a light for others today?
Next post: being a guide.
