Overview

Purpose of the Course:
The course aims to introduce children raised in the U.S. to the core beliefs, stories, values, and practices of Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) in a way that is accessible, interactive, and age-appropriate.

Ideal Class Duration:
60–75 minutes per weekly session for 15 weeks

Structure per Lesson:

1. Welcome + Chanting (5 mins)

2. Storytelling or Reading (15–20 mins)

3. Discussion (15 mins)

4. Activity or Craft (15 mins)

5. Recap + Reflection (10 mins)

15-Week Teaching Plan

Week 1: What Is Hinduism and What Is Sanatan Dharma?

Objectives

1. Help students understand the core philosophy of Hinduism as Sanatan Dharma.
   Students will learn that Hinduism is more than rituals—it is a way of life called Sanatan Dharma, focused on eternal truths, righteous living, and universal values.

2. Encourage Pride and Confidence in Practicing Hinduism in a Multicultural society.
   Students will explore how to express and share their identity as Hindu kids in America with clarity, confidence, and respect for others.

Week 2: Gods and Goddesses—Meeting the Divine Family

Objectives

1. Help students understand the concept of one God in many forms.
   Students will explore how Hinduism teaches that all gods and goddesses are different expressions of one divine light, each symbolizing a unique quality.

2. Introduce the Major Deities and Their Meanings in Everyday Life
   Students will become familiar with key Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Saraswati, and Hanuman—and what values they represent.

Week 3 – Hindu Scriptures – Stories from Long Ago

Objectives

1. Introduce Students to the Key Hindu Scriptures and Epics
   Students will become familiar with the names, origins, and purposes of major Hindu texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata.

2. Connect Scriptural Stories to Everyday Values and Decisions
   Students will explore how ancient stories like Rama’s truthfulness or Arjuna’s dilemma relate to their own challenges and moral choices today.

Week 4—Life Learning Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata

Objectives

1. Help students recognize the timeless wisdom of Hindu epics and apply it to real life.
   Students will identify key moral lessons from the Gita, Ramayana, and Mahabharata and connect them with challenges they face in school, at home, or in friendships.

2. Encourage Emotional and Ethical reflections Through Hindu teachings.
   Students will develop inner qualities like honesty, courage, calmness, and devotion by exploring the personal struggles and victories of Hindu heroes and heroines.

Discussion Prompts

1. “Have you ever faced a tough decision—like Arjuna or the Pandavas—where you had to choose between what was easy and what was right?”
   Let students reflect on personal moments of ethical choice and how spiritual guidance helps.

2. “When you feel nervous or upset, what can you remember from Krishna’s teachings to help you stay calm?”
   Encourage mindfulness and the practical application of verses like “Be calm like a still lake” or “Do your best, don’t worry about the result.”

Week 5 – What the Bhagavad Gita Teaches Us

Objectives

1. Understand the Core Teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
   Students will learn the fundamental principles from the Gita—such as dharma (duty), karma yoga (right action without attachment), and the eternal nature of the soul (atman).

2. Apply Spiritual Lessons to Daily Life
   Students will explore how to use the wisdom of the Gita in practical, relatable ways—such as staying calm under pressure, making ethical choices, and being kind and courageous.

Week 6 – Krishna’s Life Lessons—Stories That Teach Us to Be Good and Brave

Objectives

1. Understand Krishna’s Key Virtues Through Storytelling
   Students will identify values like courage, friendship, kindness, and devotion through selected stories from Lord Krishna’s life, such as lifting Govardhan Hill, dancing on Kaliya, and his friendship with Sudama.

2. Encourage Personal Reflection and Moral Reasoning
   Students will reflect on how Krishna’s actions apply to real-life scenarios—standing up for what’s right, helping others, respecting nature, and being a loyal friend.

Week 7 – Life Learning Lessons from Rama’s Life

Objectives

1. Introduce Rama as a role model of dharma (righteous living).
   Students will identify Rama’s qualities—truthfulness, respect, courage, and devotion—and explore how they can apply these traits in their own lives.

2. Explore the Power of Teamwork, Sacrifice, and Moral Courage
   Through key stories, students will understand how Rama’s life demonstrates the values of keeping promises, helping friends, and choosing right over wrong—even in difficult situations.

Week 8 – Hanuman—The Monkey Who Leapt Across the Ocean and More!

Objectives

1. Introduce Hanuman as a symbol of devotion, courage, and intelligence.
   Students will learn about Hanuman’s legendary adventures and explore how his traits—such as loyalty, fearlessness, quick thinking, and humility—can inspire their everyday actions.

2. Encourage Problem-Solving, Resilience, and Moral Reflection
   Students will reflect on Hanuman’s approach to challenges and apply his example to moments in their own lives that call for determination, creativity, and service.

Week 9 – Hindu Festivals – Lights, Colors, and Devotion All Year Long

Objectives

1. Introduce the deeper spiritual and cultural meanings behind Hindu festivals.
   Students will explore major Hindu festivals and understand that each celebration reflects a spiritual lesson such as truth, courage, gratitude, or devotion.

2. Encourage Cultural Pride and Participation Among Hindu Children Living in the West.
   Students will learn how to share their traditions with friends and celebrate mindfully, even in multicultural settings like schools or diverse communities.

Week 10—Illuminating Diwali: Traditions, Stories, and Meanings

Objectives

1. Understand the Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Diwali.
   Students will learn about the diverse stories, traditions, and values associated with Diwali across Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist communities.

2. Reflect on the Deeper Meaning of Light and Goodness
   Students will explore how Diwali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance and how they can apply these values in everyday life.

Week 11 – Temples, Pujas, and Prayers – How We Worship in Hinduism

Objectives

1. Help Students Understand the Purpose and Beauty of Hindu Worship practices.
   Students will explore how temples, pujas, mantras, and personal prayers serve as tools to connect with God, express gratitude, and find inner peace.

2. Encourage Personal Spiritual Habits at Home or in Daily life.
   Students will discover that worship is not limited to temples—it can be practiced anytime, anywhere, in simple and meaningful ways.

Week 12 – The Power of Yoga, Om, and Meditation – Feeling Peaceful Inside

Objectives

1. Introduce Students to the Spiritual Foundations and Benefits of Yoga and meditation.
   Students will understand how yoga, Om, and meditation are not just physical exercises but sacred practices rooted in Hindu philosophy, helping them stay calm, focused, and spiritually grounded.

2. Encourage daily internal practices for emotional and mental well-being.
   Students will begin to explore how short, simple routines of yoga and meditation can be integrated into their daily lives to handle emotions like stress, anger, or nervousness.

Week 13 – Living with Hindu Values – Good Habits for a Kind Life

Objectives

1. Help Students Understand and Identify Core Hindu values.
   Students will explore essential Hindu values such as truth (Satya), non-violence (Ahimsa), compassion (Karuna), and respect (Shraddha), and how these values guide daily behavior.

2. Encourage reflection on good habits and their impacts on personal growth.
   Students will reflect on small everyday choices—like speaking kindly, practicing gratitude, or helping others—and recognize how these habits help build character and inner peace.

Week 14 – Understanding Hindu Symbols

Objectives

1. Help students recognize and interpret common Hindu symbols.
   Students will learn the meaning, origin, and spiritual message behind sacred symbols like Om, the swastika, diya, lotus, tilak, and others.

2. Encourage personal reflection on the deeper values these symbols represent.
   Students will explore how each symbol reminds us to live with kindness, peace, wisdom, and self-awareness in daily life.

Week 15 – Being a Hindu Kid in America: Balancing Two Beautiful Worlds

Objectives

1. Help students understand and embrace their dual cultural identity.
   Guide students in recognizing the strength and uniqueness of being both Hindu and American and how both cultures can enrich their lives.

2. Promote self-expression and intercultural awareness.
   Empower students to share their Hindu identity confidently with peers and to respond thoughtfully when facing cultural questions or misunderstandings.