Celebrations: Vesak
Posted on04 May 2023
Vesak is a day when Buddhists around the world commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death (parinirvana) of the Buddha. We think it’s a great day to encourage children to make simple offerings— flowers, incense, and candles—and to abstain from eating meat for the day or do life-release. Maybe host a birthday celebration for the Buddha!
Mala Bag Sewing Project
Posted on18 Apr 2023
Students sew drawstring bags using a simple backstitch in preparation for the mala they will string in a future class. This lesson was created by Noa Jones at the Middle Way School for third grade students preparing for Rites of Passage.
Book Review: Prajapati
Posted on13 Apr 2023
A self-published book available in print or eBook about the inspiring story of Prajapati, Buddha's aunt and guardian written and illustrated by Alicja Zmigrodzka.
Book Review: Sit with Me
Posted on16 Mar 2023
Sit with Me is our go-to book during the first weeks of school. Carolyn Kanjuro's delightful rhyming verses invite children of all ages to learn the seven points of posture. The character Justa Bug describes posture–from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet–with a spine straight like coins stacked on a plate and shoulders back like a vulture in flight.
The Four Types of Harmonious Speech
Posted on13 Mar 2023
Students are introduced to the concept of harmonious speech from the Buddhist tradition and explore how it arises in their own lives. The lesson includes group work, pair sharing, charting, and discussion.
Magha Pujwronga | Sangha Day
Posted on03 Mar 2023
A short outline of Sangha day, or Magha Puja, which is an important day for the Theravada especially in countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Sri Lanka. How do you observe this day? Send ideas to [email protected]
Lojong Slogan #38: Don’t seek others’ pain as the limbs of your own happiness.
Posted on21 Feb 2023
A short video of a student explaining what this mind-training slogan by Atisha means to them.
Book Review: Where’s Buddha?
Posted on10 Feb 2023
Where’s Buddha? is a wonderfully illustrated picture book for younger children with rhyming text that is accessible and very age-appropriate.
Book Review: The Day the Buddha Woke Up
Posted on10 Feb 2023
The Day the Buddha Woke Up was written with very young children in mind, and tells the story of the Buddha’s life and path from birth to enlightenment in clear, simple prose.