Parents and Teachers
Teaching Tools & Ruhi Classes
Teachers’ Guides & Resources
Teachers’ Guide: Shoghi Effendi Theme
This guide is a tool to assist teachers of children’s classes and junior youth animators in sharing Brilliant Star’s “Spirit of Community” issue in the classroom. While Brilliant Star is developed for kids aged 7-12, many younger and older kids enjoy learning from it. Activities can be adapted and expanded to engage groups ranging from ages 4-14. You’re invited to explore this guide and to share your own ideas in our Facebook group, Brilliant Star Idea Exchange.
In developing this issue, these were our goals. The discussion questions we’re offering help to encourage the dialogue along these lines:
- Acknowledging the nobility of the soul;
- Focusing on our commonality as human beings, instead of our differences;
- Understanding how the principle of oneness will help build understanding among racial groups;
- Exploring the Bahá’í writings with families in a way that will advance our community-building efforts and help people feel connected to the writings;
- Getting out of our comfort zone and engaging with others. Being willing to make mistakes in efforts to build unity leads to understanding.
- Emphasizing a sense of hope that improving the world is possible and forthcoming. Kids and families can take practical steps to build unity.
For each page in the issue related to Shoghi Effendi, you’ll find discussion questions, activities to enhance learning, and related content that expands on the topic.
You can search, download, or print the full issue here:
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PDFs for over 35 full issues are available in the Luminous Library on our website:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/luminous-library
14-15 Shoghi Effendi: Let Us Arise
Article and timeline about his life
16 The Guardian's Creative Spirit
Story about his creativity with four art activities
17 Shoghi Effendi's Guidance
Story about The Advent of Divine Justice with a word search
PAGES 14-15: SHOGHI EFFENDI: LET US ARISE (TIMELINE)
Pages 14-15: Article and timeline
> PURPOSE
Studying the life of Shoghi Effendi offers a profound example of Bahá’í virtues, including service, devotion, patience, and determination. This piece provides an overview of his life and work, which fostered the global growth of the Bahá’í Faith and continues to inspire today’s efforts to promote unity and share the Faith.
Quote: “How vast is the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh! How great the magnitude of His blessings showered upon humanity in this day!” —Shoghi Effendi
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-K/Kindergarten | Early Elementary
Summarize the story for students, focusing on key events and turning points. During the summary, discuss questions that invite kids to relate to Shoghi Effendi.
- Who is Bahá’u’lláh?
- Who is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá? [show a photo]
- Who is Shoghi Effendi? [show a photo]
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was Shoghi Effendi’s grandfather. Do you have grandfathers you spend time with? What is that like?
- When Shoghi Effendi was five, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked him to chant prayers so he could hear them. Do your grandfathers ever ask you to do things?
- After Shoghi Effendi went to college, he helped ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by translating letters. Do you ever help your grandfathers?
- When Shoghi Effendi was almost 24, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá died. Shoghi Effendi was very sad. He went hiking in the mountains until he felt better. What do you do when you’re sad?
- Then Shoghi Effendi was the Guardian, or leader, of the Bahá’í Faith. All the Bahá’ís around the world asked him for advice. What do you think that was like?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- Have you ever faced a responsibility that was so big, you felt like the weight of the world was on your shoulders? What was it? How did you handle it? If not, what are some responsibilities that might feel that way in the future? What skills are you working on to get ready?
- Have you ever had a loved one pass away? Are there prayers/writings that helped you deal with it? What else helped?
- What are some things that help you maintain “health, strength, self-confidence and spiritual energy”? Have you ever spent time alone or in a new place for that purpose?
- Why do you think Baha’is don’t celebrate the birthday of Shoghi Effendi (or honor his day of passing)?
- Shoghi Effendi named some people Hands of the Cause of God. What does that station entail? Who were some of them? Why do you think he chose that title?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-K/ Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> Shoghi Effendi chanted prayers for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Sing a Bahá’í prayer together.
Blessed Is the Spot
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/blessed-is-the-spot1
O God, Guide Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2dsScRdrzk
> One of Shoghi Effendi’s projects was planning the Shrine of the Báb. Review its progress over the years in these photos:
https://www.bahai.org/the-bab/visualjourney/shrine-of-the-bab#img-1
> Shoghi Effendi also worked with gardeners to plan the gardens around the Shrine of the Báb and the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. Review them in photos or a video:
Video of the Bahá’í gardens in Haifa, to show Shoghi Effendi’s design and vision:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMJ96h7X5c4
Photos of Bahá’í gardens in Haifa
http://www.yairkarelic.com/Albums/Bahai%20gardens%20in%20Haifa/slides/IMG_2539_f.html
Photos of Mansion of Bahjí and Gardens
https://media.bahai.org/buildings-places/akka-area/mansion-bahji-gardens/
Early Elementary | Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
> Shoghi Effendi guided the building of the Shrine of the Báb, the Bahá’í Temple in North America, and other holy places. Invite kids to explore the significance of Bahá’í holy places by drawing a Bahá’í Temple using a “How to Draw” video or the “Sacred Spaces” drawing page:
How to Draw Bahá’í Temple Gardens - online video
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/how-to-draw-bahai-temple-gardens
How to Draw the Bahá’í Temple in Chile - online video
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/how-to-draw-the-bahai-temple-in-chile
How to Draw the Lotus Temple - online video
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/how-to-draw-the-lotus-temple
Sacred Spaces - drawing page
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2012/Sacred_Spaces_MJ12p21.pdf
> Invite students to work in groups to research these questions that relate to the article. Provide resources, such as The Priceless Pearl and A Basic Bahá’í Dictionary, etc.
- What does Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum mean?
- What are the buildings of the Bahá’í World Centre today?
- When were the terraces around the Shrine of the Báb completed? How many terraces are there?
- What is required for a Bahá’í marriage ceremony?
- What was Shoghi Effendi’s marriage ceremony like? Where did it take place?
- Who were Mary Maxwell and her parents?
> Create a large timeline of Shoghi Effendi’s life, adding more details. Add some world events that were happening at the time (such as World Wars I and II).
> Explore some of the challenges Shoghi Effendi had to deal with in his life. Discuss how he may have felt and what may have helped him cope. Can you relate to any situations in your own life?
> RELATED CONTENT
Bahá’í History: A Timeline - Online
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/timeline
Shining Lamp: Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith - Story
Shoghi Effendi: The Guardian - Maze
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/explore/Article_Images/Shoghi_Effendi_JA13_op.pdf
Full Speed Ahead - Word scramble about the Guardian’s virtues
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2010/Full_Speed_Ahead_JF10_p7.pdf
Shining Lamp: Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum - Story
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/amatul-baha-ruhiyyih-khanum-1910-2000
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/explore/pdf-shininglamp/SL__Ruhiyyih_Khanum_MA09p8op.pdf
PAGE 16: THE GUARDIAN’S CREATIVE SPIRIT
Page 16: Story and art activities
> PURPOSE
Shoghi Effendi worked tirelessly to help the Bahá’í Faith grow around the world. His service was influenced by his artistic sensibilities and his capacity to creatively shape the development of Bahá’í communities, institutions, and holy places.
Quote: “No picture of Shoghi Effendi’s personality would ever be complete that did not depict the truly extraordinary artistic sense he possessed . . . He certainly had a painter’s and an architect’s eye.”
—Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-K/Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- What are some creative or artistic things you like to do?
- Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, who was married to Shoghi Effendi, said he had a “painter’s eye”; what do you think that might mean?
-
What are some ways that art can help people? (For example, music may help someone feel better if they’re sad)
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- What are your favorite ways to be creative?
- What is your favorite poem or book? What do you love about it?
- If you could learn any artistic skill, what would it be?
- How would you use the arts to share the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith?
- Shoghi Effendi encouraged Bahá’ís to travel all over the world to share the Faith with others. Where would you go in your community to share the Faith?
- Shoghi Effendi’s appreciation for beauty showed in all of his work. What do you find beautiful? How could you share that to bring beauty to your community?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
The activities provided in the article give students an opportunity to express their own creativity, and to explore some of Shoghi Effendi’s creative endeavors. They can be adjusted to accommodate multiple age groups:
Pre-K/Kindergarten
> “Build a 3D Neighborhood”: Use painter’s tape to map out streets on the floor. Invite kids to build stores, homes, and other buildings from blocks and recycled items. Kids can use toy cars to play on their city map.
> “Radiant Gardens”: Invite the class to draw a peaceful garden they’d like to visit with friends and family. They could include flowers, a pond, or a bench for prayers. What would they do when they visited their garden?
> “Designs for Devotion”: Print copies of a Lotus Temple coloring sheet for kids to color.
https://www.thecolor.com/Coloring/lotus-temple-new-delhi-india.aspx
> “Powerful Poetry”: Read some rhythmic, rhyming poetry out loud to the class.
Early Elementary
> “Build a 3D Neighborhood”: Use painter’s tape to map out streets on the floor. Invite kids to build stores, homes, and other buildings from blocks and recycled items. Give them challenges to navigate their new city, such as “Can you help me get from the library to the grocery store?”
> “Radiant Gardens”: Kids can learn about the Bahá’í Temple recently built in Santiago, Chile, enjoy a fill-in-the-blank activity, and learn a prayer in Spanish.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2016/Temple_of_Light_JA16.pdf
> “Designs for Devotion”: In addition to drawing or building a House of Worship, kids can create a devotional space together in their classroom. Find a quiet spot that fits everyone. What would help the class feel calm and peaceful together? What prayers could you chant as a group?
> “Powerful Poetry”: Invite kids to create an acrostic poem inspired by their community. Each student writes the name of their town vertically down the left side of their paper. For each letter, they then write a virtue or quality that they see in their community.
Late Elementary
> “Build a 3D Neighborhood”: Invite the class on a field trip to a nearby park. Using paper, colored pencils, and crayons, ask kids to create a map of the park.
> “Radiant Gardens”: Kids can follow this video to learn how to draw Bahá’í Temple gardens.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/how-to-draw-bahai-temple-gardens
> “Designs for Devotions”: Kids can follow this video to learn how to draw the House of Worship in India.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/how-to-draw-the-lotus-temple
> “Powerful Poetry”: In addition to the poetry activity in the article, youth can use this template to create a “Where I’m From” poem, inspired by the work of George Ella Lyon.
http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm
Junior Youth/Youth
> “Build a 3D Neighborhood”: Invite youth to make a map of the community activities in their neighborhood. Are they animating or attending a jr. youth group? Does anyone in their community host devotions? Create a small illustration for each activity, and include it in your neighborhood map.
> “Radiant Gardens”: In addition to the diorama, youth can follow these videos to learn how to draw a House of Worship and Bahá’í Temple gardens
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/how-to-draw-the-lotus-temple
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/how-to-draw-bahai-temple-gardens
> “Designs for Devotion”: In addition to designing a House of Worship, youth can choose a Bahá’í Temple and research online to learn more about it. Where is it located? When was it built? How long did construction take? What inspired the design? After their research, they can share what they learned with the group.
> “Powerful Poetry”: In addition to the poetry activity in the article, youth can use this template to create a “Where I’m From” poem, inspired by the work of George Ella Lyon.
http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm
> RELATED CONTENT
Shining Lamp: Shoghi Effendi - Story
Shoghi Effendi: The Guardian - Maze
Full Speed Ahead - Word scramble about Shoghi Effendi's virtues
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2010/Full_Speed_Ahead_JF10_p7.pdf
Brilliant Star Treasure Box: Follow Up Fun - poetry activity
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_TAB/ND17_Follow-Up_Fun_v2_RS.pdf
PAGE 17: SHOGHI EFFENDI’S GUIDANCE
Page 17: Story with word search
> PURPOSE
In Shoghi Effendi’s letter to the U.S. and Canada entitled The Advent of Divine Justice, he urges us to adopt three spiritual prerequisites for success in sharing the Bahá’í Faith with others. These are fair and just behavior, a pure and holy life, and complete freedom from prejudice. This piece describes “the most vital and challenging issue” of racial prejudice and presents a word search of virtues mentioned in the letter that will spur the advent (or arrival) of unity.
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-K/Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- What are some ways you like to show kindness to other people?
- How do you feel when you see other people treated unfairly?
- What can you do to help make the world more fair?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- Why do you think Shoghi Effendi called racial prejudice “the most vital and challenging issue” facing the Bahá’ís?
- He used that phrase in 1938. Is it still true today, over 80 years later?
- What are some ways we can use love, patience, or humility to help build race unity? What’s something helpful you can do when you see or hear about injustice?
- What activities happen in your school or community that can help build race unity?
- What are some ways you like to build unity and friendship with people?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-K/Kindergarten
> Discuss how Shoghi Effendi wrote 26,000 letters to Bahá’ís all over the world. Help kids imagine that large number in a concrete way. For example, show them 100 pennies in a jar, and explain you’d need 260 jars to have one penny for every letter he wrote.
> Invite the class to write a letter as a group to everyone at the seasonal school, or to a specific person, thanking them for being kind or helpful. Ask for ideas about what the letter should say, then write the letter on a large paper or poster board. Ask everyone to write their name at the bottom.
Early Elementary | Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
> Invite students to write a letter to the people of their community or the world, in which they describe spiritual qualities and actions that can help to end prejudice and bring peace to all people.
> RELATED CONTENT
Bahá’u’lláh’s Life: Letters to World Leaders - Arabic calligraphy practice
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/explore/Baha/Baha_SO09_r4_RFS.pdf
Prayer: One Peaceful Home - Prayer and vocabulary activity
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2016/One_Peaceful_Home_MJ16_p27.pdf
What Do You Say (About Prejudice)? - Writing and role play
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2016/What_Do_You_Say_MJ16_p16.pdf
Privilege: An Unfair Game - Games
Josie the Detective: Powerful Words - Tips with missing words
Stopping Prejudice - Tips with scrambled words
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2014/Stopping_Prejudice_MJ14p9.pdf
Treble Chef’s Music Cafe: I Aspire
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2016/Music_I_Aspire_SO16_p24.pdf
Treble Chef’s Music Café: I Want to See the Day
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2012/Music_See_the_Day_MJ12p20.pdf
Updated on 5.10.19