Buddha's Birthday Activities
WELCOME
Hello Everyone! Welcome to Brigid's fun & creative language activities for Buddha's Birthday , also known as Wesak or Vesak.
BACKGROUND INFO
What is Vesak?
Vesak is a festival celebrated by all Buddhists & some Hindus. It is mainly celebrated in Nepal, India, korea, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos, Mongolia, Tibet, Indonesia & Singapore. During Vesak both grown ups & kids honour The Buddha with extra acts of kindness towards animals & people. Another important part of Buddha's Birthday is the cooking, eating & sharing of vegetarian food. Yum!
ACTIVITIES
Enjoy our Buddha's Birthday Post
100% plant based recipes for Buddha's Birthday
Make your own Buddha footprints
Make an All Day Everyday Kindness Book
How to be kind to hedgehogs
Hedgehog Quiz
FOOD FIRST!
100% Delicious
100% Kid friendly
100% Plant based recipes for Buddha's Birthday
Check out this new site for plant based kid friendly recipes. Their ice creams are amazing!
Click here!
LEARN CREATE SHARE
Make delicious plant based food and share with people in your community.
Make your own Buddha's Birthday Recipe Book.
BUDDHA'S FOOTPRINTS
Many believe that The Buddha left behind footprints to remind grown ups & kids to be kind to all people & animals everyday.
Background info
There are 2 symbols on the footprint
The top symbol is a wheel.
The wheel is the dharma cakra ( Each spoke represents a good behaviour)
The bottom symbol represents the Triratna
The Triratna is the 3 jewels of Buddhism
The 3 jewels are the Buddha, Dharma & Sangha
LEARN CREATE SHARE
Make your own Buddha Footprints
Discuss & record on a mind map - Who & what needs extra care in the home/garden/school/community/world ?
What can we do to be more caring & kind to people & animals in our home/garden/school/community/World?
Discuss symbols to symbolize your caring & kind actions
Draw around each other's feet
Decorate your feet with your symbols
We have used rainbows, stars, flowers & hearts.
Include all kinds of footprints
Small feet
Baby feet
Big feet
Paws!
Invite your family/students to record acts of kindness - human & animal
Discuss which acts of kindness are easy to do & which are more difficult
Discuss the different consequences of kind acts
Record in a home or class book
KINDNESS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
There are many charities, groups & individuals who are leaving kind & caring footprints everyday. Find out what's happening in your community & in your country.
ANIMALS NEED OUR KINDNESS TOO
Kindness to Animals
Here is an animal in the UK which need your care & kindness. Do you know what it is?
Yes, it's a hedgehog. Do you have hedgehogs in your community or in your country?
A big" Thank You Fay Vass' at The Hedgehog Preservation Society for allowing us to use this gorgeous photo.
Have you ever met a hedgehog?
HEDGEHOG HELP
Want to find out more about helping Hedgehogs?
Watch The Hedgehog Preservation Society's award winning short animated film, Hedgehog Close.
That was great!
Now, Quiz Time!
Get a pencil & paper. Try and answer these questions
1. A hedgehog is
a. A mammal
b. A reptile
c. An amphibian
2. What is the name of the newspaper?
a. The Daily slug
b. The Morning Dew
c. The Daily snail
3. What number is on the gate?
a. 3
b. 1
c. 4
4. Where might the secret to their existence lie?
a. In your garden
b. In your shed
c. In your kettle
5. What do urban hedgehogs need?
a. Roller skates
b. Access
c. Boots
6. How far do hedgehogs need to roam every night?
a. 1 mile
b. 1 garden
c. Into the city center
7. Where should you make a hole?
a. In the road
b. In your jumper
c. In your garden fence/wall/hedge/gate/door
8. What do log piles provide hedgehogs with?
a. Shelter & bugs for breakfast
b. Firewood for cooking
c. Tools for digging
9. Leave water for hedgehogs in a ...?
a. Deep dish
b. Shallow dish
c. Teapot
10. What should you NEVER feed a hedgehog?
a. Milk
b. Milk and bread
c. Milkshake
Answers!
1. Hedgehogs are mammals just like you and I
2. The daily Snail
3. Number 1
4. In your garden
5. Access
6. 1 mile. Wow!
7. In your garden fence/hedge/gate etc
8. Shelter and bugs for breakfast
9. Shallow dish of water
10. Never give hedgehogs milk or bread and milk or milkshake. It can make them very sick
Fabulous Job!
LEARN CREATE SHARE
Have a fabulous Week! See you soon Brigid