This blended 96 hour camp (total 15 days program with 12 days face to face and 3 days of pre-camp online segment) with two weekend breaks will target 75 middle and high school students and will be based on five C’s to help students in developing proficiency in three modes of communication
StarTalk Balvihar 2019 Theme
The theme for this year’s Startalk program is Exploring India through its colorful stories. Leadership,
perseverance, and success, through which students will become aware of culture specific practices and
moral norms, such as “Paropkar” (doing good for others) rather than personal success and wealth. In
addition, they will compare behaviors between the two cultures, Indian and American, on the
importance given to perseverance “Karma,” vs. luck/good fortune.
Advance Students will analyze the main character’s point of view on issues such as role of effort vs.
destiny in success, the duties and responsibilities of a good leader, and compare leaders of modern
society with the historical leaders. Students will also make connections to STEM topics by reading about
the scientific studies and discovery in Indian society initiated during the reign of King Bhoj.
Meaningful parables about positive character traits such as perseverance, determination, stability.
Through these stories, Intermediate students will become aware of culture specific practices and moral
norms of India. This theme would serve as the focus of what this cohort will learn during the program. In
addition, they will compare common moral categories and behaviors between the two cultures, such as
the importance of staying on task and not giving up, even in the face of injustice and hardship.
Panchtantra (stories with animals as main characters) collection, through which students will become
aware of culture specific practices and moral norms.
This theme would serve as the focus of what this cohort will learn during the program. In addition, they
will learn about positive character traits such as helping others, kindness, strength, honesty etc.,
through the actions of characters of the stories. They will learn about the various traditional ways of
story-telling in India. Specifically, Novice will read (with the help of pictures and memorized
words/phrases), view and listen to one Panchtantra (stories with animals as main characters) story and
explore its characters, setting and message of the story. They will retell the story, with the help of
pictures, memorized words and phrases, with new characters. Finally, based on what they have learned
and working in groups, students will create their own story.