Sri Sathya Sai Balvikas Textbook For Children Group 1 Year2

The Sri Sathya Sai Balvikas program is a value-based education system designed to foster character development in children. It's structured into different groups based on age, and each group has a multi-year curriculum.

For Children Group 1 - Year 2, the curriculum is typically for children aged 7-8 years old (though the exact age range might vary slightly by region, Group 1 is generally 6-9 years).

The Balvikas curriculum is centered around the five Human Values: Truth (Sathya), Right Conduct (Dharma), Peace (Shanthi), Love (Prema), and Non-violence (Ahimsa). These values are imparted through a combination of teaching techniques:

• Silent Sitting/Meditation: Focus on proper posture and silent reflection, sometimes with guided visualization or Jyoti Meditation.
• Prayers and Chanting: Learning simple prayers (like "Samastha Loka Sukino Bhavantu," "Asato Ma Sadgamaya," "Om Sahanavavatu"), Stotras (like "Yaa Kundendu," "Kailasarana"), and Omkar chanting. For Year 2 specifically, it might include the first 27 or so names from the Sri Sathya Sai Ashtottaram (108 names of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba).
• Group Singing: Learning devotional bhajans and value-based songs.
• Storytelling: Stories from Indian epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata), Chinna Kathas (short stories by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba), stories about the life and teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and stories from various religions highlighting the unity of faiths.
• Group Activities: Engaging activities like role-play, quizzes, memory games, and attitude testing to reinforce the values.
• Understanding Festivals: Learning the significance of various festivals across different religions (e.g., Diwali, Christmas, Eid, Guru Purnima, Ganesh Chaturthi).
• Basic Concepts: Introduction to concepts like the five elements and Educare, Duty, Devotion, Discipline (the 5 Ds), and Ceiling on Desires.
• Yoga and Hygiene: Basic practices for physical well-being.

Specific content for Group 1, Year 2, might include:

• Chanting: Continued Omkar practice, and introduction to specific Stotras like "Yaa Kundendu," "Kailasarana," "Poorvam Rama," "Namastestu Mahamaye," "Suprabhatam," "Vande Devam Umapatim."
• Prayers: "Karacharanam."
• Bhajans: Specific bhajans like "Om Tatsat," "Jai Jai Ram," "Govinda Hare," "Shailagirishwara," "Shiva Shambo," "Om Namo Bhagvate," "Om Shri Ram Jai Ram," "Mahaganapate," "Govinda Krishna Vitale."
• Stories: Continued focus on "Stories for Children - Part One," "Unity of Faiths through stories," "Chinna Katha," "Life of Bhagawan Baba," and episodes from the Ramayana.
• Meditation: Introduction to Form Meditation.
• Other Religions: Broad details of major world religions like Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism.