Group 1 (6 to 8 years)

CONTENTS

(Answers to the following questions are expected in your speech. Please be brief and to the point. Contents are worth 60 points: 20 points for each question):

1. Who is a Sikh? What does a typical day look like for a Gursikh child?

2. Who is our True Guru? Why do we matha tek before the Guru?

3. Why is it important for Sikhs to go to Gurdwara? Which gurdwaras did you learn about and what importance do they have in our Sikh History? Share 2-3 examples.

II Presentation (40 points):

• Included in this area are items like style, delivery, poise, eye contact, voice, diction, language and effectiveness.

• Time allotted to finish the speech for this group is 5 minutes.

• There is no penalty for finishing the speech either earlier than 5 minutes or during the grace period of the next 30 seconds. After the grace period, i.e., after 5 minutes and 30 seconds have elapsed, one point would be deducted for every extra 10 seconds or part of 10 seconds, from every judge’s score for the participant.

III Punjabi Presentation and Maintenance of Sikhi Saroop:

• Use of Punjabi and maintenance of Sikhi Saroop needs to be encouraged.

• Participants who use Punjabi and/or maintain Sikhi Saroop will be judged according to the above format. However, it is suggested that such participants be rewarded suitably.

IV Suggestions on preparing youth for the Sikh Youth Symposium:

• Given that the primary purpose of the Sikh Youth Symposium is for our children to focus on theirlearning, we would like to clarify the appropriate levels of support children should receive as they prepare for their speeches.

• It is our recommendation that it is in the best interest of the children to write their own speeches, with minimal support from parents or other adults.

• Parents/Mentors may sit with children to read and discuss the book, as well as review the questions with them. They may write the child’s responses as the child verbally answers the questions.

• The parents may help the children put their answers together in a speech format and further develop their thoughts, as needed.

• If your child’s speech is prepared in Punjabi, it must still follow the guidelines above.

• If it is prepared in English, it can be translated into Punjabi after it is created per the above guidelines. However, once the speech is in Punjabi, your child should understand the speech in its entirety.

• Although these are only suggestions, in order to make this experience most meaningful and equitable for all children, it is recommended that we adhere to these suggestions as closely as possible.

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