Designed for a teacher of social studies at the secondary level (grades 7-12) this curriculum project introduces students to different aspects of Indian culture. Along with introductory elements, the project offers suggestions for assignments and projects for students to complete. The curriculum project begins with brief sections on…

Believed to have been written about the 4th century B.C., the "Ramayana" is one of the oldest epic poems in world literature. This exercise, which takes seven or eight days to complete, is intended to acquaint Westerners with the "Ramayana" in an informal format that may spark a desire to read further in the epic and to become…

This lesson plan for teaching students about the epic poem of India, the "Ramayana," encompasses literary, artistic, and moral themes. The lesson plan states that: (1) students are told the story; (2) students illustrate a part of the story; and (3) students write the moral lessons to be derived from the "Ramayana." The lesson…

During the age of agriculturally based empires, various conquerors from the western Mediterranean to East Asia brought large population areas under their own centralized authority. Gradually many of these conquerors came to realize that, although military might was necessary to gain control over an area, sheer force of arms was not sufficient to…

Intended to be a culminating activity after seventh grade social studies students have studied India, this week-long lesson features autobiographical sketches of six teenagers from India. The lesson has three objectives: (1) to provide actual life stories of teenagers as a springboard for further research about the customs and culture of India;…

This lesson on India was developed based on an Internet Indian diary. The lesson describes visits and experiences in Delhi, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Bombay, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Madras, Jaipur, and Agra. It also provides a series of "virtual field trips" ("Love and Marriage"; "Sacred Places"; and "Solving a Community…

This unit of study introduces high school students to the idea that people of integrity often disagree and still respect each others' efforts to achieve specific goals. The lessons examine the differences between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in the Indian struggle for independence from Great Britain and also looks at their views on…

Designed to expose high school students to an alternative method of conflict resolution, this lesson revolves around the Indian movement for independence from Great Britain and the principles of non-violence advocated by Mahatma Gandhi which helped make that movement successful. The activities presented are designed to fit into a general world…

Arguing that conditions in developing countries are underexamined in the social studies curriculum, the author designed lessons to explore the development process in three different areas of the world. Upon completing the activities outlined, secondary students will understand that development is a process involving a variety of interrelated…

These unit lessons are designed to supplement a study of India. The lessons provide enrichment activities in history, mythology and religion, social customs, and demographics. Though originally designed for ninth-grade world geography students, the lessons are appropriate for use in grades 6-12 by students with a variety of skill levels and…

This lesson plan is intended to be a model for teaching the geography of any area of the world. The unit attempts to teach the five themes of geography (location, place, region, human-environment interaction, and movement) while also teaching the geography of Asia and India. The volume also recommends that teachers canvas magazines, travel…

One of the problems one encounters in attempting to learn about another culture is the possible distortion brought about by one's own cultural biases. The overall purpose of this unit is to help students understand perceptions: how they can differ and how cultural biases are acquired and transmitted. Indian culture is an appropriate vehicle for…

For the past 2000 years the Ramayana has been among the most important literary and oral texts of South Asia. This epic poem provides insights into many aspects of Indian culture and continues to influence the politics, religion, and art of modern India. This booklet contains material designed to provide an entry into the study of this tradition.…

Sacred women have been portrayed throughout the history of India and Southeast Asia. Some were depicted as consorts to the Hindu gods and regarded as the necessary force that activates male energy. Other images arose out of local fertility cults and represented uncontrolled feminine energy that could be terrifying in aspect. The calmer Buddhist…

The two lesson plans presented here are designed to be used as teaching resources in presenting India to high school students. Lesson one focuses on "India and Cartoons" and uses contemporary Indian political and social cartoons for student analyses of social commentary. Lesson two examines "British Architecture during the Raj"…