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 annotated bibliography focuses on recent children's literature that deals with other cultures. The books in the bibliography are set in or about Africa (29 selections), Ancient Egypt (3 selections), East Asia (20 selections), India (7 selections), Latin America (3 selections), Middle East (5 selections), and Russia (9 selections). The…

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…

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"…

Three learning modules designed for middle school students by a middle school teacher are presented in this document. The three modules are designed to supplement the regular textbook program for teaching about India. They are specifically created to fulfill the needs and interests of 11- to 14-year-old students. The modules contain elements of…

Developed for a one-semester college credit course, this syllabus encourages a cross-cultural approach to the study of Indian society. The objective is to provide students with not only a balanced view of India but also with an idea of dynamics of change. Emphasis is upon paralleling social and political issues in the United States with those of…

Visiting the Temple of Kali in Calcutta, India, one understands the importance of an Afro-centric methodology in describing the complex nature of the Mother Goddess in ancient India. Discoveries of ancient female figurines indicate an early Indian concept of the female role in the creation of civilization and culture and of the notion of the…

This unit is designed to accompany a video presentation that focuses on India from the perspective of a participant in the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad Program. This unit can be incorporated with a study of India's land, history, and geography. The text provides a narrative as students view contemporary pictures of India and is intended to…

This list of over 300 fiction and non-fiction books on Asian countries is designed as a tool for teachers who desire to select works which will foster in children an interest in Asian nations and a knowledge of customs, daily life and culture of the people. All facets of each country are considered -- the land, people, history, customs,…

This document presents a collection of materials designed to help students learn about the culture of India through an examination of the country's folk art tradition. Sections on folk crafts, folk dances, folk music, and puppets are included. Each section contains numerous activities. A glossary and an extensive bibliography, folk music scores,…

This conference booklet seeks to assist high school teachers who teach about Asia. Emphasis is upon providing a bibliography, with course outlines and background materials also offered. Four hundred annotated citations focusing on book, periodical, and other resource materials, published within the last decade, are provided for teachers working…

This unit provides a bibliography and lesson ideas on Indian culture for integration into the literature curriculum. The bibliography includes essays, novels, short stories, poetry, and videos, many by Indian authors. The unit is designed for high school students but could be adapted to other levels. This unit could be incorporated with a study of…

As an introduction and explanation of the historical development, major concepts, beliefs, practices, and traditions of Hinduism, this teaching unit provides a course outline for class discussion and activities for reading the classic epic, "The Ramayana." The unit requires 10 class sessions and utilizes slides, historical readings,…

This unit on Hindu mythology is designed to help secondary students see beyond the exotic elements of another culture to the things its people have in common with people in the West: a continuous effort to find a purpose in existence, to explain the unknown, and to define good and bad, right and wrong. Students are asked to analyze Hindu religious…

One of several World Affairs Guides, this booklet focuses on India as a region to be included in any K-12 social studies curriculum plan. It is felt that modern students in the United States should know a great deal about other significant areas of the world. India is thought to be significant because of its rich history, cultural contributions,…