This document provides information and materials for a lesson on India. The lesson objectives are to locate India on a map, identify its flag, explain why the Taj Mahal was built, compare Indian and American customs, identify animals native to India, and express oneself through Indian art. The materials listed include food ingredients, art supplies, maps, information sheets, recipes, and books for further reading. The document outlines activities such as locating India on a map, discussing its geography and exports/imports, learning about Indian customs and holidays, playing Indian games, and creating Indian art.

3. As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
•Locate India on a world map
•Identify India’s flag
•Explain why the Taj Mahal was built
•Compare several Indian customs to American customs
•Given a selection of animals, choose those native to India
•Express himself/herself through Indian art
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4. Bananas
Paint (different colors)
Oranges
Mural paper
Salt
6-8 dictionaries
Sugar
Shape patterns to trace
Plain yogurt
(triangles, circles, etc.
Plastic cups
made from cardboard)
Spoons
Large play area is needed
Paint brushes

5. To find India on a world map:
1.
Locate Asia.
2.
India is a large country in southern Asia.
3.
India has a long “tale” that sticks out into
the Indian Ocean.
On this map,
what color is
India?
ORANGE

6. Republic of
_______________________
Location: South Asia
Capital of India: New Delhi
Official Language: Hindi
Currency: Rupee
(34 rupees = 1 dollar)
How many rupees would I have
if I had 4 dollars?

7. India is a large country in southern Asia. It is separated
from the rest of Asia by the Himalayan Mountains.
Because it is so big and cut off from the rest of the
continent, it is called a subcontinent. To the south of India
is the Indian Ocean.
India is the seventh largest country in the world. It has
deserts, jungles, mountains, forests, and farms.
The major rivers are the Indus River and the Ganges
River. Big cities include New Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay,
and Bangalore.
India has half as many states as the U.S. has. How many states are in India?

8. Exports: tea, clothing, jewelry, iron ore, leather
Imports: food, gems, iron and steel, chemicals
Main crops: rice, wheat, tea, sugar cane, spices
What are imports and exports?
Do we grow the same crops in Ohio?
Which of these goods do we use in Ohio?

9. ________________________________________
The top stripe is dark gold, the middle stripe is
white, and the bottom stripe is green. The blue
wheel in the middle is the Wheel of Life.

10. December to March ~~~~ Cold
April to May ~~~~ Very hot (Often over 100 degrees)
June to September ~~~~ Monsoon season
October to November ~~~ less rain
MONSOONS
Monsoons are huge rain storms that come
in from the Indian Ocean. They bring
enough rain to supply water for the whole
year. These storms have strong winds.
They can flood and destroy farms and
houses. Some have even killed people.
Are there storms like these in the United
States?

11. Long ago, India was ruled by Mogul
emperors. Then the empire fell
apart into smaller kingdoms, ruled
by maharajas.
By the 1600’s, Europeans had come
into India to trade for Indian spices,
silks, cotton cloth, and tea.
In 1857, the British took control of
India and ruled there until 1947.
One very important man, Mohandas
Gandhi helped India gain
independence.
Gandhi practiced civil disobedience.
That means that he would not do
what the British wanted, but he was
never violent.

12. At about the same time
the pilgrims were landing
at Plymouth Rock, the
Taj Mahal was built.
That was almost 400
years ago.
It took over ten years to
build. More than twenty
thousand people and one
thousand elephants
helped build it.
. . .but why was it built?
Any ideas?
The Taj Mahal is in Agra
near the capital of India.
What is the capital of
India?

13. Shah Jahan was the emperor of India from 1628 to 1658. He deeply
loved his wife Mumtaz Mahal. She died in 1631 when she was giving
birth to their fourteenth child.
The emperor was so heartbroken that he decided to build a massive
tomb in honor of their love. The two of them were buried together
inside the Taj Mahal.
Since Shah Jahan loved his wife so much, he used only the finest
marble. He also made sure that beautiful gems decorated her tomb.
The Taj Mahal is one of the wonders of the world.
It is also a great tribute to love.
Make up your own legend explaining why someone
would have a building like the Taj Mahal
built.

14. Cricket
In India, the popular sport is cricket.
The game of cricket is played with a batsman, a wicket keeper, a
bowler, and fielders.
The bowler rolls the ball toward the batsman. The wicket keeper
stands behind the batsman. The batsman hits the ball with a bat
and runs back and forth between the bowler and the wicket
keeper to score runs. The fielders try to catch the ball to get the
batsman out.
What sport or sports does this
sound like?
What are the similarities
between this game and games we
play here?

15. The Hindu New Year falls in
October or November of
each year.
It is called Diwali, the
Festival of Lights.
For Diwali, people get
dressed up in new clothes,
send cards to friends and
family, and give out
presents.
Since it is the Festival of
Lights, fireworks light up
the sky.
What American Holidays are
celebrated like Diwali?
What building is in the picture?

16. We love to watch movies in America.
Hollywood is the biggest producer of
films in the world, right?
WRONG! India produces about eight
hundred movies a year. That’s even
more than Hollywood. Indian families
love to go to the movies just as much as
we do.
Can you think of American movies or
television shows that you have seen with
Indian actors or actresses in them?

17. What kinds of animals do you think you
would find in India?
Below is a list of animals that can be
found in India:
Lions
Deer
Bears
Rhinoceroses
Snakes
Elephants
Camels
Monkeys
Tigers (National animal)
Peacocks (National bird)
Did any surprise you?

18. Many women in India wear beautiful saris.
Their clothing is brightly colored. For
special events, women wear saris with gold
embroidery and sequins.
Men usually wear dhotis. They are loose
pants, similar to pajamas. In big cities,
men wear American style clothing.
Children wear jeans, T-shirts, and skirts at
home. They usually have uniforms for
school.
Indian women love to wear jewelry. They
wear earrings, nose rings, bangles
(bracelets), anklets, rings, necklaces, and
even jewelry in their hair!

19. Can you think of anything that we have in the U.S. that came from India?
Meditation exercises; you can take these classes at the YMCA
YOGA
Hindi phrase meaning loose trousers
PAJAMAS
Game of skill played on a checkerboard with moveable pieces
CHESS
Expensive sweaters made from goat hair in a region of India
CASHMERE
This digit means nothing, but can greatly change the value of a number
when added onto the end of a number
ZERO
A brand of clothing; also a game played while riding horses
POLO

20. You may or may not know these other Indian words. In
your groups, discuss what you think these words mean. If
you don’t know what they are, look them up! Each group
will explain to the class the meaning of one of these words,
so make sure you know what they all mean!
Jungle
Guru
Thug
Nirvana
Bungalow
Karma
Veranda
Bazaar

21. We will make KELA AUR SANTRA KI LASSI
(Banana and Orange Shake):
2 teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt
2 small containers
of plain yogurt
2 large bananas, peeled
and sliced
2 large oranges, peeled
and segmented
Mix the sugar, salt, and yogurt together.
Add the bananas and oranges, and stir until
everything is well mixed. Serve chilled.
Recipe from India: One Nation, Many Traditions by Megan Cifarelli

22. Which of the following animals can be found in India?
Answers will follow.
India has tigers, lions, elephants, and rhinoceroses.
Where would you find a dolphin, penguin, panda bear, and kangaroo?

23. Many Indian children play Kabaddi, which is a game similar to tag.
There is no equipment. You just need four or more people to play.
HERE’S HOW TO PLAY:
1. Divide players into two equal teams. Each team is on opposite sides
of the playing area. Whichever team starts has to pick a player to run
to the other team’s side.
2. The runner takes a deep breath. The runner tries to tag the other
team’s players without taking another breath. The runner has to keep
saying “kabaddi-kabaddi” so he/she can’t take another breath.
3. The other players try not to get tagged. Those who get tagged try to
catch the runner before he/she runs back to his/her side.
4. If the runner does not make it back to his/her side without taking a
breath, the runner is out. If the runner doesmakes it back without
taking a breath, then the players who got tagged are out.
5. Teams take turns sending runners. The team with the most players
left wins.

24. Rangoli is the traditional art of decorating walls and courtyards with
designs. Indian women make a paste out of flour and color it with crushed
flowers and spices. They often compete to make the best designs.
We will make Rangoli designs using paint and
mural paper.
1.
Each group will start with a basic design
made of shapes.
2.
You will keep using that design to make a
bigger design to fill your mural paper.
3.
You may use any colors available and any
design made of shapes. There are patterns
of triangles, circles, rectangles, squares
that you may trace if you want.
4.
Make sure everyone in your group takes
part in the mural in some way.
5.
We will display the murals in the room.

25. Countries of the World: India by Sunandini Arora Lal
Lots of detailed information, Indian glossary, and nice color photos
Count Your Way through India by Jim Haskins
Learn the Hindi numbers from 1 to 10, useful info on India
India: One Nation, Many Traditions by Megan Cifarell
Colorful photos and detailed information
I is for India by Prodeepta Das
Beautiful photographs and interesting information
The Children of India by Jules Hermes
Beautiful photographs, focuses on Indian children and their daily lives
BIBLIOGRAPHY

26. Pitara for Kids - http:www.pitara.com
This site contains books, stories, folk tales, and activities for
children.
We Are India - http://weareindia.com/
This site contains photos and other links on culture,
traditions, and art.
Welcome to India - http://www.welcometoindia.com/culture
This site contains info on culture, music, food, travel and
more.
History of India - http://www.historyofindia.com/home.html
This site covers ancient, medieval, British, and modern
history.
India for Kids – Snaith Primary School
http://www.home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/India.htm
This site shows a slideshow trip to India for children ages 7-9. With lots
of great links, photos, stories, and activities, this site is highly
recommended.

27. Chantal Boulanger: Indian saris-research http:www.devi
.net/sari.html
This site has
photos of saris and other Indian clothing. It also has other links.
Really Cookin’ Recipes for Kids www2.whirlpool.com/html/
homelife/cookin/India.htm
This site has Indian recipes for
children to make.
Experience India - http://www.vijnanakalavedi.org/
This site tells about different Indian art, music, and
dance. It also contains great photographs, video clips, and music
clips.
India Parenting
http://www.indiaparenting.com/Indiaculture/index.htm
This site has kids’ games, learning activities, tunes, tales, and more.

28. What did you learn about India?
What part did you like the best?
Why?
What will you tell your friends about?
What will you tell your family about?
What country would you like to learn more about?
This presentation is dedicated to my father, Upendra Patel, who was born and raised in
India, and to Master Seth, my new son, whose name means Boss in Gujarati.