Day 1: Introduction to Hinduism-Lesson with PowerPoint

Aim of the Lesson:

• What do the images and stories behind the Hindu deities convey about their nature?
  
• Is Hinduism a monotheistic or polytheistic religion?

Key vocabulary is italicized.

State Standards: 2.1a, 2.3a

Skills:

• organize information into a graphic organizer

• create and write a story based on an image

Materials:
Cloths/images
PowerPoint/projector
Dry erase board with markers
Students’ notebooks or loose-leaf paper

Do Now (3 min.):
Show Shiva image. “What details do you notice? What do you think they symbolize?”

Mini-Lesson (7 min):
“One way to learn about a culture and a religion is through its stories. Stories can be told in words and pictures. We’re going to come up with and learn about some of the most famous stories from Hinduism by looking at pictures. In this lesson, I want you to take notes using a chart.”

Fill out the chart as a class.

Pair work: (5 min)
“I bought these cloths in India. They depict different Hindu deities with their accompanying animals and objects. With your partner, write a two-minute story that you will share in front of the class. Explain the clothes, the objects, and the setting in the image. The story should express some concept in Hinduism. Both of you need to write the story in your notebooks. When you present, both of you will have to speak, so decide how to divide it up.”

Share (2 min):
Call on the Rama image to present first. The teacher fills out the chart on the board, while the students fill out their charts.

Mini-Lesson (30-40 min):
Through the PowerPoint, the teacher gives the “Popular Interpretation.” Students fill out their charts.

Work through the PowerPoint presentation, alternate with students presenting their stories.

Wrap-Up Discussion (3 min):
“Is Hinduism a monotheistic or polytheistic religion?”
Reiterate the concept of brahman.

"What did you learn about the Hindu gods?"


Assign Hinduism poster and paper.

Essential Questions of the Unit

1) Are there universal characteristics of belief systems that are common across people and time?

2) What is the difference between mythology, religion, and history? What do any of them have to do with truth? Is a story more powerful or meaningful because it is true? How does one determine truth? Can different things be true in different cultures?

3) Why are there different classes of people in a society? Are there any similarities between the Indian caste system and U.S. society today?

Hindu Deity Poster-Guidelines and Rubric

In pairs, you will make a poster of one of the Hindu gods or goddesses. You will draw the figure and make sure to include all the symbols, clothing, animals, tools, etc. that are associated with that figure. You must explain what each of the symbols, clothing, etc. symbolizes. Make sure the name of the figure is large and clear. Go to the websites and the class readings to do your research.

Each are out of 33 points:
1) Is the information accurate?

2) Are the symbols, objects, and figures clearly labeled and explained?

3) Is it attractive? Are there bright colors? Is the drawing clear? Is it neat? Are the words big and legible?

Hinduism Web Sites

Background Information:

1) http://www.asia.si.edu/education/pujaonline/puja/background.html
Click on “guide for educators”. Then, click on Ch. 2 “Background Info for Teachers.” Move around the site by picking questions from the bar at the top of the screen where it says “Select a section.” Go to “How do I identify the different deities?”

2) http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/manorlh/hinduism/hindui.html
Click on the topics on the left-hand column.

3) http://www.hindunet.org/home.shtml
Go to “Channels” box on the left. Wait for it to load. This site is annoying because there are a lot of pop-ups.

4) http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/hinduism/
Includes texts, maps, a timeline, and a glossary.

Art images:

1) http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_pictures/GodandGoddesses/god.shtml
Gallery of images of Gods and Goddesses

2) http://www.hindunet.com/multimedia/digiprayers/
Mulitmedia presentations of Gods and Goddesses, the Ramayana, and Hindu festivals

3) http://www.bergerfoundation.ch/First/english/start_india.html
Images of statues

Hindu Deity Paper

In a two to three page typed paper, you will write an essay analyzing an image of a Hindu deity. This will be the same Hindu deity for which you do the Poster.

In the Introductory paragraph, answer the following:

• What is Hinduism?
• Who is the deity depicted in the image?

In the first body paragraph, describe your image in as much detail as possible. Look at the figures, the background, the colors, the lines, the objects, the perspective, etc. Paint a picture with your words.

In the second body paragraph, analyze the symbols and images in the picture, and explain what they signify. Answer the following questions:

• What are the important features of the figure?
• What objects, animals, or people are usually associated with the figure?
• What do these objects and symbols represent?
• Are there any other Hindu deities that are usually associated with this god?

In the third body paragraph, tell the story that the image is showing OR any story about the deity.

In your Conclusion paragraph, you can answer the following questions, if they are appropriate to your essay.

• What broad theological beliefs does this image and story point to?
• Why is this deity popular amongst Hindus?
• Are there any connections with these stories and beliefs to other religions?

Assignments:

1) Bring in four articles from the Internet or other sources. Make sure you write down the complete bibliographical information.

2) First draft due.

3) Poster and class presentation.

4) Final draft due.

South Asian Geography

On the map of South Asia, label:

1. India
2. Pakistan
3. Bangladesh
4. Sri Lanka
5. Nepal
6. Bhutan
7. Indus River
8. Ganges River
9. Himalayas
10. Deccan Plateau
11. New Delhi
12. Mumbai (Bombay)
13. Calcutta
14. Chennai (Madras)
15. Colombo
16. Islamabad
17. Kathmandu
18. Dhaka
19. Lhasa
20. Banares/Varanasi
    

Day 2: Caste Activity

Please read your selection about Untouchables. After you and your group members are finished, please answer the following questions. Each person should add information from what they have read. You must also use the handouts I have provided you, your textbook, and other books.

Everyone must take notes in their notebooks. One person will be the reporter. Another will be the time and resources manager. The third person must make sure everyone is participating.

“When we are working, they ask us not to come near them. At tea canteens, they have separate tea tumblers and they make us clean them ourselves and make us put the dishes away ourselves. We cannot enter temples. We cannot use upper-caste water taps. We have to go one kilometer away to get water . . . When we ask for our rights from the government, the municipality officials threaten to fire us. So we don’t say anything. This is what happens to people who demand their rights?”

A Dalit manual scavenger from Gujarat, from a Human Rights Watch interview in Ahmedabad district, Gujarat, on July 23, 1998 in Narula, Smita. Broken People: Caste Violence Against India's "Untouchables". New York: Human Rights Watch, 1999.

1. Who are the untouchables?
2. What other names are untouchables called? What do they mean?
3. How many people in India are Untouchables?
4. What prohibitions are there on Untouchables?
5. What are their jobs?
6. How are they treated?
7. What protection do they have in modern times?

Day 4: Bagavad Gita & The Song of Rolan-Padaiea Seminar

Answer the following in a free write response in your journal:
How do you know what is right and what is wrong?

Please read the two handouts:
The Lord’s Song from the Bagavad Gita
The Song of Roland

As you read the stories please make notes (in your notebook):

• What similarities do you see in the stories? What differences?
• What problems do Roland and Arjuna face?
• How does one’s place in society determine the proper action to take?
• What rules are Roland and Arjuna following?
• According to their culture, do they do the right things? Why?
• What would you have done in this situation?
• What are the consequences of not doing the right thing (for each man)?

Also, please bring one point you find interesting and one question that the reading raised for you. We will use these to begin the discussion.

Day 5: Hindu Gods and Goddesses Quiz

A. Durga
B. Ganesha
C. Hanuman
D. Kali
E. Krishna
F. Parvati
G. Rama
H. Shiva
I. Vishnu

1) He was created to guard his mother while she was taking a bath.

2) He is the lord of the dance. His energy keeps the universe moving.

3) He is the king of Ayodha.

4) In each hand, she holds a weapon of a different god.

5) When he was little, he was always getting into trouble.

6) She gets into a dance competition with Shiva.

7) He jumps from India to Sri Lanka. In yoga, the split is named after him.

8) In two of his four arms, he holds a flower to reward good people and a trident to punish bad people.

9) He helps Rama rescue Sita.

10) She is wild and could not be tamed by her husband.

11) He enlarged himself to break out of his jail cell.

12) He rescues his wife who is kidnapped by the demon Ravana.

13) He plays the flute.

14) She killed the buffalo demon, Mahisha.

15) She has gold. People pray to her for money.

16) She is the goddess of death.

17) He is the leader of the monkey army.

18) She drinks the blood of her victims.

19) He uses a mouse for transportation.

20) Her transportation is a tiger.

21) She brings Shiva out of his meditation on the Himalaya Mountains so he can fight the evil spirits attacking the world.

22) Her tongue is always sticking out because she is angry.

23) His girlfriend was a married, cow herdess.

24) The moon made fun of him for being fat.

25) He brings a mountain with plants to cure his army.

26) His love of Radha symbolizes the love between humans and God.

27) He holds a drum which symbolizes creation and fire which symbolizes destruction.

28) She is Ganesha’s mother.

29) He guards doorways. People pray to him when they start a new project or to help them overcome obstacles.

30) She is always seated on a lotus flower.

31) His first wife, Sati, died which made him depressed.

32) He has an elephant head.

33) He commands people to worship the cow.

Day 10: Hinduism Test

Label the following: 1 point each
A. Sita
B. Vishnu
C. Perusha
D. Rama
E. Hanuman
AB. Durga
AC. Ganesha
AD. Shiva
AE. Krishna
BC. Radha

1. The monkey God
2. The female warrior goddess, who holds the weapons of the different gods in her eight arms
3. Rama’s wife
4. Holds a drum in his right hand and the fire of destruction in his left hand
5. 7th avatar of Vishnu
6. Has the head of an elephant
7. The first human
8. He comes down to the world ten times as incarnations or avatars.
9. Helps the prince Rama rescue his kidnapped wife, Sita
10. Shiva’s son
11. Lord of the Dance. His dance energy keeps the universe moving.
12. The model of devotion and worship; represents the intimate relationship humans can have with God
13. Rides on a tiger
14. Plays the flute and gets into trouble as a child
15. Stands on and crushes the dwarf demon of ignorance
16. Holds a mountain (or an island) in his hand, while he was bringing herbs to revive the army
17. His body parts developed into the castes
18. Krishna’s favorite gopi
19. The model of the ideal, faithful wife
20. Associated with the disc, mace (club), conch, and lotus

Label the following on the map: 1 point each

1. Pakistan
2. Bangladesh
3. Sri Lanka
4. Indus River
5. Ganges River
6. Himalayas
7. New Delhi
8. Mumbai (Bombay)
9. Colombo
10. Dhaka
    

Identify and state the significance of: 10 points each

1. Mahabaratha
2. Ramayana

Short answer (one paragraph): 10 points each

1. Is Hinduism a monotheistic or polytheistic religion?
2. How and why did the caste system develop?

Essay (three paragraphs): 30 points

1. How are the concepts of brahman, atman, dharma, karma, reincarnation, and moksha related?