Ancient India
Buddhism
a) Use an outline map of Asia to draw in and label India and these other Asian countries: Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar [formerly Burma], Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim. Add arrows to show Buddhism’s spread from India to other places.
b) Meditation is an important component of Buddhism and it is widely practiced today, often including yoga practices. Do research on meditation--its aims and its practices--and prepare a written report of your findings, with illustrations.
Compare Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India
Make a museum exhibit. Divide mural paper into three sections and label each one “Egypt”, “Mesopotamia”, and “India”. Draw an object from each area. For example, you might draw the double crown from Egypt and the chariot from Mesopotamia. Write and attach a brief explanation of the object’s significance.
Hinduism
a) Use markers or colored pencils to draw the Hindu circle of life, death, and rebirth. “Illuminate” it with color and add interesting lettering for the words that run around it.
b) Do some research on one of the Hindu deities, illustrate how they were pictured, and what they represented.
Himalayas
a) Research to discover why the Himalayas are so tall. Prepare a diagram and write a report.
b) Choose any aspect of the Himalayas--their height, how they were formed, efforts to climb them, the “abominable snowman”, or anything else--and do further research about it. Prepare a report and visual materials to present you findings.
c) Find the average height of the Great, or High, Himalayas and of the Hindu Kush. When you have found the figures, do the subtraction to find the difference in height.
Indian Dance
Do research into Indian dance, finding pictures showing at least six movements it uses. Illustrate these movements and explain their meaning.
Indus River
Draw a flow chart that shows the flow of the Indus River from the Himalayas, through canyons, across a dry plain, and into the Arabian Sea.
Indus Valley
Make up a calendar, using our 12 months, to show approximately when each growing season in the two-crop Indus Valley began and ended.
Mohenjo-Daro
a) Draw pictures of things that reflect the civilization of Mohenjo-Daro. Write picture captions in which you identify the events or evedence. Arrange your pictures on a poster board display entitled “Life in Mohenjo-Daro.”
b) Build a model of Mohenjo-Daro, using clay, wood, cardboard, and some other materials. Do further research on the city to get more datails of its layout and building styles.
c) Pretend that you are a person of your own age living in ancient Mohenjo-Daro. Write a diary entry describing one of your days
d) Mohenjo-Daro vs American sewer system: Compare the sewer system of Mohenjo-Daro with sewer systems in American cities. American sewer systems are run by city governments, as it is assumed Harappan sewers were. Also discuss “manholes”. In Mohesnjo-Daro, these were openings at intervals in the system where inspectors and other workers could get in to check and unclog the drains. In American cities, they serve as entries into the sewer system as well as into the electrical system. The “indoor plumbing” that Harappan civilization developed was the most technologically advanced in the world at the time.
a) Use an outline map of Asia to draw in and label India and these other Asian countries: Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar [formerly Burma], Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim. Add arrows to show Buddhism’s spread from India to other places.
b) Meditation is an important component of Buddhism and it is widely practiced today, often including yoga practices. Do research on meditation--its aims and its practices--and prepare a written report of your findings, with illustrations.
Compare Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India
Make a museum exhibit. Divide mural paper into three sections and label each one “Egypt”, “Mesopotamia”, and “India”. Draw an object from each area. For example, you might draw the double crown from Egypt and the chariot from Mesopotamia. Write and attach a brief explanation of the object’s significance.
Hinduism
a) Use markers or colored pencils to draw the Hindu circle of life, death, and rebirth. “Illuminate” it with color and add interesting lettering for the words that run around it.
b) Do some research on one of the Hindu deities, illustrate how they were pictured, and what they represented.
Himalayas
a) Research to discover why the Himalayas are so tall. Prepare a diagram and write a report.
b) Choose any aspect of the Himalayas--their height, how they were formed, efforts to climb them, the “abominable snowman”, or anything else--and do further research about it. Prepare a report and visual materials to present you findings.
c) Find the average height of the Great, or High, Himalayas and of the Hindu Kush. When you have found the figures, do the subtraction to find the difference in height.
Indian Dance
Do research into Indian dance, finding pictures showing at least six movements it uses. Illustrate these movements and explain their meaning.
Indus River
Draw a flow chart that shows the flow of the Indus River from the Himalayas, through canyons, across a dry plain, and into the Arabian Sea.
Indus Valley
Make up a calendar, using our 12 months, to show approximately when each growing season in the two-crop Indus Valley began and ended.
Mohenjo-Daro
a) Draw pictures of things that reflect the civilization of Mohenjo-Daro. Write picture captions in which you identify the events or evedence. Arrange your pictures on a poster board display entitled “Life in Mohenjo-Daro.”
b) Build a model of Mohenjo-Daro, using clay, wood, cardboard, and some other materials. Do further research on the city to get more datails of its layout and building styles.
c) Pretend that you are a person of your own age living in ancient Mohenjo-Daro. Write a diary entry describing one of your days
d) Mohenjo-Daro vs American sewer system: Compare the sewer system of Mohenjo-Daro with sewer systems in American cities. American sewer systems are run by city governments, as it is assumed Harappan sewers were. Also discuss “manholes”. In Mohesnjo-Daro, these were openings at intervals in the system where inspectors and other workers could get in to check and unclog the drains. In American cities, they serve as entries into the sewer system as well as into the electrical system. The “indoor plumbing” that Harappan civilization developed was the most technologically advanced in the world at the time.