Tour Guide of India

Introduction

India is a wonderfully diverse nation! It is difficult to examine all of the unique characteristics of India in a few short lessons. We need to work together to explore this nation and uncover all of the treasures that India has to offer.

(Map courtesy of http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/goplaces/0,12405,214514,00.html)

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Task

Pretend you are a tour guide for an organization from India. You are going to take your classmates on a tour of your topic. To do this, you will need to become an expert in one area of interest in India. There are several topics to choose from. (Check with your teacher to make sure that no one else has chosen your topic. Some topics are very broad and it may be possible to divide the topic into two! )

1. You need to choose a topic. After you look at the following list of topics, click on that link to find some web resources and a few sample questions to think about. If you find any links that do not work, tell your teacher.
2. You should then prepare a written report (about a paragraph, but more if necessary) to turn in. This is not a formal paper, but you should have all of your ideas written down in sentences.
3. You will present your findings to the class on the day your topic is going to be covered in class. If you find any interesting pictures, print them out, or if you find an interesting website, write a sentence describing the site. Include the web address so that we may visit the site!
4. If you need to find additional information, you can you the search engine. If you do not know how to use the search engine, ask your teacher to help you.
5. I look forward to hearing all about your topic!

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Topics 

Places of Interest & Landscape	Clothing & Culture	Animals	Kids & Government	Holidays
Taj Mahal K2 Blue City Varanasi New Delhi Kerala Harrapa Kanha National Park	Turbans Women'sClothes Bindi Mehendi Yoga Languages Religions Food Money	Tigers Cows Camels Elephants Monkeys	Schools Toys & Games Government Mother Theresa Castes	Baiskhi Camel Festival Diwali Dussehra Gandhi Jayanti Ganesh Chaturthi Gangaur Gurpurab Holi Id-ul-Fitr or Ramazan Id Independence Day International Kite Festival Janmashtmi Kumbh Mela Maha Shivaratri Mahavir Jayanti Navaratri Pongal Raksha Bandhan Ram Navami Republic Day Festival Vasant Panchami

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Castes

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/class/magazines/article/0,17408,92370,00.html

Book-Castes of Mind: Colonialism and the Making of Modern India.

Caste System in modern India

http://www.kamat.com/indica/caste/

1. What are the castes?
2. How did castes begin?
3. Is the caste system still in use?
4. What are some myths about the Caste system?

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Monkeys

http://www.kamat.org/picsearch.asp

http://animal.discovery.com/news/afp/20040223/monkeys.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/monkey/Monkeyprintout.shtml

http://www.szgdocent.org/pp/p-mcrhes.htm

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/class/area/newsarticle/0%2C18077%2C540217%2C00.html

1. Where do monkeys live in India?
2. What are some interesting facts about monkeys?
3. What are some problems with monkeys?

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Mother Theresa

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

TIME 100: Mother Teresa

http://www.cyberindian.com/india/index.php?action=search&query=mother%2bteresa

1. Who was Mother Theresa?
2. What types of things did she do?

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Government

Political administration of India

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/class/magazines/article/0,17408,92370,00.html

http://www.tri-murti.com/india/

1. What is the government called in India?
2. What type of government is in India? (Dictatorship, Democracy, etc.)
3. What types of things does the government take charge of?
4. Give a few brief facts about the government.

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Toys & Games

http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/children/asphalt/index.htm

http://www.tulane.edu/~rouxbee/kids99/india.html

http://www.tri-murti.com/india/

1. What are some popular toys in India?
2. Do all children have toys in India?
3. If children don't have toys, what do they play with?
4. What can you tell us about how children live in India?

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Religions

http://www.informationonindia.com/india/religionsinindia-map.htm

http://www.tri-murti.com/india/religonmap.html

http://www.kamat.com/indica/religion.htm

1. What are the main religions in India?
2. Can you give two facts about each religion?

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Yoga

http://www.yogaworld.org/not_a.htm

http://www.yogaworld.org/mainly.htm

http://www.cyberindian.com/india/index.php?action=jump&jumpto=3323

1. What is Yoga?
2. Give some facts about Yoga.

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Money

http://www.askasia.org/image/drawing/i000522.htm

http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/lessplan/l000021.htm

http://www.xe.net/ucc/full.shtml

http://www.geocities.com/athens/forum/9940/pictures.html

http://www.rrindia.com/currency.html

http://www.deccanherald.com/general/post.asp

http://www.saffronsoul.com/shop/productslist.asp?subcatid=50000

1. What is the money called in India?
2. Why would we need to know about Indian money if we were visiting India?
3. Can you give an example of how much we could buy with American currency in India?
4. Are the prices right between dollars and rupees on the two example shops above?

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Food

http://www.tri-murti.com/india/

http://www.food-india.com/

http://www.stylusinc.com/business/india/food.htm

http://asiarecipe.com/indinfo.html

http://mapsofindia.com/indiaagriculture/

http://cultural-india.eindiatourism.com/national-fruit.html

1. What types of food are grown in India?
2. Give some examples of recipes made in India?
3. What kinds of treats do Indian children eat?

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Harappa

www.harappa.com/seal/sealtext.html

http://www.harappa.com/har/moen0.html

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ANCINDIA/HARAPPA.HTM

http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa041498.htm

http://saxakali.com/COLOR_ASP/harappa.htm

http://archive.msmonline.com/1998/07/harappa.htm

1. Where is Harappa?
2. Why would we need to know about Harappa if we are studying India?
3. What is important about Harappa?
4. What are the seals?
5. Give some facts about Harappa.

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Kanha National Park

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/goplaces/0,12405,214514,00.html

http://www.wildlifeinindia.com/kanha.html

http://www.indiawildliferesorts.com/national-parks/kanha-national-park.html

http://picture-gallery.indianvisit.com/

1. Where is Kanha National Park?
2. What is important about Kanha National Park?
3. Give some facts about Kanha National Park.

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Kerala

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/goplaces/0,12405,214514,00.html

http://www.keralatraveldesk.com/101%20things%20to%20do/1.htm

http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/

1. Where is Kerala?
2. What is important about Kerala?
3. Give some facts about Kerala.

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Varanasi

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/goplaces/0,12405,214514,00.html

http://www.evaranasitourism.com/

http://www.evaranasitourism.com/places-to-see-varanasi/index.html

1. Where is Varanasi?
2. What is important about Varanasi?
3. Give some facts about Varanasi.

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New Delhi

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/goplaces/0,12405,214514,00.html

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/indian_subcontinent/delhi/

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/in1/wwwhmain.html

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=176

1. Where is New Delhi?
2. What is important about New Delhi?
3. Give some facts about New Delhi.

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Blue City

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/goplaces/0,12405,214514,00.html

http://www.aliaterra.com/asia/jodhpur.htm

http://picture-gallery.indianvisit.com/

http://www.kamat.org/picsearch.asp

1. Where is the "Blue City"?
2. Why does it have that name?
3. Give some facts about the "Blue City".

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K2

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/goplaces/0,12405,214514,00.html

http://www.peakware.com/encyclopedia/peaks/k2.htm

http://www.jerberyd.com/climbing/stories/k2/index.htm

1. What is K2?
2. Where is it located?
3. What does K2 stand for?
4. Give some facts about K2.

Introduction Task Topics Assessment Other India WebQuests Additional Resources

Taj Mahal

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/goplaces/0,12405,214514,00.html

http://www.taj-mahal.net/augEng/pano_pages.htm

http://picture-gallery.indianvisit.com/

Taj Mahal - A Tribute to Beauty

The Taj Mahal, India

THE MAJESTIC MAHAL

Forgotten Wonders: Taj Mahal

1. Where is the Taj Mahal?
2. What is the Taj Mahal?
3. Give some facts about the Taj Mahal.

Introduction Task Topics Assessment Other India WebQuests Additional Resources

Languages

http://www.culturopedia.com/Languages/language_intro.html

http://www.askasia.org/image/maps/indiav4.htm

Official Language of India

1. What is India's national language?
2. What other languages are spoken in India?
3. What problems has this caused?
4. Can you give some other facts about the languages spoken in India?

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Cows

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/farm/Cowprintout.shtml

http://www.kamat.com/indica/culture/holy-cow.htm

http://www.coastsociology.org/204/204_cow_day.htm

http://www.coastsociology.org/204/family_cow.htm

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9603/mad_cow/29/india/index.html

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/11/04/india.cows/

1. What role do cows play in Indian culture?
2. What other facts about cows in India have you found?
3. What are some controversial issues related to cows in India?

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Tigers

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/tiger/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/tiger/Bengaltigerprintout.shtml

Tracking Tigers in Eastern India

http://www.tuffydog.com/tiger6.html

http://www.wildlywise.com/tigers_index.htm

http://www.bootsnall.com/cgi-bin/gt/travelstories/asia/dec00indiatiger1.shtml

http://www.kamat.org/picsearch.asp

1. Where do tigers live in India?
2. What role does the tiger play in Indian Culture?
3. What is happening to the tiger population?
4. What other facts can you find about tigers?

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Elephants

www.wildlywise.com/ele_text.htm

http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/prani/elephants/index.htm

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AsianElephants/default.cfm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/elephant/Asiancoloring.shtml

1. Where are elephants located in India?
2. What is "Project Elephant"?
3. What is the difference between African elephants and Asian elephants?
4. What role does the elephant play in India's religions / culture?
5. How are wild elephants caught in India?

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Camels

http://www.wildlife-tour-india.com/indian-wildlife/camel.html

http://www.arab.net/camels/welcome.html

http://www.datadubai.com/camels1b.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/camel/Camelcoloring.shtml

http://www.kamat.org/picsearch.asp

1. Where do camels live?
2. What role do camels play in Indian culture?
3. Where do camels store water?
4. Did you find any interesting facts about camels?

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Baiskhi

http://friendstime.com/travel/festival.htm#11

http://www.spindlepub.com/india/festivals.htm

1. What is Baiskhi?
2. How is it celebrated?
3. When is it celebrated?
4. Where is it celebrated?
5. Is it a religious or secular holiday?
6. What does secular mean?

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Independence Day

http://friendstime.com/travel/festival.htm#19

http://www.india-travel.com/festival.htm

1. When is Independence Day celebrated?
2. What does it celebrate?
3. Where is it celebrated?
4. What does secular mean?
5. Is it a religious or secular holiday?

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Republic Day Festival

http://friendstime.com/travel/festival.htm#1

http://www.india-travel.com/festival.htm

http://www.visit-indya.com/indian-festivals.html

1. What does Republic Day celebrate?
2. When did India gain its independence and from who?
3. How is it celebrated?
4. Where is it celebrated?
5. Is it a religious or secular holiday?
6. What does secular mean?

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Raksha Bandhan

http://friendstime.com/travel/festival.htm#29

http://www.india-travel.com/festival.htm

http://www.spindlepub.com/india/festivals.htm

1. What is Raksha Bandhan?
2. Who is Varuna?
3. When is it celebrated?
4. Where is it celebrated?
5. Is it a religious or secular holiday?
6. What does secular mean?

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Ram Navami

http://friendstime.com/travel/festival.htm#30

http://www.travelingtoindia.com/destinations/festival.html

1. Who was Rama?
2. When is it celebrated?
3. How is it celebrated?
4. Where is it celebrated?
5. Is it a religious or secular holiday?
6. What does secular mean?

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Pongal

http://friendstime.com/travel/festival.htm#27

http://www.spindlepub.com/india/festivals.htm

http://www.visit-indya.com/indian-festivals.html

1. How long is Pongol celebrated?
2. What is honored each day?
3. When is it celebrated?
4. Where is it celebrated?
5. Is it a religious or secular holiday?
6. What does secular mean?

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Maha Shivaratri

http://friendstime.com/travel/festival.htm#21

http://www.india-travel.com/festival.htm

http://www.spindlepub.com/india/festivals.htm

http://www.travelingtoindia.com/destinations/festival.html

1. What does Shivaratri mean?
2. When is it celebrated?
3. Where is it celebrated?
4. Is it a religious or secular holiday?
5. What does secular mean?

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Janmashtmi

http://friendstime.com/travel/festival.htm#20

http://www.spindlepub.com/india/festivals.htm