India+Class+Activities

Early Elementary Activity: Pachisi Pachisi is a very ancient Indian game for 4 people playing in 2 pairs, also known as "Twenty Five". This is the original game from which Ludo and Parcheesi were derived, although you will see that the rules are different. Pachisi is quite a skillful game, where you must definitely play as a partnership to win!
 * History || Geography || Culture || Economics || Politics || Class Activities || Resources ||

You will need:
 * One game board, printed and assembled
 * 16 pieces, printed and assembled
 * A set of 6 small cowrie shells, or 6 coins adapted as shown on the printout

**Preparation**: Choose a partner, and sit opposite them with the board between you. Take the 4 pieces (which match the color at the end of the arm pointing to you). This means that Purple and Yellow will be playing against Red and Green. Put all the pieces in the center square (known as Charkoni, but which we will call Center from now on). Lay the scoring chart on the table near the board for reference, until you get used to the scoring.

Now throw your "dice" and decide who starts: the player with the highest score begins and then play follows around the table in an anti-clockwise direction.

**The Aim of the Game**: The first team to move all their pieces out of Center, around the board, and back to Center, are the winners.



**How To Play Pachisi**: The first player throws the "dice" and moves one of his pieces out of Center, down the pink column of the board nearest him and marked by his color, and then around the board as shown by the arrows below. If one of the special "Grace" numbers is thrown (25 points, 10 points or 6 points), the player is allowed another turn as long as he or she removes a second piece from Center. Play then passes to the right.

On each player's first throw they are allowed to take one of their pieces out of Center, no matter what they throw. But for subsequent turns, they need to throw a Grace to be able to take a piece out.
 * You can land on the same square as one of your partner's pieces.
 * You can land on any empty Castle (marked by a yellow cross).
 * You cannot land on a Castle that is occupied by one of your opponent's pieces. If that is your only possible move, you miss your turn.

**Capturing**: If you land on a square occupied by one of your opponent's pieces, you can capture their piece and send it back to Center! You then take another turn. Remember that their piece will not be allowed out of Center again until they throw a Grace.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">**Choosing Not To Move**: <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">When you have thrown the "dice", you may decide not to take your turn (perhaps because it would be safer to stay on a Castle, or to help your partner.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">**Moving Back To Center**: <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">To win, you and your partner need to get all your pieces around the board and back into the Center. However, you need to throw an exact number to return to the Center, so it isn't always easy! Hint: if you land on the Castle Square at the end of the arm to your left, you can sit there and wait for the perfect throw - 25 points - to jump straight back to Center. See the illustration below. <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">When your piece has been all the way around the board and reaches Center again, turn it on its side to show that it has completed its round. <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">You don't have to return to Center: sometimes, if your partner is very far behind, it may be more helpful for you to go all the way around the board again! // *Click on the link below to find a printable game board that you and your family can enjoy at home! //


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">This activity was brought to you by: **
 * []**

<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 25px;">Late Elementary Activity: Tracking Early Hinduism <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">A Diwali Diya is a small lamp that is lit especially at Diwali (New Year's in India). Diyas (candles) are typically made of clay with Ghee or oil used as the fuel and cotton wool as the wick. Objectives**: The oldest and most widely practiced religion in India is Hinduism. Throughout the many political changes and foreign invasions, Hinduism remained constant throughout the region's history. Hindu beliefs have developed over the centuries and include many influences, including numerous sacred texts, thousands of deities, and holy sites that continue to draw in millions of visitors. You will take a virtual tour of the development of ancient Hinduism. From your perspective, (as a foreign traveler who is just discovering this religion), you will create a scrapbook that highlights what you have discovered along your way. Use images from the internet (with appropriate citation) or you may create your own. You should draw from the ancient texts, stories of the gods, and holy sites along the banks of the Ganges River. Consider the following topics:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Understand the foundation of Hinduism
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Explore ancient texts that define Hinduism
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Review the major deities in Hinduism and their roles in the spiritual lives of Hindus
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Introduction **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Main Task **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">The importance of the Ganges River
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Origins of Sanskrit
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">The Vedas and Mahabharata
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">The various gods


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Brief Process **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Gain a basic understanding of Hinduism through the provided text and video resources below.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Create a persona that will go on this exploration of the largest Indian religion. You can draw from the many historical visitors and invaders who have come to India for trade and conquest -- from the Romans, to the Mughals, to the British.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Review and research 5-7 topics from the provided text and video resources.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Create a scrapbook page for each topic. Include basic information about the topic, the perception of your foreign visitor, and images that help illustrate the subject.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Finally, be prepared to share your scrapbook in small groups.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;"> http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/teachers/lessons/1/
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Resources <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">: **


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Extension Ideas **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">If you personally are Hindu, write a journal that records your spiritual and pragmatic reflections when reading about these holy sites, ideas, and figures.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Use one of the many online multimedia tools for the creation of your project.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Blog your findings as if you are in the field recording your thoughts.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Team up with a classmate and write letters back and forth about your thoughts & perceptions of various Hindu topics.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">This activity was brought to you by: []

<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 25px; line-height: 22px;">Fine Arts Activity: Diwali Diyas <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">A Diwali Diya is a small lamp that is lit especially at Diwali (New Year's in India). Diyas (candles) are typically made of clay with Ghee or oil used as the fuel and cotton wool as the wick.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Materials **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Clay
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Acrylic paint
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">tealight candle

**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Instructions **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Choose and prepare one of the clay recipes (or use store bought clay such as Sculpey clay). All of the recipes work fine and depend on the ingredients you have on hand. I prefer the last version. (Click on the link below to view a variety of recipes). []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">--Show the children the tealight candle and remind them that their pot must be large enough for the candle to fit inside. --Form the clay into a Diya using one of two methods (option 1 is easier than option 2): **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Option 1: Pinch Pot method **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Roll the clay into a ball
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Stick thumbs into the center of the ball, pinching the sides to make a hollow (you're making a bowl shape, not a donut)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Flatten out the bottom of the ball to make a nice flat surface for the Diya (so it will sit sturdily on a table without risk of it falling)
 * It should not be too deep (the flame of the candle should stick up over the top of the diya)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Let air dry or bake dry depending on the type of clay you are using.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Use acrylic paint to decorate the pot however you like. Some inspiration:Let dry
 * the colors of India's flag are green and deep orange
 * typically, Diyas were earthen pots so any brown, orange, yellow colors would be appropriate
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Add tealight candle which you can actually light (make sure the flame doesn't touch the edges of the pot)

**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Option 2: Coil Pot method ** >
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Make a flat "pancake" of clay that's larger in diameter than the tealight candle. This will be the bottom of your diya.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Roll remaining clay into long snakes [[image:http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/india/s/mdiyas7.jpg]]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Coil the snakes around the pancake of clay, building up the pot as you go.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">You'll need to squeeze the snakes onto the pancake and onto each other a bit so they stay together when the project dries
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Let air dry or bake dry depending on the type of clay you are using.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Use acrylic paint to decorate the pot however you like. Some inspiration:Let dry
 * the colors of India's flag are green and deep orange
 * typically, Diyas were earthen pots so any brown, orange, yellow colors would be appropriate
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">Add tealight candle which you can actually light (make sure the flame doesn't touch the edges of the pot)

<span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;">This is not yet painted, but gives you an idea! This activity was brought to you by: []

Parents: If any of you have any experience with clay or potting and would like to volunteer to help our class make these Diyas, we would appreciate it so much! There is a sign up sheet on our classroom door, or you can email me at rdawson@gmail.com. Below are the time slots you can choose from. Thanks in advance for all your help!

11/28/12 --- 10:00am-11:00am 12/5/12 --- 1:00pm-2:00pm 12/12/12 --- 2:00pm-3:00pm 12/19/12 --- 1:00pm-2:00pm