DESCRIPTION OF LESSON / ACTIVITY:

India Workshop

India Costume

India Craft

Click on an image to see a larger picture

Topic Work

A powerpoint presentation was used to introduce the topic with pictures of India showing a range of modern and traditional buildings, cities and villages; people wearing traditional and modern clothing; famous sites. Images challenged stereotypes wherever possible. We used the ActionAid ‘Bangalore and Chembakolli’ pack which has an excellent powerpoint and photographs. The size of India was emphasised and the impact this has on its climate and environment, and this was contrasted with the United Kingdom.
Indian artefacts and resources were examined, an excellent ‘India’ resource box was ordered from the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum. The class also attended an interactive ‘India’ workshop there. Fun was had by all when attempting to put on sari’s in a sari workshop in school. Children examined cooking utensils, tasted Indian foods, smelt Indian spices, played Carrom board (a traditional board game) and applied mendhi on hands.
Patterns in jewellery and saris were explored leading to detailed artwork and increasing knowledge of symmetry. Chalk and dotted paper was used to design rangoli patterns, then patterns were made using coloured powder. Fantastic elephant batik designs were made. Small groups experimented with tie-dyeing using different ways of folding and tying material using string and rubber bands, including beads within the folds. The children loved to open up their designs and see the patterns made.

Literacy Links

The children looked at pictures of drought and monsoon, thought of adjectives and created their own poems using ‘Drought’ by Accabre Huntley as a model.
‘Grandpa Chatterji’ by Jamila Gavin was read and enjoyed - the class found the character of Grandpa Chatterji very interesting. Leaflets about India were produced putting information about food, children, homes etc. into paragraphs.
The life story of ‘Mahatma Gandhi’, and his message to change using non-violence and related issues of Indian Independence and history were explored.

The poem ‘Drought’ by Accabre Huntley in:

'Key Comprehension' New Edition Pupil Book 2, by Angela Burt, Publisher - Ginn, 2005
ISBN 09780602206604

Rangoli designs
From Bangalore to Chembakolli (ActionAid: Chembakolli resource)
Primary Resources for additional resources and planning documents.
‘The Salt of freedom: The story of Mahatma Gandhi (Historical storybooks) Peter Hepplewhite. Publishers: Hodders Children’s Books ISBN 0750233708
Mendhi Patterns and teacher ideas