The Basic Beliefs of Hinduism: The Four Goals of Life

Living a moral life, known as dharma, is one of the goals of life for Hindus.

 Today's Learning Objective  Explain the major beliefs and practice of the religion of Hinduism. 

The Basic Beliefs of Hinduism: The Four Goals of Life  Today we will continue our study of the religion of Hinduism, while using our Hinduism Study Guide (A Central Idea and Its Parts) document to take notes. Our focus today is on learning about the "Four Goals of Life" for Hindus. We will read excerpts from our Social Studies textbook Ancient Civilizations below. 

CNN Student News  As we watch CNN Student News today, identify one or two news stories that you can pinpoint geographically and place on the Current Event layer of your Social Studies World Map via Google Maps. 

Washington, D.C.; New Hampshire; and LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, in Pasadena, California were all featured in today's segment. After pinning at least one of these places on your map, consider the most important question: What happened here? You should include a title for the event, the date(s) the event took place, a brief summary of what happened, and include an appropriate photo or video. If you need to refer to a transcript of today's broadcast you can find it here.

Homework  (1.) Complete your Caste System Infographic, which is due tomorrow, Friday, February 12. (2.) Continue working on your Hinduism Study Guide (A Central Idea and Its Parts) document.

Introduction to Hinduism

Hindu goddesses Saraswati (left) and Lakshmi (center), and the elephant-headed god Ganesh

 Today's Learning Objective  Explain the major beliefs and practice of the religion of Hinduism. 

An Introduction to Hinduism  Today we begin to learn about Hinduism, one of the oldest religions in the world. For more than 2,500 years, Hinduism has been the major religion of India. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, we will learn about and examine Hinduism from multiple sources and perspectives. As you learn about this fascinating and complex religion, I am going to ask you keep track of relevant facts and information you discover using the document Hinduism Study Guide (A Central Idea and Its Parts) (which can be found in your Social Studies Google Classroom). Please use the Study Guide to also make note of your sources of information.

Our first source will be the video "Introduction to Hinduism" featured below. As you watch, make note of the information you learn that you believe is most essential to understanding the religion. 

Hinduism: Sacred Texts and Belief in God(s)  We will now read an excerpt (below) from your Social Studies textbook Ancient Civilizations focused on some of the sacred texts of Hinduism and two of its core beliefs. Continue to make note of what you learn using your Hinduism Study Guide. 

CNN Student News and Caste System Infographic Project

Find out who Nora is in today's CNN Student News.

CNN Student News  As we watch CNN Student News today, identify one or two news stories that you can pinpoint geographically and place on the Current Event layer of your Social Studies World Map via Google Maps. 

Pyongyang, North Korea; Rio de Janeiro, Brazi; Dixville Notch, New Hampshire; and the Columbus Zoo in Ohio were all featured in today's segment. After pinning at least one of these places on your map, consider the most important question: What happened here? You should include a title for the event, the date(s) the event took place, a brief summary of what happened, and include an appropriate photo or video. If you need to refer to a transcript of today's broadcast you can find it here.

Creating a Caste System Infographic  Today will be your last class period to work on your Caste System Infographic. Remember that your infographic may include information about how the caste sytem began, how it's both similar and different from other social class structures that you've learned about, the different levels (or castes) that make up the system, and its costs and benefits. You may also choose to use have your infographic shine light on the plight of the untouchables by including facts and statistics about their treatment, as well as the existence of caste system discrimination. 

You may rely on your notes from your Caste System - Study Guide, this Blog, your Social Studies text, and trusted online sources to assist you in gathering the necessary facts and information for this project. You may choose to use either Google Drawings or the website that specializes in the design of infographics called easel.ly. This assignment will be due on Friday, February 12.

Creating a Caste System Infographic

What Is an Infographic?  In traditional research reports, students gather information, analyze and organize, and then present their findings in essay style. They could demonstrate all of those findings in another way — with an informational graphic! Informational graphics, also known as infographics, are a way of presenting information, data, or knowledge with the use of visual tools. They are quite ancient; early humans, for example, made maps and other visual representations of their lives which can be seen today. There are a wide range of modern uses for these graphics. Visual presentation of information is a powerful tool. Sometimes a complex concept can be more quickly understood with the use of infographics than through words.

Some examples of infographics can be found below.  Take a moment to look them over. What elements do they all have in common? How is information being presented? What might an infographic about the caste system look like? 

Creating a Caste System Infographic  Now that you know what an infographic is, it's your turn to make your own as a way of demonstrating what you have learned about the caste system. What information about the caste system might you include as part of your infographic? Your infographic may include information about how the caste sytem began, how it's both similar and different from other social class structures that you've learned about, the different levels (or castes) that make up the system, and its costs and benefits. You may also choose to use have your infographic shine light on the plight of the untouchables by including facts and statistics about their treatment, as well as the existence of caste system discrimination. You may rely on your notes from your Caste System - Study Guide, this Blog, your Social Studies text, and trusted online sources to assist you in gathering the necessary facts and information for this project.

Next, you will have to decide what application you want to use to design your inforgraphic. You may choose to use either Google Drawings or a website that specializes in the design of infographics called easel.ly. If you do choose easel.ly, click the link, login with your Google account, and get started. You may choose to a blank canvas or choose a pre-designed theme. 

Using easel.ly I started work on the infographic in progress featured below. Notice the use of a title, shapes, lines, graphics, images, color, and text. There is a learning curve if you choose to use easel.ly, but I'm willing to show you a few things I've learned so far. If you'd rather stick to what you know, then don't hesitate to use Google Drawing for this project. 

As for grading, this project will count towards your assessment grade. I haven't finalized a rubric but I found the one below online, and I plan on borrowing key elements from it in order to assess your work. Take a look. 

Homework  (1.) Complete India's Vedic Age - Cognitive Content Dictionary, which will is due tomorrow, Friday, February 5. (2.) Continue working on your Caste System infographic, which will be due next Friday, February 12. 

Examining Caste System Discrimination and CNN Student News

Examining Caste System Discrimination  We will continue to examine the caste system from multiple perspectives today, as we take a more critical look at this institution and explore what is known as caste system discrimination. You will continue to take notes about what you learn and think using the Caste System - Study Guide. 

Watch the video below, which shines light at the plight of the untouchables and the existence of caste system discrimination. 

                                 

More information about caste discrimination from the International Dalit Solidarity Network can be found below. 

CNN Student News  As we watch CNN Student News today, identify one or two news stories that you can pinpoint geographically and place on the Current Event layer of your Social Studies World Map via Google Maps. 

The Zika forest in Uganda; Beijing, China; Iowa; and Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania were all featured in today's segment. After pinning at least one of these places on your map, consider the most important question: What happened here? You should include a title for the event, the date(s) the event took place, a brief summary of what happened, and include an appropriate photo or video. If you need to refer to a transcript of today's broadcast you can find it here.

CNN Student News and Examining the Caste System

CNN Student News  As we watch CNN Student News today, identify one or two news stories that you can pinpoint geographically and place on the Current Event layer of your Social Studies World Map via Google Maps. 

The Greek Island of Lesbos; Iowa; and the Brooklyn Zoo in New York were all featured in today's segment. After pinning at least one of these places on your map, consider the most important question: What happened here? You should include a title for the event, the date(s) the event took place, a brief summary of what happened, and include an appropriate photo or video. If you need to refer to a transcript of today's broadcast you can find it here.

Examining the Caste System  Today we will continue to examine the caste system by reading an excerpt from our Social Studies text and viewing videos from four different sources. Continue to take notes using the Caste System - Study Guide from yesterday. 

Begin by reading an excerpt from our Social Studies textbook below with the members of your team. According to this source, what are some costs and benefits of the caste system?

 

Now you will watch four different videos related to India's caste system. What do these videos add to your understanding of the caste system? Do you find the system unfair? Why or why not? Add your thoughts to the Caste System - Study Guide. 

 

India's Vedic Age and the Caste System

The Caste System

 Today's Focus Question  What impact did the Aryans have on ancient and modern India?

India's Vedic Age: Guided Reading  Today we are going to continue to learn about the impact the Aryans had on ancient and modern India. We will read about what their lives were like and some of their early religious beliefs (which would later become part of the foundation of the religion of Hinduism). Specifically, we will try to understand the Varna system (which the caste system evolved from). As you read and learn about the caste system from multiple sources, you will take notes using the Caste System - Study Guide (which can be found in your Social Studies Google Classroom).  

Videos: The Caste System and the Untouchables  While the caste system has changed and evolved since the days of the Indo-Aryans, it is still an established part of Indian society today. In the videos below, pay special attention to the role and treatment of Dalits (the modern name for untouchables). Continue to use your Caste System - Study Guide to take notes.