Resources for Learning About India

When learning about other countries, we can learn so much about how people live, how and why cultures came to be. In our home, we truly enjoy learning about cultures that are entirely different from our own. I want my children to appreciate the people God created all over the world. These resources for learning about India are an excellent place to start.

I am always amazed at the things we discover about other countries. Studying other countries encourages our children to gain the knowledge they will never forget. It opens up the world, which can seem so small at times.

Fast Facts about India

Here are a few interesting facts my kids and I found about India that we think your family will enjoy:

• India just gained its independence in 1947.
• The country only has three national days: Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi’s Birthday.
• The beautiful, majestic peacock is India’s national bird.
• North of the country is home to the famous Himalayan mountains.
• The most famous and longest river in India is the Ganges River.
• India is the 2^nd most populated country in the world. To give you an idea, the Earth’s whole population is well over 7 billion people, and over 1.27 billion people live in India. The United States has 316 million, which gives you an idea of the country’s population.
• Bay of Bengal in India is the world’s largest mangrove forest.
• India is the only country in the whole world with BOTH lions AND tigers.
• When greeting elders, some people touch their feet as a sign of respect.
• Cows are known to be sacred to Hindus because they symbolize strength and provide “life-giving” milk. Cows can be seen roaming the streets everywhere, and people can be seen bowing down to them.

Can there be funkier facts? Yes, there can!

• It is illegal to take Rupees (Indian currency) out of India.
• It is said that there is an Indian man that hasn’t eaten or drank anything for 70 years.
• (You will NOT believe this.) The world’s largest family lives in India. The man has 39 wives and … 94 children!
• There is so much more, but I will leave it there.

India Resources for Kids

Explore India with your kids with these excellent resources.

• FREE Printable India Learning Packet
• India: Endangered Animals Games | All Done Monkey
• India Books for Kids | Happy Brown House
• Free Homeschool Unit Study about Culture in India and Gloria Whelen’s “Homeless Bird” | The Frugal Homeschooling Mom
• Power Vocabulary: Ancient India | Kids Discover
• All Around India: Vaddar, Viswakarma, and Vakkaliga | Write Bonnie Rose

• Learn Hindi in 30 Minutes – ALL the Basics You Need | HindiPod101.com
• India Resources (Free with Membership)| Activity Village
• Facts about India | Making Friends
• Ancient India History Worksheet | Worksheets to Print
• Printable FREE Ancient India Test | Help Teaching
• Ancient India Notes and Stations Sample (FREE) | Education with DocRunning
• INDIA – Printable handout with map and flag | Interactive Printables
• Everyday Art, Rangoli/Mandala from Ancient India, Diwali Motifs, Set 2 | Swati Sharma
• India Booklet Country Study | Creative Classroom Core
• India – Research Mini Book | The Colorado Classroom

More resources to use when studying India:

• India- Alberta Grade 3 Social Studies Communities in the World | Encore Teaching Resources – The Encore Teacher
• Ancient India Unit with Learning Stations and Interactive Project | Brain Waves Instruction
• Ancient India STEM Challenges | StudentSavvy
• India! Snakes & Ladders Trivia Game – Images, Printable Game Materials, No Prep | My Cool World
• Booklet (India Country Study!) | Emily Bynum
• India Booklet Country Study Project Unit | Beyond Imagination
• India! A Sikh Wedding – Class Paper Doll Activity, Intro to Sikhism, Henna Craft | My Cool World
• India Symbols | Easy Peasy Teaching
• Seasons in India | Gupshups

Crafts on India

• Diwali Festival of Lights – 4 Crafts, Lesson, Booklet, PowerPoint, Story Link | My Cool World
• India! Festival of Brothers & Sisters – Lesson, Easy Friendship Bracelet Craft | My Cool World
• India! Map Journaling Geography & History – PowerPoint & Craft Activity/Lesson | My Cool World
• India Crafts for Kids | The Crafty Classroom

• Fun and Interesting Diwali Activities and Crafts for Kids – Free printables | Sharing Our Experiences
• Exploring Folk Art Craft from India with Kids | Artsy Craftsy Mom
• Discovering India with Kids | Discovering the World through My Son’s Eyes

Books about India for Kids

Books are another wonderful way to learn more about India. Here are a few interesting options for kids to explore from Amazon.

India (A True Book: Geography: Countries)India For Kids: Amazing Facts About IndiaLiving in . . . IndiaJanmashtami Special- Stories, Festivals and Mythologies of IndiaA Kid’s Guide to IndiaLet’s Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali! (Maya & Neel’s India Adventure Series, Book 1) (Volume 1)India Kids Travel Journal: Fun Adventures, Diary for Kids to Write In with Prompts ~ Pages for Writing, Doodling & Sketching, Small Lined DiaryHands-On History! Ancient India: Discover the Rich Heritage of the Indus Valley and the Mughal Empire, with 15 Step-by-Step Projects and 340 PicturesThe History of India for Children – (Vol. 2): From The Mughals To The Present [Paperback] Archana Garodia Gupta,Shruti GarodiaTravel Journal India: Travel Keepsake Journal | Vacation Diary for Kids | India Map CoverAll about India: Introduction to India for Kids

 

Homeschooling in India

More and more families are starting to homeschool in India. There aren’t many statistics about it, but I did find that homeschooling in India is growing an estimated 2% to 8% per year (India Today).

Homeschooling isn’t legal in India just yet, but they won’t necessarily stop families from educating at home. There aren’t many opportunities for homeschoolers once they complete their schooling. Unfortunately, colleges ask for school certificates when kids seek admissions.