Objective: SWBAT use cause and effect to analyze the importance in
Indian geography and climate to Indian life
Inquiry Question:
Name:
Date:
Humanities
Homeroom:
Indian Geography
Do Now:
Why is it important to learn about the geography of a country?
In my own words, it is important to understand the relationship between geography and Indian life because….
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Geography Video
1. How do the Himalayas protect India?
2. List 2 facts about the Ganges River.
3. List 2 facts about the That Desert.
4. What is the monsoon?
5. Why is the monsoon important?
Turn and Talk: Based on the video, what effect does geography have on Indian life?
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Geography of the Indian Subcontinent
India is basically a peninsula, with the Arabian Sea on the west, the Bay of Bengal on the east, and the Indian
Ocean to the south. Because the Himalayan Mountains separate India from much of the rest of Asia and China,
India is protected from extreme cold weather.
Just south of the Himalayas is the Indo-Gangetic Plain between the Indus and Ganges rivers. Since this region is
so fertile, it is here that most of India's large-scale agriculture takes place. On the north-western end of India is
the Thar Desert. Most of southern India is the Deccan Plateau, which is mostly rolling hills with many rivers.
The plateau is separated from the northern plain by the Vindhya mountains. The Eastern and Western Ghats are
coastal mountains on either side of the plateau.
Monsoons during June through September produce severe storms with rain. The western and north-eastern
coasts hit by monsoons get considerable rain, some areas getting over 100 inches per year. The monsoons are a
predictable and gentle form of watering, so India is good for agriculture.
6. How do the Himalayan Mountains affect India’s weather?
7. How does this weather affect India?
8. How does the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plain affect Indians?
Tropical Cyclones
The Thar Desert in the northwest and the Himalayas in the north work together to create a monsoon area that
experiences frequent tropical storms. Because it is Earth's highest and most massive mountain range, the
Himalayan system stops frigid winds from northern Asia. Most of North India is kept warm or is only mildly
chilly or cold during winter; the same mountain barrier keeps most regions in India hot in summer. Cyclones
occur because strong winds form during monsoon season, and the barriers of the Himalayan Mountains and the
Thar Desert trap these winds.
Tropical cyclones, which are severe storms formed over warm water, affect thousands of Indians living in
coastal regions. Cyclones bring with them heavy rains, storm surges, and winds that often cut affected areas off
from relief and supplies. In the North Indian Ocean Basin, the cyclone season runs from April to December,
with peak activity between May and November. Storms form every year, with the most severe occurring only
once every other year.
9. Why do cyclones occur in India?
10. What effect do cyclones have on Indians?
Earthquakes
The Indian subcontinent has a history of devastating earthquakes and is vulnerable to some of the
world’s largest continental earthquakes. The major reason for the large number of very intense earthquakes is
that the Indian plate is driving into Asia. Almost 54% of the subcontinent is at risk of earthquakes. The majority
of India’s earthquakes happen along the arc of the Himalayan Mountains, formed by the collision of the Indian
and Eurasian tectonic plates. However, damaging earthquakes also occur deep inside India, far from the
Himalayan mountains. These earthquakes cause millions of dollars of damage to buildings and property every
year, and often cause loss of life.
11. Why do earthquakes occur in India?
12. How do those earthquakes affect Indians?
Objective: SWBAT infer how the Indian creation myth was influenced by
geography.
Inquiry Question:
Name:
Date:
Humanities
Homeroom:
Hindu Creation Myth
Do Now:
What is a creation myth?
How do you believe the world began?
In my own words, it is important to be able to explain the relationship between the Hindu creation myth and geography
because….
Hindu Creation Myth Video
1. What existed before all things? What geographic feature does this represent?
2. Who was the god sleeping in the cobra?
3. What natural disaster might be represented by the sound “Om” vibrating throughout the universe?
4. What does Brahma create with the lotus flower petals?
5. Who is Lord Shiva? Why might Hindus believe that the world will be destroyed and recreated again and again?
Turn and Talk: How is the Hindu creation myth influenced by geography?
Hindu Creation Myth
Before time began there was no heaven, no earth and no space between. A vast dark ocean washed upon the
shores of nothingness and licked the edges of night. A giant cobra floated on the waters. Asleep within its endless coils lay
the Lord Vishnu. He was watched over by the mighty serpent. Everything was so peaceful and silent that Vishnu slept
undisturbed by dreams or motion.
From the depths a humming sound began to tremble, Om. It grew and spread, filling the emptiness and throbbing
with energy. The night had ended. Vishnu awoke. As the dawn began to break, from Vishnu's navel grew a magnificent
lotus flower. In the middle of the blossom sat Vishnu's servant, Brahma. He awaited the Lord's command.
6. Based on the description of the “vast dark ocean” in this myth, how did Indians view the ocean?
7. Based on what we learned about Indian geography, what geographic event is represented by the sound ‘Om’?
8. How do you think ancient Indians viewed this geographic event?
Vishnu spoke to his servant: 'It is time to begin.' Brahma bowed. Vishnu commanded: 'Create the world.'
A violent wind swept up the waters. Vishnu and the serpent vanished. Brahma remained in the lotus flower,
floating and tossing on the sea. He lifted up his arms and calmed the wind and the ocean. Then Brahma split the lotus
flower into three. He stretched one part into the heavens.
9. What geographic event might be represented by the violent wind sweeping up the waters?
10. How does Brahma deal with this event?
He made another part into the earth. With the third part of the flower he created the skies. The earth was bare.
Brahma set to work. He created grass, flowers, trees and plants of all kinds. To these he gave feeling. Next he created the
animals and the insects to live on the land. He made birds to fly in the air and many fish to swim in the sea. To all these
creatures, he gave the senses of touch and smell. He gave them power to see, hear and move. The world was soon bristling
with life and the air was filled with the sounds of Brahma's creation.
But one day, this Universe, like all others before it, will be wiped out when Lord Shiva, the destroyer, grows
angry with the world’s evil. At this time, he will dance his ferocious dance of destruction and once again there will be a
time when nothing exists but Brahman.
11. Based on your knowledge of Indian natural disasters, why do you think the Hindu creation myth describes Shiva?
Constructed Response: How was the Hindu creation myth influenced by geography? Use at least 3 pieces of
evidence to support your answer.
1) Re-state the prompt
3) This proves
5) In other words
7) Therefore
2) According to the text “QUOTE”
4) The text also states “QUOTE”
6) The author states “QUOTE”
8) In conclusion - re-restate the prompt
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