Ancient India Keynote Presentation
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO DO
You will be working in groups of 5-6 to prepare
Keynote presentations on the India Unit. Each
group member creates a unique presentation
about a lesson from the unit.
During computer lab, you will prepare your
presentation and identify the graphics that
will support the sub-sections of your
presentation.
At the conclusion of the unit, each member
of your group will present his/her findings
to their group.
Keynote presentations will be uploaded to
Computer Lab 6th Grade Home Page for other
students’ review.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Survey Chapter 6 Ancient India (pp 140 –
177) from your social studies textbook
Ancient Civilizations
Prepare an outline of the lesson you have
selected using Omni Outliner. You will be
the expert member of the group in this area
of study. The group must compile the
separate sections into a single outline
Create a unique Keynote presentation of
one of the lessons from the unit. Stay on
topic.
Use varied vocabulary and vivid
descriptions. Everything must be in your
own words.
Your presentation should have a minimum
of 9 slides and include a title slide and two
citation slides (bibliography and graphics).
Citations should be in MLA format. Use
http://easybib.com/
IDEAS
 Include graphs, charts, and maps in your
presentation.
 Slides should include a background, title,
graphic, bulleted text, transitions, and
automatic object builds.
 Use labels on drawings, maps and
pictures.
 Use an appropriate font size.
HOW DO WE GET STARTED
Take some time to think about what you need
to cover, what sources you will use, and how
you want to present your information.
Consider using original artwork.
The reading and research should be done at
home. Use that time to locate quality websites
and graphics, and prepare your information for
class. You may email your research to school. Use
your lab time to compile your presentation.
GRADING
Quality of Project – 90% Individual
Content, Organization, and Design
• Presentation is clear and complete
• Student-authored
• Few, if any, spelling or grammar errors
• Use of varied vocabulary
• Slides include backgrounds, titles, text,
graphics, transitions, and object builds
• Information and Graphics Bibliography
Team Work – 10%
• You worked cooperatively and were able to
solve conflicts in an appropriate manner
• Deadlines met and group stayed on task
• Members are prepared for their
presentation to the group
TOPICS
(suggestions for research)
6.1 - Geography and Early India
What are monsoons? How does northern India
differ from the rest of the region? Why is India
called a subcontinent? Where did Harappan
civilization develop? What is one reason that
scholars do not completely understand some
important parts of Harappan society? Who were
the Aryans? How was Aryan society different
from Harappan society?
6.2 Origins of Hinduism
What is the caste system? Why did strict caste
rules develop? What does the Rigveda include?
What role did sacrifice play in Aryan society?
What is karma? How did Brahmanism develop
into Hinduism? How does Hinduism reinforce
followers’ to remain within their castes? What
are the four main teachings of Jainism? How
do you think the idea of nonviolence affected
the daily lives of Jains in ancient India?
6.3 - Origins of Buddhism
Who was the Buddha, and what does the term
Buddha mean? How did Siddhartha Guatama
free his mind and clarify his thinking as he
searched for wisdom? What is nirvana? How
are Buddhist teachings different from Hindu
teachings? Why do Buddhists believe that
following the Eightfold Path leads to a better
life? Into what lands did Buddhism spread?
What role did missionaries play in spreading
Buddhism?
6.4 - Indian Empires
Who created the Mauryan Empire? What
happened after Asoka became a Buddhist?
Why do you think many people consider Asoka
the greatest of all Mauryan rulers? To which
religion did most of the Gupta rulers belong?
How were the rulers Chandragupta Maurya
and Chandragupta I alike, and how were they
different? Do you think the Gupta enforcement
of caste rules was a good thing? Why or why
not?
6.5 - Indian Achievements
What did Hindu temples of the Gupta period
look like? How can you tell that Indian artists
were well respected? Why do you think Hindu
and Buddhist temples contained great works of
art? What is the Bhagavad Gita? Why were the
stories of the Panchatantra written? Why do
you think people are still interested in ancient
Sanskrit epics today? What is metallurgy?
Why do we call the numbers we use today
Hindu-Arabic numerals?
TIMELINE
January 21
February 10
February 24
March 3
Introduction
Unit Outlines Due
Presentations Due
Present to Group