Indian Caste System Webquest

India Web-Quest Caste System

Name: Date:______

Go to this website to complete the chart and questions on this handout:

Step 1: Go to my blog or the student U drive and open the folder “Bellack” and then the “Hinduism” Folder and pull up the article: “The Caste System.” Read the article and answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. 1. Explain the Varna system? 2. Why is each Varna’s restricted? 3. Who makes up the last class and why are they in this varna? 4. Describe a Jatis? 5. Is the caste system legal (explain why)? Step 2: http://teachers.eusd.k12.ca.us/mguerena/castewebquest/index.htm

Open the listed website: “Experiencing India’s Caste System” and look on the left hand side of the webpage and click

“Introduction.” Read the paragraph and consider which caste system you think you might have been born into if we had a

caste system in our country. Take a minute to consider this. How would you label yourself?

Step 3: Look on the left hand side of the webpage again and click on “Process” and click on “India’s Caste System” and read the paragraph. Scroll down to see the pictures. Click on the pictures of each caste and read about the daily lives of each caste and begin to fill out the chart on the back of this sheet. Use the additional websites listed on my blog and on the Student U Drive under Bellack (Hinduism-the Basics & The Untouchables) to fill in the caste system organizer and answer the questions below. Foods and Hinduism: http://hinduism.iskcon.com/lifestyle/809.htm Roles of each caste member: http://hinduism.iskcon.com/practice/701.htm

(See Basics of Hinduism article) 6. What is reincarnation and how does it relate to the caste system? 7. What is life like for the untouchables? (Explain in three-four sentences using the article listed above). 8. What is the most sacred animal to Hindus? Explain Why? 9. What are the effects of food on Hindus? 10. How is water used in rituals?

Step 3: When you have finished the graphic organizer take the quiz on the webquest: http://teachers.eusd.k12.ca.us/mguerena/castewebquest/index.htm . Go to “Process” webpage of this web-quest and select “Quia Quiz” and test your knowledge. Record your score: ______.