Name ___________________ Date ____ Class _____ South Asia Today DiHerentiated Instruction Rug Making in Pakistan Rug making has been an important part of the Pakistani economy for hundreds of years. The country's rug industry was greatly influenced by the Persian Empire, which established royal rug manufacturing facilities in Pakistan. By the 1500s and 1600s, a large rug-weaving industry had developed in the region. Today, rug making is still important, and Pakistan is the fourth-largest rug maker in the world. Much of this output is produced in modern factories, but the most prized rugs are handmade by skilled weavers. Traditional Pakistani rug makers begin by tying long threads called warps onto the top and bottom of a frame called a loom. The warps are stretched so that they are very taut and held side by side. Then the weavers tie knots of woolen yarn onto the warps. When the weaver finishes a row, a weft thread is inserted at a right angle through the warp threads. A handmade rug can have more than 25 to 1,000 knots per square inch. A master rug maker can tie about six knots per minute. Three main types of handmade Pakistani rugs are woven: geometric Bokharas, floral Persian-design rugs, and vegetable-dyed village rugs. These rugs often feature a wide variety of colors, from red, blue, teal, and gray to emerald and yellow greens and peach. A room-sized rug from Pakistan can cost thousands of dollars. Many handmade rugs become more valuable as they grow older. Directions: On the lines below, answer the following questions. 1. Identifying Name the three main kipds of rugs made in Pakistan. 2. Reviewing Who introduced rug making to Pakistan? When did rug making become important in Pakistan? 91 - Teaching Strategies for Different Learning Styles '.~ -= The following activities are ways the basic lesson can be modified to accommodate students' different learning styles. Advanced Learners English Learners (EL) The handmade rug industry is extremely Have EL students write the names of all labor-intensive and one of the largest export the colors named in the article [red, teal, emer­ earners for Pakistan, as well as other South ald green, peach, blue, yellow green, and gray]. Asian countries. It is one of the fastest­ growing industries in this part of the world. Verbal/Linguistic; Intra personal Many experts believe most of this growth Assign pairs of students to create entries has been achieved through the use of bonded in an Oriental Rug Primer. Entries should or forced child labor. Organizations such as cover the following topics: terminology used UNICEF have found that children work long to describe Oriental rugs (e.g., warp, knot); hours for very little pay- and in some cases descriptions of the different kinds of rug knots no pay. The South Asian Coalition on Child and where they are used; information about Servitude estimates that between 200,000 rug dyes and the natural materials used to and 300,000 children are involved in the create various colors; differences between Pakistani rug industry. Ask students to country and city rugs and between machine­ prepare class presentations about this topic, made and handmade rugs; how to interpret focusing on working conditions, explana­ dates and signatures woven into rugs; and tions for the situation, and potential solutions. how long it takes to make an Oriental rug. Following student presentations, solicit com­ Combine students' entries into a finished ments from the class. booklet for class distribution. Logical/Mathematical " Logical/Mathematical Have students use a graphic organizer of Ask students to create a flowchart showing their choice to compare the similarities and all of the steps involved in creating handmade differences among the types of rugs described rugs (e.g., sheep to wool ~ dyeing ~ design­ in the article. ing ~ weaving/knotting ~ transporting ~ finishing). Students should write a description Visual/Spatial; Intrapersonal for each step in their charts. Ask groups of students to put together photo-essays of the Pakistani rug industry. Visual/Spatial Students can find images online or in the library After examining several styles of Pakistani that illustrate the art of Pakistani rug making. rugs online or in library books, ask students to Display students' creations in the classroom. create their own rug designs. Students should also write a paragraph or two explaining their Below Grade Level designs. The Read and Say Something strategy helps students with reading comprehension­ Kinesthetic especially for difficult reading material. Have Assign students who weave the task of cre­ students read the article, then turn to a partner ating a miniature Pakistani rug, using designs and say something about it. Tell students they they find online or in the library as guides. If should say anything they want that is related possible, permit students to demonstrate their to the selection, such as their reactions to techniques in class and compare these with the ideas, descriptions, images, or anything they techniques used by Pakistani artisans. find confusing. Solicit information from the entire class about what each pair discussed. 92 .