Fifth Grade continued their study of the magic of ancient India through folklore and art. Last Friday, we explored Jataka tales — Sanskrit parables that date to back to 300-400 A.D. which allow us to understand the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. Students were divided into groups and given scripts that I wrote based on three animal-based Jataka Tales. Each group had 20 minutes to rehearse, make a few props, and block their skits before performing for the class. Below are pictures from our skits on the spot: The Wind and The Moon, The Monkey and the Crocodile, and The Turtle Who Talked Too Much. Students then had to guess the moral, or lesson, of each tale.
Today, we learned about the ancient art of batiking which was developed in India over 2,000 years ago. Students watched a power point that detailed the history and technique of this art which uses hot wax and dye to create layers of color on fabric. Then, they tried their hand at designing their own tapestries. Once I have ironed out the wax, these tapestries will be theirs to enjoy at home! Hung on a wall, framed or made into a pillow, these batiks are a great momento of our journey to India!
