Grade 6 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 8, Lesson 4

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
A Message of Ancient Days

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 8, Lesson 4: The Golden Age (pp. 244-250)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Values Hinduism and ancient India grew and flourished under the powerful Gupta rulers.

Review the Hindu belief system. Point out how Hinduism grew from the Vedic religion. Be sure students understand class and caste, and the importance of doing one's duty.

Describe the achievements in art, science, trade, and technology during the Gupta empire. Point out those things which are still in use, such as our number system, or our understanding of the Earth as a sphere rotating around the sun. Talk about the ways in which India connected the east and west.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Ask each student to take on the role of a traveler in India during the Gupta empire and send a letter home describing how the Hindu religion connects caste and duty, and reincarnation and karma.
Have each student also send home an illustration that shows one Indian achievement during the Gupta empire in either art, science, trade or technology. Remind students of some of the accomplishments in math, astronomy, metal work, epic poetry, and far-flung trade.

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