If you are looking for Indian crafts easy enough to add to your geography or cultural studies, this simple chalk pastel tiger is great to explore India and one of its most famous animals. Also, look at my post Free Lapbook India for Kids Who Love Hands-on History for more ideas.
Tigers are fascinating creatures, and learning about them is a great opportunity to introduce children to India’s wildlife, geography, and culture.
Tigers are some of the most recognizable animals in the world. With their bright orange fur, black stripes, and powerful bodies, they are also fascinating to study.
The tiger is an important symbol of India, where the Bengal tiger is the national animal.
The Bengal tiger is native to the Indian subcontinent and can be found in forests, grasslands, and mangrove habitats. India is home to the largest population of wild tigers, making it an important place for tiger conservation.
BOOKS ABOUT OR SET IN INDIA FOR KIDS
First, living books bring to life the topic we’re studying about.
When I can find them, I list them. Then add reference books too.
12 Books About or Set in India for Kids
Grab some of these books about India for your unit study or learning day.
From the quiet grandeur of the Himalaya Mountains to the urban city of Calcutta, T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet showcases India's exotic treasures. Visit the haunting Taj Mahal, a tribute from an emperor to his dead wife. Traverse the bustling streets of Mumbai, the second most populated city in the world. Sample a traditional meal fragrant with garam masala spices, or attend a cricket match where some games have lasted up to five days! Varsha Bajaj was born in Mumbai, India. Her book, How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?, was named to the 2005 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List. Varsha lives in Houston, Texas. Robert Crawford's paintings have appeared on the cover of major magazines such as The Atlantic and U.S. News and World Report, as well as books. He also illustrated Sleeping Bear Press's The Legend of the Old Man of the Mountain. Robert lives in Woodbury, Connecticut.
Thirteen-year-old Rodmika is well acquainted with the crystal-clear rivers and tangled vines of the Green Jungle. So when his family moves to the other side of the jungle, leaving behind his chance for an education, Rodmika is perfectly suited to find a way to return. As Rodmika searches for a way back to the place of his schooling, he uncovers much more than a path.Set against the backdrop of a lush, untamed Indian rainforest, The Lost Kingdom weaves adventure and mystery into a thrilling tale that will resonate with readers who have a love for exploration and excitement.
A vibrant collection of Indian myths and legends illustrated in beautiful watercolors and told by one of India's sparkling personalities, Madhur Jaffrey.Seasons of Splendour is a richly illustrated treasury of stories about Indian gods and goddesses, kings and queens, princes and demons. Here are engaging and beautifully told tales of Krishna, Ram, and Sita, along with stories based on the Hindu epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as others of ancient origin with no known source. When Madhur Jaffrey was a young girl growing up in her grandfather’s house in Delhi, storytelling was an integral part of life. After dinner, she would huddle with her cousins and siblings around a seated aunt, grandmother, or mother and listen.
In Latika’s village in rural India, there are no toilets. No toilets mean that the women have to wait until night to do their business in a field. There are scorpions and snakes in the field, and germs that make people sick. For the girls in the village, no toilets mean leaving school when they reach puberty.
No one in the village wants to talk about this shameful problem. But Latika has had enough. When a government representative visits their village, she sees her chance to make one of her dreams come true: the construction of public toilets, which would be safer for everybody in her village.
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is the tale of a courageous young mongoose who saves a boy and his family from the evil snakes lurking in the garden.
Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. Whilst her classmates are jetting off to exotic locales, she'll be at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture where her mother works. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty.
Introducing this collection of stories, R. K. Narayan describes how in India "the writer has only to look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story." Composed of powerful, magical portraits of all kinds of people, and comprising stories written over almost forty years, Malgudi Days presents Narayan's imaginary city in full color, revealing the essence of India and of human experience.
"One of the new tiger cubs has escaped from the reserve!"When a tiger cub escapes from a nature reserve near Neel's island village, the rangers and villagers hurry to find her before the cub's anxious mother follows suit and endangers them all. Mr. Gupta, a rich newcomer to the island, is also searching--he wants to sell the cub's body parts on the black market. Neel and his sister, Rupa, resolve to find the cub first and bring her back to the reserve where she belongs.The hunt for the cub interrupts Neel's preparations for an exam to win a prestigious scholarship at a boarding school far from home. Neel doesn't mind--he dreads the exam and would rather stay on his beloved island in the Sunderbans of West Bengal with his family and friends.
For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve, his baba has warned. They flee to the big city of Mumbai in hopes of finding work and a brighter future. Gopal is eager to help support his struggling family, so when a stranger approaches him with the promise of a factory job, he jumps at the offer.
?But there is no factory, just a stuffy sweatshop where he and five other boys are forced to work for no money and little food. The boys are forbidden to talk or even to call one another by their real names. Locked away in a rundown building, Gopal despairs of ever seeing his family again.
Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she's been horribly misled—her life has been sold for a dowry. Can she forge her own future, even in the face of time-worn tradition?
Perfect for schools and classrooms, this universally acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning novel by master of historical fiction Gloria Whelan is a gripping tale of hope that will transport readers of all ages.
Kids love learning about food, they need to learn their ABC's, and this mouth-watering alphabet book covers both in the most delicious way! From spicy achaar to sweet zafrani pulao, flip through food from every corner of India, for all kinds of occasions.
The Taj Mahal may look like a palace, but it's actually a tomb and a lasting testament to one of the world's great love stories. In 1612, Mogul emperor Shah Jahan married Mumtaz Mahal. It had been love at first sight and for nineteen years they were so inseparable that Mumtaz even accompanied Shah Jahan to battlefields. When she died suddenly giving birth to their fourteenth child, the emperor set about building a magnificent memorial to his wife. Everything about the Taj was perfectly planned, from the white marble walls that shimmer in the sunlight and sparkle by moonlight, to the countless decorative flowers made from precious gems that still astound visitors today.
Also, Bengal tigers are a fun way to introduce kids to the diversity of India. Look at more facts about them.
ABOUT BENGAL TIGERS
Tigers are carnivores, which means they eat meat. They hunt animals such as deer and wild pigs. Unlike many cats, tigers enjoy swimming and are often found near rivers, ponds, and other water sources.
Each tiger has its own unique pattern of stripes. Just like human fingerprints, no two tigers have exactly the same stripe pattern. Their stripes help them blend into tall grass and forest vegetation, making it easier to approach their prey.
Tigers are usually solitary animals, meaning they prefer to live and hunt alone. A mother tiger raises her cubs until they are old enough to live independently.
Unfortunately, wild tigers face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and conflicts with people. India has established protected areas and conservation programs to help protect these animals and their habitats.
6 FUN TIGER FACTS FOR KIDS
- Tigers are the largest wild cats in the world.
- A tiger’s stripes are unique to each individual, like fingerprints.
- Tigers are excellent swimmers.
- A group of tiger cubs is born to a mother called a tigress.
- The Bengal tiger is India’s national animal.
- Tigers can live in forests, grasslands, and mangrove swamps.
THE FASCINATING COUNTRY OF INDIA
India is a country in South Asia with a rich history, diverse landscapes, and many different languages, traditions, and cultures. It is the world’s most populous country and is home to a wide variety of people, animals, and natural environments.
When studying India there are many interesting topics to explore, from its famous landmarks and geography to its animals, food, clothing, and festivals.
- Capital: New Delhi
- Continent: Asia
- Official languages of the Union: Hindi and English
- Currency: Indian rupee
- National animal: Bengal tiger
- National bird: Indian peacock
- Famous landmark: Taj Mahal
India has a wide range of landscapes, including the Himalayan Mountains in the north, fertile plains, deserts, tropical forests, and long coastlines. This variety of environments supports many different plants and animals, including elephants, leopards, monkeys, and tigers.
The country is also known for its colorful textiles, traditional music and dance, delicious foods, and many festivals. Diwali, Holi, and Eid are among the celebrations observed by different communities throughout India.
One of India’s most famous landmarks is the Taj Mahal, a white marble monument in Agra. It was built in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
MORE INDIAN CRAFTS EASY TO MAKE
- Peacock craft: Make a paper peacock using an upcycled paper plate, toilet paper roll, and colorful paint.
- Indian Elephant Craft: Create a decorated paper elephant while learning about Asian elephants and their habitats.
- Handprint Henna Craft– Learn about the ancient art of henna, but make it on a paper handprint and it will last much longer!
- Make a Taj Mahal– Create the majestic Taj Mahal from layers of cardboard cut to show off the architecture.
HOW TO DRAW A CHALK PASTEL TIGER
You will need:
- Mixed media paper
- Chalk pastel sticks
- Cotton swabs
- Paper towel, tissue, or toilet paper
Begin by drawing two dramatic black eyebrows in the center of the page,they will angle down and wing up on the outside like this.
Draw a small circle in the corner and a larger corner around them for the eyes.
Come down a bit further with the eyebrows to create the sides of the nose. Draw in a black nose, smudge with a qtip or paper towel to fill it in solid.
Create a muzzle by drawing a black smile like this.
Give your tiger a lower jaw.
Draw ears on either side of the head and continue on around creating furry cheeks on the sides.
Trace the upper half of the inside of the head lines, leaving a white space over the eyes and in the ears.
Color it in solid and smudge a bit.
Carefully draw a black line down the bridge of the nose and stripes coming out of either side as well as on the cheeks. Go back over the outlines if needed.
Add whiskers and color in the yellow eyes.
Using the broad flat side of the chalk pastel color in the background green like the jungle, going close but not quite to the tiger.
Again smudge with a paper towel.
On top of that finish it off by drawing leaf shapes in different shades and of different sizes to create foliage.
A trick to keep the picture from smudging is to tap off the excess and give it a couple coats of hair spray to finish it off.
