I like to find unusual homeschool history ideas to mix up everyday topics and studying the history of henna in India fits the bill.
Henna is a special plant that grows in hot, dry places like India.
Leaves are dried and turned into powder. Then the powder is mixed with water to create a paste.
This paste is used to create beautiful designs on the skin.
In India, henna is a big part of celebrations like weddings and festivals.
People decorate their hands and feet with intricate patterns, and it’s a fun way to express their creativity.
But it is more than just a decoration; it’s a symbol of joy, celebration, and cultural heritage in India.
It’s a beautiful way to connect with tradition and add a touch of color to special occasions.
Beyond henna, let’s dive into the Taj Mahal that is over 400 years old, some traditional Indian foods, crafts highlighting the amazing animals of the country, and more.
Of course I have plenty of facts, hands-on ideas, books, and more to help you create a wonderful unit study.
BOOKS ABOUT OR SET IN INDIA FOR KIDS
Next, living books bring to life the period or area we’re studying about.
When I can find them, I list them. Then add reference books too.
11 Books About or Set in India for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To
Grab some of these books about India for your unit study or learning day.
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.
Next, learn about henna.
- Henna is derived from the henna plant Lawsonia inermis. It is a natural dye that has been used in India and other parts of the world for centuries. The henna plant is a small shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australasia. The plant cultivated for its leaves, which are dried and ground into a fine powder.
- Henna is traditionally applied to the hands and feet of brides and grooms during Indian wedding ceremonies. It is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness to the couple. The intricate designs created with henna are often passed down through generations and hold deep cultural significance.
- Paste is applied to the skin using a cone and left on for several hours. Once the paste is dry, it is then peeled off leaving behind the beautiful orange or brown design on the skin.
- Henna is also used in India for its cooling properties and stress-relieving effects. Henna paste is believed to have a calming effect on the body and mind, and it is often applied to the forehead during meditation or relaxation practices.
- Henna is a versatile plant with various uses beyond body art. The leaves of the henna plant have medicinal properties. They are used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments such as skin conditions and headaches.
In addition, look at more homeschool history ideas.
INDIA HOMESCHOOL HISTORY IDEAS
- Find India on a map or globe, then locate the capital, New Delhi.
- Art Around the World: India (Taj Mahal Bleeding Tissue Paper Art)
- Create beautiful Paper Plate Dandiya Dolls that display the clothing used in the traditional Indian folk dance.
- Watch India: The Harappans – Ancient World History for Kids! To learn more about the people of the Indus Valley and more.
- Take a trip to a local Indian restaurant and try a unique dish or two like centuries old Khichuri, a dish made of rice, moong lentils, ghee (clarified butter), cumin seeds, ginger and asafoetida.
- Celebrate the National Bird of India with this fun and simple How to Make an Easy Bird Craft Fun Paper Plate Peacock.
ASIA ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
- 5 Asia Activities For Kids & Free Color by Number Camel
- Quick and Easy Ancient Chinese Paper making for Kids
- Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History
- Marco Polo Unit Study and Lapbook
- Medieval Japan Unit Study and Lapbook
Finally, look at how to make this fun Indian handprint henna craft.
INDIA HANDPRINT HENNA CRAFT
This is really a fun hands-on activity for the whole family and is a great way to build fine motor skills and spend some time in a calming activity as you create intricate designs on the hand.
You will need:
- Cardstock/construction paper
- Brown fine line pens/markers
- A willing hand
- Scissors
Trace the entire hand and include the wrist and some of the arm with a pencil, give yourself as much canvas to work on as possible.
Cut out around the outline of the hand carefully.
Use fine line pens or markers to create designs.
Take your time creating intricate designs on the hand, wrist, and fingers. Look to Google for some beautiful design inspiration.
The more small and detailed design you create the more amazing the final outcome will be.
If you want to test out henna designs on your actual hand you can grab a tattoo kit.
Look at this Body Mark Temporary Tattoo Markers for Skin, Henna Vibes, Flexible Brush Tip, 3-Count to try out your own designs on the skin.
