Karen Enghusen
Social Studies/Language Arts
E.V. Cain Middle School

Home

Webquest

Resources

Buddhism

Introduction

Contact

Webquest

In our Social Studies class this year, we are using the cultural universals, expressed as G.E.P.R.S., to organize information about the ancient civilizations we study. Using this system, we will use the Jataka Tales of Buddhist literature to develop our understanding of this religion and how it transmitted these world views on the Asian Continent. What can these stores tell us about Ancient India, China, and their neighbors' culture?

Task:

Using this web quest, you will:

•Read and analyze five Jataka Tales, completing a Story Map for each. You may read and receive extra credit for up to three additional Tales, with the submission of their Story Maps.
•Use that organizer to write your own fable in the Jataka style that reflects your views of American culture
•Complete a Graphic Organizer of the GEPRS of the Himalayan Region
•Learn to interpret Indic style artwork to enrich your understanding of the GEPRS of the Buddhist world
•Create a Tibetan Style book, presenting the cultural universals of the Himalayan Region

Process:

1. Print out one GEPRS Graphic Organizer and a Story Map for each tale you read
2. From these links, select five Jataka Tales, being sure to select stories that present different moral lessons, and that are set in different geographic locations i.e. one in the forest, one at a river, etc.
Jataka Source #1
Jataka Source #2
Jataka Source #3
ELL Students' Jataka Source #4
3. Complete a Story Map for each tale
4. Write your own Jataka-style tale. This is to be word processed, 2 pages, double-spaced, at 12 point font. Be sure to use personification, dialogue, a moral lesson and demonstrate the GEPRS of American culture
5. Click here to examine an authentic Buddhist Thanka painting.Click on ."Exploring a Painting"; move your mouse over the scenes to develop an eye for detecting the details of the work and the information this provides. You may examine more than one painting on the site, and print and use one of the illustrations of animals to include in your Jataka Tale for extra credit. Study the artwork closely, with the idea that the painting is telling a story as well as revealing more information for you to include on your GEPRS Graphic Organizer
6. Using words, symbols and hand-drawn illustrations and your GEPRS Graphic Organizer, create a Tibetan-style book. While an original Tibetan book is made of individual sheets called folios, yours will be a modification of this form.Use one 8 ½ x 11" page for each GEPRS category. This book will be made in an accordian-style, with the longest dimension as the width (landscape orientation). Minimum requirements: Four entries per GEPRS category. This information is to be a combination of text (words), symbols, and illustrations. Click here for Art images to add. Your Jataka-style Tale should be the next to the last entry of your book.

Actual Tibetan Book Cover
26"x4"

7. For the beginning of your book, you will create your own Mandela after viewing this site. If you wish, there is a selection of patterns you may print and color. For a fun maze based on a Mandala, click here, then click on games, then on Maze.
8. The last section of your book is to be a reflection page. This should include why you created the piece, what you did during the project, and what you learned in completing the assignment.
9. Present your work to the class.

Evaluation:
Consult the Evaluation Rubric for the writing of your Jataka Tale. This is what I will use to score your story.
Your book will be assessed per our class quality rubric.

Enjoy your adventure!