Cracking India Lesson Plan

Caste System

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

Students will research the caste system in India to further understand the context of the novel.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.8

Structure:

When Lenny becomes more aware of the religious differences among the people in her life, she inevitably becomes aware of the caste system: "Hari and Moti-the-sweeper and his wife Muccho, and their untouchable daughter Papoo, become ever more untouchable as they are entrenched deeper in their low Hindu caste. While the Sharmas and the Daulatrams, Brahmins like Nehru, are dehumanized by their lofty caste and caste-marks."

Students will...