All About India Hands-on Activities and Printables

Immerse your children in the rich and colorful culture of India with our hands-on activities and printables. From creating beautiful Rangoli artwork to learning about traditional clothing and accessories, these hands on activities will help your kids experience the beauty and diversity of India. With an emphasis on sensory exploration and creativity, these activities are designed to make learning about India fun and educational. So whether you’re homeschooling or simply want to expose your children to new cultures, our India-themed resources are the perfect way to encourage curiosity and a love of learning.

Learning about India in a preschool classroom is valuable for several reasons. India is a diverse country with a rich culture, history, and traditions, and introducing preschoolers to these aspects of India promotes cultural awareness and diversity appreciation. Understanding and respecting different cultures from a young age can reduce prejudice and promote global understanding in future generations. Additionally, learning about India can help develop skills such as critical thinking, language, and social-emotional development. Moreover, preschoolers can learn about various festivals, dance forms, food, attire, and geography, amongst numerous other aspects of India’s diverse heritage, which could ignite a lifelong curiosity and appreciation for Indian culture.

About India

India is a beautiful country located in South Asia. It has a population of over 1.3 billion people! The people of India speak many different languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Tamil. India is also known for its delicious food, like samosas and curry. Some famous landmarks in India include the Taj Mahal and the Gateway of India. People in India celebrate many festivals, including Diwali, which is the Festival of Lights. India also has many different animals, like tigers and elephants. It is a very colorful and exciting place with many things to see and discover!

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Amazing Facts About India

India is the seventh largest country in the world by land area.
India has 22 official languages and over 2,000 ethnic groups.
The Indian national symbol is the Bengal Tiger.
The Lotus Temple in Delhi is one of the most visited buildings in the world, with an average of 10,000 visitors per day.
The world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia, can be found in India.
India is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
The Taj Mahal in Agra, India is one of the seven wonders of the world.
India is home to the world’s oldest living civilization, the Indus Valley civilization.
The game of chess was invented in India.
The mango is the national fruit of India.

Hands-on activities to help children learn about India

India Sensorial Tray: Create a tray filled with various spices, fabrics, and objects that represent India for children to touch and explore. Some ideas include raw silk fabric, curry, turmeric, cinnamon sticks, and sandalwood.

Flag Matching: Print out the Indian flag and cut it into pieces, then have children match the pieces to create the entire flag.

Diya Decoration: Provide children with clay diyas and colorful paints to encourage them to decorate them just like traditional Indian diyas.

Rangoli Art: Set up a Rangoli station for children to create beautiful art using colored sand, rice, or flower petals.

Elephant Painting: Encourage children to paint or draw elephants, which are a significant part of India’s culture and history.

Indian Food Tasting: Introduce children to different Indian foods such as samosas or naan bread, and have them taste and learn about the spices and flavors used in these dishes.

Sari Dress-Up: Provide children with some colorful fabric to drape around their waist and over their shoulder like a traditional Indian sari.

Story Time: Read stories from Indian folklore or books about India, such as The Ramayana or The Jungle Book, to introduce children to the rich culture and history of the country.

Indian Instrument Exploration: Set up a station with traditional Indian musical instruments such as a sitar, tabla, or tambura, and let children explore the sounds they make and try to play them.

Indian Dance Lesson: Teach children basic moves from classical Indian dance forms such as Bharatanatyam or Kathak.

Holi Color Mixing: Teach children about the Indian festival of colors called Holi. Provide them with different colors of powdered paint or colored water and let them mix and play with the colors.

History Lesson: Introduce children to famous historical figures from India such as Mahatma Gandhi or Rani Lakshmibai and teach them about their contributions to India’s history.

Spice Sorting: Introduce children to the different spices used in Indian cuisine and let them sort them by color, taste, or smell.

Indian Animal Exploration: Introduce children to animals that are native to India such as tigers, peacocks, or monkeys, and provide them with books or pictures to learn more about each animal.

Indian Flag Collage: Provide children with different materials such as paint, paper, or fabric scraps to create a collage of the Indian flag.

Indian Language Practice: Teach children basic words in Hindi or other regional languages spoken in India.

Diwali Craft Making: Have children create their own Diwali decorations such as paper lanterns or garlands.

India Map Puzzle: Teach children about the different states of India and let them put together a puzzle of the map of India.

India-Themed Practical Life Activities

These hands-on practical life activities will help children learn more about Indian culture and traditions, while also developing their practical life skills.

Indian Cooking Lesson: Teach children how to make a simple Indian dish such as dal or rice, and let them help with the preparation and cooking process.

Chapati-Making: Show kids how to make chapatis, a type of Indian flatbread, and let them create their own chapatis with different toppings.

Cleaning Rangoli Stencils: Provide children with rangoli stencils and teach them how to clean them properly after use using a small sponge or cloth.

Flower Arranging: Teach children how to arrange flowers in a traditional Indian way, such as creating a garland of marigold flowers.

India-inspired Sewing Project: Use traditional Indian fabrics and teach children simple sewing skills to create a pouch or a small bag.

Indian Currency Sorting: Introduce children to different Indian coins and notes, and let them sort and match the coins and notes to their respective amounts.

Indian Spice Grinding: Show children how to grind spices using a mortar and pestle, and let them sample different spices and smells.

Sari Folding: Show children how to fold a traditional Indian sari and let them practice folding and draping fabric.

Indian Fruit and Vegetable Preparation: Teach children how to prepare and peel different Indian fruits and vegetables such as mangoes, papaya, or okra.

Indian Tea Making: Show children how to make cha, or Indian tea, and let them help with the preparation and brewing process.

Clay Pot Decorating: Provide children with small clay pots and teach them how to decorate them using paint, glitter, or other decorative materials.

India Themed Country Pack

This India Country Pack provides an engaging and hands-on learning experience for preschool and primary students. This educational tool helps children learn about geography by exploring India, its culture, people, animals, landmarks, and flag. It improves their geographical knowledge, cognitive skills, fine motor skills, and mastering of some early mathematic concepts and encourages curiosity.

This pack is also designed to promote sensory exploration, independence, self-confidence, and problem-solving skills in preschoolers. With eye-catching graphics, colorful illustrations, and age-appropriate activities, the Country Pack equips kids with pre-reading skills and early math skills in a fun and engaging way.

The India Preschool Pack fosters an appreciation for diversity and cultural awareness among young children, which supports Montessori’s holistic approach to education.

Here is what’s included:

Picture infographic poster
Picture infographic coloring
Corresponding cards
Cutting strips
Information and picture cards x 18
Student booklet (B&W)
Flag poster
Flag coloring worksheet
Map poster
Map coloring worksheet
Country alphabet poster
B&W sequencing puzzles (numbers)
Color sequencing puzzles (numbers)
Animals 3 part cards
Landmarks 3 part cards

NB This printable is also included in the money-saving bundle – the Asia Continent Bundle. If you have purchased the bundle in the past, you don’t need to purchase this printable as well.