Diwali - 3rd November
Links
activities
Hinduism links
BBC links
External links
Classroom activities
Diwali celebrations (Key Stages 1 and 2)
Discuss the stories behind Diwali and encourage pupils to talk or write about the characters involved. The Diwali writing activities and Diwali videos may help support this activity.
In groups, pupils could re-write the story of Rama and Sita as a script and act it out, or make puppets and perform it as a puppet show.
Make diyas with pupils (using clay, plasticine, papier maché, dough or paper) and encourage them to explore the meaning and symbolism of light and fire. Create paintings of firework celebrations.
Make Diwali and new year greeting cards and to construct traditional geometric rangoli patterns. Explore Indian cultural traditions, clothes and cooking. The pictures of children's Diwali clothing may help support this activity.
Beliefs and festivals (Key Stage 3)
Build a calendar of religious dates and investigate the beliefs behind these festivals through research and creative writing, such as a letter to a friend describing the experience of celebrating a key festival. The Diwali letter writing frame could be used to support this activity.