Lesson video

Hi! My name's Mrs. Charalambous.

Welcome to today's learning with me.

I hope that you're ready, because I have a really interesting lesson today.

Our lesson today is the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant from the unit Hindus: what do Hindu stories teach about life and the world? Let's begin.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to retell the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant.

These are our keywords for today.

Let's practise with my turn, your turn.

Hindu.

Hindu: someone who follows the teachings and practises of Hindu Dharma worldview.

Blind.

Blind: someone who is unable to see clearly.

India.

India: a country in the continent of Asia.

Fable.

Fable: a story that contains a deeper meaning.

Our lesson outline looks like this today for the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant.

We're going to begin with, what is the link between India and Hindus? India is a country in Asia.

It's one of the largest countries in the world.

Here is a map of the world.

Can you see Asia? It's a lime green, pale green sort of coloured one.

I wonder where India is.

Hmm.

Can you point to where you think it is? There it is, and here is a closer version of the map where you can see India.

Wow, it really is a large country.

Many different people live in India.

They speak many languages, eat different foods, and celebrate many traditions.

India is home to many religions and worldviews, including Hindu Dharma, Islam, Christianity, Sikhi, and Buddhism.

Have you heard of any of those religions and worldviews? Maybe some of you have those worldviews.

This is a flag of India, so vibrant and bright.

I like this flag.

Let's check our understanding so far with a multiple choice question.

India is in which continent? A, Europe; B, Asia; or C, Africa.

I'll give you a moment before you tell me.

That's right, it's Asia.

Good job! Let's move on.

Most people in India follow Hindu Dharma worldviews.

"Hindu Dharma is one of the world's oldest religions.

India is full of many ancient Hindu places of worship called mandirs.

Hindus have followed their practises for over 4,000 years." Wow! Izzy has taught us something new there.

4,000 years is a very long time ago.

And here is a mandir in India.

Let's take a moment to look at it.

It's spectacular! People from all over the world follow a Hindu Dharma worldview, not just in India.

This is Kavita, a British Hindu.

This is a mandir that Kavita visits in England.

Wow! And even though it looks different from the one in India, it still looks really nice.

I wonder, have any of you been to visit a mandir before? Maybe you go if Hindu Dharma is your worldview.

Let's check our understanding with true or false.

Hindus only live in India.

Hmm, true or false? That's right, it's false.

Why? Does anyone want to share the reason why? I think I heard some of you say it.

Hindus live all over the world, not just in India.

Fantastic.

Let's move on.

The Hindu worldview teaches people to be kind, help others, and respect animals and nature.

One animal that is well respected in Hindu Dharma is the elephant.

Here's an elephant in India.

They are part of Indian culture and appear in many stories.

What a magnificent animal.

Hindus have many stories that teach important lessons about how to live a good life and offer answers to big questions.

Hindus can find answers in many different sacred books.

Sofia says, "Some Hindu stories are fables.

A fable is a story that contains a deeper meaning.

Fables often teach an important lesson." Ooh, I wonder if you know some fables, maybe not Hindu ones, but maybe some other type of fables.

Hmm.

What is a fable? A, a story with no meaning; B, a story with pictures; or C, a story with a deeper meaning.

Hmm.

Have a moment To think before I reveal the answer.

That's right, it's C, a story with a deeper meaning.

Good job.

You're doing well so far.

Let's carry on.

Task A, complete the following sentences.

Hindu Dharma began in mm, but Hindus live all around the world.

Mm have many stories that teach important lessons.

A mm is a story that contains a deeper meaning.

Fill in the blanks.

And while you do that, press pause so you've got some time to do that.

When you're ready, press play and we can carry on.

Task A feedback time.

Complete the following sentences.

You should have, Hindu Dharma began in mm.

I wonder what that is.

That's right, it's India, but Hindus live all around the world.

Hindus have many stories that teach important lessons.

A, that's right, fable is a story that contains a deeper meaning.

Give yourself a clap.

You've done so well.

Let's carry on.

Cycle two, the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant.

The fable of the Blind Men and the Elephant.

A long time ago, six blind men lived in a village in India.

They were curious about the world, but most of all, they wanted to know about elephants.

People said elephants were strong enough to carry heavy loads, gentle enough for a princess to ride, and loud enough to scare anyone with their trumpet calls.

The six blind men argued about what elephants were really like.

"An elephant must be powerful like a giant," said one.

"No, it must be gentle if a princess can ride it," said another.

"It's sharp and dangerous like a spear," said a third.

The arguments went on and on.

Finally, the villagers decided to help the men find out the truth.

They sent them to the palace to meet the Rajah's elephant.

The Rajah, a prince whose father ruled the kingdom, lived in a grand palace.

A young boy who served the Rajah led the blind men, each holding onto the shoulder of the man in front of him.

At the palace, the six blind men touched the elephant to learn what it was like.

They were each touching a different part of the elephant.

The first man touched its side.

"An elephant is like a strong wall," he said.

The second man touched its trunk.

"No, it's like a snake," he said.

The third man touched its tusk.

"It's as sharp as a spear," he said.

The fourth man felt its leg.

"It's like a big cow," he said.

The fifth man touched its ear.

"No, it's like a fan," he said.

The sixth man felt its tail.

"You're all wrong.

It's like a rope," he said.

Let's check our understanding for the story so far.

One of the men said the elephant was strong like, A, a fan; B, a wall; or C, a rope.

Hmm.

Take a moment to think before I reveal the answer.

That's right, it's B, a wall.

Strong like a wall, he said the elephant was.

Let's carry on with the story.

Back in the garden, the blind men began to argue loudly once more.

"It's like a wall," said one.

"No, it's a snake," said another.

"I am telling you, it's a spear," shouted the third.

"It's definitely a cow," insisted the fourth.

"No, it's like a fan," argued the fifth.

"You're all wrong, it's a rope," declared the sixth.

Their voices grew louder as they each defend their own idea.

Let's pause the story here to do true or false.

The blind men agreed on what the elephant was like after they touched it.

True or false? Hmm.

Have a moment to think before you reveal the answer to me.

That's right, it's false, because why? Who would like to share with me? That's right, the six blind men each touched a different part of the elephant, so they all had different ideas about what it was like.

Should we carry on with the story? Their loud voices woke the Rajah from his nap.

"Stop," he said.

"You're all right, but only partly.

The elephant is very large and each of you touched just one part.

To know the truth, you must put all the parts together." The blind men thought about the Rajah's wise words as they rested under a tree.

"He's right," said one.

"We need to work together to understand." On the journey home, they talked about what they had learned, realising that sometimes everyone can be right in their own way.

Kavita says, "At the end of the story, the Rajah asked the men to think about what they had learned.

He explained that each of them was partly right because they only touched one part of the elephant.

This story teaches me that sometimes I need to listen to others and work with them to see the bigger picture." What lesson did the Rajah teach the six blind men? Let's see.

A, that everyone is wrong and you should work alone; B, to listen to others and work together to see the bigger picture; C, that only one person can ever be right, so you should follow them.

Hmm.

Take a moment before I reveal the answer.

That's right, it's B, to listen to others and work together to see the bigger picture.

Great job! Let's move on.

Task B, use the sentence starters to tell the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant in your own words.

Six blind men wanted to learn about.

When they touched the elephant they all.

They argued because.

The Rajah told them.

Take a moment to pause the video here so you can write each of your sentences.

When you're ready, press play and we can go through some of the answers and feedback together.

Task B feedback time.

Six blind men wanted to learn about elephants because they had never seen one before.

When they touched the elephant, they all felt different parts like the side, trunk, tusk, leg, ear, and tail.

They argued because each of them thought the elephant was something different, like a wall, a snake, or a rope.

The Rajah told them that they were all right, but to understand the elephant, they needed to put all the parts together.

Wow, I'm so impressed with the way that you've answered these questions today.

Let's look at our summary.

Many people in India follow a Hindu worldview.

The story of the Blind Men and the Elephant comes from ancient India.

The story of the Blind Men and the Elephant is a fable.

This is a story with a deeper meaning.

The story describes a group of blind men, six of them, remember, who each disagreed and argued about what an elephant should look like.

This story teaches Hindus that they should listen to others and work together.

I've had lots of fun learning with you today.

I hope you have too, and I hope to see you soon.

Bye for now.