Hindu culture is rich with epic poetry and vibrant festivals. The Ramayana teaches bravery and duty, while the Mahabharata contains the famous Bhagavad Gita. Major celebrations include Diwali, the five-day "Festival of Lights," Holi, the colorful spring holiday, and Raksha Bandhan, celebrating protection.
Part 2: Information Detective
Information Type Options
Person (Who)
Place (Where)
Event (When)
Thing (What)
Action (How)
Reason (Why)
Directions: On the following pages, identify the required information type by marking the correct category, then write your answer in a complete sentence.
Page 2
Part 2: Comprehension Questions (1 - 3)
Where did the religion of Hinduism originate?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
What are the oldest sacred writings of Hinduism called, and what language are they written in?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Why is the concept of karma so significant in a person's journey through samsara?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Page 3
Part 2: Comprehension Questions (4 - 6)
What is the difference between Brahman and Atman?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Who are the three deities that make up the Trimurti, and what are their specific cosmic roles?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Where do Hindu families traditionally gather to worship or pray, and who performs the puja?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Page 4
Part 2: Comprehension Questions (7)
How do a brother and sister celebrate their unique connection during Raksha Bandhan?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Part 3: Summary Organizer
Use the graphic organizer below to map out the core ideas of the text before writing your summary.
Main Topic
Supporting Details
1
2
Central Idea
Page 5
Part 4: Final Summary Summary Writing
Directions: Write a complete paragraph that summarizes the Hinduism reading passage on Pages 1 & 2. Use the notes from your Summary Organizer to construct cohesive and linked sentences.
COPS Editing Checklist
Capitalization
Names of deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva), texts (Vedas, Upanishads), and sentence starts.
Organization
Neat handwriting, paragraph indenting, and proper word spacing.
Punctuation
Correct usage of commas in lists, periods, and capitals.
Spelling
Check spelling of Sanskrit, dharma, karma, Vedas, Trimurti, and puja.
Page 6
Thing
Action
Reason
What are the oldest and most sacred texts of Hinduism called?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Page 2
Part 2: Information Detective (Continued)
Why do Hindus strive to act righteously and accumulate good karma?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
What is the difference between dharma and karma?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Who is the historical founder of the Hindu religion?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Page 3
Part 2: Information Detective (Continued)
Where do Hindu families traditionally gather to worship or pray together?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
How does a Hindu break free from the cycle of samsara to reach moksha?
Person
Place
Event
Thing
Action
Reason
Part 3: Summary Organizer
Main Topic
Supporting Details
1
2
Central Idea
Page 4
Part 4: Final Summary Writing
Directions: Write a complete paragraph that summarizes the Hinduism reading passage. Use the notes from your Summary Organizer to construct cohesive and linked sentences.
COPS Editing Checklist
Capitalization
Names of deities, texts, and sentence starts.
Organization
Neat handwriting, indenting, and proper word spacing.
Punctuation
Correct usage of commas, periods, and capitals.
Spelling
Check spelling of dharma, karma, Vedas, and Mandir.
Page 5
ACTION (How)
Sample Response: A sister gives her brother a bracelet called a rakhi, and the brother promises to protect his sister in return.
Organizer Topic Key
The foundational vocabulary and beliefs of Hinduism.
Organizer Central Idea Key
Hinduism is an ancient, Sanskrit-rooted faith focused on spiritual concepts like dharma, karma, and rebirth.
Sample Final Summary Paragraph
Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions, originating in the Indus Valley. Its sacred texts, like the Vedas and Upanishads, are written in Sanskrit. At the center of Hinduism is the belief in a supreme God, Brahman, who is represented in many deities, including the Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Humans possess an inner soul called atman that undergoes reincarnation through the cycle of samsara. This journey is guided by karma (actions and thoughts) and dharma (conduct and moral duty) to ultimately achieve moksha (liberation). Worship takes place at home or in temples called mandirs, where priests called pujaris lead daily rituals (puja) with mantras like Om before images called murtis. Culturally, epic stories like the Ramayana and Mahabharata guide daily actions, while vibrant holidays like Diwali and Holi celebrate avatars, spring, and the victory of light over ignorance.
COPS Assessment Criteria for Grading
Capitalization
Verify capitalization of Hinduism, Sanskrit, Vedas, Upanishads, Brahman, Trimurti, Diwali, Holi, and Raksha Bandhan.
Organization
Verify paragraph indenting, clear spaces between hand-written words, and a readable structure mirroring the summary organizer.
Punctuation
Ensure sentences end with correct marks (periods, question marks), lists use proper commas, and proper nouns are capitalized.
Spelling
Verify correct spelling of complex key terms including: dharma, karma, samsara, moksha, mandir, pujari, puja, and Sanskrit.
Page 2
Sample Final Summary Paragraph
Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions, originating in the Indus Valley without a single founder. At its core is the belief in a supreme universal soul named Brahman, which is connected to each individual's eternal atman. Hindus believe in samsara, a cycle of rebirth guided by the law of karma. By following their sacred dharma (duty), they aim to achieve moksha, which is liberation from the cycle. They worship in temples called mandirs and read sacred scriptures called the Vedas.
COPS Assessment Criteria for Grading
Capitalization
Verify capitalization of Hinduism, Indus Valley, Brahman, Vedas, Mandir, and sentence-starting letters.
Organization
Verify indentations for paragraphs, neat physical handwriting, and consistent spatial gaps between words.
Punctuation
Verify ending periods, commas separating lists of teachings/deities, and correct capitalization of proper nouns.
Spelling
Verify precise spelling of specialized concepts including: dharma, karma, samsara, moksha, mandir, atman, and Vedas.
