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Exploring Religious Communities

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About the inquiry

This inquiry leads students through an investigation of Sikhism and the challenges and opportunities the Sikh community has faced over time. By investigating the compelling question “How do religious communities respond to challenges and opportunities?” students evaluate how the Sikh community has responded to different social, historical, and political changes as members immigrated and integrated into the United States.

Compelling Question

How Do Religious Communities Respond to Challenges and Opportunities?

Staging Question

Have a class discussion using the following questions: How has the appearance of the Gurdwara evolved over time? What do you think are the factors which led to these changes?

1
Supporting Question

What is Sikhism?

Formative Tasks

Make a list of the important tenets of Sikhism.

Sources

Source A: Video, United Shades of America, W. Kamau Bell, Introduction to Sikhism segment
Source B: Video, United Shades of America, W. Kamau Bell, Sikh turban segment
Source C: Chapter about Sikhism from NCSS publication

2
Supporting Question

How did Sikhs immigrate to America?

Formative Tasks

Create a graphic that shows how Sikhs immigrated to America noting the contextual factors that impacted the community.

Sources

Source A: Video, United Shades of America, W. Kamau Bell, Farming and immigration segment
Source B: World Map of the Punjab and route to United States
Source C: Excerpt, Accommodation without Assimilation, Margaret A. Gibson (1988)
Source D: Speech, A Century of Sikhs in California (2011) by Bruce La Brack

3
Supporting Question

How did Sikhs shape American history?

Formative Tasks

Write a paragraph about one of the case studies and how that example shaped an aspect of American history.

Sources

Source A: Case Study, Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany
Source B: Case Study, Dalip Singh Saund
Source C: Case Study, AB1964 policy

4
Supporting Question

Do Sikh views on pluralism align with E Pluribus Unum?

Formative Tasks

Construct a claim with evidence about whether Sikh views on pluralism align with E Pluribus Unum.

Sources

Source A: Two scriptural excerpts
Source B: Image of Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab, India
Source C: Three short videos on the tradition of Langar in Sikhism

Summative Performance Task

Argument: Construct an argument (e.g., detailed outline, poster, essay) that discusses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical and contemporary sources.

Extension: Research recent challenges and opportunities Sikhs have faced in the United States and how the Sikh community is responding. Explore the work done by the Sikh Coalition www.sikhcoalition.org as a starting point for this research.

Taking Informed Action

No data found.