Lesson 5 // Kathmandu

Lesson 5 // Kathmandu

Kathmandu (Click here to view 183 pictures of Kathmandu.)

Further Reference Microsoft Encarta 99 – Find: Katmandu, Image – Baudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu

Objective:

The student will be able to recall three unique facts that pertain to Kathmandu. The student will compare life in Kathmandu with the city in which they live

Guided Practice:

1. The teacher will use the map of Nepal to point out the location of Kathmandu.
2. The teacher will have the students read the section on Kathmandu either orally or silently.
3. Recap the important information from the reading.
a. Kathmandu is the only major city in Nepal.
b. Hindu and Buddhist temples abound.
c. Kathmandu is a very poor city, facing many problems (pollution, literacy, economy).

Independent Practice:

1. The students will answer the comprehension questions that following the reading selection.
2. The students will write an essay comparing Kathmandu with their city.

Optional Extensions:

1. The student will explain how a rickshaw works, and draw what it looks like.
2. Compare and contrast the life a child in Kathmandu with your own life.
3. List and describe some medical problems that can arise by living in a highly polluted and unsanitary city.

Reading and Questions:

The capital city, Kathmandu, is not only the largest city in Nepal, but it is the only major city in the entire country. Five hundred thousand people live in Kathmandu, and a total of more than one million reside in the Kathmandu valley. This city is truly a mixture of cultures, religions, and times. Kathmandu has been in existence since before the year 300 AD. It was to have been the crossroads of two important trade routes. Kathmandu grew quite rapidly as did two cities nearby, Patan and Bhaktapur. These three locations make up the Kathmandu valley.

Upon visiting Kathmandu, one might see a medieval building right next to a 20th century building. One might also see a herd of goats or other animals wandering the streets. The city has an abundance of Buddhist stupas and Hindu temples that one can visit.

Touring the city could be done in a variety of ways, by bus, taxi, rickshaws, or walking. Some famous sites to visit are the Durbar Square and Hanuman Dhoka (Old Royal Palace).

Kathmandu's population has tripled in the last 20 years. With this population explosion, more homes have been built and the city has expanded. A vast majority of the people in Kathmandu are under the age of 15, which makes educating these children a huge priority. The tourist trade has exploded as well. This dramatic increase in population has contributed to the severe air pollution.

1. What are three unique characteristics of Kathmandu?
2. What are some of the major problems facing Kathmandu today?

AZ State Standard - SS3 E4 Demonstrate understanding of the characteristics, purposes and use of geographic tools to located and analyze information about people, places and environments, with emphasis on:

PO 1 ways to display geographic information and characteristics and purposes of maps, globes, aerial photographs, charts and satellite images.

PO 2 constructing and interpreting maps, charts and geographic databases using geographic information.

PO 3 drawing an accurate map after being given a description of a place.

PO 4 identifying and locating physical and cultural features in their own and nearby communities in the United States, and in regions of the world, and the relationship between them.

SS3 E5 Describe natural and human characteristics of places and use this knowledge to define regions, their relationships with other regions and their patterns of change, with emphasis on:

PO 1 common characteristics of regions at local, national and international scales on the basis of climate, landforms, ecosystems and culture.

PO 2 patterns of climate, landforms and ecosystems in a region.

PO 4 the concept of region and how and why regions change.

PO 5 relationships and interactions among regions.