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The Culture and Mythology of India in Pokémon

There are many fan theories about Pokémon possibly being inspired by Indian culture and mythology. In this flex course, we'll examine the merits (and drawbacks) of these theories, while learning a bit of the history of India.
Lauren James
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(3,161)
Class

What's included

4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support
1 year access
to the content
Mastery Evaluation
Students can post their answers to any "Expand Your Knowledge" challenge to receive feedback from the teacher.

Class Experience

US Grade 2 - 12
This course explores more than 20 Pokémon and their possible connections to the mythology and culture of India. We will examine popular fan theories about the origins of these Pokémon, and weigh the merits (or lack thereof) in these ideas. Students will learn about cultural traditions that may have inspired Pokémon, and also several Indian myths and legends that could have been the basis for many popular Pokémon. 

While the focus of this class is the culture/mythology of India, it is through the narrow lens of the Pokémon world, and thus is not a comprehensive review of the entirety of Indian culture, folklore, or mythology. 

This is a self-paced class; there is no live component. Instead, students study 4-6 Pokémon each lesson, using videos, descriptions, comparisons, and extension activities to expand their learning beyond the basic course content. All extension activities are optional and at the discretion of the parent. 

Please note that three of my Pokémon Social Studies courses are formatted differently than the others. These courses are the ones covering China, India, and the Middle East. These three courses DO NOT have one long video lecture; instead, the Pokémon are explored individually via written passages. This way, learners can explore as many or as few topics at one time as they wish. Please keep in mind the different format before enrolling.

Need a discount? Sure thing! All of my self-paced courses are "pay what you can afford." To get the discount you need, sign up for the course first, then message me with the discount you would like, and I will apply a partial refund. This must be done before the end of the first week of class.

Syllabus

4 Lessons
over 4 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Gods and Goddesses, Part 1
 Pokemon covered in this lesson: Machamp, Torterra, Goldeen, Seaking 
Lesson 2:
Gods and Goddesses, Part 2
 Pokemon covered in this lesson: Meditite, Medicham, Enamorus, Yamask 
Lesson 3:
Magical Creatures
 Pokemon covered in this lesson: Naganadel, Ponyta, Rapidash, Hitmonlee, Monferno, Infernape 
Lesson 4:
Other References
 Pokemon covered in this lesson: Cufant, Copperajah, Alakazam, Galarian Darmanitan, Abomasnow 

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
All Weeks - India, A History : From the Earliest Civilisations to the Boom of the Twenty-first Century by Keay, John, 2010 - India, Tradition, Culture, and Daily Life by Centore, Michael, 2016 - India: A Cultural Voyage by Udai Narain Tewari, 2021 Week 1: - On Hinduism by Gajjar, Irina N., 2013 - Historical Dictionary of Hinduism by Long, Jeffery D., 2020 - Understanding Indian Myths, by Hynson, Colin 2013 - Hindu Gods and Goddesses Paperback by Swami Harshananda, 2012 - Shiva: The Wild God of Power, by Wolf-Dieter Storl Ph.D. 2004 - https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/beginners-guide-asian-culture/hindu-art-culture/a/roots-of-hinduism - https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/beginners-guide-asian-culture/hindu-art-culture/v/shiva - https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/beginners-guide-asian-culture/hindu-art-culture/a/hindu-deity-vishnu Week 2: - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, A Comprehensive Guide to Hindu History and Philosophy, Its Traditions and Practices, Rituals and Beliefs by Rasamandala Das, 2012 - Understanding Indian Myths, by Hynson, Colin 2013 - Krishna and the Later Avatars of Vishnu: plus Mahabharata Demystified by Swami Achuthananda, 2002 - Who Is Your Favorite? Book of Hindu Gods and Goddesses: For Kids Vyas Chari, 2022 - https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/beginners-guide-asian-culture/hindu-art-culture/a/hindu-deities - https://historycooperative.org/ancient-gods-of-death/ Week 3: - Historical Dictionary of India by Mansingh, Surjit, 2006 - Understanding Indian Myths, by Hynson, Colin 2013 - The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow, Sanjay Patel, 2006 - https://kathakids.com/ - https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/beginners-guide-asian-culture/hindu-art-culture/a/principal-texts-of-hinduism - The Illustrated Ramayana: The Timeless Epic of Duty, Love, and Redemption by DK and Bibek Debroy, 2021 - The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: The Complete English Translation by Robert P. Goldman 2002 - https://www.worldhistory.org/The_Ramayana/ Week 4: - India, A Story Through 100 Objects by Dehejia, Vidya, 2021 - India, The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture by Stephen, Becky, 2021 - A History of British India by Bellenoit, H. J. A., 2016 - History of the Tantric Religion: An Historical, Ritualistic and Philosophy Study by N.N. Bhattacharyya, 2007 - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/asian-elephant - https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/beginners-guide-asian-culture/hindu-art-culture/v/ganesha-deity - Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors by Lizzie Collingham, 2007
Joined September, 2017
4.9
3161reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Brigham Young University
I have taught mythology class on Outschool since 2017. I was a certified middle school teacher in science, English, and social studies from 2005 to 2021. I now specialize in educational outreach at the University of Arizona, including giving planetarium shows that feature the mythology and astronomy of cultures throughout the world.

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Self-Paced Course
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$3

weekly or $11 for all content
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content

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