Teaching Guide, Book, Video, Activity Cultural Identity: Sikh Head Covering

A lesson with activities about the Sikh Cultural Identity and the Patka (Sikh Youth Head Covering), including a book, videos, and extension activities about the Sikh religion.

BOOK
What Color Is My Patka? By Deepika Kaur Pujji
Suggested questions to pose before the read aloud:
Pay attention to different head coverings you notice in the illustrations. How are they similar or different from one another?
Guide post-read aloud conversation about head coverings for a daily, cultural identity purpose versus head coverings for weather purposes or a holiday costume, like Halloween.

At the end of the story, Ricky says that he wears his patka, clothes, socks, and shoes every day. What other item do you notice Ricky wearing in the illustrations?
Steel bracelet called a kara. It helps remind Sikhs about their faith, to remember to work hard, and do good things. The steel circle is a symbol of infinity because it has no beginning or end.

**VIDEO 1: **Book Inspiration & Patka Basics (9 min)
Background on what inspired the author to write the book
Patka Basics: pronunciation, what it is, who does/ does not wear it, why/when/where it is worn
Link to adult pagri (turban)

Student Response: Patka Classroom Idea Board (Virtual option: Jamboard)
Students use colored sticky notes to answer posted prompts about a patka (who, what, where, when, why). Students post responses on an anchor chart or white board.

VIDEO 2: Tying a Patka on Real-Life Ricky (3 min)

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY: My Cultural Identity
Vocabulary Terms: culture, identity, unique, interact, communicate

DISCUSSION
What is something from your culture that is unique about you? Think about religion, meals, clothing, habits at home- like removing shoes or the way you speak/ greet people older than you, titles for relatives, etc.
How would you explain that part of your cultural identity?
How would you like others to talk to you about it? What would you like them to say or not say?
Student Response: Draw and label a picture to share of something from your culture.

---

**EXTENSION ACTIVITIES **Centering Sikhism

VOCABULARY TERMS
culture, identity, unique, religion, Sikhism, interact, communicate, patka, pagri

DISCUSSION
What do you know about the Sikh religion?
Before today, have you seen a person wearing this head covering before? (Show picture of pagri, followed by patka)
Have you seen a person wearing a different type of head covering? If so, why do you think the person wears it? What would you like to know more about it?

READING RESPONSES
Point of View: Students take on the perspective of Ricky or the POV of another character pictured in the backdrop of the book (a peer or family member of Ricky)
Poetry: Rewrite the story about Ricky with your own poem. Consider rhyme, syllable count, descriptive language- “show not tell,” figurative language, and feeling.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Who am I? What’s on my Head? by LittleSikhs.com (1 min 35 sec video)
Sikh Celebrations! (Apply teacher language and one activity from here)
Dear Takuya: Sharing and Honesty Lesson Plan (Apply activity only)
Compare & Contrast- (Hats of Faith, Hats of Faith Q & A, Zahrah’s Hijab | Learning for Justice)
9 head covering types presented; students break into small groups to read about 2 of them; record notes on Jamboard; come back whole group to compare and contrast what they learned
Coloring Sheets: Headwrap, Hijab, Turban