November is Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month and the Los Angeles County Board of Education encourages education communities to observe this month with appropriate activities promoting awareness and appreciation of the Sikh community and their contributions to American culture and society.
RESOURCES
- Sikh American Studies
- General and Comparative Ethnic Studies
- The Sikh Coalition
- Educator Toolkit
- Sikhism: An Educator’s Guide
- Kaur Foundation Educator Resources
- Sikh Coalition Inquiry Middle/High School Sikh Religion Inquiry
- Kindergarten/1st Grade Cultural Diversity Inquiry. What Do Things I Wear Say About Me?
- Raginder “Violinder” Singh Momi playing the National Anthem
- PBS SoCAl Sikh Awareness Part 1
- Public Service Announcements
- Sikh Meets World Podcast
Books for use in the elementary classroom:
Fauja Singh Keeps Going - by: Simran Jeet Singh
The inspiring true story of Fauja Singh, who broke world records to become the first one hundred-year-old to run a marathon, shares valuable lessons on the source of his grit, determination to overcome obstacles, and commitment to positive representation of the Sikh community.
Guru Nanak - by Rina Singh and Andree Pouliot
In this biography, exquisitely illustrated in the Indian miniature painting tradition, young readers learn about Guru Nanak’s life, his spiritual journeys in which he spread his divine message from the Himalayas to present-day Sri Lanka to Mecca, and his teachings as expressed through his daily life and his poetry. Born into a humble Hindu family, Nanak was an extraordinary child who from a very young age questioned the rituals of religion and the ways of the world around him. He grew up to be a great spiritual teacher and revolutionary for his times. His attempt to define a universal humanity resulted in Sikhism – a religion that embraces everyone. Singh's version of the guru’s life is based on the janam sakhis (birth stories) as well as the Sikh scriptures.
