In 1990, the country of Nepal adopted a constitution.

Nestled between the giant countries of India and China, Nepal is a country at a crossroads, from lowlands on the banks of the Ganges River to the soaring peaks of the world’s highest mountains in the Himalayas. Nepal’s culture was shaped by the Hinduism of several early ruling dynasties, but also deeply marked by Buddhism: Siddhartha Gautama was born in Nepal’s lowlands in 543 B.C. In recent centuries, Nepal has maintained a relatively close association with India, but was able to retain its independence even while India was ruled as a British colony. In the early 1950s, a number of major changes took place. In 1951, the monarchy ended its centuries-old system of hereditary rule, instituting a cabinet system in its place. The year before, Nepal’s neighbor to the north, Tibet, had been annexed in an invasion by Communist China.

During the years between 1951 and 1990, a number of attempts were made at governmental reform, but major success was not realized until this date in 1990, when Nepal adopted a new constitution, creating a constitutional monarchy and establishing a bicameral legislature, modeled on the two-part legislative system of the United States.

Xpeditions
Offering lesson plans for all ages, Xpeditions provides students with many opportunities to learn about the culture and geography of Nepal. Responsible Tourism in Nepal (9-12) introduces students to the concept of ecotourism and asks them to find out about culturally responsible tourism practices in Nepal. Students pretend they have been asked to lead a tour company in Nepal and decide whether to accept or decline the offer. They then write essays explaining their decisions.

In Religion and Spirituality in Nepal (6-8), middle grade students contemplate the meaning of a statement regarding Nepalese religion and spirituality and look for evidence of religious customs and "spiritual richness" observed during one American's trek through Nepal. The students conclude by comparing and contrasting these factors in Nepal with those same aspects of their own country.

For upper elementary students, A Nepalese Village and Your Town: What's the Difference? (3-5) introduces some of the cultural customs of rural Nepal and asks students to consider the differences between Nepalese culture and their own. Students write letters as if they were Nepalese children describing their culture and lifestyle, and then they write additional letters that they might send to Nepalese pen pals, describing the similarities and differences between North American and rural Nepalese cultures.

Life in the Mountains (K-2) introduces younger students to the idea that people in different parts of the world have different customs and habits of daily life, even if they live in similar landscapes. Students view pictures of and discuss life in the mountains of Colorado and Nepal and write stories describing what it might be like to live in the mountains of Nepal.

Students may choose to study Nepal or another location in Putting Geography to Good Use (9-12). This lesson is designed to help students analyze the geographic components of several topics and understand how geography can be used for a variety of purposes. Students read the U.S. National Geography Standards to use as a reference point and then design magazines or Web sites to help people understand the geographic components of an environmental problem.

In Comparing Cultures (6-8), students use the Internet to find out about the cultures and customs of Nepal, Japan or the Mentawai tribe of Indonesia. They compare three customs from one of these cultures to customs in the United States.

Use this Map of Nepal from the Xpeditions Atlas in any lesson about Nepal.