Yale University
Islamic Art; Exploring the Visual Arts of the Middle East
The intent of this unit is to demonstrate some of the traditional arts of the Middle East. Extensive background information on the religion, culture, and nature of Islamic art found throughout the Middle East is provided. Each of the...
Curated OER
Music of the Middle East
Explore the cultural and religious influences that have shaped music in the Middle East. Classical and traditional music styles are covered in terms of instrumentation and music theory. This slide show would be appropriate for a music...
University of Chicago
Comparing Modern and Ancient Ideas of Ethnicity and Identity
Explore ethnicity and identity with a research and writing assignment. Class members conduct online research, looking in particular at images and carefully noting down their sources on notecards. They read about identity and compose...
Curated OER
Middle Eastern Geometric Art
Students examine how Islamic artists represented their beliefs in logic and order through the geometric patterns in their art works. They analyze star patterns in Middle Eastern designs, and create geometric patterns using geometric shapes.
Cave Creek Unified School District
Crusades and Culture in the Middle Ages
The Crusades sounds like a glamorous time period in the Middle Ages full of glory—but was it? Scholars find and review the truth of the Crusades' influence on the world through the resource. The study guides, separated individually by...
University of Chicago
Exercise in Conflict Resolution
How do major religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, differ in how they view the role of individual freedoms within society, the definition of morality, and the importance of politically satisfying the greater good? Here...
Curated OER
Discovering the Middle East (Past & Present)
Students, after being assigned a specific Middle Eastern Country, research various aspects/statistics as well as historical information on their country. They combine their acquired information in an oral presentation and written report....
Curated OER
In Search of Al Qaeda
Students locate the Middle Eastern countries and capitals visited by Frontline reporters. They read online dispatches by the journalists, and complete a student assignment sheet.
University of Chicago
What IS the Difference Between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims?
The distinction between Shiite and Sunni Muslims is an often misunderstood concept, yet very important for its implications in global affairs and for a more comprehensive understanding of the religion of Islam.
Curated OER
Religions of Eastern Asia
Young scholars investigate how religions are created. They identify the basic history, beliefs, and practices of Confucianism, Sikhism, Shinto, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Students are to prepare a...
University of Chicago
Using Artifacts for Clues About Identity
Learn about the ancient Near East through a close examination of ancient artifacts. Lead your class into analysis by first observing an artifact as a class. Pupils can then work in pairs to analyze the other artifacts and compile a list...
Curated OER
The Middle East: A Region
In this Middle East worksheet, students respond to 4 short answer questions about the region and its characteristics after they read assigned textbook pages. Students also complete a graphic organizer.
Curated OER
Exploring Islamic Lands
Students examine the lives of Islamic teens. In this global studies lesson, students explore selected Internet sites to discover the attributes of Islam, the cultural traditions of Islam, and information regarding Middle Eastern...
Curated OER
Religions of the World
In this world religions map worksheet, students note the 12 regions of the world and the religious beliefs practiced by the majority of people in those regions.
Curated OER
Understanding Islam
Students discover the religion of Islam by reading about it and answering questions. They examine the history and development of the religion. They finally analyze what happen to the religion in the future.
Curated OER
Iraq, Where's That?
Students identify the Middle Eastern countries on the map and the oil-producing countries of OPEC in the region. They examine whether the presence of important producing oil fields qualifies as a characteristic of this region.
Curated OER
The Sands of Arabia
Sixth graders apply geographic information to the study of World History. In this Geography instructional activity, 6th graders create a political/physical map of the Middle East, develop questions and answers about the culture of the...
Curated OER
Studies of the Eastern Worlds: Cultural Maps
Seventh graders look for similarities and differences in the culture of Eastern World countries by looking at the art from each country. They test their hypothesis and assumptions through further research in the media center. Finally...
Curated OER
Goddess Worship in a Modern Perspective
Students consider gender roles and religion. In this gender equality lesson, students compare and contrast the idea of patriarchal and matriarchal religious practices and how they impacted society. Students will pose questions and...
Curated OER
Politics: From Royalty to Democracy
Young scholars explore forms of government in the Middle East. In this government systems lesson, students watch videos, listen to lectures, and explore websites regarding the forms of government in the Middle East
Curated OER
Keep It Academic
Students study various methods to learn about religion in the classroom. In this religion study lesson plan, students read and visit links to learn about various ways of teaching religion in schools. Students learn the model world...
Curated OER
The Crusades: Routes of Two Crusaders
Use these worksheets to kick off a great lesson on The Crusades. Eighth graders will analyze a map and four short passages to answer six reading comprehension questions.
Curated OER
International Festival - Cultures of the World Research Projects
Seventh graders identify common elements of cultures from around the world. They create a group research project, which illustrates the elements of culture from a specific country of the Eastern World. Finally, they compare these...