Smithsonian Institution
Arts of the Islamic World
Learn more about the history and five pillars of Islam with an extensive resource that focuses on the religion's connection to art. Focusing on calligraphy, textiles, and architecture, the packet illustrates the beauty of the artistic...
Curated OER
Living Art-i-facts: Technology Takes Us There!
Young scholars create living artifacts dealing with different times and cultures. They explore Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, Islam, Africa, and the United States.
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.
Curated OER
Middle-East Reflections
Practice symmetry and patterns with this Mid-Eastern art project. Your class will create beautiful, reflective mosaics that will brighten up the classroom! A list of necessary materials is included.
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Islamic Civilization in Spain
There may be elements of this lesson that are useful for a unit on Islamic influence in Spain; however, there is little alignment between the learning objectives and the final product --a ten page report. For example, some of the...
Curated OER
Creating with Clay
Middle schoolers are introduced to the Art Museum's Ahambra Vase. They explore the difference between throwing on the pottery wheel and hand building. Students create a functional vessel using two of the three hand-building techniques....
Curated OER
Creating a Place of Contemplation Based on Hindu Temple Architecture
Learners study the architecture and decoration of Hindu temples, compare them with, and apply them to, a place of contemplation they will design for themselves.
Curated OER
Doorways/Printmaking
Students are introduced to the techniques used in printmaking along with the relief method and tessellation relationships to art. In groups, they examine a variety of architecture used throughout the Islamic culture. To end the lesson,...
Curated OER
The Holy Land
Explore the culture, geography, and religion of Ethiopia. Learners complete a viewing guide while watching a film on Ethiopia as the first Christian country in Africa. Additionally, they create group presentations and write paragraphs...
Curated OER
"Ancora Imparo" (Still I Am Learning)
Students study the Italian Renaissance, its impact, and origin. In this Italian Renaissance lesson, students study the Renaissance via the ancient civilizations and political geography of various countries. Students study the art prior...
Curated OER
Ottoman Lyric Poetry
Students explore the Ottoman style of poetry. They view a video, Suleyman the Magnificent, and view maps of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. They research the Ottoman Empire and keep a journal. They read various Ottoman...
Curated OER
The Carter Center’s Work in Sub-Saharan Africa
Students explore the state of Sub-Saharan Africa. In this geography skills lesson, students examine the work of the Carter Center in Africa as they investigate the strengths and weaknesses of linguistic, tribal, and religious...
Curated OER
Tantalizing Tessellations - Lesson I
Middle schoolers complete a chart (KWL) as a pre-assessment, study the history of tessellations (tilings), investigate the properties of tessellations, and make and evaluate photographs of "found tessellations" for a...
Other
Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation: Islamic Art Network
This resource presents a treasure trove of scholarly resources on the art and architectural history of Islam. A work in process, the network's resources focus principally on Cairo but are expected, over time, to move outward to cover the...
Other
Islamic Arts and Architecture: Calligraphy
Explains the central role of calligraphy in Islamic art and architecture. Includes numerous illustrations of various writing styles and information about the development of calligraphy in the Islamic world.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Islamic Art Highlights
Fifty masterworks from the Metropolitan's collection of Islamic art are on display, grouped by object type to aid comparative analysis. Includes curators' notes, along with detailed views. Stunning examples of Islamic art and calligraphy...
My Learning
Exploring Islamic Architecture
A deep exploration of Islamic art and architecture through a variety of interesting topics. Includes art activity suggestions, an interactive game, and printable worksheets.
ArtLex
Art Lex: Islam and Islamic Art
A dictionary entry for Islam and Islamic art with numerous illustrations of representative works in all media, including architecture, ceramics, metalwork, textiles, and manuscripts. Includes useful cross-references to related terms and...
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Islamic Art: Late Medieval Period: History
A solid introduction to Islamic art of the late medieval period (approximately A.D. 1250 to A.D. 1450) that relates historical events to the art production of the time. With informative descriptions and wonderful reproductions that...
PBS
Pbs: Islamic Culture: Art
A study of Islamic culture, art and architecture taken from the PBS show on Islam "Islam: Empire of Faith".
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Islamic Art: Early Islamic Period: History
An excellent introduction to the earliest period of Islamic art (approximately A.D. 700 to A.D. 1000) that includes a historical overview of the rise of Islam. With informative descriptions and wonderful reproductions of art from the...
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Islamic Art: Early Medieval Period: History
An overview of Islamic art from the early medieval period (approximately A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1150) that begins with a historical overview of the shifting Islamic politics of the time. With informative descriptions and wonderful...
PBS
Pbs: Jewels of Islamic Architecture
Photographs and filmed footage of five Islamic architectural masterpieces: Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, the Great Mosque of Damascus, the Alhambra in Granada, and the Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah in...