Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: On Reading the Koran

For Students 9th - 10th
Lesley Hazleton sat down one day to read the Koran. With serious scholarship and warm humor, Hazleton shares the grace, flexibility and mystery she found, in this myth-debunking talk. [9:34]
Graphic
PBS

Pbs: Jewels of Islamic Architecture

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Islam: Empire of Faith

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides information on the major tenets and beliefs of Islam such as God (Allah), the Five Pillars and more.
Article
PBS

Pbs: Common Western Stereotypes About Islam

For Students 9th - 10th
A short but highly informative article which looks at the many mis-perceptions in American society regarding Islam and its followers. Some of the topics explored include the idea whether or not Islam is a "violent" religion and the role...
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Hopes on the Horizon Morocco

For Students 9th - 10th
A companion website to a documentary on the rise of pro-democracy movements in Morocco during the 1990s.
Handout
PBS

Pbs Frontline: Al Qaeda's New Front

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS Frontline investigates the threat radical jihadists pose to Western Europe and it allies - including the United States.
Handout
Other

Discovery Bangladesh: Bangladesh Religions

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the different religions of Bangladesh.
Website
Other

Odyssey: Teacher Zone: Middle East: Israel/palestinian Territories Stay

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This teaching unit is based upon a "teacher trek" to the area in 2000 and focuses on essential questions on the nature of conflict. Activities are offered to help students explore the religion, holidays and culture of this region....
Website
Other

Odyssey: Middle East Stage: Israel and Palestinian Territories

For Students 3rd - 8th
Take a step into the world of Israel and Palestine with this team of Teacher Trekkers. You will look at life in the Middle East, celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas in the Holy Land and learn about their culture and religion.
Primary
Other

Muhammad Alexander Russel Webb: 1846 1916

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of Muhammad Alexander Russel Webb, a writer who accepted Islam and wrote about his journey to Islam in "Islam - Our Choice." Includes an excerpt from his writing.
Article
Other

Spread of Islam in West Africa: Rahman Doi

For Students 9th - 10th
A very in-depth essay about the spread and Influence of Islam in West Africa. Organized into the following sections - "Spread of Islam in West Africa," "Islam in the ancient empire of Ghana," "Islam in the empire of Mali," "Islam in the...
Article
Other

Islam 101: The Islamic Laws of Inheritance

For Students 9th - 10th
This essay discusses how Islamic law views wills and inheritance. Provides several quotes from the Quran and lists some of the major rules of inheritance and exclusion of heirs.
Website
Other

Allama Iqbal Poet Iqbal Academy

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information with sample poetry and prose of Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan's official "national poet" and a key voice in the creation of Pakistan. Poetry samples are in Urdu or Persian, with an introduction, translation and notes...
Handout
Other

Arab Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
Site provides demographics for the Arab American consumer market. The Detroit Free Press lists 100 questions and answers "As a step toward more accurate journalistic portrayals of Arab Americans."
Website
Other

Wall Street Journal: The Secret Rally That Sparked an Uprising

For Students 9th - 10th
Article describes the very beginning of the takeover of the Egyptian government by young activists. Although the outside world thought it was a spontaneous movement, this article describes the careful planning that went into the...
Article
American University

American University: Arab Spice Trade and Spread of Islam: Spice Case

For Students 9th - 10th
A paper which deals with the premise that the spice trade led to the spread of Islam. Also discusses why spices were an important trade commodity.
Handout
University of Calgary

University of Calgary: Islamic World to 1600 Tutorials

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection from the Univeristy of Calgary offers a variety of tutorials about the 16th century Islamic empire. Outline form allows for easy navigation.
Handout
University of Calgary

University of Calgary: West Africa

For Students 9th - 10th
Article from the University of Calgary that examines the development and growth of Islam in West Africa. The Islamic religion is traced from the beginning of the period through today.
Handout
University of Calgary

The Islamic World to 1600: The Safavid Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
This page comes from the University of Calgary and thoroughly describes the Safavid Empire as well as provides a clickable map detailing the areas included within their empire.
Website
University of Calgary

University of Calgary: The Islamic World to 1600, Ibn Rushd

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about Ibn Rushd, an Islamic scholar who contributed to many fields of study in the twelfth century A.D.
Handout
Other

Dharma Universe: The Real Akbar

For Students 9th - 10th
This article surveys emperor Akbar, who put the Mughal empire on a firm and stable footing, with a reliable revenue system and with expansion of its borders deeper into Indian heartland.
Handout
University of California

Ucla: History of the Turks: Restoration of the Ottoman Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
Taken from UCLA lecture notes, this site provides a chronology of the Ottoman Empire following its defeat to Tamerlane in 1402.
Handout
Princeton University

Princeton University: The Abbasids (750 1517)

For Students 9th - 10th
An article which discusses the changes that were brought about by the Abbasids. Includes a family tree and resources for more information.
Interactive
New York Times

New York Times: Evolution of Islam

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive media timeline that gives a brief description of Islam, the spread of Islam, the different Islamic groups, and the conflict in the Middle East.

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