world cultures

March 10, 2022

Stamaty, Mark Alan. Alia’s Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq. illus. by author. Knopf. 2004.

Graphic novel version of the true story of the woman who, with members of her community, saved books during the Iraq war. Publishers Weekly featured review.

March 10, 2022

Palestinian teacher wins global prize worth $1m 

Hanan al-Hroub, who works with children exposed to violence, wins a global prize for her significant contribution to children’s’ education.

March 10, 2022

The Air of History Part III: The Golden Age in Arab Islamic Medicine An Introduction

When and where did the first complete, coherent, and well organized system of medicine develop? Read this research paper to discover the fascinating accomplishment in medical care over 1000 years ago! From the National Library of Health. See also Parts I and II.

Hajar R. The Air of History Part III: The Golden Age in Arab Islamic Medicine An Introduction. Heart Views. 2013 Jan;14(1):43-6. doi: 10.4103/1995-705X.107125. PMID: 23580929; PMCID: PMC3621228.

March 10, 2022

My Clothing, My Choice  

In this article, the author is dispelling misconceptions about headscarf and sharing her belief as to why she and other Muslim women choose to wear the Hijab.

March 10, 2022

Muslims’ Contribution (Discovery Packet) 

A Compilation of achievements and inventions made by early Muslims. It also includes short bios of famous Muslims in the US and around the world who made significant contributions in the social, medical, engineering, entertainment, sports, and other fields.

March 10, 2022

Muslim Holidays Guide and Lesson Plans

Muslim Holidays-Booklet Muslim Holidays is a booklet with readings and lesson plans from primary and elementary to middle school and high school that describe the two important Muslim holidays. celebrated around the world–Eid al-Fitr after Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha which accompanies the Hajj (pilgrimage) season. Illustrated. The booklet and other resources can be downloaded as pdfs free at http://cie.org

March 10, 2022

Middle East Outreach Council Book Awards 2000-2016

Book award winners in Picture book, Youth book, non-fiction categories from 2000-2015 at http://georgetown.box.com/s/ry41v8dnwsbjiyu5c5zz0l8xpe6bex6v

March 10, 2022

Medical Ethics in Religious Traditions: A Study of Judaism, Catholicism, and Islam 

Multiculturalism and its associated plurality of value systems is rapidly becoming the norm in modern medical practice. Given this increasing diversity, greater emphasis upon cultural and ethical competence in physician training is necessary in order to provide culturally sensitive and ethically sound care. Religious values shape ethical codes and are expressed in the cultural norms of subcommunities in a society. Thus, an understanding of religious values that may influence the clinical encounter is important. This paper provides an overview of the ethical constructs of the sacred law traditions of Judaism, Catholicism, and Islam and will outline approaches taken by each faith regarding medical ethics. It is hoped that the insights gained will aid both clinicians and ethicists to better understand these religious paradigms of medical ethics and thereby positively affect patient care through increased tolerance and understanding.

March 10, 2022

Marx,  David F. Ramadan. (Rookie Read-About Holidays Series) Scholastic Library Publishing, 2002.

The Center for South Asian and Middle East Studies features the elementary level book in a lesson plan on Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and its celebration, Celebrating_Ramadan.

March 10, 2022

MacMillan, Dianne M.  Ramadan and Id al-Fitr. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated, 1994.

Description of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and its celebration, and the Eid al-Fitr or Feast of the Sacrifice. Elementary level.

March 10, 2022

Macdonald, Fiona. A 16th Century Mosque. Hodder Wayland. 1996.

A beautifully illustrated guide to a mosque from the Ottoman period by famous architect Sinan. Online version to borrow from OpenLibrary

March 10, 2022

MacCaulay, David. Mosque. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books, Inc., 2003.

David MacCaulay’s book Mosque in the architecture series features the work of famous Turkish archictect in Ottoma Istanbul Mosque.  View a readaloud version by MrPsWorldHistory at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EjXYMMZg2U. See also for comparison of sacred and secular architecture, by the same author/architect, Cathedral, Castle, City, Pyramid, and others. See also animated films of same names.

March 10, 2022

Living Islamic Values and Practices of the Faith lesson plan

Students evaluate comments made by individuals in the film. The quotes touch upon topics such as Expressions of Faith, Family and Communal Aspects of Muslim Life, Unity and Diversity Among Muslims, Muslims in Mainstream American Society, and Muslim Responses to Extremism in Religion. Students will be better able to distinguish between “Islamic” teachings and “Muslim” practices which may or may not conform to the faith’s widely-held principles and ideals. For use with: Video documentary FRONTLINE: MUSLIMS or standalone. Here is the lesson plan as a pdf lp_FM-C01_ValuesPracticesFaith-C01

March 10, 2022

Joha Stories, Jokes and lesson plan

Joha Stories, a collection of stories and jokes from the famous universal Muslim character of wisdom and satire named Guha, Joha, Nasruddin Hoja in different cultures. Anecdotes and jokes poke fun at human foibles and contain kernels of wisdom. The lesson brings out the meanings and morals of the stories and explores why they are beloved across the Muslim world. Hodja-StoriesSLC

March 10, 2022

Jeffrey, Laura S. Celebrate Ramadan. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated, 2007.

Description of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and its celebration.

March 10, 2022

Islamic Spain What’s for Breakfast? Interactive web resource

An interactive web page illustrating the many cultural contributions to American life from Islamic Spain, also leads to other articles on Muslims’ contributions to modern life, sciences, technologies, and cultural exchanges.

March 10, 2022

Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World

The film explores Islamic art in several thematic segments (Space, Word, Water, Ornament, and Color), featuring objects big and small, from great palaces and mosques to f ceramics, carved boxes, paintings and metal work. It revels in the use of color and finds commonalities in a shared artistic heritage with the West and East. The film also examines the unique ways in which Islamic art turns calligraphy and the written word into masterpieces and develops water into an expressive, useful art form Like all art, it carries the fundamental values and perspectives of the artists who created it as well as those who commissioned and paid for it. A discussion guide for the film can be used as a set of lesson plans Discussion-Guide-Mirror-of-the-Invisible-World-2013.

March 10, 2022

Islam: Empire of Faith

Islam: Empire of Faith documentary film companion website The site includes an outstanding timeline of Islamic history in four realms of history, as well as lesson plans and access to images from the arts and sciences. The full documentary can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxnT1Trn5kc

Islam: Empire of Faith is a documentary series, made in 2000, that details the history of Islam, from the birth of the Islamic Prophet, Muhammad to the Ottoman Empire. The first episode deals with the life of Muhammad, the second with the early Caliphates, Crusades, and Mongol invasion, and the third with the Ottoman Empire and Safavid dynasty. Directed by Robert H. Gardner.

March 10, 2022

Historical Background of the Abrahamic Faiths

Lesson plan and Readings on Historical Background of the Abrahamic Faiths is part of the complete set of lessons for comprehension and enrichment written to accompany the Unity Productions Foundation documentary film Cities of Light, in addition to interactive online features, articles, slide shows, timelines and maps is found at http://www.islamicspain.tv. The Lesson Plan Set is available for download in pdf format (individual lesson titles and the complete set on the site at http://www.islamicspain.tv/For-Teachers/LessonPlans.htm).

March 10, 2022

Heiligman,  Deborah. Celebrate Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr with Praying, Fasting, and Charity. National Geographic Society, 2006

Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the fast’s end, are sacred times for millions throughout the world. Celebrate Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr examines the reasons for the month-long dawn-to-dusk fast and observes some of the wide variety of celebrations at the end of the fast worldwide.

Deborah Heiligman’s text examines the historical, religious, and cultural aspect of this Muslim holiday. The book’s beautiful photographs are complemented with a map pinpointing the exact locations illustrated. The extensive back matter also includes a list of further resources such as books and Web sites, useful for the research student and paper writer in grades one to four.
The book’s consultant, Dr. Neguin Yavari gives an explanatory note about the religious and cultural significance of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.