Instructional Materials

We produce instructional materials from our own outreach presentations, and we share materials created by teacher-participants in our teacher training program. In addition to publishing selected items in our Community in the Knowledge Bank, we post more links to materials below.

e-Books:

Keys to Understanding the Middle East, Dr.Alam Payind and Melinda McClimans

This e-book focuses on the languages, cultural, religious, and sectarian communities of the region, and turning points in history. It is based on the content for International Studies/Near Eastern Languages and Cultures 2200 “Introduction to the Modern Middle East”. Formats:

Lesson plans and units:

Students as Collaborative Curators: The Effect of World War I and its Aftermath In Turkey and the United States 1914-1923, by Melinda McClimans and Joan Brodsky Schur

This learner-centered set of classroom activities centers around the experiences of World War I, both in the U.S. and in Turkey. Educators in both countries are calling attention to the need for greater teacher autonomy despite the increasingly controlling educational policies in both countries. In the summer of 2014 many nations will initiate commemorative events to mark the centennial of the world’s first global conflict, World War I, or “The Great War.” We offer this module for stimulating critical thought, awareness of global perspectives, and authentic citizenship education, both national and global.
Lesson on World Governments: The Case of Saudi Arabia

6th grade handout out on world governments focusing on Saudi Arabia.  Use this related page onShar’ia, or Islamic Law.  This can build upon what was learned in 6th grades about world governments to talk about democracy, representation and what it means to be a citizen.

 

Image galleries and collections: Educational Image Collections

Presentations:

Afghanistan’s Tortured Past, Dr. Alam Payind
A presentation on Afghan history, and some of its painful legacies of today.

Global Water Issues in the Middle East

In this presentation, the teacher gives an overview of the global water crisis and what that looks like in a couple of Middle Eastern locations: Euphrates Tigris riparian nations; and Yemen. It builds on what they learned in middle school* about world civilizations, and connects to the STEM fields. After an overview of water resources in the Middle East, how they are used and what the issues are with sharing water resources, key cultural practices may be introduced, and unique water resource features of the Middle East, such as wadis, oases while also showing the lush green areas of the Middle East to counter the stereotypical idea that the Middle East is a vast desert.

*The major civilizations required by Ohio curriculum standards all grew up around major rivers: the Yangze, the Indus Valley, and the Euphrates-Tigris river basins.