This website introduces students to the children of Iraq and Iraq as a country. Highlights of this website include an interactive video clip (which requires FLASH), informational guides, pictures and many other resources. If you have students whose parents are serving in the military, this topic may be emotional, but it will also highlight what children all over the world have in common.
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See annotated details of ancient and more recent weavings from many cultures using the interactive "exhibits" of the museum. See work from Egypt, Kashmir, Persia, and many more. Decode some of the iconography in Asian carpets. Some exhibits are text-heavy, while others offer many plates and details for your art students to study and use as references. World cultures classes will be able to envision ancient times by looking at the beautiful images on this site.
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The CIA's Factbook offers a wealth of information on most of the world's nations. This is a direct link to the page for Iran.
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The Council for Islamic Education offers this detailed introduction to Ramadan, the month of daytime fasting that leads up to the second most sacred festival of the year, Eid al-Fitr. Teachers will need to adapt some of the content for use with elementary or middle school students.
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This WebQuest puts students in the role of newly elected Iraq officials, intent upon writing a constitution for the recently liberated nation. Working in small groups and using the Constitution of the United States as a model, students must develop a document that will form the basis for a successful Iraqi government. Each group must then present their final document to the class for ratification.
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Students and teachers in search of broadly-based information on the Iraq conflict and its implications will do well here. The Times has an advantage in having regular, first-hand reporting that goes beyond headlines and photos to examine issues and atitudes.
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Your students can experience life in a typical refugee camp with this interactive, in-depth tour. Using a small compass or map, visitors can navigate through the camp and learn about the importance of various locations, including the reception center, food storage warehouse, health center, school, market, and meeting place. Related links to current events and organizations including Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross are provided.
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BBC’s presentation on the key players in today’s Iraq will help teachers and students sort out both the individuals and the many movements and factions that are now vying for influence in that nation. This one would make a great backgrounder for a discussion on balancing power in Iraq in the effort to build a democratic government there.
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National Public Radio’s web content about the ongoing rebuilding efforts in Iraq offers a nice blend of interviews, factual reporting, and images from the scene. There’s an emphasis on political, economic, cultural, and military issues and their relationships with one another. Try this one as a starting point for an in-depth current events discussion.
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Designed to help teach about the sweeping political changes in the region, TeachersFirst's comprehensive Middle East resource examines the interplay of cultural, political, economic, and religious borders in the mideast from the mid-nineteenth century to the present.
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This site explores the culture, religion, innovations, and historical figures of the Islamic civilization. The forerunner of many modern Muslim Countries, the lessons on this site provide wonderful background for world cultures courses. There are video clips from the original video production available as real time files, as well as interactive lesson plans.
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The Academy for Educational Development is operating a project to provide backpacks with educational supplies to school children in Afghanistan. Teachers and parents may find this an attractive service opportunity for students eager to “do something” about the plight of civilians in Afghanistan and the middle east. The backpacks cost $10 each.
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AFS, a part of the Quaker tradition, has a long history of commitment to nonviolent conflict resolution. This page offers substantive opportunities for those opposing the war with Iraq to express their views and work to repair the damage to property and lives which the war will inevitably cause.
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TeachersFirst's Iraq war coverage page offers a frequently updated collection of reporting, background resources, and information for parents and teachers about students' reactions to the war.
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CNN offers a look at the weather map for the mideast, along with links to forecasts for major cities in the region.
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Prepared as background material to the increasing tensions in Iraq and the rest of the mideast, this BBC map collection offers surprisingly detailed information on force strengths in various mideastern nations. The page includes links to similarly detailed information on other aspects of this looming conflict.
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This web site - a companion to the PBS program of the same name - offers pofiles of both the prophet Muhammad and several contemporary American Muslims who describe the meaning of their faith. The web site contains additional historical and biographical information as well as background information on Islam.
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We have great difficulty finding understandable, unbiased sites about the Arab world. This one, created by an independent British scholar, does a credible job of making a very different culture accessible and understandable to Western readers. There is a wealth of resources, including news summaries and extensive cultural information.
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Here’s a really first-rate treatment of the Middle East, its three primary religious subtexts, and the relationship of these to issues like global economics, literature, and history. Users will find a wealth of time-lines, as well as a series of “connecting questions” about issues like the role of women, nation-states, and the impact of stereotypes on international perceptions about this region. Lots of “extended thinking” opportunities here.
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The Islamic Arts and Architecture Organization offers an almost encyclopedic site on art and design in the Islamic world. The site includes extensive galleries and detailed articles on the various topics presented. Art or art history teachers will find this one an outstanding source of examples of art and craft from this complex culture.
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