K-12 Outreach

2008 Summer Institute
with Parallel Programs for K-12 Teachers and High School Students

New in 2008 is a summer institute providing an overview of the Middle East . This summer, from June 1st to June 6th, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies will offer 30 elementary and secondary teachers and 20 high school students (current sophomores and juniors) the opportunity to participate in parallel programs of an intensive summer institute to learn more about the Middle East . Teachers may receive 40-45 hours of professional development credit or 3 UA graduate credits (in Language, Reading , and Culture through the Department of Education). Students will receive 3 undergraduate credits in Near Eastern Studies. Sessions on modern Middle Eastern history, geography, literature, women's issues, art, culture, religion, and languages will be offered as well as teachers' seminars to discuss classroom applications of the material. Evening activities include movie screenings, musical performances, and other cultural activities.

Application Deadline: April 17, 2008

• Teacher Application
• Teacher Application Instructions
• Teacher Program Tentative Schedule
• Student Application
• Student Application Instructions
• Student Program Tentative Schedule

For information regarding university graduate tuition rates, click here.

NOTE: If you are having trouble accessing the above documents, please email the CMES Outreach Assistant, Shauna Little.

CMES Lesson Plans

The following lesson plans were developed by master teachers and by CMES Outreach staff with the intent of giving area teachers a easy access point to Middle Eastern content material. All lesson plans are available for free download. Feedback on the classroom application of the materials is always appreciated.

Quick Lesson Plan Index

Elementary Level
Day in the Life of an Iranian Child
Iranian New Year
Ramadan
Read Aloud Literature

Middle/High School Level
A Moroccan Specialty
Cultural Diffusion: The Impact of the Middle East on the Balkans
In Search of Aphrodite’s Rock
Introduction to Islam
The Ottoman Empire
The Palestinian-Israeli Issue/High School English
The Palestinian-Israeli Issue/High School Social Studies
Tuning in to Turning Points
United We Stand…Case Study: Cyprus
Virtual Field Trip to Turkey

Day in the Life of an Iranian Child
Author(s): Shauna Little
Grades: 1-3
A lesson plan featuring a children’s story (illustrated by powerpoint pictures) and a series of learning centers with follow-up activities.

• Class Powerpoint Presentation
• Teacher Instructions
• Powerpoint Script
• Learning Center 1: Middle East Outline Map
• Learning Center 1: Student Instructions
• Learning Center 2: Student Instructions
• Learning Center 4: Persian Writing

Iranian New Year
Author(s): Lisa Adeli
Grades: K-5
A lesson on Iran’s biggest holiday (No Ruz), a holiday that lasts for weeks but centers around New Year’s Day, the first day of spring (Mar. 21).

• Class Powerpoint Presentation
• Teacher Instructions and Notes

Ramadan
Author(s): Lisa Adeli
Grades: 1-5
A lesson about the religion of Islam and the best-known Muslim holiday.

• Class Powerpoint Presentation
• Overview for Teachers
• Notes on Pictures
• Fact Sheet: Ramadan
• Supplementary Activities

Read Aloud Literature
Author(s): Vicki Waxman
Grades: K-5
A series of lesson plans designed to introduce primary school children to the history and culture of the Middle East.

• Lesson Plans for Various Grades

A Moroccan Specialty: Pigeon Pie, Camel Rides, and Mosques – A Virtual Tour of Morocco’s Landscape and Culture
Author(s): Jeannine Kuropatkin and Cheryl Wiens
Grades: Middle School
A lesson plan on Moroccan geography and culture with all kinds of materials: from PowerPoint photos and slides to worksheets and evaluations.

• Class Powerpoint Presentation
• Audio Files: Call to Prayer, Djemaa, Marhabat, Danse Atlas, Aid Zitoun
• Teacher: Map Answer Key
• Teacher: Slide Show Notes Key - p1, p2, p3, and p4
• Teacher: Regions Handout Key
• Teacher: Postcard 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
• Student: Middle East Map
• Student: Slide Show Notes - p1, p2, p3, and p4
• Student: Writing Assignment
• Student: Regions Handout

Cultural Diffusion: The Impact of the Middle East on the Balkans
Author(s): Lisa Adeli
Grades: High School
A lesson with PowerPoint pictures and maps about Middle Eastern cultural, religious, and linguistic influences in southeastern Europe.

• Class Powerpoint Presentation
• Teacher Instructions and Script
• Bibliography

In Search of Aphrodite’s Rock
Author(s): Heather Kiser
Grades: High School
An innovative geography lesson using literary cues from Cypriot legends and mythology.

• Lesson Procedures
• Story Pictures
• Cyprus Map
• The Story of Aphrodite
• The Story of Hala Sultan Tekke, Questions and Answer Key
• The Story of St. Hilarion Castle, Questions and Answer Key
• The Founding Story of Salamis, Questions and Answer Key
• The Story of Pygmalion and Galatea, Questions and Answer Key
• The Love Story of Pyramus and Thisbe, Questions and Answer Key
• The Story of Saint Catherine, Questions and Answer Key
• The Story of Saint Nicholas of the Cats, Questions and Answer Key
• Cyrus Map Key

Introduction to Islam
Author(s): Lisa Adeli
Grades: Middle School/High School
Introduction to Muslim beliefs and cultures. A PowerPoint presentation with pictures and maps, notes for teachers - and a lot of myth-busting

• Class Powerpoint Presentation
• Teacher Instructions
• Powerpoint Notes
• Bibliography

The Ottoman Empire
Author(s): Lisa Adeli
Grades: High School
An overview of the Ottoman Empire and its unique institutions. Includes a PowerPoint presentation and a script for teachers.

• Lesson Overview and Instructions
• Class Powerpoint Presentation
• Powerpoint Script
• Bibliography

The Palestinian-Israeli Issue/High School English
Author(s): Lisa Adeli
Grades: High School
A lesson using short literary texts to inspire a writing assignment.

• Teacher Instructions
• Overview of the Conflict
• Amos Oz Memoir Excerpt
• Conflict and Compromise since 1948
• Ibtisam Barakat Memoir Excerpt
• Poems

The Palestinian-Israeli Issue/High School Social Studies
Author(s): Lisa Adeli
Grades: High School
A lesson using different perspectives and brief research to analyze the issues confronting Palestinians and Israelis in their quest for peace.

• Teacher Instructions
• Overview of the Conflict
• Conflict and Compromise since 1948
• Israeli Childrens' Views
• Palestinian Childrens' Views

Tuning in to Turning Points
Author(s): Lisa Adeli
Grades: High School, adaptable for Middle School
Each group of students researches an event of historical significance in modern Middle Eastern history and tries to convince others why their topic is the most important.

• Lesson Overview and Instructions
• Scoring Guide

United We Stand…Case Study: Cyprus
Author(s): Lori Hare
Grades: 8 – 12
A lesson (with PowerPoint pictures and maps) about conflict resolution, using the case study of the Greek-Turkish conflict in Cyprus.

• Class Powerpoint Presentation
• Lesson: Part 1
• Lesson: Part 2

Virtual Field Trip to Turkey
Author(s): Kate Mahady
Grades: Middle School/High School
A PowerPoint presentation which takes young people on a trip through Turkish history, culture, and art.

• Teacher Instructions
• Virtual Field Trip Questions
• Virtual Field Trip Powerpoint Presentation
• References
• Turkey Logos

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