Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Terrorist, Freedom Fighter, or Something in Between?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers identify that history can characterize actions differently from how they were perceived when initially undertaken. Then they identify that terrorist groups exist within a political, cultural, and historical context, and...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Rise of Islam

For Students 5th - 6th
In this Islamic medicine worksheet, students read about the rise of Islam and the history of medicine within the culture. Students read 5 passages.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arabia Before Islam

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students explore the geographical, socio-economic, political, and religious background of Arabia before Islam began. They discuss why the rich merchants of Mecca opposed and oppressed Muhammed. Students discuss the influence of geography...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

West African Art

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of West African Art. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They focus upon the history, geography, economics, and political systems. The information is used to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Filigree Jewelry

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young scholars describe physical and human characteristics of North Africa and the Middle East, plot on a map areas populated by nomadic people in those areas, explain importance of filigree jewelry in Arab culture, and create their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Community & Architecture

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Pupils investigate the Bamum people of Cameroon and the use of symbols in African societies. They read a handout, and design a palace using African symbols, presenting and describing their design to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Guidelines for Governing: Utopia and The Prince

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the power of the Church in government. In this literature lesson, students read Sir Thomas More's Utopia and Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince. Students respond to questions regarding the works and discuss them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching about Islam

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore the effects of globalization on the Global South. In this World History lesson plan, 9th graders research a specific Islamic region.  Students create a presentation that explain the effects of globalization on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Destruction in Bamiyan

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the destruction of the colossal statues of Buddha, carved into sandstone cliffs of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, that were recently demolished by the Taleban. They look for photos of local artifacts that represent the culture...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Medieval African Kingdoms

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the geography and political history of West Africa. They role-play as applicants to a company that transports customers to any historic time period. Working in teams, they create promotional products encouraging...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MALI TO MECCA, MANSA MUSA MAKES THE HAJJ

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the historical event when Mansa Musa, Ruler of Mali, made the Hajj (or holy pilgrimage) to Mecca in 1324 AD. They create Web pages or PowerPoint presentations maps, charts, posters, and oral presentations with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mali

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders begin the lesson by reading primary sources about the country of Mali. Using maps drawn in the past, they discuss what they can gather about the country from the map and how it has changed over time. They use a graphic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SOS from Sudan

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students examine the Darfur crisis. In this current events lesson, students visit selected websites to discover details about the history of Sudan, ethnic cleansing by the Arab Janjaweed militias, and the condition of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ottoman Lyric Poetry

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Pupils explore the Ottoman style of poetry. They view a video, Suleyman the Magnificent, and view maps of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. They research the Ottoman Empire and keep a journal. They read various Ottoman...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidents and the Constitution: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and the Barbary Pirates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils explore the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean. In this American history lesson, students read a narrative regarding the conflict between the Barbary Pirates and the United States under the leadership of Washington, Adams,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trekking to Timbuktu: Assessment of Lessons 1-7 - Teacher Version

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders use several pieces of poster board taped together and make an illustrated timeline of the history of Timbuktu. For the illustrations, use graphics downloaded from websites visited during this unit or draw pictures freehand.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trekking to Timbuktu

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view a television show to provide a context for conducting research into the location and culture of Timbuktu. The students complete a report on the subject in the form of a research paper.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Columbian Contexts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore geo-political and economic contexts for the European Renaissance journeys of exploration, including those of Columbus, create cartographic symbols, and add those symbols to a print-out of Ptolemy's map.
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...
Graphic
Other

Islam Project: Maps

For Students 9th - 10th
A series of historical and near-present-day maps that span Islamic history. Starting with A.D. 750, the maps illustrate both the spread of Islam (from Medina outward to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and other parts of the world) and...
Article
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Islamic History Sourcebook: Death of General Gordon

For Students 9th - 10th
Written from a contemporary historical perspective from the era of imperialism, this site offers a brief overview of the events of the British defeat at Khartoum in 1885. Includes some quotations from General Gordon's personal diary, and...
Online Course
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: World History: Unit: 600 1450 Regional & Interregional Interaction

For Students 9th - 10th
The World History unit is from Khan Academy. The years 600 to 1450 are included. The Byzantine Empire, European Middle Ages, origins of Islam, spread of Islam, Great Schism, Crusades, Mongols, Song China, Medieval Japan, Maya Empire,...
Website
PBS

Pbs: The Swahili People

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a site from the PBS series "Wonders of the African World." This brief but detailed article gives information about the origins and history of the Swahili people.
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Mansa Musa & the Kingdom of Mali

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the important gold and salt trade that went on in Northern Africa for hundreds of years. Goes on to detail the emergence of Timbuktu in Mali into a great center of Islamic scholarship and culture under Mansa Musa, who...