Multicultural Mural Curriculum Guide Page 1 of 6

Leader Spotlight: Malala YousafzaiQuote(s): “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” 

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” 

“With guns you can kill terrorists, with education you can kill terrorism.” 

Most Known For:• Defying the Taliban to promote education for girls• Youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

Causes:• Civil & Human Rights• Women’s Rights• [Children’s Rights]

Terms to Know:terrorist

Taliban

intimidation

burqa

blog

platform

paralysis

displaced

Biography:Malala Yousafzai grew up in Pakistan with two younger brothers and her parents. She had a happy, carefree childhood, and she loved learning.

In Malala’s culture, it was not as common for girls to go to school, but Malala’s dad was a teacher and school principal. He understood the importance of education. With the support of her parents, she was fortunate enough to attend school.

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Leader Spotlight: Malala Yousafzai

When Malala was around 10 years old, a terrorist group called the Taliban took control of where she lived. The Taliban were very strict about their religion, and ordered that all people follow a religious law. They used violence and intimidation tactics to force people into following the laws they believed.

Laws were created that said women had to stay at home, and if they left they had to cover their whole bodies with a type of clothing called a burqa. Some women like wearing burqas, while others don’t. However, the Taliban did not give women a choice.

Women were not able to work, have jobs, and eventually girls’ schools were shut down. There were even more laws that said no dancing, music, movies, or television.

As the laws became stricter, Malala created a blog, or an online journal, called “Diary of a Pakistani Schoolgirl.” She used the blog as a platform, or a tool, to speak out for the rights of girls and women.

Her strong voice made the Taliban very angry, and eventually they tracked her down. On October 9, 2012, when 15-year-old Malala was riding the school bus home, a gunman boarded the bus and demanded to know which girl was Malala.

Without thinking, Malala’s friend looked in her direction, giving her location away. The gunman fired at her, hitting Malala in her head. Two other girls were also injured in the attack.

Malala was in in critical condition, so she was flown to two different hospitals to find care for her swelling head. Eventually, she was sent to the United Kingdom, where she was put into a medically-induced coma and underwent many surgeries to repair her facial nerves and reverse facial paralysis. But, astonishingly, Malala did not have any long term brain damage.

Still in England, Malala has been attending school again. But unfortunately, the Taliban still considers her a target, and it is unsafe for her to go back to her home, even though she never wanted to leave.

Malala uses her story to share her message: everyone deserves the right to education. Even though Malala is displaced, or unable to live in her home country, she speaks out about the power of education. She believes that without equal access to knowledge, there is no such thing as peace. But though she is anti-terrorism, she believes in fighting violence with knowledge and words, not guns.

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Leader Spotlight: Malala Yousafzai

How She Showed:

COMPASSION: In a United Nations Speech in 2013, Malala said: “Even if there was a gun in my hand and he was standing in front of me, I would not shoot him. This is the compassion I have learned from Mohamed, the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This the legacy of change I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. This is the philosophy of nonviolence that I have learned from Gandhi, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learned from my father and from my mother. This is what my soul is telling me: be peaceful and love everyone.”

COLLABORATION: The Malala Fund, a non-profit started by Malala and her father Ziauddin, supports an initiative called the Gulmakai Network. The Gulmakai Network is a group of organizations, individuals, and schools that advocate for girls’ rights to education around the world.

RESPECT: Malala respects the right of all children to have access to education, regardless of gender, race, religion, or socio-economic status.

CELEBRATION: The world celebrated Malala in 2014 when she became the youngest recipient ever of the Nobel Peace Prize which celebrates her activism for girls education in Pakistan. She celebrates the joy and right to education for all children through her activism and speeches.

Learning Activity: The Power of YouthSubject(s): Reading & Language Arts

This activity could compliment lessons based on the following, and other, Common Core Standards:

• Speaking and Listening Standard 1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

• Speaking and Listening Standard 2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source

• Reading: Literature Standard 4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.

• Reading: Literature Standard 5 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.3.B Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

Objective: Students will define how rap is a form of poetry and social change. They will observe examples of youth using rap as social commentary and performance art. They will

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Leader Spotlight: Malala Yousafzaiexamine such examples to identify poetic devices. Finally, they will reflect on their personal narratives and write a rap of their own.

Materials Needed: Kid Warrior - The Xiuhtezcatl Martinez Story [link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EK_9m1H88] , All Eyes on Me by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez [link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Fyrmc6_hA], Young by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez video and lyrics print out [link: https://genius.com/Xiuhtezcatl-young-lyrics]

Intro / Warm Up:

Show students the video of *warning of some profanity* Kid Warrior - The Xiuhtezcatl Martinez Story and his rap video, All Eyes on Me

Tell them that Xiuhtezcatl is another example of a teenager who, just like Malala, had to find his voice to protect what he loves.

In groups, have students discuss the following questions:

1. What to Xiuhtezcatl and Malala have in common? In what ways are they different?

2. Imagine you are Malala, Xiuhtezcatl, or another teenager who is now famous for speaking up. What do you think are the challenges when finding your voice? What do you think they do to feel courageous?

Dive In:

Tell students that, just like Xiuhtezcatl and Malala, they also have a voice. But, when life gets busy and hard, it is easy for their voices to become quiet.

In this activity, students will write a rap song or a poem that tells their story.

Procedures:

1. Play the song Young for students [link: https://genius.com/Xiuhtezcatl-young-lyrics].

HEADS UP – The second verse of this song uses profanity and references adult con-tent. Use discretion, and consider playing only verses 1 and 2.

2. Give students the lyrics to read. In groups, have them discuss a verse.

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Leader Spotlight: Malala Yousafzai3. Now, students to circle the rhyming words. Have them notice that not all the lines

rhyme, and that it is more important to express your thoughts than to make a perfectly-rhymed song.

4. Finally, tell students it is their turn to try to write a verse of a rap song. They may use the following techniques to help them, but their raps can also be free verse:

1. Rhyme - A lot of rap rhymes, but it doesn’t always have to! If you want to make your rap rhyme, try these common rhyme schemes:

ABAB

AA BB CC DD

ABCB ABCB

2. Rhythm, Inflection, Pacing - Since rap is a kind of performance poetry, you can think of words and syllables as working together in a rhythm. Try tapping your foot as you read your rap to see if you can find its natural rhythm.

1. Metaphor, Symbol, and Simile - In Young, the lyrics say that humanity is a “tree growing strong” and a “new siren in your heart.” These are metaphors - they describe nouns by comparing them to other nouns. Sometimes metaphors are symbols to show how the artist feels about something. A simile is another kind of comparison, usually using “like” or “as”. For example, “Her house is as big as a castle.”

2. Social Commentary - both rap and poetry have been used as tools to comment on what is going on in the world. Don’t be afraid to write and rap about what is happening at home, in school, in politics. Art is your chance to speak your mind!

BREAK OUT! Extending Activity

1. Have students make a music video with their raps and share them (privately) on YouTube.

2. Give students a chance to perform their rap songs, either to friends & family or to their fellow students. Have them write a journal entry reflecting on how they got over their fear of speaking up.

Additional Media / Materials:

Malala Yousafzai – Nobel Prize Speech Copyright 2018. Moab Valley Multicultural Center. All Rights Reserved.

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Leader Spotlight: Malala Yousafzaihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOqIotJrFVM

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez – Vice Mini-Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXBR5ZrKdws

Copyright 2018. Moab Valley Multicultural Center. All Rights Reserved.