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Teaching About the Teaching About the Middle EastMiddle East
Monica M. EraqiArab-American National Museum
The Middle East & Arabs in the The Middle East & Arabs in the CurriculumCurriculum
According to Marx (2002), “by the year 2050, the United States will become a nation of minorities, with less than half of the population being non-Hispanic White (as cited in Gardiner & Enomoto, 2006).
Orfield (2001) argues that at present, more than half of the students attending urban schools are members of minority groups (as cited in Gardiner & Enomoto, 2006).
Middle Eastern & Muslim Americans have largely been ignored from the curriculum and from research.
Common Core & Middle Common Core & Middle SchoolSchool
6th Grade – Eastern Hemisphere
7th Grade – Western Hemisphere
8th Grade – U.S. History (up to Civil War)
Common Core: ◦ Broad rather than specific
(Literacy & writing, thinking skills, Position & Defense)
◦ Not more work – emphasizes what teachers already do
◦ Teaching reading and writing about issues that connect to today.
Examples of Common Core & GLCEs
6 – H1.1.1 Explain why and how historians use eras and periods as constructs to organize and explain human activities over time.
6 – H1.4.1 Describe and use cultural institutions to study an era and a region (political, economic, religion/belief, science/technology, written language, education, family).
7 – H1.2.6 Identify the role of the individual in history and the significance of one person’s ideas.
Common Core & Middle Common Core & Middle SchoolSchool
Reading: ◦ Textual (meant to
eliminate scaffolding, emphasize higher text, above comfort level)
◦ How to assess perspectives, biases and dwell over difficult readings for information.
Writing Not opinion, but POSITION Supporting with factual
information Informative writing
Common MistakesCommon Mistakes Ignoring Middle Easter/Islamic
studies ◦ Dismissed as unimportant
◦ Teachers lack training and resources
◦ Teachers not confident in teaching controversial issues
Using videos & other instructional materials that are not sourced
Using materials out of context or without historical background that emphasize Middle Eastern or Islamic stereotypes◦ Kite Runner
Bringing in Servicemen who have served in the Middle East
Implementing Arab-Islamic Implementing Arab-Islamic StudiesStudiesSocial Studies/English Islam
◦ 5 Pillars (History Channel: Inside Islam)◦ Political Islam (Project)
Arabs & Culture◦ Diversity Day◦ Foods, Dress, Music, Dance, Sports (YouTube,
Community Resources, Anthony Bourdain, recipies.com)Middle East & U.S. History
◦ U.S. involvement in Middle East since FDR (Blood & Oil, House of Saud, Reading Activities on Afghanistan 1980s, Iran-Iraq War, Iran-Contra, Gulf War, Oslo Accords, Daily Show)
Implementing Arab-Islamic Implementing Arab-Islamic StudiesStudiesSocial Studies/English cont.Class DebatesPowerPoint/Prezi & Movie Maker
presentationsStations ActivitiesBook Reviews (followed by class
presentations and guest speakers),Arab-American National Museum
Field Trip
ExamplesExamplesVideo Examples:AladdinStereotypes in MediaActivity Examples:Iran (Helpful after studying Iran Hostage Crisis)Doing Business in Afghanistan (Economics & English: Has been adapted to a PowerPoint Group Project)Persian Gulf Arab-Israeli Conflict SolutionsArab-Israeli Conflict History
Project Examples:Reagan & AfghanistanPan-Arabism PowerPointTurkey PreziTurkey & Saudi Arabia DebatePalestine & Israel VideoTourism
Curricular ResourcesCurricular ResourcesLesson Plans & Units
◦ Center for Middle Eastern & North African Studies (CMENAS) http://www.ii.umich.edu/cmenas
◦ Teaching the Middle East http://teachmiddleeast.lib.uchicago.edu/
◦ Media Construction of the Middle East http://www.ithaca.edu/looksharp/?action=middleeast
◦ Choices Program Resources www.choices.edu/resources/detail.php?id=24 Professional Development, Conferences, Workshops
◦ Eraqi Website Teaching Middle East/Arab/Islamic Studies in U.S. History,
Global & Modern Middle East www.cvs.k12.mi.us/meraqi
Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources
Teach Middle EastDr. Allen Webbhttp://www.teachmiddleeast.com/Teaching About the Middle East: A
Teacher’s Resource GuideAbigail S. Chillwww.socialstudies.comMedia Education Foundationwww.mediaed.org
Other Informational BooksOther Informational BooksTeaching Literature of
Today’s Middle East◦ Dr. Allen Webb, Western
Michigan University Islam: Faith and
People◦ Eraqi H. EraqiClass Speakers or
Community Involvement
◦ Arab-American National Museum
◦ Islamicfinder.org
LiteratureLiteratureDr. Allen Webb
◦ Western Michigan University Website
◦ http://www.teachmiddleeast.com/
◦ Women in Islam◦ Diversity◦ War in the Middle East◦ Palestinian & Israel
Conflict◦ Organized by grade level◦ Sensitive use with books
such as Kite Runner
VideosVideosStereotypes:
◦ Reel Bad Arabs◦ Peace, Propaganda and
the Promise LandArab-Israeli Conflict:
◦ Promises◦ Arna’s Children◦ Paradise Now
Middle East in General:◦ Blood & Oil◦ PBS & History Channel
Thank You!
