K-14 Resources on Islam from The Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies

The Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies is committed to providing teacher training opportunities and resources for deepening understanding of the Middle East in K-14 classrooms. For additional resources and professional learning opportunities related to Middle East and Islamic Studies, please, visit here.

Resources on Islam

Resources for Islam: Teaching the Basics from Teach Mideast
Pluralism Project by Harvard University: Easy to read articles on Islam
Virtual Tours of Mosques
Access Islam: Designed to support the study of Islam in grades 4-8, this site has downloadable lesson plans, short videos, and a glossary of related terms.
ING – Educating for Cultural Literacy and Mutual Respect: This page has over 100 answers to FAQ’s about Islam and Muslims. It also provides free curriculum about Islam and multi-faith traditions.
Glossary of Terms Related to Islam & Muslim Communities: This PDF put together by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard, presents comprehensive definitions of 28 terms.
Five Faiths Project: Online information, slides, CDs and posters from the Ackland Art Museum to introduce students to the study of religions and to the core tenets and practices of Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Grades 7-12.
ReOrienting the Veil: UNC website exploring the history and significance of Muslim veiling.
WUNC Youth Radio: ‘This Cloth On Our Heads Doesn’t Stop Us’ In this 5 minute podcast, Soraya Asfari explores why young Muslims choose to wear a head scarf.
Blogs from America’s Unofficial Ambassadors: AUA have served overseas in schools or NGOs in Muslim communities in nine different countries, and return home to share their experience via community presentations and published essays. Check out the Ambassadors blog posts here.
First Amendment Center: A nonpartisan national initiative focused on educating the American public about the religious-liberty principles of the First Amendment. Check out their Resources Page for FAQ’s about teaching religion in schools.

THE FIVE PILLARS

Description of the Five Pillars from the Met Museum of Art with links to relevant artwork
Lesson plan with handouts and activities on The Five Pillars from PBS
Film: Inside Mecca, National Geographic

ISLAM PRACTICED AROUND THE WORLD

Global Islam and the Arts Lessons focusing on the practice of Sufism around the world. Lessons span grades K-12 and are aligned to NC Standards.
Lesson Plans: Islam in Southeast Asia: Developed by the Asia Society, this website features free lessons on Islam in Southeast Asia.
PBS Frontline Muslims: Showcases stories of diverse Muslims around the world. Each portrait includes a video excerpt with additional information about the individual’s life and country. The site includes a Teacher’s Guide.

MUSLIM AMERICANS

“A Land Called Paradise”: 4-minute film celebrating diversity of American Muslims
#AskAMuslimGirl: Muslim Girl teamed up with Teen Vogue on this video series sharing the voices of millennial Muslim women.
25 influential American Muslims from CNN: highlights the diversity of the American Muslim community and experience – each person has a small video and paragraph description.