ICE Jordan Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) 2010-11
Jordan/Middle East Lessons: Secondary Education

*Specific lessons can be viewed by clicking the lesson title.

GPA Participant

Subject Area

Grade Level

Lesson Title

Alicia Booker

Social Studies

9-12

Agency: How Youth Can Make a Difference

Lesson summary: This lesson will show students how youth around the world are agents for positive change.  Using the example of honor killing in the Middle East and how one girl published a book to speak out against it, students will begin to think about ways that they can become agents for issues that they find important.

Alicia Booker

Social Studies

9-12

Arab Culture from an Arab Perspective

Lesson summary: This lesson is designed to help students learn about Arab culture.  This is a jigsaw lesson and there are six articles provided for students to read and discuss.

Alicia Booker

Social Studies, Language Arts, Fine Arts

7-12

Mosaics: Looking Beyond the Stones

Lesson summary: The purpose of this lesson is to teach students how artwork such as mosaics can tell many things about the culture and history of a people. Mosaics are more than pictures, they tell stories of the every-day relationship between man and nature and what that culture valued at the time.

David Harms

Social Studies

9-12

Middle East Timeline

Lesson summary: Five student groups will research a period in 20th century Middle Eastern history, identify three important historical events and three cultural events that happened during it, and create an original symbol that identifies the period. Finally, they will share their conclusions with the rest of the class.

David Harms

Social Studies

9-12

Dead Sea Public Service Announcement (PSA)

Lesson summary: Student groups research and produce a PSA educating people about the importance of the Dead Sea, the danger the Dead Sea is currently in, and a proposed solution to the Dead Sea problem.

David Harms

Social Studies

9-12

Tragedy of the Commons/Jordan Water Theft

Lesson summary: Student partners research and produce a PowerPoint describing the tragedy of the commons, the Jordan water theft problem, and how they relate.

Joshua Spiegel

Social Studies

9-12

Great Arab Revolt

Lesson summary: Students will learn about the efforts Lawrence of Arabia played in the Great Arab Revolt in WWI.  Students will analyze Lawrence’s efforts and the propaganda surrounding the events.  

Joshua Spiegel

Social Studies

9-12

Israel: Creation and Conflict

Lesson summary: Students will learn about the events leading up to the creation of the nation of Israel and the contemporary conflict that has ensued.

Joshua Spiegel

Social Studies

9-12

Islam and Art

Lesson summary: Students will be exposed to the concept of Islamic beliefs and identity by learning about the role art has historically played in Islam and in contemporary issues.

Zachary Tucker

Social Studies

10-12

Join the Fight for Human Rights

Lesson summary: The lesson will introduce students to human rights issues throughout the world in order raise awareness of the violations that take place on a daily basis. 

Zachary Tucker

Social Studies

9-12

Quench Your Thirst: The Politics of Water

Lesson summary:  Water is essential to life. In this active lesson, students will be challenged to identify what they are willing to trade in order to have the life saving liquid, something that many students take for granted.

Zachary Tucker

Social Studies,
Sociology

11-12

Name that Culture

Lesson summary: This engaging lesson will guide students through an analysis of Jordanian and American culture, by examining first the idea of culture, and then by identifying the cultures they find themselves in daily. The students will be challenged to find connections between cultures and societies that seemly have nothing in common.

Erin Danielle Kehm

Social Studies

1-3

The Sandwich Swap

Lesson summary: Students will explore the idea that friends don’t have to be exactly alike but can have differences and still be friends. They will read the story, “The Sandwich Swap” by Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, and discuss what characteristics a real friend has and how to resolve conflict peacefully.

Lane Hakel

Social Studies

6-12

A Modern Monarchy

Lesson summary: Students will analyze a unique set of photos of King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. These photos are on display at street corners, in offices, and on buildings throughout Jordan. Students will look at the pictures and discuss together what messages the king/government are trying to send the people by the context of the pictures. Groups will report their conclusions to the larger group.

Lane Hakel

Social Studies

6-12

Looking Back to Look Ahead

Lesson summary: Four separate groups of students will view pictures of an ancient mosaic from one of four different sites in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. They will analyze the mosaics in an attempt to deduce what they believe what story the ancient mosaicists were trying to tell. Students will then be asked to put themselves in the role of the ancient mosaicists and develop a story they might want to tell about their world today. Students will draw sketches and produce elements of their mosaic.

Lane Hakel

Social Studies

4-12

To Hijab or Not to Hijab?

Lesson summary: All students will be asked to wear traditional Jordanian head coverings during Social Studies class for the duration of the greater unit. Students initial enthusiasm will likely wear off within a day or two and then the teacher will allow boys to make the head coverings optional. Discussion will ensue.

Matthew Dolley

Social Studies

12

Jordanian Culture of the North and South

Lesson summary: This lesson will cover the basic culture of Jordan as well as highlight the key differences of the North and South in Jordan.