Describes eight activity ideas designed to assist students in understanding the historical background of the dispute between the Palestinian Arabs and the Israeli Jews. (DH)

To motivate students in the study of Asia at a time when interest in the East has declined but interaction increased, the author makes nine specific suggestions to secondary school teachers involving in-class exploration, outside experts, and cultural representatives. (JH)

Believed to have been written about the 4th century B.C., the "Ramayana" is one of the oldest epic poems in world literature. This exercise, which takes seven or eight days to complete, is intended to acquaint Westerners with the "Ramayana" in an informal format that may spark a desire to read further in the epic and to become…

This handbook, prepared through the Anthropology Curriculum Study Project in Chicago, Illinois, is designed to accompany the secondary level textbook, "The Emergence of Civilization" (SO 012 148) written in 1964. The textbook emphasizes the comparison of the patterns of culture change which resulted in complex societies (civilizations)…

Inner and Central Asia extends as far east as central China and as far west as areas in the Middle East. The changing empires over time (as well as the "shifting sands" of the geographic landmass) made it difficult to consider this as a single area. Moreover, the cultural exchanges which took place across this landmass, the transport of…

The 6th century of the Byzantine Empire, dominated by the emperor Justinian (527-565 C.E.), is the focus of this unit of lessons designed for grades 7-12. Justinian's contributions to world history in various fields are examined. Noting that not all scholars are in agreement as to when Byzantine history began, the unit places its origins either at…

Variations of a social studies unit on Middle Eastern culture, history, and geography are presented to aid secondary school classroom teachers as they develop and implement Middle Eastern area studies educational programs. The guide is presented in four parts, each of which represents one version of the unit. Teachers are directed to select the…

This document presents two resource units for studying the cultural diversity and unity of several countries. The unit was developed as part of a series by the Public Education Religion Studies Center. The resource units serve the religious components of broader cultural studies of the USSR and Japan. Three statements of rationale underlie the…

Western and non-western philosophers and their ideas are introduced to 10th through 12th grade students in this general social studies Quinmester course designed to be used as a preparation for in-depth study of the various schools of philosophical thought. By acquainting students with the questions and categories of philosophy, a point of…

Discusses the "Epic of Sundiata" which chronicles the rise of the Empire of Mali in the grasslands of northwestern Africa in the 13th century. This work is a compelling drama that bears comparison to such other hero tales as "The Iliad" and the Arthurian legend. Includes suggested teaching activities. (MJP)

This teaching and resource guide contains ideas appropriate for teaching junior and senior high school students about the following religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Individual sections discuss general approaches to teaching the religious philosophies and rituals, and exemplary…

Six social studies units are presented to help secondary school classroom teachers introduce students to Arab American culture. A major objective is to make students recognize the many contributions made by the Arabs to the development of the United States. In the introduction, Arab Americans are identified as people in the United States who…

This unit is designed to introduce students to the Islamic culture and civilization of the Middle Ages. The historical period which these materials cover begins with 711 (the date of Muslim entrance into Spain) and ends with 1492 (the date of the end of Muslim rule in Spain). The activities of the unit culminate with the recreation of a banquet…