Southwest Asia

Astronomical Instruments

Learners explore the parts and function of different astronomical tools throughout the ages.

Includes

Astronomical tools thinking routine slides, Astronomical tools teacher guide

Illustration of children playing on monkey bars

Learners are introduced to the rotation of the Earth through a video and the thinking routine ‘see, think, wonder.’ Learners read a short informational text about the rotation of the Earth and the patterns it creates.

Includes

Informational text about the rotation of the Earth, Astronomy unit vocabulary, Timelapse of the sun’s movement across the sky

Data

Learners explore the concept of a pattern and practice interpreting data.

Includes

Data lesson slides, Video of the rotation of the Earth, Astronomy unit vocabulary

Shadows

Learners investigate the relationship between shadows, an object and a light source and begin to understand that the rotation of the Earth causes a change in length and direction of shadows.

Includes

Timelapse of the sun’s movement across the sky

Shadows continued

Learners observe the relationship between shadows, an object and a light source by going outside and practicing scientific behaviors. Learners practice creating data about shadows.

Includes

Shadow tracker, Video of shadows changing throughout the day

Revolution of the Earth

Learners will be introduced to the revolution of the Earth and investigate a new pattern the movement of the Earth creates - the seasonal appearance of stars in the night sky. The investigation takes place through a folktale and an informational text.

Includes

Thuraya’s folktale, Informational text about the Earth’s revolution, Astronomy unit vocabulary, Video of the Earth revolving

Constellation Tour

Learners will investigate the seasonal appearance of stars in the night sky using movement and storytelling.

Includes

Well bucket constellation, Pictures of Seasonal Stars, Constellation tour student roles, Constellation tour script

The House of Wisdom

Learners will watch a short video on astronomy in the medieval Islamic empire and investigate the special contributions of Islamic astronomers.

Includes

Informational text on medieval Islamic science, هارون الرشيد وابنه المأمون.. زمن بغداد الذهبي, بيت الحكمة تأليف بدور القاسمي, مريم وتنين الشمس

Final Project

Learners choose a phenomenon created by the movement of the Earth and a way to represent it through a graphical display of data. Learners create a folktale that explains the phenomenon including an understanding of why this mattered to our ancestors.

Includes

Final project planning sheet and rubric

Illustration of a home set within its surrounding landscape

Mapping exploration

Learners rotate through mapping stations, starting to define their understanding of space and place through different modalities including geography and art literacies.

Includes

Lesson slides, Heart-map handout, My Map Book, Sarah Fanelli

Connecting to Special Places

Learners brainstorm special places and think about what makes it special. Learners use inspiration from various artists to bring their chosen places alive.

Includes

Special places handout, Mentor texts and artists

Sound maps

Learners explore representations of different sounds as they create sound maps.

Includes

You Draw My Hum lesson plan, Nia Fekri, Sonic hunt handout, Lesson slides

Home in Place

Learners collaboratively build a story map of their school or surrounding area.

Includes

Mapping activity sheets, Home in place slides

Illustration questioning whether maps always tell the truth

Are Maps Always Truthful?

Learners understand that maps can be inaccurate and explore artists who work to capture the true spirit of a place when maps fail us.

Includes

Lesson slides

Dream Maps

Learners create multimedia maps of their dream places and worlds inspired by decolonial mapping.

Includes

Dream maps handout

Community Maps

Learners understand that people make home and create their own community maps of the people they hold near.

Includes

Winti Hon (وانتِ هون), Ruba Shamshoum and Amy Chiniara — animation, Community map example

Final Project

Learners work to memorialize some of their favorite places through collaborative art.

Includes

Examples of murals and collaborative design, Special places handout (from lesson 2), Mentor texts and artists (from lesson 2), Final project example

Illustration of food shared around a table and the stories it carries

Can a Picture Tell a Thousand Words?

Learners begin to understand that storytelling is multimodal. Learners experiment in creating a wordless story inspired by a mentor text.

Includes

Storytelling scaffold: people and places

Life Around a Table

Learners create a visual representation of a tablescape or sofra, drawing the foods they might eat, the objects that might be strewn on their table, and adding dialogue that is commonly heard.

Includes

Sample tablescape / sofra

How Can I Bring My Stories to Life?

Learners will brainstorm different special moments with a loved one and create a comic strip/storyboard to represent it. Learners experiment with figurative language to bring their writing to life.

Includes

Comic book template, Ten Ways to Hear Snow (Arabic excerpt)

Preparing for Interviews

Learners reflect about their relationship with favorite family recipes and brainstorm questions they would like to ask a family member about food or recipes. This is preparation for a family interview.

Includes

Mentor texts: ways I can tell my family’s story, أكلنا من

Family Interview Connections

Learners will make meaning of interviews. Learners share their interview with a partner, looking for similarities.

Includes

Same, different, connect, question, Family interview connections

Creating Recipe Stories

Learners will use their family interviews to create multimodal recipe stories.

Includes

Family interview connections

Oral Storytelling

Learners will explore different examples of oral storytelling practices like Zajal, hekaye, and harvesting songs.

Includes

Food and Stories unit vocabulary, Examples of oral storytelling, Oral storytelling observation tool

A panel of tatreez — traditional Palestinian embroidery

Passing Down Stories

Learners explore hakawatias like Fida’a Ataya as they learn how kharareef are passed down from generation to generation.

Includes

Slides on Fida’a Ataya, Folktales from Hakaya Stories on SoundCloud (Arabic), Timeless Tales (English)

Preparing for Final Presentations Day 1

Learners will complete and revise two chosen pieces from their portfolios and reflect on their growth.

Includes

Checklist for final presentations, Portfolio reflection, Family letters

Preparing for Final Presentations Day 2

Learners will self-assess using a rubric and prepare for their presentations.

Includes

Checklist for final presentations, Family letters, Rubric for final presentations

Arabic Language ArtsScienceKindergarten

What do seeds need?

Learners read the mentor text, بذور by نور الهدى محمد and understand the things that seeds need to grow into healthy plants through a hands-on planting activity.

Collection:Arabic Language Arts Mentor Text Lessons

Includes

"What does a seed need?" anchor chart

Arabic Language ArtsSocial-Emotional Learning (SEL)3rd Grade

Comparing and Contrasting Character Traits

Learners read ماما بنت صفي and discuss character traits that Abeer possesses. Learners then compare and contrast character traits, behaviors, and identities between Abeer and themselves.

Collection:Arabic Language Arts Mentor Text Lessons

Includes

Abeer character traits, Abeer and me