Digital Curriculum:
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Media Construction of the Middle East: A Digital Media Literacy Curriculum
Cover | Overview, Objectives, and Pedagogy | How to Use These Materials | Resource List

Unit 1: Introducing the Middle East
Unit 2: Israel/Palestine: Histories in Conflict
Unit 3: War in Iraq: Whose Voice, Whose Story?
Unit 4: Militant Muslims and the U.S.


Unit 1: Introducing the Middle East
This unit allows students to reflect on what they know about the Middle East and where their information and impressions come from. Emphasizing the geographic, ethnic, religious and historic diversity of the Middle East, the lessons give accurate background information that challenges stereotypes and provides a basis for future study.


Lesson 1: Picturing the Middle East
Lesson 2: The Magic of Stereotypes
Lesson 3: Exploring Terms


Lesson 1: Picturing the Middle East


Teacher's Guide (PDF)

Lesson Summary: Students respond to images and identify what they already know about the Middle East, including any inaccurate information and stereotypes. The teacher defines terms like "stereotypes" and "generalizations" and give background on the geography of the Middle East.


Slideshow (PDF)

Documents: Slideshow of photographs from the Middle East and other parts of the world and various maps of the Middle East

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Lesson 2: The Magic of Stereotypes


Teacher's Guide (PDF)

Lesson Summary: Students identify stereotypes about Arabs and learn the difference between stereotypes and generalizations.


Video Clip (QuickTime)

Document: Video clip of the introduction to the Disney movie Aladdin

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Lesson 3: Exploring Terms


Teacher's Guide (PDF)

Lesson Summary: Students take a self-assessment about Middle East culture and geography. The teacher reviews the answers with a slideshow.

Photo of Dean from Iowa Causus
Slideshow (PDF)

Updated June 20, 2006.

Document: A slideshow about the Middle East, including ethnic, linguistic and national identities (Turk, Persian, Arab, Kurd, Armenian, Israeli, Berber) and religious identities (Muslim, Jew, Christian) to accompany a student self-assessment.

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