Lesson Plan: Unity in Diversity
Exploring Islam in the United States
This lesson is available to download as a PDF.
Grades: 6-12
Subjects: Civics, American History, Language Arts, Media Studies, Social Studies, Global History
Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students will examine the cultural, geographic, and linguistic diversity of the Muslim community in America, developing an understanding of its historical roots and heterogeneous nature.
Materials Needed
- This Is Where I Need To Be—Chapters 1, 2, 6, and 19 connect most strongly to this lesson. Other related chapters are 7, 20, 22, and 23.
- Copies of “A Timeline of Muslim Events in America” from Change the Story.
- Reproducible—“Wall of Fame: Personalities”
- Reproducible—“Wall of Fame: Research Notes”
- Reproducible—“Wall of Fame: Profile”
Activities and Procedures
- Warm-up/Conversation Starters
- Questions for Class Discussion
- Class Project
- Homework or Long-term Assignments
Assessment
Teacher evaluation of classroom participation. Teachers may wish to develop additional rubrics and measures for class projects and longer-term assignments.
National Standards
These academic standards are drawn from the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning’s “Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education: 3rd and 4th Editions.”
Grades 6-12
- Language Arts Standard 8: Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes
- Language Arts Standard 9: Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media.
- Behavioral Studies Standard 1: Understands that group and cultural influences contribute to human development, identity, and behavior
- US History Standard 31: Understands economic, social, and cultural developments in the contemporary United States
- Civics Standard 11: Understands the role of diversity in American life and the importance of shared values, political beliefs, and civic beliefs in an increasingly diverse American society
- Civics Standard 23: Understands the impact of significant political and nonpolitical developments on the United States and other nations
- Art Connections Standard 1: Understands connections among the various art forms and other disciplines
- World History Standard 46: Understands long-term changes and recurring patterns in world history
Key Terms
identity, multi-cultural, cultural diversity, mosques in America, Muslims in America, American History, slavery, African American Muslims, heritage, faith, Islam
Related Resources
This lesson has related resources that might prove useful along with the book and this lesson plan.