Frontline Muslims

Geography and Cultures of Muslim Countries

 

Overview: The purpose of this project is to encourage students to learn about one particular Muslim country in detail.

Objectives:

Students should be able to:

  • Research and describe the political, economic and social history of their chosen country
  • Research and present cultural practices of their chosen country
  • Research and present modern-day statistics related to their chosen country
  • Create an in-depth country profile

Procedure:

1. Put students into groups of three or four and ask them to choose a Muslim country they would like to learn more about. Ask students to pick their country from the country list provided (Handout 1) or choose one on their own.

2. Distribute Project Handout to students. There are two assignments from which you can choose. For middle school students, it is suggested you use Handout 2A, which asks students to conceptualize an internet website and television commercial. For high school students, it is suggested you use Handout 2B, which asks students to prepare for a United Nations event. When designing the website and television commercial, students can submit a hardcopy of their site design, and submit the text of their commercial and perform it in front of the class. If you have access to web-page design software and/or video cameras, you may choose to use them to bring the concepts alive. However, this is not necessary to complete the activity.

Note: Before distributing the Handout to students, decide on how long the project should be and how long the project should take to complete. Students can use Handout 3, Key Points to Cover, along with your instructions, to prepare their projects accordingly.

 

Assessment:

1. Final projects should be presented to the rest of the class and graded accordingly. You may wish to use the grading rubrics provided.

 

 

Handout 1 - Muslim Country List

 

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Brunei

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Burkina Faso

Chad

Comoros

Cote D'Ivoire

Djibouti

Egypt

Ethiopia

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Malaysia

Mali

Morocco

Niger

Nigeria

Oman

Pakistan

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

Sudan

Syria

Tajikistan

Tunisia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Uzbekistan

Yemen

Zanzibar

 

 

Handout 2A – Produce a Website and TV Commercial

Congratulations! As head of the Ministry of Tourism you and your staff have been commissioned to create an educational website designed to encourage others to travel to your nation. To promote this website, you have also agreed to create an informative commercial. You get to decide which country you wish to represent; however, you must choose one that has a sizable Muslim population.

Using research tools and tons of creativity, you must create the following:

  1. The layout of your illustrated website (teacher will decide how many pages it should be) which should include information on the following topics: Population, Geography, Social, Political and Economic History, Points of Interest, Culture and Current-Day Statistics. You decide on the design of your main page, including your URL address as well as the general organization of the site. When creating this site, think about additional services and links your may wish to provide.
  2. A 45-second television commercial that encourages visitors to travel to your country and directs them to your newly created website for more information. This must be informative and entertaining.

Your website and television commercial will be featured at our annual International Ministry of Tourism Exhibition where you and your group will present your work to the rest of the class.

Guidelines for Television Commercial

    • Your television commercial should be approximately 45 seconds long.
    • It must include historical information
    • It must also include a map visual
    • If you can find music from the country feel free to use it
    • It must direct viewers to your website
    • You may pre-record your commercial or perform it at our exhibition.

Note: All work should be cited.

Handout 2B – Prepare for a UN Exhibition

Congratulations! Your country has chosen you and your team of experts to represent them at the annual and fictitious United Nations Country Exhibition. Here you will present vital information about your country to representatives from other nations. This is your opportunity to educate and inform the rest of the world about your country’s history and rich culture. It is also a chance for you to ask the UN community for help in areas your country is struggling with.

Using research tools and tons of creativity, you must create the following:

  1. An informational pamphlet that should cover the following topics: Population, Geography, Social, Political and Economic History, Points of Interest, Culture and Current-Day Statistics. You decide on the design of your pamphlet but must include illustrations.
  2. A three-minute speech that briefly discusses your country’s achievements as well as areas it is struggling in (ex. Health care, education, democracy, literacy, etc.)

Handout 3 – Key Points to Cover

The following is a breakdown of information that should be included in your project. You may choose to use the following sub-headings or create your own.

Population

    • Include population statistics and breakdown of religious and ethnic groups.
    • Include male/female ratios.
    • Also, feel free to include any other information of interest to you. For example, does your chosen country have an unusually young population?
    • What languages are spoken in the country? What is the official language?

 

Religious, Political, and Economic History

    • How did Islam first reach this territory? Present a short history. Be sure to include a short description of the major teachings of Islam as well.
    • Describe the political history of the nation. What types of political systems has the nation used to govern its people?
    • What type of political system does it use today?
    • Was the nation ever under imperial rule? If yes, how did it gain its independence?
    • Describe major nationalism movements, if any.
    • What is the capital city of the country? Has it always been the same city?
    • Describe the country’s major resources and its economic system, both past and present.
    • What types of products are made within the country.
    • Are their particular products that are exported? Which ones?

Geography

    • What continent is your country located in? What region?
    • Name its surrounding countries and major bodies of water.
    • Is your country located near a desert or mountain range?
    • What is the climate like in your country? When would be the best time to visit and why?
    • Include at least three maps of your country or the surrounding region that your think travelers will find useful.

Points of Interest and Culture Guide

    • Describe several major cultural features such as architecture, institutions of learning, and arts that visitors to the country have to visit.
    • Describe at least one religious institution in the country.
    • Include why people should visit these areas and provide brief background information for each point of interest.
    • Describe and show a work of literature, a handicraft product or other art form produced in this country.
    • Describe important cultural practices that visitors should be aware of when traveling the country.

 

Current-Day Statistics

    • What is the literacy rate in the country?
    • What is the infant mortality rate?
    • Describe the education system.

 

Geography Project Resources

The MENIC (Middle East Network Information Center) at the University of Texas, Austin contains student and teacher resources on many Muslim countries. It also has links to other useful sites.

http://menic.utexas.edu/menic.html

The CIA World Factbook includes extensive information on every country in the world. Modern-day statistics and information can be found here as well.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

The Economist has brief country profiles, basic facts and links to recent news events relating to your chosen country.

http://www.economist.com/countries/

Middle East Information at Columbia University

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/mideast/cuvlm/region.html

Scroll down to the bottom of the page. After you click on your chosen country, this site will provide you with links to other research sites specific to your nation.

 

Geography Project Grading Rubric: Middle School Version

Student Names:

Website Evaluation

Your research and presentation of the following topics were:

Topic

Excellent
(10points)

Great
(8 points)

Good
(6 points)

Fair

(4 points)

Poor
(2 points)

Population

 

 

         

Geography

 

 

         

Social, Political and Economic History

 

         

Points of Interest and Culture

 

         

Current-Day Statistics

 

         

 

Total number of points out of a possible 50 _____

 

 

 

Geography Project Grading Rubric: Middle School Version

Student Names:

Television Commercial Evaluation

Your research and presentation of the following topics were:

 

Excellent
(10 points)

Great
(8 points)

Good
(6 points)

Fair
(4 points)

Poor
(2 points)

Historical Information

         

Creativity

 

         

Overall Presentation

 

         

 

Total number of points out of a possible 30 ____.

Overall Group Evaluation

 

Excellent
(10 points)

Great
(8 points)

Good
(6 points)

Fair
(4 points)

Poor
(2 points)

Research Quality and Original Scholarship

 

         

Group Cooperation and Commitment

 

 

         

 

Total number of points out of a possible 20 ____. CUMULATIVE SCORE____.

 

Geography Project Grading Rubric: High School Version

Student Names:

Pamphlet Evaluation

Your research and presentation of the following topics were:

Topic

Excellent
(10points)

Great
(8 points)

Good
(6 points)

Fair
(4 points)

Poor
(2 points)

Population

 

 

         

Geography

 

 

         

Social, Political and Economic History

 

         

Points of Interest and Culture

 

         

Current-Day Statistics

 

         

 

Total number of points out of a possible 50 _____

 

 

 

Geography Project Grading Rubric: High School Version

Student Names:

Speech Evaluation

Your research and presentation of the following topics were:

 

Excellent
(10 points)

Great
(8 points)

Good
(6 points)

Fair
(4 points)

Poor
(2 points)

Research Information

         

Creativity

 

         

Overall Presentation

 

         

 

Total number of points out of a possible 30 ____.

Overall Group Evaluation

 

Excellent
(10 points)

Great
(8 points)

Good
(6 points)

Fair
(4 points)

Poor
(2 points)

Research Quality and Original Scholarship

 

         

Group Cooperation and Commitment

 

 

         

 

Total number of points out of a possible 20 ____. CUMULATIVE SCORE____.