Islamic Civilization and the Arts

Islamic Civilization and the Arts introduces students to various elements of Islamic civilization through a humanities approach. Lessons on art, the mosque, Arabic language and calligraphy, poetry, and music provide students with experience analyzing myriad primary source materials, such as images, audio clips, and sayings of Muhammad, excerpts from the Quran. In each lesson, students learn about the history, principles, and culture of Islam as they pertain to particular forms of art. Hands-on activities encourage students to gain an appreciation for Islamic historical and cultural traditions.

Religion in Japan and a Look at Cultural Transmission

The process of cultural transmission is relevant to us all. Cultural transmission includes both the transmission of tradition from one generation to the next and the transmission of new knowledge or cultural patterns from anybody who is aware of the new knowledge or cultural patterns to anyone who is not. As teachers, we transmit aspects of culture to our students. By telling students "to cooperate with each other," we are transmitting a valued tradition in our society. By having students salute the flag, we are transmitting certain U.S. beliefs. Parents transmit culture to their children. Raising children with a particular religion or language, for example, would be an example of the transmission of culture from one generation to the next.

Religions and Philosophies in China: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism

The study of China is not complete without exploration of the historical roots and practice of its three main religions and philosophies: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. This curriculum unit uses a variety of activities and resources to learn about these world religions and philosophies in a Chinese context. Throughout each lesson, students are encouraged to compare and contrast each religion and philosophy as well as to think critically about the universality and modern-day applicability of their tenets.