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Elementary Level Resources

Please see the resources below.

 

Arab American Heritage Month

Full Lessons

The Proudest Blue-Belonging Grades TK-3
A Lesson On Stereotypes Grades 1-3
Banana Dream Grades 2-5
Swimming Towards A Dream Grades 3-5
One Wish: Read aloud and Teacher Resources All Grades

Texts

Deep in the Sahara by Kelly Cunnane; Hoda Hadadi (Illustrator) In Mauritania, West Africa, an Arab girl who wants to wear a malafa, the veiled dress worn by her mother and older sister, learns that the garment represents beauty, mystery, tradition, belonging, and faith.
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns by Hena Khan; Mehrdokht Amini (Illustrator) From a red prayer rug to a blue hijab, everyday colors are given special meaning as young readers learn about clothing, food, and other important elements of Islamic culture, with a young Muslim girl as a guide.
The Golden Sandal by Rebecca Hickox; Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator) An Iraqi version of the Cinderella story in which a kind and beautiful girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsister finds a husband with the help of a magic fish.
King for a Day by Rukhsana Khan; Christiane Krömer (Illustrator) Basant is here, with feasts and parties to celebrate the arrival of spring. But what Malik is looking forward to most is doing battle from his rooftop with Falcon, the special kite he has built for speed. Today is Malik's chance to be the best kite fighter, the king of Basant. This lively, contemporary story introduces readers to a centuries-old festival and the traditional sport of kite fighting, and to a spirited, determined young boy who masters the sport while finding his own way to face and overcome life's challenges.
The Proudest Blue Written by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali Illustrated by Hatem Aly Story by Olympic Medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad (the first Muslim American Olympian to wear a hijab while competing for Team USA) that discusses being strong enough to celebrate your differences
Under My Hijab Written by Hena Khan Illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel The significant women in this girl’s life wear hijabs and also, sometimes don’t. They inspire her with all that they do and who they are. It’s an important slice-of-life story featuring strong, inspiring Muslim women.
Like The Moon Loves The Sky Written by Hena Khan Illustrated by Saffa Khan Each page starts with the word Inshallah which means “if God wills” in Arabic. Inshallah that the child shall feel safe, be kind, seek knowledge, and stand strong.
Laila's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story Written by Reem Faruqi Illustrated by Lea Lyon Lailah is in a new school in a new country. When Ramadan begins, she is excited to participate but worried her classmates won't understand.
The Green Bicycle Written by Haifaa Al Mansour The mischievous and headstrong Wadjda has a plan: if she can sell enough handmade bracelets and banned-music mixtapes to her peers, she can finally buy a bicycle and race her friend Abdullah. There’s just one problem – in Wadjda’s Saudi Arabia, constrictive gender norms forbid girls from riding bikes. But feisty and optimistic Wadjda won’t quit so easily to change minds and hearts.
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet Written by Zanib Mian Illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik Omar is the new kid at school, and he is not at all excited about it. What if the work is too hard or the kids are mean or the teacher is a zombie alien?! But despite his imaginative spirit, the reality of his Big Mean Bully is no fun to deal with — particularly the bully’s anti-Islam sentiments. Thanks to his family, Omar overcomes — asserting himself as a new middle grade literary hero.
Muslim Girls Rise Inspirational Champions of our Time Written by Saira Mir Illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel Long ago, Muslim women rode into battle to defend thier dreams. Today, Muslim women continue to make history. Through short, information-rich biographies and vibrant illustrations, Muslim Girls Rise introduces young readers to the diverse and important contributions Muslim women have made, and role models they may never have heard of before, but whose stories they will never forget.
The Best Eid Ever Written by Asma Mobin-Uddin Illustrated by Laura Jacobsen At the prayer hall, Aneesa meets two sisters who are dressed in ill-fitting clothes for the holiday. She soon discovers that the girls are refugees – they had to leave everything behind when they left their native country to live in America.
One Green Apple Written by Eve Bunting Illustrated by Ted Lewin Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesn't speak. It's hard being the new kid in school, especially when you're from another country and don't know the language.

Videos

🌙 Ramadan 🌙 - Storytime Read Aloud Book For Kids
What is Eid al-Fitr? (3:30) Eid Al-Fitr is an important Islamic holiday and marks the end of Ramadan. Kids talk about their religion and how they’ll be celebrating Eid.
Ramadan Moon (4:14) Animated version of Yusuf Islam's Ramadan Moon song
Five Ramadan Iftar Meals Around the World (7:45) Venture into the kitchen of five Muslim women preparing food for their families in five different countries, from India to Syria to the United States.
Ice Cream Cones: Muslim Invention (3:21) Video about the Muslim inventor of ice cream
One week after 9/11, Muslim Americans shared their experience (5:30) Shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks, The Oprah Winfrey Show tackled tough issues about how to move forward, including the social stigma many American Muslims felt.
Kids learn about Muslim culture (4:20) Islam is one of the world's major religions. Its founder was Muhammad. The religion has about 1.6 billion followers worldwide. Kids learn about Muslim culture and how other kids live through tasting the food and conversations with the Muslim people.
American Muslim Women (5:30) Shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks, The Oprah Winfrey Show tackled tough issues about how to move forward, including the social stigma many American Muslims felt.

Additional Resources

TK-8 Resources
Learning for Justice: The New Kid in Class (Article) Mia can't understand why the new kid, Amena, seems sad. But she learns that a little empathy goes a long way.
California Arab American Community (Article) The California Arab American Community in California
Slideshow: SWANA Countries Slideshow created by Nahida Feroz (AES) about Southwest Asian and North African countries
Slideshow: Ramadan Google Slides about Ramadan featuring books, songs, and videos
Article: Sport hijabs give Muslim girls the chance to participate in athletics NewsELA article
Lesson Plan: Scholarship and Learning in Islam Islam has a long tradition of scholarship. In this lesson, students look at several aspects of lslamic learning. They are introduced to the Islamic religious school known as the madrasah, where students begin their religious education by studying the Qur'an. A video segment from the PBS series Religion & Ethics Newsweekly features Dr. Roy Parvis Mottahedeh, a scholar who presents a madrasah in operation today and speaks about the historical evolution of madrasahs.
Art Activity: Ramadan Pop-up Card This Ramadan Pop-up Card instructions show the needed supplies and steps for making a Ramadan Pop-up Card.