turkey on our minds and in our classrooms - World Affairs Council

HISTORY AND CULTURE
Turkey Unit by Connie Johnson & Tammi Lundberg
http://www.outreachworld.org/resource.asp?CurriculumID=33
This unit touches on the history, culture and people of Turkey. It aims to expose students to a Middle
Eastern country in a positive way. The activities focus on the theme of compare and contrast,
comparing Turkish life with American students' experiences.
The Byzantine Empire "Constantinople, the Capital of the Byzantine Empire"
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/worldhistory/hh2004/content.php4/1320/5
Students will use information from The Travel Guide for Istanbul and Turkey Web site to learn about
the ancient city of Constantinople. Students will browse "The Byzantine" topic to read about the city's
history and its Byzantine art and architecture. Students will then answer four questions and apply this
information by preparing an oral presentation on the people and culture of Constantinople.
Turkey Traditions and Today
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=<strong>turkey</strong>+country+of&media=lesson
Students research and analyze nation building, identifying countries established for various reasons.
They study the history of the land now called Turkey and Ataturk, Father of the Turks. They identify the
different ethnic groups that make up the nation and create a visual representation of their cultural
studies to present orally to classmates. (Rated grades 4-12)
All Roads Lead to Istanbul: 1550 World’s Fair Simulation
Lesson plan: http://cmes.arizona.edu/sites/cmes.arizona.edu/files/files-picturegallery/1.%20Lesson%20plan.pdf
This series of five lessons, Students will learn about the historical importance of Turkey as an
intersection for global trade. Students will brainstorm, map, compare timelines, and finally create a
presentation for a class room “world’s fair” , representing different nations which had trading interests
in the Ottoman Empire.
Nasreddin Hodja: Turkish and Middle Eastern Folklore Philosopher
http://www.cmes.arizona.edu/outreach/lessonplans.php
This lesson introduces Nasreddin Hodja, the Turkish and Middle Eastern folk philosopher. It can be used
in conjunction with other folk stories from around the world. Students already should have a working
knowledge of folk tales, fables, as well as tall tales. Two of the Hodja tales have in turn been written
into a reader’s theater script to help students work on their fluency.
The Ottoman Empire
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/suleyman/
Students will understand the geographic span and economic importance of the Ottoman Empire during the
reign of Suleyman the Magnificent. (Grade Levels 9-12)
World Affairs Council Resource Packet: What the Rest of the World can Learn from Turkey Today – March 20, 2012 32