Introduction
Welcome to the Middle East
In the Middle East language and religion are the two most important aspects of the culture. Seventy-five percent of the people share a common language – Arabic.
The other two major languages are Persian and Turkish. Ninety percent of the population are Muslim, people who practice the Islamic religion. The two other major religions in the Middle East are Judaism and Christianity. Through your study of this region you will find many similarities among countries. However, it is important to remember that each country has characteristics that makes the country unique.
Countries in the Middle East have long suffered through bitter conflict over land, resources and religion. The United States has been heavily involved in these conflicts since the 1940's. Understanding the roots of these problems, helps us understand the culture of the Middle East.
Your quest, is to understand the different aspects of the culture of the Middle East and to express those understandings in creative ways.
Before you move on, can you answer this question? What is a Muslim? What is Islam? If you can't answer these questions, read this page again!!
Now it is time to get started. Be sure that you have your organizer and something to write with.
Go ahead and click the TASK button ABOVE.
Task
Task
This webquest contains TEN (10) distinct research tasks. You should work on each task, one at a time until your organizer is complete. You will receive a grade for the quality of your research as well as the quality of the final synthesis task which will be the creation of a Fakebook page. Too fun.
On your fakebook page, you will pretend that you and your partner are travelling in the Middle East. You will create posts, add images or video that cover all 11 aspects of your organizer. Your fakebook should make people believe that you are truly travelling in the Middle East. Your writing should be creative and engaging with vivid and detailed descriptions about the elements of Middle Eastern culture. BOTH YOU AND YOUR PARTNER MUST CONTRIBUTE TO THE PAGE!!! You will inform your audience about the culture of the Middle East through your fakebook page.
Check out my fakebook at http://www.classtools.net/FB/1636-5y2xer
Process
Task #1
Do you know where the Middle East is? What countries are included in the "Middle East"? Follow this link to find out if you are right. Be sure to click all the way through and read about how the definition of "Middle East" has changed over the years.
CLICK HERE http://www.unc.edu/mideast/where/state-dept-1944.shtml
Get out your organizer. In the Geography and Special Topics section answer the following question. "How has the definition of the Middle East changed over the years?"
Move on to Task #2!
Task #2
Click the link below. READ information on the site and fill your organizer with 3 to 5 bullets in each section!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/themes/culture/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/30/iran-nuclear-deal-middle-east
You should have information in Religion, Language and Family Life (save some space here because you will get more information on women below). If not, GO BACK and READ AGAIN.
Move on to Task #3!
Task #3
Click the link below. READ information in each of the sites below and fill your organizer with 3 to 5 bullets in Women/Family Life AND EDUCATION section
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/teach/muslims/beliefs.html#4
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120601093854-mid-east-university-attendance-2-story-top.jpg
Family Life/Treatment of Women AND Education should be spilling over!!! (save some space here because you will get more information on women below). If not, GO BACK and READ AGAIN.
Move on to Task #4!
Task #4
Click EACH of the links below. READ information on the site and fill your organizer with 3 to 5 bullets in the Transportation section.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/middle-east/transport/getting-around
http://www.strangetravel.com/content/item/144113.html (just strange)
Your transportation section should be COMPLETE! If not, GO BACK and READ AGAIN.
Move on to Task #5!
Task #5
Click on the link below. READ information on the site and fill your organizer with 3 to 5 bullets in the FOOD section.
http://travel.cnn.com/20-best-middle-east-dishes-324556
Your Food section should be COMPLETE! If not, GO BACK and READ AGAIN.
Move on to Task #6!
Task #6
Click on the links below. VIEW THE IMAGES AND READ THE INFORMATION on each site and fill your organizer with 3 to 5 bullets in the SIGHTS TO SEE section.
1) City of Dubai (world's tallest building): http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-middle-east-photos/#/dubai-united-arab-emirates_31494_600x450.jpg
2) Mosque (Islamic Temple): http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-middle-east-photos/#/zayed-mosque-abu-dhabi-united-arab-emirates_31481_600x450.jpg
3) Muslims Praying: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-middle-east-photos/#/hajj-mecca-saudi-arabia_31503_600x450.jpg
4) Bank in an old temple: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-middle-east-photos/#/treasury-at-petra-jordan_31524_600x450.jpg
5) Lake in Iraq: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-middle-east-photos/#/iraq_31508_600x450.jpg
6) Market/Store in Afghanistan: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-middle-east-photos/#/market-stall-kabul-afghanistan_31512_600x450.jpg
7) Market in Saudi Arabia: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-middle-east-photos/#/market-saudi-arabia_31520_600x450.jpg
8) Kids in Iraq: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-middle-east-photos/#/mural-kurdistan-iraq_31514_600x450.jpg
9) Ancient City in Saudi Arabia: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-middle-east-photos/#/al-ula-saudi-arabia_31482_600x450.jpg
Your Sights to See section should be COMPLETE! If not, GO BACK and READ AGAIN.
Move on to Task #7!!!
Task #7
Click on the link below. Pick ONE flag that interests you. Sketch and label the flag in the FLAG section of your organizer.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/flags/mideast.shtml
Your FLAG section should be complete. Move on to Task #8!
Task #8
Click on the link below. Find the following countries on the chart 1. Iran 2. Israel 3. Syria. Write down the form of government in your organizer along with a description of the government.
Your Government section should be overflowing!!!
Move on to Task #9
Task #9
Click on the link below and view the slides. Answer the quiz questions at the end of the slideshow IN YOUR ORGANZER under Art/Architecture.
http://www.slideshare.net/RevoX4/muslim-architecture
Your Art/Architecture section should be FULL!
Take a moment now to look back over your organizer. Revisit any section that is incomplete.
MOVE ON TO THE FINAL TASK!!!
FINAL TASK - TASK 10
1. Work with your partner to create a fakebook page. BEFORE you do that BOTH of you should watch this brief tutorial about how to use the site.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImVOsnSXia0]
2. Open this document that tells you HOW to use the site http://www.classtools.net/main_area/fakebook/helpsheet.pdf
3. Open this link http://www.classtools.net/FB/home-page and work with your partner to create your own fakebook page.
BE SURE TO SAVE OFTEN!!! You may add pictures from your phone or the internet to your page
If you don't know how to download images from the Internet, watch this video:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdLWgVTas6s]
Finished?
1. log on to edmodo
2. send me a note with both of your names and the link to your fakebook page pasted into the note
Evaluation
Rubric
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Conclusion
Wrap it Up!!!
Take a moment to reflect on what you learned from this webquest. What do you think the most important thing is to keep in mind when you are considering the Middle East? What was the most interesting or intriuging fact that you learned? How do you think living in an area with so much conflict shapes your view of the world?
Once you have an answer, go to the following link and put your answer into Today's Meet.
https://todaysmeet.com/middle_east_webquest