Provided by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, this resource for teachers examines Islamic art, including calligraphy, arabesques, and geometric designs.  A recounting of the spread of the faith and the tumultuous political history of the Middle East runs parallel to the artistic developments of the periods and images of period works.

Concepts

art appreciation, art analysis, art forms

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Perfect for humanities and/or art history classes, but also appropriate for social studies, math, and science

Classroom Considerations

• To borrow the slides or a CD of the materials, you must create a free account with the National Gallery of Art Education Resources; to access, follow the link provided in the Included Materials section of this review

Pros

• The 64-page packet includes an introduction, images, slide descriptions, teaching suggestions, maps, and a list of related resources
• A Table of Contents makes it easy to locate specific resources within the packet
• The matrix on the final page of the packet indicates the content areas address by each slide
• Of particular value is the background information about Muhammad and the beginnings of Islam, and the basic tenets of the faith, the Five Pillars of Islam

Cons

• No specific plans are included

Common Core

RH.9-10.1 RH.11-12.1