The Palestinian Struggle Through the Prophetic Lens
The article explores whether the Palestinian issue is a Muslim issue and what the Islamic response should be. It highlights the clear guidance from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on resisting oppression and seeking justice. The article details the harsh realities faced by Palestinians under an apartheid, colonial-settler state, emphasizing the moral and religious dimensions of their struggle. It underscores the alignment of Islamic values with the pursuit of liberation and justice, framing the Palestinian cause as both a human and an Islamic issue.
Grade level recommendations
high school
Developing Critical Skills Through Articles: A Teacher Guide Projects & Activities
By Dr. Samar Al-Majaideh, ISLA
July 2024
Integrating high-quality, current articles into the curriculum is a powerful way to enhance the learning experiences of middle and high school students. By engaging with diverse, real-world texts, students develop essential 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, media literacy, and analytical reasoning. The following evidence-based educational activities and projects are designed to help students in grades 6-12 explore, interpret, and respond to article content meaningfully. These activities promote deeper understanding and encourage expressive responses across various subject areas. Teachers can modify these activities based on grade level and classroom needs, making them versatile and practical tools for any educational setting.
Benefits for Teachers and Students
- Cross-Curricular Connections: Articles can bridge different subjects, reinforcing interdisciplinary learning and helping students see the interconnectedness of various fields of study.
- Real-World Relevance: Utilizing current articles helps make abstract concepts more concrete, showing students the practical applications of what they learn in the classroom.
- Differentiation Opportunities: Teachers can select articles of varying complexity to cater to the diverse needs of students, providing appropriate challenges for all learners.
- Assessment Alternatives: Projects and activities based on articles offer authentic assessment options, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding in creative and meaningful ways beyond traditional tests.
Suggested Activities & Projects
- Article Analysis and Reflection
- Objective: Students critically engage with the article’s content.
- Instructions:
- Have students read the article and identify key themes, arguments, and supporting details.
- Ask them to write a reflection or analysis essay, summarizing the main points and providing their own insights or opinions.
- Encourage them to relate the article’s content to larger social, cultural, or historical contexts.
- Creative Response Project
- Objective: Encourage creative interpretation and expression.
- Instructions:
- Students create an artwork, poem, or short story inspired by the themes or topics in the article.
- They can use various mediums, such as drawing, painting, digital art, or mixed media.
- Have students present their work and explain how it relates to the article.
- Research and Presentation
- Objective: Develop research and presentation skills.
- Instructions:
- Assign students to research additional information related to the article’s topic.They can explore historical context, current events, or related issues.
- Students create a presentation to share their findings with the class, using visual aids like slideshows or posters.
- Debate or Discussion
- Objective: Enhance communication and critical thinking.
- Instructions:
- Organize a debate or guided discussion based on the article’s content.
- Assign roles or viewpoints for students to argue, ensuring a range of perspectives are covered.
- Encourage respectful dialogue and critical examination of different arguments.
- Project-Based Learning (PBL)
- Objective: Apply knowledge to real-world scenarios.
- Instructions:
- Develop a project where students create a campaign, public service announcement, or community outreach plan related to the article’s themes.
- This can involve creating visual content, writing scripts, or planning events.
- Students can present their projects and reflect on their learning process.
- Digital Curation and Analysis (Grades 8-12)
- Objective: Develop media literacy and analytical skills.
- Instructions:
- Students create digital collections of articles on a specific topic using tools like Wakelet or Padlet.
- They then analyze trends, biases, and varying perspectives across sources.
- Multimedia Article Responses (Grades 6-12)
- Objective: Enhance digital literacy skills.
- Instructions:
- Students create podcasts, infographics, or short videos summarizing and responding to article content.
- Cross-Generational Interview Project (Grades 9-12)
- Objective: Promote intergenerational learning.
- Instructions:
- Students read articles on historical events or social issues.
- They then interview older family or community members about their perspectives, comparing lived experiences with reported information.
