The Nakbah "Catastrophe"
Contextual Introduction: The Nakbah, meaning “catastrophe” in Arabic, refers to the mass displacement and expulsion of approximately 750,000 Palestinian Arabs in 1948. This pivotal event occurred when the State of Israel was established, leading to the destruction of numerous Palestinian villages and the uprooting of Palestinian society. The Nakbah remains a deeply significant and emotional chapter in Palestinian history, symbolizing loss, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for rights and recognition.
The following documentary videos provide essential context to understand the profound and enduring impact of the Nakbah on Palestinian identity and the broader region:
The following documentary videos provide essential context to understand the profound and enduring impact of the Nakbah on Palestinian identity and the broader region:
Al-Nakba: The Palestinian catastrophe - Episode 1 | Featured Documentary
Al-Nakba: The Palestinian catastrophe - Episode 2 | Featured Documentary
Al-Nakba: The Palestinian catastrophe - Episode 3 | Featured Documentary
Al-Nakba: The Palestinian catastrophe - Episode 4 | Featured Documentary
Grade level recommendations
High school
Common Core Standards Alignment for the Nakbah Documentaries
Given that the resource comprises four documentary videos, the alignment focuses on standards related to analyzing and integrating multimedia content in both Social Studies and English Language Arts (ELA). The standards are specified for high school students, typically in grades 9-12. By aligning the Nakbah documentaries with these standards, educators can ensure that students develop skills in critical thinking, multimedia analysis, and historical understanding while meeting key educational benchmarks in both Social Studies and English Language Arts.
Social Studies (History/Social Studies Standards)
Key Ideas and Details:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1 (Grades 9-10): Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information. (Students can analyze the content and historical context of the documentaries.)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2 (Grades 9-10): Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text. (Students can summarize the main events and ideas presented in the documentaries.)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.1 (Grades 11-12): Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole. (Students can connect specific details from the documentaries to broader historical themes.)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2 (Grades 11-12): Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas. (Students can summarize the documentaries, highlighting relationships among key historical details.)
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.7 (Grades 9-10): Integrate quantitative or technical analysis (e.g., charts, research data) with qualitative analysis in print or digital text. (Students can integrate information from the documentaries with other historical data or texts.)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7 (Grades 11-12): Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively) in order to address a question or solve a problem. (Students can evaluate the documentaries alongside other sources to address historical questions.)
English Language Arts (ELA)
Reading Standards for Informational Text (RI):
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.7 (Grades 9-10): Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person’s life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account. (Students can compare the documentaries with other texts on the Nakbah to see different emphases.)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.7 (Grades 11-12): Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem. (Students can integrate information from the documentaries with other sources to form a comprehensive understanding of the Nakbah.)
Speaking and Listening Standards (SL):
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.2 (Grades 9-10): Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally), evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source. (Students can evaluate the credibility and accuracy of the documentaries.)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.2 (Grades 11-12): Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data. (Students can integrate and evaluate the documentaries with other media to make informed analyses.)
