Georgia SS7G8.b
The Standard
Describe the diversity of religions within Southwest Asian (Middle Eastern) ethnic groups (e.g., Arabs, Persians, and Kurds).
Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies · Analyze the diverse cultural characteristics of the people who live in Southwest Asia (Middle East).
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students separate ethnic identity from religious identity. They describe common religious patterns among Arabs, Persians, and Kurds, while giving examples of differences within each group.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a profile, map, or table, students can identify ethnicity and religion as different parts of identity. They can explain that Arabs, Persians, and Kurds are not each tied to one faith and support that point with accurate examples.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often treat Arab and Muslim as synonyms. They may label Persian or Kurdish as religions, or assume everyone in one country shares the same ethnicity and faith. They may also call Sunni and Shia separate religions rather than branches of Islam.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Complete a three-row chart for Arabs, Persians, and Kurds, listing a common religious affiliation and another affiliation found within each group. Then explain why ethnicity does not determine religion.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs profile cards for Arab, Persian, and Kurdish individuals, then have them sort ethnicity and religion into separate columns.
Ask students to write: Why is "all Arabs are Muslim" inaccurate, and what evidence would correct the claim?
Play identity bingo using clues about ethnicity, country, language, and faith, with students explaining each match before marking it.
Compare short community profiles from Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, then identify where ethnic and religious identities overlap or differ.
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Related Standards
- SS7H2.c
Describe how land and religion plays a role in continuing conflicts in the Middle East (i.e. the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the division between Sunni and Sh...
- SS7G8.c
Compare and contrast the prominent religions in Southwest Asia (Middle East): Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
- SS7G8
Analyze the diverse cultural characteristics of the people who live in Southwest Asia (Middle East).
- SS7G4.b
Describe the diversity of religions within African ethnic groups.
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