The Middle East and North Africa: a cultural exploration by Matthew Ripley-Moffitt

The Middle East and North Africa: a cultural exploration

During the 6^th Grade World Cultures Middle East Unit student became regional experts – in – training to focus their developing research skill on a country pr region in the Middle East and North Africa, These countries and regions are linked by overlays of culture, language and religion from successive waves of conquest, settlement, and expansion over the course of human history.

The students used the Microsoft 365 Teams feature as a platform for their collaborative research and shared country report document.  They also developed a shared basic PowerPoint template of their information, again through their Microsoft Team portal. The World Cultures Teachers were the owners of the research teams and added students as members.

The Microsoft Team portal offers a wide variety of shared resources through tabs which can be can be grouped as Tabs.

These shared documents can be opened in the native application or the online application through the elipses, three dots, to the right.  Working in the online document allowed students to see each others’ contributions in real time, serve as collaborative editors, and effectively communicate as a group.

Nearpod is an online platform which allows teachers and students to create interactive learning experiences to deepen and broaden understanding and knowledge through increased engagement and participation.  Lesson may be delivered as either student-paced or a  live lesson.  Documents, websites, videos and other media can be embedded to extend and enrich the lesson.  Quizzes, written responses, draw it responses, and other activities provide students with a variety of response options and teachers with reports tracking student progress.  Our 6^th Grade World Cultures students created their own Nearpod Learning Experiences frim the country report PowerPoint Template.

On Friday, December 15^th we celebrated the end of our Middle East and North Africa Unit, and the approaching winter holiday break, by sharing their Nearpods as student-paced lessons in the Discpovery Studio.  Chef Sam, our Dining Manager, provided Middle Eastern tasting trays.  One of the featured favorites was his family’s traditional Lebanese  hummus.  Halvah, a traditional dessert of sesame flavored spun sugar, was another favorite.  Lebanese pickles and pickles turnips were acquired tastes.  A fun and educational experience was had by all.