Islamic Empire Achievements
Ms. Mary Morano
November 2019
WebQuest designed for 8th Grade World History
In this WebQuest students are going to be answering the essential question of “How has the Islamic Empire impacted the world?” Students receive a tournament/championship style bracket of 16 ranked achievements from the Islamic Empire. Each individual student will research different achievements in a specific category (i.e. scientific advances, philosophical achievements) from the Islamic Empire. Within their group, experts on their specific category will debate to determine which advancement is more valuable/had a greater impact on the world and should advance in the bracket. Each group will then have to analyze their victor (ex: architecture over medical advances) and reasoning in each match-up in a group podcast.
How has the Islamic Empire impacted the world?
- Students will be able to explain the importance of different achievements from the Islamic Empire
- Students will be able to argue why their achievement is better than another
- Students will work collaboratively to share their ideas in a podcast
Scaffolding Knowledge: Blooms Taxonomy
- Identify different achievements from the Islamic Empire
- Summarize different achievements from the Islamic Empire
- Discuss the best achievement with group members
- Apply knowledge of Islamic achievements to determine which is better than the other
- Show how an achievement from the Islamic Empire had a lasting impact on today.
- Debate which achievements had a larger impact on the world with group members
- Outline ideas for podcast
- Construct an argument on how each achievement impacted the world.
- Produce a podcast to share with your classmates
- Conclude which achievement had the largest impact on the world.
- Justify why each achievement was greater than their "match-up" with explanation
- Rank the achievements from the Islamic Empire
- Substitution: Instead of having students write research by hand they can use the google docs
- Augmentation: Students will collaborate on the shared google doc to prepare for presentation
- Modification: Students can download research and annotate digitally by using OneNote or Notability.
- Redefinition: By creating podcasts the students are putting their expertise and arguments into a new format, rather than just writing explanations on the poster.
Briefly describe how this lesson addresses the major areas of TPACK
- Technology Knowledge: Students will use technology to drive their own learning. While participating in this WebQuest, doing research, completing graphic organizers, collaborating with peers digitally and finally, creating their podcasts.
- Pedagogy Knowledge: Teacher will place students in mixed-ability groups that students will complete different tasks individually (research) and collaboratively (bracketology and podcast). Students are not being lectured, but rather interacting with the materials by reading, viewing pictures and communicating with others. Special accommodations will be made to meet specific student needs.
- Content Knowledge: Students will learn about the Islamic Empire and achievements from the golden age to help them understand how different achievements have impacted the world. They will
Social Studies State Standards
6.2.8.C.4.b- Determine the extent to which interaction between the Islamic world and medieval Europe increased trade, enhanced technology innovation, and impacted 39 scientific thought and the arts.
6.2.8.D.4.g- Evaluate the importance and enduring legacy of the major achievements of the people living Asia, Africa (Islam), Europe and the Americas over time.
6.2.12.C.1.e -Determine the extent to which various technologies, (e.g., printing, the marine compass, cannonry, Arabic numerals) derived from Europe’s interactions with Islam and Asia provided the necessary tools for European exploration and conquest.
6.2.12.D.2.c - Justify how innovations from Asian and Islamic civilizations, as well as from ancient Greek and Roman culture, laid the foundation for the Renaissance
Common Core State Standards for Technology
8.1.12.A.3 Collaborate in online courses, learning communities, social networks or virtual worlds to discuss a resolution to a problem or issue.
8.1.8.B.1 Synthesize and publish information about a local or global issue or event (ex. telecollaborative project, blog, school web).
- Struggling students will be directed to lower-level readings within their role
- They will be directed to lower-level readings
- They will be asked to complete less achievements (one achievement instead of two)
English Language Learners
- Students will be given texts translated in native language
Students above grade level
- Students will be given higher level texts
- Students may be asked to complete more research (three instead of two achievements)
- If students do not have access to computers they may use textbook to help them with their research and paper copy of handouts.
- Reserve Chromebook cart to complete research in class
If students need more information on the achievements they should visit.
- ABC-CLIO
- Textbook online resources
- Textbook
- Library Pathfinder of Muslim Achievements
- This is usually followed up with the Renaissance Unit and a culminating project comparing and contrasting all of the civilizations taught in 8th grade.