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Here you will find ideas for various learning activities in different subject areas extending from the reading of An ABC Escapade through Egypt. The activities are mainly geared toward upper elementary or middle school students but most can be modified for any age or ability. Each subject title below links to a PDF file with ideas sorted and linked by topic of study (geometry, culture, etc.) and letter. Some of the resources in Explore Egypt may also be useful in your projects.
Content Areas
“Linking nonfiction literature with content study serves to heighten students’ interest and provides the scaffolding necessary for English language learners to process and understand new concepts and information.”
(Hadaway, Vardell, & Young, 231)
“Special care must be taken to make books available to English language learners that are interesting and engaging, that build on and extend their background experiences. Making books available that interest and engage students is critical and can lead to marked changes in how they view both books and themselves as readers.” (Hadaway, Vardell, & Young, 63)
“English language learners respond immediately to the highly visual look and factual content of nonfiction literature.” (Hadaway, Vardell, & Young, 73)
My primary audience for An ABC Escapade through Egypt was Egyptian children learning
English as a second language. It was my hope to provide these students with an interesting
book with topics and images they could relate to. I also wanted to provide a book
that would reinforce both the content and vocabulary that students were learning
in school. Although written for an Egyptian audience, all readers -
In the Reading guide below, you will find tips for reading aloud, notes about the
reading process, and suggested activities for each phase -
If you are teaching an entire unit on Egypt, the Middle East, or Islam, and are looking
for related children’s books, have a look at my compilations below. All lists (PDFs)
contain titles that can be found on Amazon.com and in local bookstores in Cairo.
The titles cover a variety of genres -
Children’s and YA Literature related to modern Egypt
Children’s and YA Literature set in the Middle East*
Children’s and YA Literature about Islam and Islamic Holidays
* Includes stories from Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran and others but NOT Afghanistan or Pakistan.
Lists of Literature available as eBooks -
Middle Grade and Young Adult eBooks -
Children’s, Middle Grade, and Young Adult eBooks -
Teaching Tidbits
Reading, Literature, and Language
Writing
Postcards, like the one to the right, can be used as motivating and attractive writing material for students.
Students can write a summary of the their favorite topic from the book.
Students can choose a letter and new topic, research, and then write an informational paragraph on the postcard. Create a class project and have each student in the class choose a different letter.
Students can write a book review.
