Description:

Students complete a web quest focused on an Islamic Tile Fountain to learn more about Arab culture, as one of many cultures of America.

Grade level: 8th grade

Detail, Wall Fountain
Made between 1800 and 1850 Persian, Qajar Dynasty
Molded glazed composite body with polychrome underglaze painted decoration
Gift of Mrs. Wilson W. Mills (54.194)
Click the image for more information.

Students and Mr. Mansour visit museum, Islamic gallery (click the image for a larger version).

Class visit to museum, group photo (click the image for a larger version).

All cultures bring cultural expressions to America. Works of art selected for this project helped us understand and accept one another, not as strangers but as fellow citizens of our nation.

An American Mosaic was conducted intermittently over a four-month period, see Preparation and Resources for more about this curriculum and our study of related art work during and after our visit to the DIA.
The art teacher came to my American history classroom to introduce the art project
An American Mosaic: Cut Paper.
Students had two days in my class to begin their work on the mosaic; mosaics were completed outside of class.

Then we were ready to begin our Web Quest project. In an attempt to bridge the cultural gap between Baghdad and Detroit, students could use this Islamic Tile Web Quest. (Note: the web quest can be loaded onto lab computers allowing students to directly link to sites. Check the sites prior to assignment as they may change. The web quest can also be printed out and hard copies given to students to use as worksheets to complete the questions.)

Students can use the web quest to learn more about Arab culture and Arab Americans. This web quest could help to demonstrate the rich heritage Arab cultures bring to the America. Students can also view, describe and compare the Islamic Tile Fountain to Romare Bearden’s Quilting Time mosaic.