Episode #1: What and Where is the Middle East, Anyway? Helping K-12 teachers bring the modern Middle East to their classrooms, one topic at a time. Because there’s so much more to the region than conflict and terrorism. Free Resources for Episode #1 Whether you’re new to teaching the Middle East, or just looking for new material to spice up your existing curricula, check out these free online resources for educators! The digital book Teaching the Middle East: A Resource Guide for Educators, especially the introductory chapters “What and Where is the Middle East?” and “On Teaching the Middle East,” as well as the three chapters on diversity & pluralism in the region. The digital book was developed by TeachMidEast, the educational division of the Middle East Policy Council, a nonprofit organization. The curriculum cluster The Middle East Through Foreign Eyes, including both parts 1) Antiquity to the Nineteenth Century, and 2) Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries. The cluster is part of the University of Chicago’s Teaching the Middle East Resource Guide for Educators. The Plural Identities curriculum cluster, a set of three lessons for the high school history classroom that explores diversity in the Middle East from the late 19th century through mid-Twentieth century. The cluster was developed as part of the Rethinking the Region: New Approaches to 9-12 U.S. Curriculum on the Middle East and North Africa educational initiative. Episode Acknowledgements Thanks to the anonymous high school students who shared their thoughts about the Middle East in this pilot episode; and to the educator who conducted the interviews on our behalf. Featured Music • “Last Lights,” by Blue Dot Sessions, from the album Landsman Duets, used under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). The track has been excerpted and mixed with narrative. • “Kim Arar,” by Wind of Anatolia, from the album Live at the 2014 Golden Festival, used with permission from Wind of Anatolia. The track has been excerpted and mixed with narrative. • “The Secret” by Soft and Furious, from the album The Man I’m Not, used under Creative Commons License 1.0 Universal (public domain). The track has been excerpted and mixed with narrative. • “Détermination” by Monsplainer, from the album Draft, used under Creative Commons License 1.0 Universal (public domain). The track has been excerpted and mixed with narrative. • “-Drum Solo” by Turku, Nomads of the Silk Road, from the album Alleys of Istanbul, used under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The Track has been excerpted and mixed with narrative. • “Human” by Borrtex, from the album Creation, used under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). The track has been excerpted and mixed with narrative. • “Venndet” by Blue Dot Sessions, from the album Landsman Duets, used under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). The track has been excerpted and mixed with narrative.