This issue is packed with different perspectives on Jordan and its place in the world. Think about what most interests your class and pick and choose among the following activities to stimulate your students to think about this small, but pivotal, country.

Label a bulletin board "Jordan in the News" and encourage students to bring in newspaper articles or news information that they have heard on radio or TV to post on the board. If students have newspaper articles on Jordan, ask them to synopsize the article in one or two sentences for their fellow students.

You might want to set up a reading table with the books listed in the bibliography and Noor Al Hussein's new book Leap of Faith for students to peruse in their free time.

Pair students to work together to locate Jordan on a map or globe. Have them review the information and discuss among themselves any vocabulary they don't understand on p. 4. In pairs discuss how Jordan's geographical position might have impacted its history or will affect its future. Then share conclusions in large group discussion.

Research / Science: Have students research and compare Salt Lake in Utah and Jordan's Dead Sea. Questions they might consider are:

• How were the bodies of water formed?
• What is the salt concentration in each?
• How have people used them in the past and how are they used now?
• What (if anything) do they produce?

Directed Reading: Have students review the map on pp. 4-5 and read the article, asking themselves, "How has Jordan been in the middle of the Arab-Israeli conflict? What has it done to resolve this conflict?" Then discuss the issues of peace in the Middle East and Jordan's historical role.

Projects:

• Make a time line of major events in Abdullah's and Hussein's reigns.
• Research and report on the British Development of TransJordan.
• Research the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and make a poster stating its beliefs.

Discuss: How is Jordanian food similar to American food and how is it different?

Projects:

• MATH: Many foods served in Jordan, such as hummus, tahini, dates, and kebabs are now available in US supermarkets and restaurants. Have a group of students interview and graph the number or percentage of students who have tasted foods often eaten in Jordan.
• LIFE SKILLS: Have students find and make a Jordanian / Middle Eastern recipe to share with the class.
• ART: Draw a Jordanian family at dinner. Include the items you might find on the table.

Read for Information:

What were the historical achievements of the Nabataieans? (trading and taxation, water management, building)

What civilizations attacked or controlled the region of Petra and when? (Edomites - 1200 BC; Nabateans - 6th C BC; Seleucids attacked 312 BC; Romans - 1st C AD, Byzantines, Christian Crusaders - 12 C AD; Ottomans - 16th C AD)

How does tourism destroy Petra, according to the author? (Vendors take and sell colored sands, pottery, and coins; tourists chip off pieces of buildings; people touch the buildings and their body fluids destroy the sandstone)

How does "nature" contribute to the decay of Petra? (grazing, weather, salt deposits)

Value Discovery:

Divide students into small groups to read and discuss the interview with Queen Noor using these questions:

• What values are most important to Queen Noor?
• What does she believe is most important to individuals?
• What role does she play in the world today?
• How does she think people can make a difference?

Have each group share their conclusions with the class.

Creative Thinking:

Share the Seeds of Peace (p. 25) charter with students. It begins:

We, Seeds of Peace, young people representing 22 war-ravaged nations, hereby declare that we are tired of hatred, violence, and terror . . . Do not dismiss this as youthful idealism. Many of us live in places where killing and humiliation, poverty and homeless refugees are commonplace. At Seeds of Peace, we have experienced real equity, understanding, and joy . . . We now refuse to accept what is when we know what can be . . . We know it is possible to redirect human passions, even class for revenge, toward the positive goal for creating peace.

Students can find out more about Seeds of Peace at their website www.seedsofpeace.org.

Divide students into small groups and ask them to list three things they can do to "create peace" in the world today.

Challenge groups of students to present a skit incorporating at least three of the customs noted in the article.

Read for Information:

Where did Circassians come from and when? (the Caucusus Mountain, c. 1864, the end of the Russo-Caucasian War)

What special job do they hold in Jordan? (Ceremonial Guard to the King; many also serve as policemen, soldiers, and government officials)

What languages do they speak? (Arabic and Adighe)

How is the language written? (in Cyrillic letters)

What is the Lezginka? (a popular Circassian circle dance)

Describe traditional Circassian dress. (For the men, a narrow-waisted wool coat with a fleece cap; for the women, embroidered silk dresses and hats shaped like acorns and decorated with flowing scarves)

What is the Narts? (long epic poems which tell the story of 100 heroic warriors)

What values are treasured in traditional Circassian culture? (honesty, loyalty, honor, bravery, strength for men and elegance for women, hospitality)

Art:

• Jordan River Design Products
• The Madaba Mosaic Map

Have students visit these websites to find out more about Jordanian handicrafts and the mosaic map of Madaba. Students might enjoy drafting a "Jordanian" design for a cushion or mosaic.

Discuss:

• Why was Jarash important in the ancient world?
• What special architectural forms are found at Jarash?
• How did the ancient Romans keep their columns from falling during earthquakes?
• How is Jarash used now in modern Jordan?

Art and Research:

Make a class book or bulletin board of Jordan's native animals, using the list on page 45.

Ask students what new things they have learned about Jordan and its people. What would they still like to know? What will they watch for in the news? What do they think will be Jordan's future role in the Middle East?