Teachers Corner

Inspiring students and helping them understand the forces that shape our world is what you do every day. Unity Productions Foundation can help you reach your goals with our lesson plans, guides, and other resources. We invite you to join thousands of American social studies teachers by showing UPF's documentary films in your classroom. Having been broadcast on PBS stations nationwide, our aim is to make history and social studies topics accessible, engaging, and entertaining, while consulting with scholars to keep them authentic.

We are pleased to offer you complimentary UPF films via streaming (and in special circumstances, via download), in addition to companion lesson plans and interactive learning websites developed by social studies teachers. These resources are designed to meet state and national teaching standards, and they have been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the United Institute for Peace and other foundations.

Lesson Plans and Guides

To download all lesson plans, discussion guides and other resources, click here:

Our Films

The Sultan and The Saint

In the year 1219, during the height of the bloody Christian-Muslim conflict known as the Crusades, Francis of Assisi risked his life by walking across enemy lines to meet the Sultan of Egypt, the Muslim ruler Al-Malik al-Kamil. This remarkable encounter, and the commitment to peace of the two men behind it, presented an alternative to the persistent call for war.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

Explaining conflicts across Europe and Asia, including the Crusades and the fall of Constantinople;
The maturing of an inter-regional system of communication, trade, and cultural exchange in an era of Islamic expansion.
The redefining of European society and culture, 1000-1300 CE.
Major global trends from 1000-1500 CE.
Social psychology and conflict resolution.

We have a dedicated site for educational resources for The Sultan and The Saint. This film is not included on the Sign Up form at the bottom of this page.

American Muslims: Facts vs. Fiction

Using research from Gallup, Pew and other organizations, this film addresses the most common questions about American Muslim values and role in society.

Grade Levels: High school and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

Contemporary discussions regarding the First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.
Communicating with government officials, discussing current events and respecting differing opinions in a diverse society.
Understanding diversity, stereotypes and prejudice.

Request American Muslims

Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet

Explains the life of the founder of Islam through the lives of Americans living out his example.

Grade Levels: High school and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

Describing the origin, beliefs, traditions, customs, and spread of Islam.

Request Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet

Enemy of the Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story

An unlikely spy emerges in France during WWII.

Grade Levels: Junior high, high school, and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

The contributions of women and minorities to the war effort.
The role of media and communications in the war effort.
Nazi occupation in Europe and its connection to the Holocaust.

Request Enemy of the Reich

Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain

It tells of the triumphs and shortcomings, achievements and ultimate failures of a centuries-long period when Muslims, Christians, and Jews inhabited the same far corner of Western Europe and built a society that lit the Dark Ages.

Grade Levels: High school and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

Explaining the preservation and transfer to Western Europe of Greek, Roman, and Arabic philosophy, medicine, and science.
Assessing the influence of geography on Islamic economic, social, and political development, including the impact of conquest and trade.

Request Cities of Light

Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think

This film explores the expertly gathered opinions of Muslims around the globe as revealed in the world’s first major opinion poll, conducted by Gallup, the preeminent polling organization.

Grade Levels: High school and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

Understanding diversity, stereotypes, and prejudice.
A contemporary discussion regarding current events focusing on regions such as Asia and the Middle East.
Note: Contains scenes of violent news footage. High school teachers should use their own discretion and prescreen the film.

Request Inside Islam

Nadia's Ramadan

Nadia's Ramadan tells the story of a young American-Muslim girl who takes the audience on a journey through fasting and celebrating the Eid holiday.

Grade Levels: Elementary and middle school.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

1B.1 ( Grades: K-4 ): Explain the ways that families long ago expressed and transmitted their beliefs and values through oral traditions, literature, songs, art, religion, community celebrations, mementos, food, and language. [Obtain historical data]
7A.3 ( Grades: K-4 ): Compare and contrast various aspects of family life, structures, and roles in different cultures and in many eras with students’ own family lives. [Compare and contrast]
8.8 ( Grades: 6-8 ): Explain the influence of personal values and beliefs on individual health practices and behaviors.

Request Nadia's Ramadan

Prince Among Slaves

The remarkable true story of an African prince, who endured the humiliation of slavery without ever losing his dignity or hope for freedom.

Grade Levels: junior high, high school, and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

Describing West African civilizations of the Middle Ages in terms of geography, society, economy, and religion.
Knowledge of the status and impact of global trade on regional civilizations of the world after 1500 A.D. (C.E.) by describing Africa and its increasing involvement in global trade.
How the values and institutions of early American economic and political life including slavery reshaped European and African life in the Americas.

Request Prince Among Slaves

Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World

It explores themes such as the origins of Islam and its emphasis on the written word, the development and influence of Muslim architecture as Islam expanded into Africa, Asia, and Europe; and the blending of diverse cultures and religions in creating art of Muslim lands.

Grade Levels: High school and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

Describing the origin, beliefs, traditions, customs, and spread of Islam.
Assessing the influence of geography on Islamic economic, social, and political development, including the impact of conquest and trade.
Identifying historical turning points that affected the spread and influence of Islamic civilization.
Citing cultural and scientific contributions and achievements of Islamic civilization.

Request Islamic Art

Allah Made Me Funny

Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, and Preacher Moss poke fun at themselves, their communities, government, human nature and the tricky predicament of living in post-9/11 America.

Grade Levels: High school and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

A contemporary discussion regarding the First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition;
Communicating with government officials, keeping informed about current issues, and respecting differing opinions in a diverse society;
Evaluating how civic and social duties address community needs and serve the public good;
Understanding diversity, stereotypes, and prejudice.

Request Allah Made Me Funny

Talking Through Walls

Tells the story of a Zia Rahman’s attempt to build a mosque in his hometown of Voorhees, NJ.

Grade Levels: High school and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

A contemporary discussion regarding the First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition;
Communicating with government officials, keeping informed about current issues, and respecting differing opinions in a diverse society;
Evaluating how civic and social duties address community needs and serve the public good;
Understanding diversity, stereotypes, and prejudice.

Request Talking Through Walls

On a Wing and a Prayer

Follows Monem, an American Muslim, on his quest to obtain a private pilot’s license.

Grade Levels: High school and college.

Standards of Learning Tie-In:

A contemporary discussion regarding the First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition;
Communicating with government officials, keeping informed about current issues, and respecting differing opinions in a diverse society;
Evaluating how civic and social duties address community needs and serve the public good;
Understanding diversity, stereotypes, and prejudice.

Request On a Wing and a Prayer

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