Addressing Islamophobia in the Classroom

This guide from Facing History and Ourselves is designed to help educators prepare their students to have meaningful conversations about issues that matter, and can serve as a helpful resource as a prelude to addressing Islamophobia.

Muslim students throughout the U.S. have been forced to deal with the effects of hateful anti-Islamic rhetoric. As teachers, it is important to combat discriminatory ideologies in the classroom. This lesson from Defenders of Human Rights and Democracy in Your Community is designed to provide your students with an understanding about Muslims in the U.S. to dispel misconceptions and foster understanding of the Islam faith so that the classroom is an inclusive and welcoming space for all.

When violence is in the news, it’s important to watch out for biases that are present in and activated by news coverage and commentary. This ADL resource provides guidance on how to recognize bias and steps that teachers and students can take to interrupt biased language.

This ADL lesson provides an opportunity for students to learn more about past incidents of violence against Muslims, reflect on the connection between these anti-Muslim acts of bigotry and the misunderstandings and stereotypes about Muslims, and identify ways students can be allies in the face of bias and discrimination.

Antisemitism, anti-Muslim bias and other forms of hate can manifest during crises, often exacerbated by disinformation, and it is essential to reflect on how biases can show up in conversations. Allowing antisemitism or anti-Muslim bias to go unchecked not only harms the groups that are targeted by those biases, but also undermines the trust and connection necessary to have productive conversations and learning experiences. This resource provides 10 suggestions to use when having conversations about the longer-term Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

In this lesson from the Albert Shanker Institute’s Educating for Democratic Citizenship, high school students identify different types of discrimination and analyze their own identity for privilege and oppression.

#USvHate provides a multitude of lessons aimed at building inclusive relationships, challenging stereotypes and exploring overarching issues of empathy, bias, bullying and ally behavior as a foundation for refusing hate as well as deeper bias/injustice. Additionally, #USvHate provides lessons on exploring, discussing and countering specific forms of hate, bias and injustice that need attention in specific communities and across the nation.

This resource has students explore these themes: anti-Muslim bias, refugees, bullying and ally behavior, and friendship. Students in grades 3-8 will talk in pairs or small groups about a time that they witnessed, heard about or personally experienced bullying. They will share what happened; how they felt; and what they or someone else did or what they wish they or someone else did about it (if anyone acted as an ally).

Islamophobia and xenophobia often overlap, and it is important that both are addressed in the classroom. In this interview with Re-Imagining Migration’s Adam Strom, author Dr. Erika Lee discusses how they overlap and what every person should know about migration and immigration.