Teach about Islam with film all year round with these global education films that center Muslim stories plus our free teaching guides.
Resources to Teach about Islam with Film
Teach about Islam with Film: Children of Heaven
Children of Heaven follows an Iranian brother and sister and their adventures over a lost pair of shoes. The film showcases both modern and tradition Tehran and portrays a loving family trying to do their best.
Our free Children of Heaven Curriculum Guide includes an introduction to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9
Subjects: Geography, Social Studies, World History
Get the Children of Heaven Curriculum Guide.
Related Resource: If you are teaching about Iran, we also recommend The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silkroad Ensemble.
Teach about Islam with Film: He Named Me Malala
He Named Me Malala follows events leading up to the Taliban’ attack on Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai for speaking out on girls’ education, followed by the aftermath, including her speech to the United Nations. It tells the story of an inspiring young Muslim woman who becomes a public figure and role model.
Our free He Named Me Malala Curriculum Guide includes a lesson about examining Malala’s iconic Nobel Peace Prize address.
Lesson Grades: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, College, Adult Learning
Subjects: English Language Arts, Language Arts, Speech, Women’s Studies
Get the He Named Me Malala Curriculum Guide.
Teach about Islam with Film: Resisterhood
Resisterhood profiles six diverse Americans who are all civically engaged in different, inspiring ways. One of the subjects is a first-time political candidates: Muslim-American Mimi Hassanein, a first-generation immigrant from Egypt. Her story speaks broadly to the immigrant experience in the USA and also what it’s like to be Muslim in contemporary America.
Lesson Grades: 10, 11, 12, College, Adult Learning
Subjects: Current Events, Civics, Government, Political Science, Social Studies, Women’s Studies
Get the Resisterhood Discussion Guide.
Teach about Islam with Film: The Neighborhood Storyteller
In The Neigbhorhood Storyteller, a young Syrian mother in a refugee camp in Jordan embarks on a read-aloud project to raise a new generation of successful young women.
Our The Neighborhood Storyteller Discussion Guide features connections to Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out by Muzoon Almellehan with Wendy Pearlman, for educators interested in doing a film-book pairing for grades 5-12.
Lesson Grades: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, College
Subjects: Current Events, English Language Arts, Geography, History, Social Studies, Women’s Studies, World History
Teach about Islam with Film: Wadjda
In Wadjda, a young Saudi girl signs up for her school’s Quran recitation competition as a way to raise the funds she needs in order to buy the bicycle of her dreams.
Our free Wadjda Curriculum Guide features a lesson with an introduction to the Quran.
Lesson Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Language Arts, Religious Literacy, Religious Studies, Social Studies, World History, World Religions
Teach about Islam with Film: The Story of God
National Geographic’s docuseries The Story of God with Morgan Freeman sheds a brilliant light on the remarkable and unmistakable similarities among different faiths.
The section on Islam in our free The Story of God Curriculum Guide includes an introduction to Muslim beliefs and practices, highlights arts of the Islamic world, explores Islamic empires, and examines Islam’s rich contributions to science.
Lesson Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, College, Adult Learning
Subjects: Language Arts, Religious Literacy, Religious Studies, Social Studies, World History, World Religions
Related Resources
Professional Development: Learn more about teaching Anti-Bias Education with films like The Neighborhood Storyteller for PD credit in our free, on-demand webinar: Using Media to Foster Critical Thinking and Combat Antisemitism and Islamophobia.
For more Global Education Films from around the world that introduce students to global cultures and customs, we also recommend: Children of Heaven (Iran), Like Stars on Earth (India), Please Vote for Me (China), The Cup (Tibet), The Way Home (South Korea), and Whale Rider (Aotearoa / New Zealand).
Check out the Journeys in Film Resource Library for more films about World Religions.
Updates
This article was updated in August 2025 (with Resiterhood). Don’t miss out! on our new resources! To get notifications about new film guides and collections, sign up for our newsletter.
