A lesson plan created by two Tucson Unified visual arts integration specialists was awarded first place in the University of Arizona Center for Middle Eastern Studies' annual lesson plan competition.
Yubitza McCombs and Trista Tamura's lesson plan, "Symmetry through Middle Eastern Painted Paper Floral Tiles," gave students the opportunity to create painted paper tiles after learning about Middle Eastern tile work to demonstrate their understanding of symmetry.
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies has sponsored a lesson plan competition for the last 18 years, recognizing the need for creative and unique lesson plans that adhere to high academic standards. This year's competition was especially tough, with high-quality entries coming in from across the U.S.
Ms. McCombs' and Ms. Tamura's lesson was chosen for publication on the CMES website, which is accessed by thousands of teachers each year.
