We studied Afghanistan right after the United States military withdrew in the August of 2021. I was quite emotional as we learned about this beautiful country amidst the horror of the news.
Post Released October 2021
Navigate this page: Booklists, Food, Science, Art, Folk Music and Dance, Art, Movie, Videos
Maps and flag
- Worldflag.net’s Free printable of Afghanistan’s Flag
- Seterra.com’s Free printable map of Asia
- Seterra.com’s Free online geography games for Asia
Missions Spotlight
- Prayercast.com/Afghanistan: This page contains Quick Facts, a Summary, Prayer Points, and a short video prayer for Afghanistan.
**parents should preview the prayercast.com video for sensitive topics that may not be age appropriate, such as images of war.
I found the Afghanistan unit by Thistles and Biscuits to be helpful in navigating this study of Afghanistan. 100% of the profits for the Afghanistan unit are donated to Hagar International, which helps “women and children facing the worst forms of gender-based violence and human trafficking.” Use my code, “AROUNDTHEWORLD,” for 10% off your whole order.
Booklists
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As this was the first predominantly Muslim country that we studied, I felt it was important to seek out books to introduce my children to Islam.
The following are my top recommendations for each age group:
Preschool/Kindergarten
Afghan author, Bahram Rahman, grew up during the civil war and Taliban regime. He wrote “The Library Bus” to shed light on the refugee camps and the great lengths one woman goes to provide education for Afghan girls. In this book, Pari gets to accompany her mother who drives a bus full of books to rural areas including a refugee camp. They exchange books, replenish school supplies, and her mother teaches a bit of English. The author provides a note about growing up in Afghanistan and about the organizations that help refugees.
Elementary
“Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan” describes the educational situation under Taliban rule. Nasreen’s father is taken away from the family and her mother goes out searching for him. Nasreen stays with her grandmother and hides her grief internally, even while attending a secret school for girls. Gradually, she is able to open up with the support of the other students and the knowledge opened up to her through her books.
Late Elementary/Middle
In “Shooting Kabul,” N.H. Senzai draws from her husband’s experience of escape from Afghanistan and adjustment to life in the United States. The events of 9/11 and a chance opportunity causes Fadi to return to Afghanistan in hopes of finding his sister. This is a powerful read with a delicate handling of sensitive issues. This book is recommended for ages 8 and up.
Middle School
The Breadwinner is the first in a series of four. Set in Kabul under Taliban control, Parvana has no choice but to disguise herself as a boy to care for her family. This is a moving depiction of the realities of life for many in Afghanistan. “All royalties from the sale of this book will go to Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan. Parvana’s Fund supports education projects for Afghan women and children.” The Breadwinner Series is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Food
A favorite Afghan food was mantu, a partially open, steamed dumpling. My 6-year old did a great job with these. I filled pita bread with the extra filling.
Another hands-on recipe that was fun for my kids was “Gosh-e-feel,” or “Elephant’s Ear.” It is shaped to look like an elephant’s ear and then fried in a pan. We made these in the autumn, so they looked like pumpkins to us!
Afghani Bolani reminded me of a pan fried, potato-filled calzone! This is great as a picnic food.
Kabuli Pulao, a flavorful rice dish filled with meat, is the national dish of Afghanistan. My kids loved the caramelized carrots and raisins. I used large pieces of stew meat instead of lamb.
Science
We had been learning about all sorts of seeds so the additional pomegranate study was a lot of fun. The Thistles and Biscuits unit adds some background information about the pomegranate in Afghanistan. We also watched “Afghan Pomegranate Garden Kandahar Arghandab” and saw that they grow just like apples do! We definitely wished we were picking pomegranates when we went apple picking!
Art
We did both recommended art projects from the Thistles & Biscuits Unit. The first was a watercolor of the Kush Hindu mountain range.
The other art project was to design your own Afghan rug. We learned all about the rug-making process by watching The Carpets of Afghanistan and Afghan Carpets. I’ve totally lost the kids’ papers, so I’ll update with a picture here when I find them!
Folk Music and Dance
- Music Mix, ANIM(Afghanistan National Institute of Music)
- Rabab solo
- Afghan Dance to Yak Qadam Pesh with Parvaz Dance Ensemble
Movie
The Breadwinner, based on the book mentioned earlier, is rated PG-13 so my husband and I pre-watched it. My 9-year olds had already read the book, but I felt the imagery of violence and oppression would be a negative addition at their ages. Please use your own discretion.
Youtube Videos
- Zawia – Documentary on Kite Flying In Afghanistan
- Minaret of Jam
- Flag national day
- Around the Kabul city
- Blue Mosque (Mazar-e-Sharif)
- Geography Now! is a fun and informative resource geared towards adults and older kids; I recommend that parents pre-watch before showing to younger kids: