LESSON I
INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
60 MINUTES
OBJECTIVES:
LOCATION: Computer lab
MATERIALS:
PROCEDURE:
10 minutes:
Ask students to do the following:
10 minutes:
Ask students to group the keywords into themes.
This is merely an attempt to illustrate how words are loaded with meanings, and how language plays an important role in defining our thoughts. Students should not be made aware of this just as yet. You will come back to this in a future lesson!
10 minutes:
Students share their theme groups with the rest of the class while explaining the choices they made.
15 minutes:
Ask students to log on to the Inspired by Muhammad website at the following link: http://www.inspiredbymuhammad.com/islam.php
10 minutes:
Each group gives a one minute synopsis of the section assigned to it by referring to the main keywords just jotted down.
5 minutes:
Explain next week's assginment: 'Visual Aid' Poster:
INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
60 MINUTES
OBJECTIVES:
- To become familiar with the basic beliefs and values of Muslims.
- To appreciate the importance of these beliefs and values.
- To work with words and realize their potential in constructing meaning and shaping thoughts.
LOCATION: Computer lab
MATERIALS:
- Computers and Internet access (one computer for a group of three students should be adequate)
- Personal journals, pens or pencils
- Cardboard and coloured markers
PROCEDURE:
10 minutes:
Ask students to do the following:
- If you watched TV last night, stand up!
- If you have a pet, stand up!
- If you are, know, or have met a Muslim in your life, stand up! This question is purposely phrased as such so as not to single out students who are shy, or who for whatever reason do not want their religious views to be revealed.
- Ask students what comes to their mind when they hear the word 'Islam'. Write the keywords on the blackboard. Try to have a minimum of 20 different keywords.
10 minutes:
Ask students to group the keywords into themes.
- For example, if words such as Middle East, religion, terrorism, peace, beard, burqa, Osama Bin Laden, my next-door neighbour, crescent, mosque, and Ramadan come up, students should decide which words belong together and why. Assure students that there is no right or wrong answer. Students can work in groups of four or five, but would still have to write individual notes in their journals as they will need to refer to them in future classes.
This is merely an attempt to illustrate how words are loaded with meanings, and how language plays an important role in defining our thoughts. Students should not be made aware of this just as yet. You will come back to this in a future lesson!
10 minutes:
Students share their theme groups with the rest of the class while explaining the choices they made.
15 minutes:
Ask students to log on to the Inspired by Muhammad website at the following link: http://www.inspiredbymuhammad.com/islam.php
- As they are logging in, ask if they know who Muhammad is or if they have heard of him before.
- Divide the seven following sections between groups of 2 to 3 students: What is Allah, How did Islam originate, What are the five pillars of Islam, What is the Quran, What are Hadiths, What is the Kaabah, and How is Islam similar to Christianity and Judaism. Notice that some of these sections have more than one paragraph, so it would be wise to have them assigned to the groups with a larger number of students.
- Students read their assigned section and jot down the main keywords in their journals. They are expected to have understood what they read and to be able to explain it.
10 minutes:
Each group gives a one minute synopsis of the section assigned to it by referring to the main keywords just jotted down.
5 minutes:
Explain next week's assginment: 'Visual Aid' Poster:
- Each group is given markers and a poster-size piece of cardboard to arrange the keywords in a logical and creative fashion. Explain their first assignment and provide them with the rubric.
- This could be done by means of a concept map, chart, drawings with annotations, etc. The purpose of these posters is to summarize each of the paragraphs, and act as a visual aid that will be hung in the classroom for the other students to look at. The poster should be concise yet complete. This means that if an outsider comes and looks at it, it should be comprehensible and add to the knowledge of that person, despite its conciseness.
Assignment #1: 'Visual Aid' Poster Grading Rubric.
Assignment Instructions and Expectations:
- You are to create a Visual Aid based on the section assigned to your group from the Inspired by Muhammad Website: http://www.inspiredbymuhammad.com/islam.php
- This could be done by means of a concept map, chart, annotated drawings, etc.. Be creative!
- The purpose of your poster is to summarize the section you read, and act as a visual aid that will be hung in the classroom for your classmates to look at.
- The poster should be concise yet complete. This means that if someone walks into the classroom and decides to take a look at your poster, it should be comprehensible enough and add to their knowledge, despite its conciseness.
- Your poster will be graded on its accuracy, clarity, creativity, and conciseness.
Mark Breakdown: [This assignment is worth 5% of your grade]
Accuracy
Creativity
Conciseness
Clarity
Creativity
Conciseness
Clarity
2%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
Have fun, Be Create Live, and see you next class!
HOMEWORK:
Finish working on the posters and bring them back next class
- Read the first nine sections about Islam that were assigned to the class today at the following link: http://www.inspiredbymuhammad.com/islam.php. Take notes and write your thoughts about what you read in your journal.
- Read "Who are Muslims" at the following link: http://www.inspiredbymuhammad.com/muslims.php. Take notes and write your thoughts about what you read in your journals. Don't forget to bring your Personal Journals to class!
