Teacher's Guide for APPLESEEDS Islam Today

Introduce students to Islam as a major world religion with many believers throughout the world. Today they will begin a study of this religion to see how it works in the modern world. During their study they should think about what they know about Muslims in their communities and questions they would like to answer.

Make a chart with the title "Islam Today" and write on one side "What We Know" and "What We Learned." Lead a discussion with the class about what they already know about Islam, marking down the points they make. As the class reads and studies the magazine, add new facts to the chart under the "What We Learned" title.

Establish a reading corner about Islam with the books listed on p. 32 of the magazine or other books from your library about Islam and Muslim children. Encourage students to visit the reading corner in their free time.

Use these questions for discussion or as a written comprehension check:

How is Islam similar to Judaism and Christianity? (religion of belief in one God in which prophets are sent to teach people)

What is the meaning of the Arabic root word for the name Islam? (peace)

What is the holy book of Islam? (the Qu'ran)

Which prophets are shared between Islam and Judaism and Christianity? (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses)

Between Islam and Christianity? (All of the above and Jesus)

Special to Islam? (Muhammad, the last prophet)

State five facts about Muhammad's life. (Born in the year 570, lived in Mecca, parents died when young, married to Khadijah, fought against the practice of idol worship, escaped from Mecca to Medina when his life was in danger, returned to Mecca when the Muslims became stronger, died in 632 AD)

How do Muslims believe the Qu'ran was written? (Muhammad was visited many times by the angel Gabriel and wrote the words of the Qu'ran from the words of Gabriel.)

Who led Islam immediately after Muhammad's death? (His close companions)

Islam started in Arabia. To which continents did it spread? (Africa, Asia, Europe)

How did it spread? (Rulers built a huge empire, traders brought goods, ideas, and inventions, Muslims traded, taveled, and settled.)

How many countries now have Islam as the main religion? (More than 50)

Group Art Project:

Encourage a small group to make a mural of the main events of Muhammad's life.

Use the map to discover where the religion of Islam is strongest and weakest in the world today.

Discuss: How are the pictures similar? How are they different? Do students know people who wear the hijab? What does it look like? If you have an Islamic student in class or an Islamic colleague, ask him or her to share his understanding of hijab.

Have students choose one of the "Imagine" passages in "Same and Different" or one of the photographs in "Pictures of Diversity." Write a diary entry for the child of their choice OR create a fictional story about the child.

Have students distinguish between creed, beliefs, and ritual, repeated actions. How is the Muslim creed the same or different from what students themselves believe?

Choose a small group project: Encourage students to work with two or three friends and bring in information from other articles in the magazine (For example, "All About Ramadan," p. 23, or "The Hajj: Aba's Unforgettable Journey," p. 28) to

1. create a poster which explain the Five Pillars, or rituals, of Islam
2. write and perform a skit which shows a Muslim child performing one of the the five pillars of Islam.

Art: Have students find and display pictures of mosques from all over the world. Discuss what characteristics the mosques share and how they are different.

Let students volunteer to take the roles of the narrators and characters and present a dramatic reading with facial and hand gestures.

Ask students to think about the changes in Debbie Almontaser's life as she embraced Islam. What was she afraid of? What gave her joy?

Then discuss, how are Muslims perceived in the United States today?

Display the finished chart "Islam Today" with the many new facts students have learned about Islam. Ask students what they found most interesting in their study of Islam and what they most enjoyed. If you have access to community speakers, you might ask a Muslim representative of the community to share his personal experiences as a Muslim and to answer questions from students.

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Updated: 2/11/12 12:32 am
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