Year 7 Syllabus

YEAR 7 SYLLABUS

8. ISLAM

Aims:

To know and to understand the origins and beliefs of Islam, observing that it is a total way of life; to gain an awareness of the nature of commitment and to see that religious belief has practical implications.

'Implicit' Ideas:

Community/brotherhood; shared sense of purpose, history, outlook, traditions, customs, rituals, celebrations, initiations; authority; rules; experience of the spiritual; values and attitudes; different ways of expressing ideas and communication; revelation.

Concepts:

Implicit: community; rituals; celebrations; authority; rules; values and attitudes; giving; journeys
Explicit: Islam (submission); Five Pillars of the Faith; Faith; Prayer; Charity; Fasting; Pilgrimage; Hajj; wuzu; adhan; imam; minaret; mosque; Koran; muezzin; mihrab; minbar; Mecca; Medina.

Content and Suggestions

Find out what pupils already know about Islam and Muslim countries - usually quite a lot going on in Middle East and frequent news items about Muslims in this country (various issues). Collect news items from newspapers, magazines, TV reports etc.
Build up a world map of Islam for wall display - flags of countries can be quite interesting.
Mohammed. Explore the story of Mohammed. Use anmated video and associated booklets. Wall frieze art, dramatic presentation. Variety of approaches possible.
The Five Pillars of the Faith: Faith, Prayer, Alms, Fasting and Pilgrimage (Hajj). OHP layout available. TV programme covers Five Pillars. We have a prayer mat and qibla compass if anyone wants to give demonstration of the prayer positions. However this is approached, it is important that pupils try to understand and get a feeling of what these obligatory requirements mean to Muslims. Need to understand the meaning of 'Islam' and 'Muslim'.
Special focus on the Hajj. Nature of pilgrimage to world faiths generally - then to Muslims. Set of 24 slides to illustrate the Pilgrimage and the various stages and significance. OHP suggested layout for written work.
Islamic vocabulary as a guide to further study: Koran (Qur'an), mosque, minaret, muezzin, imam, minbar, mihrab, qibla wall. Research using classroom research box plus books from school library.
Rules about food, alcohol and clothing. Relate to anything topical at the time.

Time:

10 weeks

Resources:

Islam (El-Droubie)				Books
Islamic Belief and Practice			Books
The Muslim Way					Books
Paths to Faith					Books
How Others See Life				Books
Pilgrimages					Books
Encounter With Islam				RadioVision
Birthday of Mohammed				Cassette Tape
Mecca						Cassette Tape
Islam						55 slides
Muslim Marriage					Slides
5 Pillars of the Faith				OHP slide
The Hajj					OHP slide
Mohammed - Animated series + booklets           Video
Festivals (Id-ul-Fitr)				Video
Islam						Video
Islam Through the Eyes of Muslim Children	Video
Mecca						Video
What's it Like to be a Muslim			Video
Three Families in Jerusalem			Video
Muslims						Photopak
Mosques and Minarets				Posters
Box of Resources				Books
Prayer Mat					Artefact
Qibla Compass					Artefact
Eid card					Artefact
Postcards of Mecca
Sources of Faith				CD-ROM
Aspects of Religion				CD-ROM

Assessment:

Knowledge of origins of Islam, Five Pillars of the Faith and basic Islamic vocabulary.
Understanding of Muslim beliefs and practices and way of life
Ability to evaluate beliefs and practices of a faith/tradition in an empathetic way
Awareness of and ability to relate to current events and developments.

END OF YEAR 7 SYLLABUS

G. Jones:
The FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh, Essex