FUNTIMES HOME EDUCATION

The children enjoyed taking a brief look at the Islamic faith in October 2005, during the time of Ramadan.  It was prompted by an invitation from a HE group member to visit the local Mosque for a tour and talk about Muslims and the practise of their faith.

Although K had done a similar mosque tour when at school, this visit seemed much more personal, as we knew the people showing us around and answering the many questions the children, and adults, from the group had.

We were shown how the men used a wash room to cleanse themselves thoroughly before entering the prayer room.  The mosque we visited had a huge main prayer room and an upper balcony which could also be used for prayer should many people come along to the Mosque.  As the Mosque was relatively new, all the decoration was still fresh and very beautiful.  The children loved the heavy pile of the carpet on the prayer room floors as it was soft and warm!  We were told that Muslims pray facing Mekkah and that the minarets and dome are green as this is a holy colour of Islamic tradition.  Prayer mats are used (although the carpet was divided into rectangular prayer mats) and that the most important time to pray together at the Mosque is on a Friday afternoon.

After our visit, we used library books and the internet to find out more about Islam and Muslims.  K and B made A4 posters of information that they wanted to record including the list of the Five Pillars of Islam:-

Shahadah - declaration of faith

Salah - prayer

Zakat - giving a fixed proportion to charity

Saum - fasting during the month of Ramadan

Hajj - pilgramage to Mekkah

K and B were thrilled to find that the gentleman who had organised the tour had painstakingly written each child's name in Arabic for them.  Something K and B have treasured in their work files.  They both tried copying the intricate writing and also had a go at writing a short sentence in Urdu (another Muslim language) - but found it very difficult!

We made chappatis, chick pea curry and chicken coriander for a feast and to finish off our work, the children made a lovely shoe box Mosque, along with beautifully clothed Muslims, to display.  Pillars were from toilet/kitchen rolls, and were decorated with tiny pieces of shiny paper to represent tiny tiles.  They drew and stuck on minarets and a dome and made sure a prayer mat and Qur'an were placed inside.  This idea came from the Crayola website (see links below).

We found there was alot of information on the internet for children to learn more about this faith, we particularly enjoyed the following sites.

http://www.crayola.com/ideas/idea_display.cfm?id=1425  (Crayola Mosque design)

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/religion/Islam.htm (general child friendly information, includes other links on this subject)

http://www.hitchams.suffolk.sch.uk/mosque/default.htm (a virtual tour of a UK Mosque)