On May 5th, I received a great resource from the workshop titled “Islam in Asia.” The binder Islamic Civilization and the Arts provides a plethora of useful lessons with several CD’s of audio samples and images. I will definitely use several of the lessons from the book. My favorite lesson is “The Role of the Mosque.” Students explore not only the physical features of the mosque, but its role in “Global Islam.” The class is introduced to the characteristics of a mosque via a virtual tour. Using a graphic organizer, students identify the mihrab, arches, and washing rooms. They must also take notes on the significance of each object and its purpose. This lesson is extending to emphasize the variation of Islam from country to country by examining various mosques. Students are told that they are to view places of worship from around the world. Then, from those images students are to identify those that are mosques. Students are to provide evidence from the images to support their claim. At the end of the activity, students learn that all images depicted are mosques. This is a true learning experience because students realize that Islam is shaped by culture and geography.
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