Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Arabs: Expansion of Islam

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The objectives stage is crucial for establishing the focus of the lesson and ensuring that both the teacher and students are aligned on what will be learned and explored. By clearly defining the objectives, students can better direct their attention and efforts towards the practical activities that will follow, making the most of classroom time to apply and deepen the prior knowledge acquired at home.

Main Objectives:

1. Identify and describe the main events and figures that shaped the formation of the Arab peoples and the emergence of Islam.

2. Analyze the strategies and consequences of the Arabs' territorial conquests, focusing especially on the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula.

Side Objectives:

1. Stimulate students' critical thinking when analyzing different perspectives on Arab conquests.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction stage is designed to engage students and connect the prior knowledge acquired at home with relevant practical realities and curiosities. The problem situations encourage students to think critically and to apply what they have learned in a contextualized and imaginative way. The contextualization, in turn, aims to show the relevance of the studied topic, enlarging the students' interest and understanding of how the past influences the present.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine yourself as a member of the early Arab peoples, amidst uncertainties and changes. What cultural, political, and geographical factors would influence your decisions and beliefs regarding Islam?

2. Think about the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century under Muslim rule. How would you, a resident of the region, react to the new religion and the new style of government imposed by the Arabs?

Contextualization

The Arabs and the expansion of Islam are not just historical topics but have also profoundly influenced the culture, politics, and religion of many regions up to the present day. For example, the numeral system we use today was introduced in Europe through the Arabs. Furthermore, the Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula for almost 800 years left an architectural and cultural legacy still visible in cities like Córdoba and Granada.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The development stage is designed to allow students to practically and creatively apply the knowledge acquired in previous studies about the expansion of Islam. Through group activities, students explore different cultural, religious, and geographical aspects of the Arab peoples, promoting collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Each proposed activity aims to solidify learning in distinct ways, whether visualizing, writing, or acting, ensuring a deep and multidimensional understanding of the topic.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Messages in the Desert Sands

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand and visually express aspects of the culture and beliefs of the Arab peoples, promoting creativity and teamwork.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people and each group will receive a piece of 'sand' (recycled brown paper cut into small pieces). They will use these pieces to draw and write symbols, words, and phrases that represent the daily life and beliefs of the early Arab peoples. After creating, the groups will 'bury' their messages in the 'sandbox' (a large box or tray filled with sand in the classroom).

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute brown paper pieces and markers to each group.

• Ask them to draw and write what they represent about the early Arab peoples.

• After creation, each group should 'bury' their message in the sandbox.

• Each group will present their 'dig' to the others, explaining what they wrote and drew.

Activity 2 - The Map of Conquest

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Visualize and geographically understand the Arab expansions, strengthening the understanding of the strategies and consequences of these conquests.

- Description: In this activity, students, still in groups, will construct a large map on craft paper that represents the conquest routes of the Arabs, especially focusing on the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. They will use different colors to symbolize different types of territories (conquered, allied, neutral) and will include markers with important information about each region.

- Instructions:

• Organize the students into groups of no more than 5.

• Distribute materials such as craft paper, colored markers, and rulers for each group.

• Instruct the students to draw the map of the Arab conquests, highlighting the Iberian Peninsula.

• Each group should use different colors to represent different types of territory.

• Students should include markers with relevant historical information in each region.

Activity 3 - Drama in the Arab Court

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore historical events in a creative way, promoting emotional and social understanding of the cultural and religious impacts of the Islamic expansion.

- Description: Students will create and present short plays that depict everyday situations or historical events of the early Arab peoples and the Islamic expansion. Each group will choose a specific theme, such as Muhammad's arrival in Mecca or the coexistence of different cultures after the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group chooses a specific theme related to Islamic expansion.

• Students write a short script for a theatrical scene.

• After preparation, each group presents their scene to the class.

• At the end of the presentations, discuss with the class the different perspectives and learnings.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this feedback stage is to consolidate learning, allowing students to articulate what they have learned and how they have applied it in practical activities. Furthermore, the group discussion helps develop communication and critical thinking skills, while also providing the teacher with an assessment of students' understanding of the topic addressed. This collective reflection is essential to ensure that the acquired knowledge is well understood and can be applied in future contexts.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, gather all students for an expanded group discussion, where each group will share their discoveries and experiences. Start the discussion with a brief introduction about the importance of understanding Arab conquests and the cultural and religious influence that has lasted for centuries. Encourage students to discuss what surprised them the most or what they found most challenging, and how the practical activity helped clarify or deepen their understanding of the topic. Use this opportunity to address and clarify any misunderstandings or concepts not fully understood.

Key Questions

1. What were the most effective strategies used by the Arabs during their territorial conquests?

2. How did the expansion of Islam influence the culture and society of the conquered territories?

3. In what way did practical activities help solidify your understanding of the expansion of Islam?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the conclusion is to ensure that students have absorbed the main concepts of the lesson, connecting practical activities with the theory discussed. This moment also serves to reinforce the relevance of the studied topic and highlight the applicability of historical knowledge in contemporary contexts, stimulating reflection on the importance of history and culture in the formation of identities and social relations.

Summary

In this final stage, the teacher should summarize the main points covered about the expansion of Islam, highlighting the formation of the Arab peoples, the emergence of Islam, the strategies and consequences of territorial conquests, and the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. It is important to recap key information to ensure that all students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the content.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was structured to connect theory and practice, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical activities that simulate aspects of Arab culture and strategies. Activities such as 'Messages in the Desert Sands', 'The Map of Conquest', and 'Drama in the Arab Court' were designed to solidify students' understanding through creative and collaborative methods.

Closing

Finally, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of studying the expansion of Islam and the Arab peoples. This knowledge not only enriches students' historical and cultural understanding but also promotes tolerance and intercultural understanding, essential in an increasingly globalized and diverse world.