Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the birth of Islam: Students should be able to describe the historical context and the main events that led to the birth of Islam, including the life of Muhammad, the revelation of the Quran, and the formation of the first Muslim community in Mecca.

2. Analyze the expansion of Islam: Students should be able to identify the main factors that contributed to the rapid expansion of Islam after the death of Muhammad, such as jihad, political and religious unification, and the acceptance of Islam by different peoples and cultures.

3. Evaluate the impact of Islam in the contemporary world: Students should be able to discuss and evaluate the lasting influence of Islam on politics, culture, and society, both in the regions of origin and globally.

Secondary objectives:

• Foster critical thinking and discussion: Students should be encouraged to question, debate, and formulate their own opinions about Islam and its impact on the contemporary world.

• Develop research and presentation skills: Students should be guided to seek additional information from reliable sources, organize their knowledge, and present it clearly and concisely.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Content review (3 - 5 minutes): The teacher should start the lesson by reminding students about previous empires, especially the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Empire, and the social and political conditions of pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula. This review will help establish the necessary context for understanding the origin and expansion of Islam.

2. Presentation of problem situations (5 - 7 minutes): The teacher should present two situations that stimulate students' critical thinking:

   • Situation 1: 'Imagine you live in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century. How do you think the revelation of the Quran and Muhammad's message would affect your life and the life of your community?'
   • Situation 2: 'You are a historian studying the rapid expansion of Islam after Muhammad's death. What factors do you believe contributed to this expansion and why?'

3. Contextualization of the theme (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should explain the importance of Islam as one of the world's major religions, with followers on all continents. Additionally, the teacher may mention the relevance of the topic in the current context, highlighting the influence of Islam on global politics and society.

4. Introduction of the topic with curiosities (3 - 5 minutes): To spark students' interest, the teacher should share some intriguing facts about Islam:

   • Curiosity 1: 'Did you know that the Quran is the most read religious book in the world, with over one billion copies printed in various languages?'
   • Curiosity 2: 'Did you know that the city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, is the holiest site in Islam and that all Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage, called Hajj, to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they have the physical and financial means to do so?'

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. 'Timeline Creation' Activity (10 - 12 minutes):

   • Group division: Students will be divided into small groups of up to 5 people.
   • Distribution of materials: Each group will receive a large sheet of paper, colored pens, and stickers.
   • Instructions: The teacher will explain that each group should create a timeline representing the main events of the birth and expansion of Islam. The timeline should include events such as the life of Muhammad, the revelation of the Quran, the formation of the first Muslim community, the death of Muhammad, the spread of Islam to other regions, etc. Students should use colored pens to highlight the most important events and stickers to illustrate the events, if desired.
   • Development: Students will have approximately 10 minutes to work on their timelines. During this time, the teacher circulates around the room, providing guidance and clarifying doubts if necessary.
   • Presentation: After the time is up, each group will present their timeline to the class, explaining the events they chose to highlight. The teacher can use this activity as an opportunity to assess students' understanding of the topic and to promote discussion in the classroom.

2. 'Debates on the Expansion of Islam' Activity (10 - 12 minutes):

   • Preparation: The teacher should pre-select some topics related to the expansion of Islam for the debates. Examples may include jihad, political and religious unification, the acceptance of Islam by different peoples and cultures, etc.
   • Team formation: Students will be divided into two groups. Each group will be responsible for defending a different point of view on the selected topic.
   • Research and preparation: Each group will have a few minutes to research the selected topic and prepare their arguments. The teacher should guide students to use reliable sources and consider different perspectives.
   • Debate: After the preparation, the groups will debate the topic in question. The teacher should act as a moderator, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to speak and that the debate takes place in a respectful and constructive manner.
   • Reflection: After the debate, the teacher should lead a class discussion to reflect on the different perspectives presented and to reinforce key concepts related to the expansion of Islam.

3. 'Map of the Expansion of Islam' Activity (optional, if time allows) (5 - 7 minutes):

   • Instructions: The teacher will ask students, in their groups, to create a map illustrating the expansion of Islam from the Arabian Peninsula. The map should include the main expansion locations, trade routes, and important battles.
   • Development: Students will have a few minutes to draw and label the map. The teacher should circulate around the room to provide guidance if necessary.
   • Presentation: After the time is up, each group will present their map to the class, explaining the choices they made and why they consider these locations, routes, and battles important.

Return (10 - 12 minutes)

1. Group discussion (5 - 6 minutes):

   • The teacher should gather all students and promote a group discussion about the solutions or conclusions reached by each team during the group activities.
   • The teacher should encourage students to share their opinions and explain the reasoning behind their conclusions. This can be done by asking open-ended questions such as 'Why do you think this event was crucial in the expansion of Islam?' or 'How did you connect the events in the timeline/map with the historical context we studied?'
   • During the discussion, the teacher should reinforce important concepts, correct any misunderstandings, and clarify any doubts students may have.

2. Connection to theory (2 - 3 minutes):

   • After the discussion, the teacher should connect the group activities with the theory presented at the beginning of the lesson. For example, the teacher can highlight how creating the timeline helped visualize the sequence of important events in the birth and expansion of Islam, or how the debates allowed for a deeper understanding of the factors that contributed to the rapid expansion of Islam.
   • The teacher should emphasize that the goal of these activities is not just to memorize dates and names, but to understand historical processes and develop critical thinking, research, and presentation skills.

3. Individual reflection (3 - 4 minutes):

   • Finally, the teacher should propose that students reflect individually on what they learned in the lesson. The teacher can ask questions like:
     1. 'What was the most important concept you learned today?'
     2. 'What questions have not been answered yet?'
   • Students should have a minute to think about their answers. After the reflection time, the teacher can ask some students to share their answers with the class. This reflection activity helps students consolidate what they have learned and identify any areas that may need further study or clarification.

4. Feedback and closure (1 minute):

   • The teacher should thank the students for their participation and effort during the lesson.
   • The teacher may also inform students about any additional readings or activities that may help them deepen their understanding of the topic.
   • Finally, the teacher should remind students about the topic of the next lesson and encourage them to prepare by reading the relevant material in advance.

Conclusion (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Content recap (2 - 3 minutes):

   • The teacher should start the Conclusion by recalling the key points of the lesson. This includes the birth of Islam, the life of Muhammad, the revelation of the Quran, the formation of the first Muslim community in Mecca, and the rapid expansion of Islam after the death of Muhammad.
   • The teacher should emphasize the importance of these events and processes for understanding Islam as a religion and a global political and cultural force.

2. Connection between theory, practice, and applications (2 - 3 minutes):

   • The teacher should highlight how the group activities, such as creating the timeline and the debates, allowed students to apply and deepen their theoretical knowledge about Islam.
   • The teacher should also emphasize how understanding the birth and expansion of Islam can help understand contemporary issues, such as international relations in the Arab world and the experience of Muslims in different parts of the world.

3. Suggestion of extra materials (2 - 3 minutes):

   • The teacher should suggest additional materials for students who wish to deepen their understanding of Islam. This may include books, documentaries, reference websites, and academic articles.
   • For example, the teacher may recommend reading the Quran, Martin Lings' biography of Muhammad, or watching the documentary 'Islam: Empire of Faith'.
   • The teacher should encourage students to use these extra materials as an opportunity to explore Islam beyond the scope of the lesson and to develop their research and self-learning skills.

4. Importance of the topic for daily life (1 - 2 minutes):

   • Finally, the teacher should summarize the importance of Islam for students' daily lives.
   • This may include understanding contemporary issues, such as conflict in the Middle East, immigration policies, and religious and cultural diversity.
   • The teacher should also emphasize the importance of understanding and respecting different cultures and religions, and how knowledge about Islam can contribute to this.
   • The teacher should encourage students to reflect on how what they learned in the lesson can be applied in their daily lives and in their interactions with the world around them.
   • Finally, the teacher should reinforce the ongoing relevance of the topic and encourage students to continue exploring and learning about Islam in the future.