Learning from Islam How and why does Pilgrimage change lives? YEAR GROUP 5 or 6 Tower Hamlets Religious Education: Support for Schools from SACRE 1
Title: How and why does pilgrimage change lives? YEAR GROUP 5 ABOUT THIS UNIT: This unit is about the committed practice of many members of faith communities to complete a pilgrimage. Where do they go? What happens and why? Pupils should learn about pilgrimage in at least two religions. For Muslims it is an obligation and it is also an important aspect of the practice of members of other faiths. These ideas could be adapted to cover examples of sites for Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Jews or Sikhs. There are opportunities to use ICT and to meet members of faith communities who have been on a pilgrimage. Estimated time for this unit (in hours) 6-8 hours, depending the number of sites chosen in the unit Where this unit fits in: Following the unit on the five pillars of Islam, this unit makes opportunities for a deeper consideration of Hajj and its significance, including the stories of the Prophets that lie behind the pilgrimage. Space is made for teachers to give an example of scared journeys from Christianity or another faith as well. KEY STRANDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT Religious practices and ways of life Values and commitments ATTITUDES FOCUS Self Awareness - Becoming increasingly sensitive to the impact of their own ideas Respect for All - Being ready to value difference and diversity for the common good Open Mindedness - Being willing to learn and gain new understanding 2
Prior learning It is helpful if pupils have: Thought about places that inspire particular feelings or experiences (link to Geography) Studied the units on Islam from Y1-4 that introduce pilgrimage. Vocabulary In this unit, pupils will have an opportunity to use words and phrases related to: Muslim Religion: Hajj Hajji Makkah Prophet Ibrahim Ishmail Ummah Religion in General: Pilgrimage Sacred Spaces Worship Remembrance Religious & Human Experience: Change Life changing Resources Web An excellent picture gallery of the hajj, with contemporary photos: http://www.anwary-islam.com/mecca-pic/index.htm www.googleearth.com This site enables pupils to look at live or near live satellite images all over the earth, including their own inspiring places and some places of pilgrimage. A good selection of books about the Hajj can be selected from Amazon including: Big Book - Holy Places : Makkah Big Book - Festival Stories: Hajj Stories Holy Places : Makkah SLP - Islamic Calligraphy Posters - Pack of Six Great Religious Leaders - Muhammad and Islam Iman Publishing: authentic books for pupils telling stories of the Prophet from the Qur an. info@iman-publishing.co.uk The BBC s clip bank is a major source for short RE films that can be accessed online and shown free: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips The BBC also offers lots of information and material on its main religion site: www.bbc.co.uk/religion The best gateway for RE sites is: www.reonline.org.uk/ks2 You can find and use searchable sacred texts from many religions at: www.ishwar.com There is some more TV material at: www.channel4.com/learning The site for Cumbria and Lancashire Education Online has many useful and well thought out resources for this unit of work: www.cleo.net.uk The websites of REToday and NATRE are useful places for pupils and teachers to see examples of work. www.retoday.org.uk and www.natre.org.uk/spiritedarts RE Today Services (www.retoday.org.uk) publish relevant items: Festivals 1 and 2 DVD (sequences from all three religions) Islam: A Pictorial Guide Say Hello to (Interactive whiteboard CD and book) Developing Primary RE: Faith Stories, ed. Joyce Mackley, RE Today Services Developing Primary RE: Home and Family, ed. Joyce Mackley, RE Today Services Opening Up Islam edited by Fiona Moss A useful website: Islamic artefacts (images): www.strath.ac.uk/departments/socialstudies/re Choose research, Islam and Images to see about 50 images. DVD - Animated World Faiths includes a good item about the life of the Prophet BBC Broadcast (also available on DVD / Video) Pathways of Belief, Islam 2 programmes, one on Allah as creator and provider, one on living as a Muslim. The Watch Islam- programme may be useful in part but is for younger children.. www.bbcschoolshop 3
Contributions to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Pupils will have opportunities to develop: Spiritually by learning about and reflecting on the important concepts, beliefs and experiences of those who go on pilgrimage as part of their religious practice Morally by developing their own views on concepts such as forgiveness and inspiration Socially by considering how religious beliefs lead to particular actions Culturally by encountering ideas and people from different cultures and considering the idea of a worldwide Ummah that is found in many cultures. EXPECTATIONS: At the end of this unit Pupils working towards the expected Describe the events of the hajj and possibly also of a pilgrimage in another religion, level (at Level 3) will: Recognise some similarities and differences between different pilgrimages. Make links between the values and commitments of pilgrims and their own values and commitments Pupils working at the expected level (at Show an understanding of the diverse reasons for people going on pilgrimage and the potential impact on a pilgrim s life. level 4) will: Describe similarities and differences that they have encountered in pilgrimages in two religions. Ask questions about the values and commitments of pilgrims Describe what would inspire them to take an important action. Pupils working beyond the expected Explain how completing a pilgrimage can make a difference to a believer s life. level (at level 5) will: Understand similarities and differences in the ways that pilgrimages are practised and suggest possible reasons. Explain what influences them. Express their own views on the challenges of completing a pilgrimage. ASSESSMENT SUGGESTIONS During the unit, opportunities exist for assessment when pupils: Describe the places of pilgrimage and link the associated narrative or events with them and explain why they are important for pilgrims Write postcards home as if from a pilgrim Talk about matters such as forgiveness and inspiration Use a writing frame to list, describe and possible explain similarities and differences between Hajj and another pilgrimage If a final assessment is required in this unit pupils could: Pupils in pairs can make a track game for dice and counters with 70 80 squares on it. This makes the metaphor of life as journey concrete. They should write in some chance cards (you never know what will happen) and put forfeits and bonuses on some of the squares. They might have a multi path track, with a Muslim path through life and another track of their choice. Write a commentary to go with the game, answering questions about life as a journey. Or: Ask pupils to draw a life map for yourself or a person that you know well, using symbols to represent different types of event. Write a commentary to go with the life map, answering questions about life as a jounrney In a good piece of work, the narrator will be able to reflect the pupil s own thoughts and attitudes. This exercise should be modelled and scaffolded. 4
Key questions What makes a place special? What makes a place sacred? LEARNING OBJECTIVES Pupils should learn: That some places are of particular significance in the religious life of some people That humans are often inspired by places. That an inspiring place may have natural, historic or religious significance TEACHING AND LEARNING Seven places to go before we die: Start this unit with this activity: get pupils to identify their own wonders of the world. They could be natural, human-made, a mixture. Can they choose a place for each of these: excitement, fun, love, faith, peace, inspiration, memory? They could choose images from the web to illustrate them, giving reasons for choices. Do a class drama activity based on a magic carpet ride: where is it wonderful to even imagine visiting? Discuss with the pupils the concept of a journey. What special journeys have they made? How long did the journey take? Who were their companions? How did they feel when they arrived? Categorise the journeys suggested by the class and, in small groups, decide which are the most important journeys and why. Pupils recount, using prescribed writing scaffolding a special journey they have made. Ensure that consideration is given to the purpose of the journey Interview adults to find out about their most meaningful journeys. Agree questions in class and conduct interviews in pairs. Report findings to the class. This is a good RE homework activity. Introduce concept of pilgrimage and distinguish between a tourist and a pilgrim LEARNING OUTCOMES Pupils can: Express their own aspirations to travel and see the world, and explore the meanings that places have for us Express the significance of the most significant journeys in own lives POINTS TO NOTE It is easy to make links to the skills of the geography curriculum in this unit. Scaffolded writing connects with work in literacy: RE asks for sophisticate d imagination and expression in this unit, as does the literacy strategy in Y5. 5
Why do Muslims visit Makkah? Hajj is the fifth pillar. How and why do Muslims journey to Makkah? About the Hajj. About the importance of the story of Ibrahim and Ismail to Muslims on Hajj. About the importance of Hajj to a member of the Muslim community reflect on experiences of peace and forgiveness To discover the significance of Hajj, and the impact it has on Muslims who go to Makkah To think about what we can learn from Hajj and the sacred journey. The purposes of the Hajj Explain why Muslims go on Hajj. Mention the five pillars and the obligation of pilgrimage in Islam. Read the story of Abraham and Ismail to the pupils. Show the pupils a world map. Where is Makkah? How far away from the school is it? Pack a suitcase with the class, containing everything needed for the Hajj. Pupils to produce a large map of the places visited on Hajj, with written explanation of the stories associated with each place. Give each pupil up to five postcards. Write to a friend or relative describing five important events on Hajj and their feelings associated with them. Dress a model in Ihram and explain the importance of dress to the pilgrimage. Talk about impact of hajj on pilgrims. Why do so many people go to Makkah? Discuss pupils experiences of and ideas about peace and forgiveness Pilgrimage to Makkah: Hajj - Fifth Pillar of Islam Ask pupils to think of the best journey they ever made in their lives, then to think of the journey they hope they will make one day in the future. Do this in as much depth and detail as time allows. Investigate why Muslims place such value on the Hajj. Learn about what happens during the Hajj including the festival of Idul-Adha. Learn about their preparation for the Hajj. Learn about the custom of stoning the devil : it symbolises casting out bad ideas and actions from the life of the pilgrim. Do pupils think it is possible to throw bad things out of our lives? Learn about how clothing at Hajj (2 pieces of white cloth for everyone) symbolises equality for all humans before Allah. Retell the story of Ibrahim, Hagar and Ismail. Compare ideas about the difficult questions raised by the story of Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael Describe the key moments of Hajj. Explain how the religious practice of Hajj makes a difference to Muslims. Describe the practice of Hajj in Islam (L3) Make links to their own experiences and ideas about journeys, large crowds, powerful stories (L3). Hajji (male Muslims who have completed their hajj what about the women? Haja?) often express a sense of peace and forgiveness achieved through the experience If possible, invite a person who has been on pilgrimage to talk about it and answer questions. This work can be used to teach some of the skills of the Y5 Geography programme about travel planning, maps and journeys, but don t lose the RE focus on commitment and religious practice.. 6
What is stoning the devil? How do we reject evil or temptatio n in our lives? Pupils will learn about the ritual of stoning the devil, and think about the things they want to put behind them, the temptations they want to say no to. Stoning the devil: part of the Hajj STORY: Teach the class: During the Hajj, Muslim pilgrims remember the story of Ibrahim, asked to sacrifice his son to Allah. Three times, the Shaytan, the evil whisperer, tempted him not to follow Allah s word. Three times the Prophet Ibrahim turned and threw a stone at the tempter, before continuing to follow. RITUAL REMINDER: Pilgrims collect 21 little pebbles during the Hajj, and thrown them at three pillars reminders of the devil s temptations. They use this ritual to throw out all the things in their own lives that hold them back from goodness and following Allah. Ask pupils in pairs to come up with a list of 7 things that Muslims might want to throw out of their lives. Ask the pairs of pupils to come up with a list of 7 things they would like to throw out of their lives give some examples such as laziness, bullying, being greedy, arguing selfishly, boasting, being rude, not showing love, fighting with siblings and so on. If you like, get pupils to write their 7 things onto grey paper, and roll up the paper to resemble stones. Go to the playground and set up three pillars or maybe dustbins would be better. Do a reflective activity in which children throw out these things from their lives. Point out that this is not doing the Muslim ritual it is just learning from Islam. You might want to talk about different beliefs and ideas about evil or the devil / Shaytan. I can describe what Muslims do to remember the temptation Ibrahim felt (L3) I can apply the idea of rejecting temptation to my own life (L4) Children can be overinterested in devil-talk from religion. Point out to them that this belief is found in amny religions but they all teach that good is stronger than evil. Reassure any who seem inclined to fear. 7
Does Hajj change lives? That pilgrimage may have a deep impact on people s ways of life What difference does the journey make? Ask pupils to recall all the comments of Hajjis and other pilgrims that they have heard. Ask them to think in pairs about the following ideas and quotations: Does Hajj change: The way a person feels about the Prophet? I always loved our Prophet Muhammad, but after I saw the places where he walked and lived on Hajj, I was an even greater admirer of his life. The way a person behaves in the family? When I came back from Hajj, I wanted to give all my love to my family, my wife and my children, because I had been, but they have not yet been. I am saving money for them to go on Hajj as well. What a person believes about Allah? I realised that Allah is in every atom of our lives, and before us and after us. I was inspired by Allah s greatness. A person s determination to be a good Muslim? When I came back, in truth, I did not want to hate ever again. What about the impact of a different pilgrimage from another religion? Same or different? Describe (L3), understand (L4) or explain the impact of (L5) pilgrimages on people s lives. A comparison with pilgrimage from another faith is possible here see the last page of the unit for an example. This is not essential to the unit. 8
Is life like a journey? Pupils learn that people's lives follow different paths in the search for meaning and purpose. the importance of pilgrimage and the associated certain practices for members of faith communities How is life like a journey? Discuss and develop with pupils the metaphor of life as a journey. What are the paths, milestones, signposts, guidebooks and maps? What are the motorway service stations on the journey? What are the highpoints and the worst moments of the journey of life? Where does it lead? Pupils in pairs can make a track game for dice and counters with 70 80 squares on it. This makes the metaphor of life as journey concrete. They should write in some chance cards (you never know what will happen) and put forfeits and bonuses on some of the squares. Ask pupils to draw a life map for yourself or a person that you know well, using symbols to represent different types of event. Write a commentary to go with the life map. Religions as maps: develop the metaphor to explore the idea that religions show you how to find your way through life s paths. Design a set of cards in the form of signposts to show how religious faith can help to direct some people on their life journey Pupils to write poems based on sad / happy events. They might use the title Life s like a journey and the metaphor of ups and downs. Describe key events or milestones in life and make connections with religious teaching from traditions exemplified in this unit. Respond to questions about meaning and purpose in the context of the religions used as examples in this unit There are potential links with D&T in this activity. 9
Why are there places of pilgrim age for Christia ns? About the importance of a variety of places to Christians. in detail about two Christian places of pilgrimage An alternative approach to this unit could use Hindu or Sikh sacred journeys here instead of Christian ones. Pilgrimage in a different religion Show pictures of places where Christians go on pilgrimage, e.g.: Walsingham, Lourdes, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Iona, etc. Compare the different reasons pilgrims have for setting out on their journeys. Study one Christian place of pilgrimage in detail, e.g.: Lourdes (or Walsingham, Iona.) Read the story of Bernadette to the pupils imagine you met Bernadette, what questions would you want to ask her? Pupils to make strings of remembrance beads for themselves. How many things in life must not be forgotten? Choose words, people, places, days and design and make a bead string for these. Explain that the Christian rosary is used to pray and to think about times in Jesus' life which were joyful and sorrowful. Pupils choose a second example to research, (possible suggestions include Jerusalem or Rome or Walsingham or Lindisfarne or Iona) using the same pattern as the study of Lourdes. Tabulate places of pilgrimage, reason for importance, who goes there and why? Pupils display or present their own research to the class. Explain why pilgrimage is important to many Christians. Describe aspects of the life of Bernadette and how these are marked in a pilgrimage to Lourdes. Describe another Christian pilgrimage Arrange to have some web links readily available either as bookmarked sites on the browser or via the school intranet. If possible, invite a person who has completed a pilgrimage to meet the pupils and discuss the experience 10