Activity Overview
Holidays are incredibly significant in religion, and highlight stories, seasons, or other significant aspects of a religion. In this activity, students will create a spider map highlighting the major holidays celebrated by Muslims. They should describe the significance of each holiday and create an illustration to help summarize what it is and how it is practiced.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map focusing on 3-5 different major holidays in Islam.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify at least three major Muslim holidays and write their name in the title box.
- For each cell write 1-3 sentence descriptions about each holiday explaining its significance.
- Create an illustration that represents each holiday using appropriate scenes, characters, symbols or items.
Requirements: Minimum of 3 cells showcasing different major holidays celebrated by Muslims. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each cell. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of Holiday | All holidays are correctly identified and are significant to the religion. | Most holidays are correctly identified. | Most significant holidays are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. | No holidays are correctly identified. |
| Descriptions | Descriptions accurately explain the holiday and highlight its significance. | Descriptions mostly accurately and explain the holidays' significance. | Descriptions contain inaccuracies in their explanations, or do not highlight the holidays' significance. | Descriptions are missing or too minimal to score. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations include appropriate scenes, characters and items that accurately represent the holiday and reflect time, effort, thought, and care. | Illustrations are mostly accurate and reflect time and effort. | Illustrations are somewhat inaccurate and show minimal effort, time, and care. | Illustrations are inaccurate or inappropriate and are missing too many elements or are too minimal to score. |
| English Conventions | There are no errors in spelling, grammar, or mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions reflect careful proofreading. | There are a few errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions show accuracy and some proofreading. | There are several errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. Most writing portions do not reflect proofreading or accuracy. | Errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics in writing portions of the storyboard seriously interfere with communication. |
Activity Overview
Holidays are incredibly significant in religion, and highlight stories, seasons, or other significant aspects of a religion. In this activity, students will create a spider map highlighting the major holidays celebrated by Muslims. They should describe the significance of each holiday and create an illustration to help summarize what it is and how it is practiced.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map focusing on 3-5 different major holidays in Islam.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify at least three major Muslim holidays and write their name in the title box.
- For each cell write 1-3 sentence descriptions about each holiday explaining its significance.
- Create an illustration that represents each holiday using appropriate scenes, characters, symbols or items.
Requirements: Minimum of 3 cells showcasing different major holidays celebrated by Muslims. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each cell. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of Holiday | All holidays are correctly identified and are significant to the religion. | Most holidays are correctly identified. | Most significant holidays are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. | No holidays are correctly identified. |
| Descriptions | Descriptions accurately explain the holiday and highlight its significance. | Descriptions mostly accurately and explain the holidays' significance. | Descriptions contain inaccuracies in their explanations, or do not highlight the holidays' significance. | Descriptions are missing or too minimal to score. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations include appropriate scenes, characters and items that accurately represent the holiday and reflect time, effort, thought, and care. | Illustrations are mostly accurate and reflect time and effort. | Illustrations are somewhat inaccurate and show minimal effort, time, and care. | Illustrations are inaccurate or inappropriate and are missing too many elements or are too minimal to score. |
| English Conventions | There are no errors in spelling, grammar, or mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions reflect careful proofreading. | There are a few errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions show accuracy and some proofreading. | There are several errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. Most writing portions do not reflect proofreading or accuracy. | Errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics in writing portions of the storyboard seriously interfere with communication. |
How Tos about Holidays Celebrated in Islam
Organize a Classroom Discussion About Muslim Holidays
Encourage students to share their knowledge and questions about Muslim holidays. This builds understanding, fosters respect, and connects classroom learning to students’ lives.
Set Clear Guidelines for Respectful Dialogue
Establish ground rules for listening and speaking. Remind students to be open-minded, use respectful language, and honor different traditions.
Invite Students to Share Personal or Family Traditions
Offer students the chance to talk about their own holiday experiences. This personalizes learning and creates a supportive, inclusive environment.
Guide Students to Compare and Contrast Holidays
Ask students to identify similarities and differences between Muslim holidays and those of other faiths or cultures. This builds critical thinking and cultural awareness.
Wrap Up With a Creative Reflection Activity
Have students write or draw what they learned about Muslim holidays and why understanding diverse celebrations matters. This reinforces key concepts and promotes empathy.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holidays Celebrated in Islam
What are the major holidays celebrated in Islam?
Major Islamic holidays include Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan; Eid al-Adha, celebrating the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son; and Ramadan itself, a holy month of fasting, reflection, and prayer.
How can students create a spider map about Muslim holidays?
To create a spider map, students list 3–5 Islamic holidays as main branches, then add descriptions and illustrations for each holiday showing its significance and key practices.
What is the significance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Islam?
Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan and gratitude for strength during fasting. Eid al-Adha honors Ibrahim's faith and willingness to sacrifice, symbolizing obedience and sharing with those in need.
Which activities help middle school students learn about Islamic holidays?
Effective activities include spider maps, creating illustrations, short research projects, group discussions, and comparing Islamic holidays to those of other religions for deeper understanding.
What are some classroom-friendly ways to introduce Islamic holidays?
Teachers can use visual aids, student-led presentations, interactive maps, storytelling, and art projects (like spider maps) to make Islamic holidays engaging and accessible for students.
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