Activity Overview
Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary that students will see in their readings or presentations aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary related to the study of Islam. They will create a spider map of 3-5 terms at the teacher's discretion. Each cell will contain a term, the definition, and an illustration that depicts the meaning. When students define and illustrate each term, they master the application of it and retain it as part of their lexicon.
Vocabulary for Islam
Abraham: The prophet who built the first Kaaba in Makkah (Mecca). He is considered an important prophet in the three "Abrahamic Faiths": Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Abu Bakr: (573-634 CE) Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Uthman Abi Quhafa was the closest companion and a father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, as well as the first of the Rashidun Caliphs. He accompanied the Prophet Muhammad on the Hijra from Mecca to Medina.
Allah: Arabic for God.
caliphs: Caliphs are rulers that led the Muslim community and empire after Muhammad's death. Caliph means "successor" in Arabic. A state run by a caliph is called a caliphate.
Five Pillars of Islam: The Five Pillars of Islam or key religious duties are: 1. Belief in one god; 2. Belief in the importance of Prayer; 3. Belief in the importance of Charity; 4. Belief in the importance of Fasting during Ramadan; 5. Belief in the importance of making a Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
Hadith: The Hadith is a collection of writings that recorded the sayings and actions of Muhammad and his companions. These words and actions are known as the Sunnah and are the guide to live a proper life. The Hadith is a written record of the Sunnah.
Hijrah: The Hijrah refers to the time in 622 when Muhammad and his fellow Muslims fled Mecca in Saudi Arabia and moved to Medina about 275 miles north. Hijrah in Arabic means migration.
Kaaba: The Kaaba, also spelled Ka'bah or Kabah and sometimes referred to as al-Kaʿbah al-Musharrafah, is a building at the center of Islam's most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the most sacred site in Islam.
Mecca: Mecca is a town in the Hijaz, a mountainous region along the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is the site of the birthplace of Muhammad and an important religious center.
monotheism: Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God. This belief in one God is central to Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
mosque: A Muslim house of worship. At a mosque, Muslims participate in group prayer and other religious activities. Every mosque contains a prayer hall that faces the direction of Mecca.
prophet: a person believed to be chosen by God as a messenger to bring truth to the people.
Qur'an: Islam's holy book. The main source of Islamic teaching. Muslims believe that the Quran is the record of God's revelations to Muhammad over a period of nearly 23 years.
revelations: revealed truths from God
Sunnah: The Sunnah is a key source of Islamic beliefs and the traditions of Muhammad. It comprises the words and actions of Muhammad and his companions which are condered by Muslims to be the role model for how to live the best life.
Sunnis: Sunnis are one of the two main branches of Islam along with the Shia. Sunnis that believe that Abu Bakr was the correct successor or Caliph to Muhammad. About 90% of Muslims are Sunni.
Shi'a: Shia are one of the two main branches of Islam along with the Sunni. Shia believe that Abu Bakr was not intended to be the first successor, or caliph to Muhammad but that instead, it should have been Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali Ibn Abi Talib.
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 that illustrates and defines key vocabulary relating to Islam.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the title boxes, identify the key terms you have chosen.
- In the description boxes, write the definition of the term.
- Create an illustration for each term using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Requirements: Must have 3 terms, correct definitions and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 7 Points | Emerging 4 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definitions | The vocabulary words are correctly defined. | The meaning of the vocabulary words can be understood but it is somewhat unclear. | The vocabulary word is not clearly defined |
| Illustrations | The storyboard illustrations clearly depict the meaning of the vocabulary words. | The illustrations relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words but it they are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
Activity Overview
Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary that students will see in their readings or presentations aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary related to the study of Islam. They will create a spider map of 3-5 terms at the teacher's discretion. Each cell will contain a term, the definition, and an illustration that depicts the meaning. When students define and illustrate each term, they master the application of it and retain it as part of their lexicon.
Vocabulary for Islam
Abraham: The prophet who built the first Kaaba in Makkah (Mecca). He is considered an important prophet in the three "Abrahamic Faiths": Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Abu Bakr: (573-634 CE) Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Uthman Abi Quhafa was the closest companion and a father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, as well as the first of the Rashidun Caliphs. He accompanied the Prophet Muhammad on the Hijra from Mecca to Medina.
Allah: Arabic for God.
caliphs: Caliphs are rulers that led the Muslim community and empire after Muhammad's death. Caliph means "successor" in Arabic. A state run by a caliph is called a caliphate.
Five Pillars of Islam: The Five Pillars of Islam or key religious duties are: 1. Belief in one god; 2. Belief in the importance of Prayer; 3. Belief in the importance of Charity; 4. Belief in the importance of Fasting during Ramadan; 5. Belief in the importance of making a Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
Hadith: The Hadith is a collection of writings that recorded the sayings and actions of Muhammad and his companions. These words and actions are known as the Sunnah and are the guide to live a proper life. The Hadith is a written record of the Sunnah.
Hijrah: The Hijrah refers to the time in 622 when Muhammad and his fellow Muslims fled Mecca in Saudi Arabia and moved to Medina about 275 miles north. Hijrah in Arabic means migration.
Kaaba: The Kaaba, also spelled Ka'bah or Kabah and sometimes referred to as al-Kaʿbah al-Musharrafah, is a building at the center of Islam's most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the most sacred site in Islam.
Mecca: Mecca is a town in the Hijaz, a mountainous region along the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is the site of the birthplace of Muhammad and an important religious center.
monotheism: Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God. This belief in one God is central to Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
mosque: A Muslim house of worship. At a mosque, Muslims participate in group prayer and other religious activities. Every mosque contains a prayer hall that faces the direction of Mecca.
prophet: a person believed to be chosen by God as a messenger to bring truth to the people.
Qur'an: Islam's holy book. The main source of Islamic teaching. Muslims believe that the Quran is the record of God's revelations to Muhammad over a period of nearly 23 years.
revelations: revealed truths from God
Sunnah: The Sunnah is a key source of Islamic beliefs and the traditions of Muhammad. It comprises the words and actions of Muhammad and his companions which are condered by Muslims to be the role model for how to live the best life.
Sunnis: Sunnis are one of the two main branches of Islam along with the Shia. Sunnis that believe that Abu Bakr was the correct successor or Caliph to Muhammad. About 90% of Muslims are Sunni.
Shi'a: Shia are one of the two main branches of Islam along with the Sunni. Shia believe that Abu Bakr was not intended to be the first successor, or caliph to Muhammad but that instead, it should have been Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali Ibn Abi Talib.
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 that illustrates and defines key vocabulary relating to Islam.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the title boxes, identify the key terms you have chosen.
- In the description boxes, write the definition of the term.
- Create an illustration for each term using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Requirements: Must have 3 terms, correct definitions and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 7 Points | Emerging 4 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definitions | The vocabulary words are correctly defined. | The meaning of the vocabulary words can be understood but it is somewhat unclear. | The vocabulary word is not clearly defined |
| Illustrations | The storyboard illustrations clearly depict the meaning of the vocabulary words. | The illustrations relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words but it they are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
How Tos about Illustrating Key Terms of Islam
How to Differentiate Vocabulary Instruction for Diverse Learners
Assess students' background knowledge to identify who may need additional support or enrichment. Understanding students' prior exposure to vocabulary helps tailor instruction for all learners.
Group students for targeted vocabulary support
Organize small groups based on students' vocabulary proficiency. This allows you to provide focused attention and adapt activities to match students' needs.
Offer multiple ways to represent and practice terms
Incorporate visuals, gestures, and sentence frames along with definitions and illustrations. Using varied approaches helps all students, especially English learners, make meaningful connections.
Provide sentence starters and word banks
Supply scaffolds like sentence starters and word banks for students who need support writing definitions or using terms in context. These tools promote confidence and correct usage.
Encourage peer teaching and sharing
Pair or group students so they can explain terms to each other and share their illustrations. Peer teaching reinforces understanding and builds classroom community.
Frequently Asked Questions about Illustrating Key Terms of Islam
What are some important key terms students should know when learning about Islam?
Key terms for learning about Islam include Allah (God), prophet, Qur'an (holy book), Five Pillars of Islam, mosque (place of worship), Kaaba, caliphs, Sunnah, Hadith, and Hijrah. Understanding these helps students grasp the main concepts and history of Islam.
How can I help students illustrate and define vocabulary related to Islam in a lesson?
Encourage students to create a storyboard or spider map where each cell includes a key term, its definition, and an illustration. This visual approach aids comprehension and retention by connecting words with images and meanings.
What is a visual vocabulary board and how can it be used to teach Islamic terms?
A visual vocabulary board is an activity where students list vocabulary words, write definitions, and add illustrations for each term. For Islamic terms, this helps students see, define, and remember important concepts through both text and imagery.
Why is it important for students to define and illustrate key terms when studying Islam?
Defining and illustrating key terms helps students internalize vocabulary, make connections, and improve long-term retention. Visual representations make abstract concepts in Islam more accessible and memorable.
What are the Five Pillars of Islam and how can I teach them to middle school students?
The Five Pillars of Islam are central religious duties: 1) Belief in one God, 2) Prayer, 3) Charity, 4) Fasting during Ramadan, and 5) Pilgrimage to Mecca. Use definitions, visuals, and real-world examples to help middle schoolers understand each pillar's significance.
More Storyboard That Activities
Islam
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
