Perth High School
S1
Islam
Library Project
Written by MMC & KB
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Introduction
Over the next eight weeks you will become independent learners
as well as find out a lot about different aspects of Islam. Unlike the
other topics you have studied so far you will do a lot of personal
research in both the library and the classroom. As you practice
some of the skills that will help you to learn – not just in RMPS but
in all your subjects. The advantage of “learning how to learn” is
that you become better at learning anything.
In any library there are many different sources you can use to help
you find information. It is important that you learn to use books
effectively, not only so that you can find information but so that you
can find relevant information quickly and easily. In this booklet we
will revise the basic skills of skimming and scanning.
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Scanning
The first skill we will revise is scanning.
Scanning is simply looking quickly over a passage to find out what
it is about.
The advantage is – It saves time.
Task 1
Scan the following paragraph. Take a few seconds only. Now in
your jotter write down what you think it is about. Try to use ONE
word only.
Muslims believe that everyone has the potential to receive a calling
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from Allah. Not all callings are likely to be as dramatic as the one
Muhammad received. For example, Islam teaches that all people
have a calling to work hard, whether at school, in a job or around
the house. The exact nature of such callings will vary from person
to person. Muslims believe that the most important thing is that
everyone is called by Allah at different times and in different ways.
This paragraph is about _________________________
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Skimming
Another skill we will use to find information is skimming.
The aim is to pick out keywords – words that tell you if the
information is relevant for your research. In some books the
keywords are written in bold type. It is important when you are
doing any assignment or project that you write about it in your own
words. Making notes using keywords will help you do this.
Task 2
You should firstly scan the paragraph below. Put the
theme in the centre box. Now skim the paragraph for
? keywords related to the theme and write the FIVE key
words in your jotter.
The Qur’an gives 99 names for Allah. Muslims use these
names when they pray. Some of the names are: the
merciful, the forgiver, the kind, the gracious, the holy one.
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1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________
Note Taking
Making good notes is very important. Read the following passage
and then complete Task 3.
Worship In The Mosque
Muslims believe they can pray anywhere and
at any time. Five times a day, however they
make special prayers called salah. These
times are between first light and sunrise, after
the sun has left its highest point, between mid
afternoon and sunset, between sunset and dark and between
darkness and dawn.
Wudu is the special washing before prayer. This is not about
being clean or dirty, it is to make the person fit to come before
Allah who is holy. Some Muslims prefer to use cold water so that
they are more alert – especially first thing in the morning. Washing
is always done in the same order to make sure that nothing is
forgotten. After washing the person covers their head and faces in
the direction of Mecca before they begin to pray.
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Salah consists of a set of prayers, which are repeated each
time. Each repetition is connected with a series of
movements called a rak’ah. Two rak’ah are made at
morning prayers, four at midday and in the afternoon,
three in the evening and four at night. At the end of a Rak’ah, a
Muslim may finish praying or add private prayers of their own.
Task 3
? 1. COPY the three boxes on the following page into your jotter.
2. Use the boxes in your jotter to help you make good notes.
Remember to use only single words and or short phrases.
Key questions have been placed in the boxes to help you.
When do Muslims Before prayer How do they pray?
pray?
Now using ONLY your NOTES write YOUR version of the passage on
Islam.
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______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Now that you have practiced scanning, skimming and note making you are
ready to start doing your research on Islam.
Research simply means reading and searching for information you need. The
skills you have just revised will help you do this.
Your teacher will split you up into FIVE different groups. Your group will be
given ONE of the FIVE topics below to study.
o Sacred writings
o Worship
o Celebrations and festivals
o Beliefs
o Moral Values
Task 4
? Write the name of your groups chosen topic in your jotter and the list of the
different people in your group.
Your teacher has created special boxes full of books specific to your
groups chosen topic.
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Look up the index of the books and try to find different information about
things related to your group’s topic. E.g. Sacred writings – Qur’an, Hadith
etc.
Task 5
On the next page you will see an example of how to gather
information through brainstorming. Write the name of your
group’s topic in the middle of a page in your jotter and from
the books your group has looked at together create a
brainstorm of keywords.
Gathering Information 1
What do we need to find out?
? Task 6
Brainstorming
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We have agreed to find out the answers to the following questions…
1. __________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________
6. __________________________________________________________
Each person in the group should choose ONE of the topics to
investigate.
Key Questions
As a group you have brainstormed a lot of different things you can study
relating to your groups chosen topic. Each of you should have chosen
ONE section you would like to study in more detail. You need a KEY
question for this for example:
Life of Muhammad
Hadith
Qur’an
Sacred
Writings
Spread of Islam
Prophets in Islam
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To create a key question use OPEN questions. E.g.
1. Why is the Qur’an important in Islam?
2. How has Islam spread throughout the world?
3. How important is the Hadith to Muslims?
4. How important are prophets in Islam?
5. How important is Muhammad in Islam?
Task 7
In your jotter you want to write the heading ‘Key question’ in your
jotter. Using your brainstorm write a key question for your chosen
area of study.
My KEY QUESTION is.
Task 8
? Now that you know what your key question is you need to try and
think of smaller questions that will help you answer your key
question.
E.g.
Key question: How important is Muhammad in Islam?
Smaller questions:
1. Who was Muhammad and when was he born?
2. What was Muhammad’s childhood like?
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3. What type of person was Muhammad?
4. What did Muhammad do that was important to Muslims?
5. Did Muhammad write any holy books?
6. How is Muhammad treated by other Muslims?
This is just an example. Use the different books that you
have from your resource box. Read through different
pages relating to your chosen topic from your books.
Use these to help you formulate your smaller
questions. Your teacher and the librarians can help
you.
In your jotter write between 4-6 smaller questions under your key
question. Get your teacher to check your questions BEFORE you
start researching and answering your question.
Task 9
Once your questions are in your jotter fill in the research planning
sheet for your group. These will be kept along with your
bibliography and storyboard by your teacher just in case anyone is
ill that lesson. This means that each of you in your group will
know what everyone else is doing.
What Resources Will We Use?
What resources are you going to use to answer your questions?
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Task 10
Copy the title ‘What resources will we use?’ and copy and
complete the brainstorm below into your jotter:
What resources will we use?
Task 11
Using your brainstorm write the list of resources your group
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intends to use to complete your presentation.
Our group has agreed to use the following resources:
1. ___________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________
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Task 12
Using the agreed resources begin to answer your small questions.
Remember to take notes in YOUR OWN WORDS!
In your jotter write each small question as a title and
write your notes underneath the question?
Taking notes and gathering information should take you 4-6
periods.
Task 13
Once you have gathered ALL your information you are going to
write your notes up into bullet points. Remember you will be doing
a presentation. Keep your points short and specific. You can
have additional information on paper, which you can read at the
presentation.
Task 14
? Now that you have your notes you need to decide with your group
how you want your presentation to look. In your group you must
discuss the following things:
1. One person from the group must agree to use their login to
create the power point. Once this is decided the person
must give this login and password to either the librarian or
their teacher. (This is just in case the person is off sick)
2. You need to agree on a background for your presentation.
Everyone’s slides MUST have the same background.
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3. Everyone must agree on the font (style of writing).
Task 15
Before you type your PowerPoint presentation up your
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group MUST compete a storyboard and have this
approved by either the librarian or your teacher before you type up
your section. Your teacher will issue your group with a blank
storyboard sheet for you to fill in.
o The first slide will be your front cover; e.g. Worship In Islam
by (names of the group members).
o The second slide should be the list of your KEY questions
your group is going to look at.
o The rest of the slides (Except the last slide) should be
discussed by the group. You have to decide which person’s
slides should go first! Your teacher will help you if you are
having difficulty doing this. In each of the boxes write the
small question you are answering. There is no limit to how
many slides you can have. You can have 5 or 15 each!
o The second last slide should be a group conclusion: Say
what you have learned. What you enjoyed/disliked about the
project.
o The last slide should be your bibliography. This bibliography
should be filled in every time you use a book, web address,
CD-Rom. Your teacher will issue your group with a
bibliography for you to fill in.
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Task 16
Once your order has been decided upon in your storyboard you
will type up your presentation ONE at a time in the order on your
storyboard. DO NOT DO ANY CUSTOM ANIMATION UNTILL
EVERYONE HAS TYPED UP THEIR PRESENTATION.
Task 17
Fun stuff! Now your presentation is finished you need to put in
your custom animation. Remember to put in your timings,
graphics and sound effects.
Task 18
Present your presentation. Remember you will be graded on
? different aspects of your project. Depth of information,
presentation, oral discussion and teamwork.
Task 19
Your teacher will give you an evaluation sheet for you to fill in.
? This will help you self evaluate your performance and think about
things you would do differently or improve.
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How To Research Your Topic
In any assignment, project, investigation there are six main points
to remember
o Planning --- decide on your topic. List your keywords and
create your key question and smaller questions
o Research --- finding relevant information – in books, on the
computer, CD ROMs etc.
o Recording --- making notes, in your own words
o Organising --- Using your keyword map to gather all your
information together, making sure you have answered all
your questions
o Presenting --- deciding on how you are going to present
your information. Your teacher wants you to create a power
point presentation. Take your time and as a GROUP create
ONE presentation.
o Evaluating --- Looking at how you coped with your research
is important. When you have completed your booklet/poster
you should fill in the evaluation sheet your teacher gives you
at the end of the unit.
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Story Board Template
Group: Class: Topic:
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