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Lesson Plan Image

Hamsa Wall Hanging

The hamsa has roots in both Judaism and Islam. Students will learn about its origin and create a replica of this shared cultural symbol.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Craft Materials
  • Heavy Paper
  • Ribbon

Steps

  • Step 1

    The hamsa is a symbol with roots and meaning in Judaism and Islam. It usually features an eye at its center and is believed to provide protection from the evil eye. Ask students to look at images of this hand symbol and investigate its origin and meaning. Have a discussion about how shared customs and symbols can connect groups. How can commonalities forge better communication and increased understanding?

  • Step 2

    Have students create a replica of a hamsa. They can start by drawing an outline of a hand on heavy paper or poster board, perhaps using images of hamsas to guide them. Then ask them to cut out the hand shape and decorate it using oil pastels. They can embellish the design with glitter glue and craft items.

  • Step 3

    When the hamsa is finished students can put a hole in the top or bottom and thread a ribbon through it. It can then be hung in the classroom or at home as a charm to help keep away bad luck.

Standards

SS: Culture: Create, learn, share, and adapt to culture.

SS: Culture: Through experience, observation, and reflection, identify elements of culture as well as similarities and differences among cultural groups across time and place.

Adaptations

Believing that a charm or amulet can ward against evil is an example of being superstitious. Have students investigate some other superstitions and their origins, such as covering your mouth when you yawn to keep evil spirits from entering or hanging an iron horseshoe to catch good luck.

Ask students to investigate symbols of luck in other cultures. For example, in Celtic culture the leaves on a four-leaf clover represent hope, faith, love, and luck; and there's the Ojibwe dreamcatcher, which is usually hung over a child's bed. Good dreams would go through the hole of the dreamcatcher and flow down the feathers onto the sleeping figure, while bad dreams would get caught in the web and perish.