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Moon Over Mecca

Students will learn about lunar phases and the lunar calendar, primarily used by Muslims to determine the dates of certain observances.

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.

  • Cup or Bottle
  • Paper Towels
  • Recycled Materials

Steps

  • Step 1

    A lunar calendar is based on the monthly cycles of the Moon's phases. The eight phases are: new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. Have students explore the phases and look at images of the Moon's appearance in each phase. Muslims use a lunar Islamic calender known as the hijri to determine the start dates for events such as Ramadan, Eid, and the Hajj pilgrimage. Have students explore how these dates change throughout the year and also learn the difference between a purely lunar calendar and a lunar solar calendar.

  • Step 2

    Mecca, a province in Saudi Arabia, is the holiest city according to Islam. Ask students to create a landscape featuring the phases of the Moon over Mecca. They can use images of the region to inspire them as they create their drawing using colored pencils. They can produce a painterly quality by dipping water color pencils in water and brushing over the boldly drawn lines with a wet paint brush. Water color pencils provide a watercolor technique that is both painterly and sketch-like.

  • Step 3

    Have students present their art and talk about what they learned about the lunar calendar.

Standards

SCI: Ask questions about the features of phenomena observed and conclusions drawn from investigations or models. 

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

Adaptations

Have students learn about Mecca, Islam's holiest city. What is its history? What are some of its architectural landmarks? How many thousands of people make a pilgrimage there each year and from what countries?

Have students explore the Supermoon, Blood Moon, Blue Moon, and Harvest Moon. What do each of these look like? How were they named?