What Is A Mosque?
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The mosque serves as a place where Muslims can come together for prayer as well as a center for information, education, and dispute settlement. The Imam leads the prayer.
Many mosques have elaborate domes, minarets, and prayer halls. Mosques originated on the Arabian Peninsula, but are now found all over the world.
Where In The World Is This Mosque?
(An 8th grade student will read the question into the camera and the 6th grade students will use their map and Social Studies skills to find the country where each mosque is located. A 6th grade representative will then answer the question into the camera. Roles will be reversed for questions 3 and 4).
Grade 6--This country, birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed and located at 24 degrees North and 46 degrees East, is the home to the Prophet’s Mosque, and one of three of Islam’s holiest sites. (Saudi Arabia-Prophet’s Mosque in
Grade 8-- This country, located at 29 Degrees North and 106 Degrees East is at the Eastern end of the
6th Grade--This country, whose capital was once the ancient city of Constantinople, is located at 40 Degrees North and 28 Degrees East and is home to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. (Istanbul, Turkey-Sultan Ahmed Mosque) ** Show picture
8th Grade-- This country, located at 33 Degrees North and 36 Degrees East, has a mosque that was once St. John’s Christian Church before the Muslims rebuilt it as a Mosque in the 8th century.
Intro: (6th Grade) (2.10.09)
Religious Functions of Mosques
All adult Muslims are required to offer prayers five times daily. Most mosques will organize a formal time of prayer for each of the daily timeslots. In addition to holding the daily prayers, mosques hold weekly services as a form of the Sabbath. While daily prayers can be performed anywhere, it is required to attend Friday prayers at the mosque.
There are two large holidays (Eids) in the Islamic calendar, during which there are special prayers held at mosques in the morning.
Islam's holiest month, Ramadan, is observed through many events. Since Muslims must fast during the day during Ramadan, mosques will host “break the fast” dinners after sunset.
The third of the Five Pillars of Islam states that Muslims are required to give approximately one-fortieth of their wealth to charity. Since mosques form the center of Muslim communities, they are where Muslims go to both give charity and, if necessary, collect it.
Where In The World Is This Mosque? (2.10.09)
(A 6th grade student will read the question into the camera and the 8th grade students will use their map and Social Studies skills to find the country where each mosque is located. An 8th grade representative will then answer the question into the camera. Roles will be reversed for questions 3 and 4).
Grade 6 question: " This country, located at 6°N and 3° E has its National Mosque in its capital. (
Grade 8 question: "This country, located at 40° N and 3° W has an hypostyle (lots of columns that hold up the ceiling) mosque with columns arranged in a grid pattern (Spain: Mezquita Mosque.)
Grade 8 question: "This country, located at 33°N and 7°W, is one of two mosques in this country that is open to non-Muslims." (Morocco: Hasan II Mosque.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque
