Tapestry of Faith: Building Bridges: A World Religions Program for 8th-9th Grades

Activity 5: Time Line

Activity time: 3 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Religions Time Line (Workshop 1)
  • Sticky notes and fine point markers
  • World map or globe

Preparation for Activity

  • Display the time line where all participants will be able to see it.
  • Write a sticky note saying "Islam, 622 CE."

Description of Activity

The Religions Time Line is updated to add Islam.

Ask participants if they remember the year commonly used as the beginning of Islam; it was the year of the start of the Islamic calendar. Remind them it was the year Muhammad and his followers moved to Medina, twelve years after he began spreading the word of Allah. It was the year 622 CE. Place the stick note on the time line.

Ask participants to identify where Islam emerged, or was codified by Muhammad. Explain that Mecca is still the geographic center of Islam, and it is Muslim practice to pray in the direction of Mecca, wherever in the world a Muslim is. Point out Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the countries of northern Africa, noting that some of these countries are Islamic states, and all are majority Muslim. Islam is the second-largest faith on Earth, practiced all over the world.