THEME 2: innovation in our heritage
By challenging students to think originally with hands-on design projects, these classroom activities help young Muslims become confident in their creative abilities and experimentation. Each activity draws on Islamic history, art, and scientific heritage to meet key learning objectives in the British National Curriculum for History, Art & Design, and Science.
Students explore the contributions of Muslim scholars, artists, and inventors — from Al-Biruni and Ibn Firnas to contemporary calligraffiti artist eL Seed — building cultural pride while developing research, analysis, and creative skills aligned with British and Cambridge International curriculum frameworks.
Check out the activities below, and click through to get started!
1. Al-Biruni's Ocean Treasures
Al-Biruni was the first person to realise that some mountains were once under the sea! Build a sea exploration machine to navigate our underwater mountains and find rare fossils and treasure.
2. hoW TO FLY
Get to know Ibn Firnas, and other cool people who have helped create planes and rockets. Be inspired by their knowledge to invent your own flying machine.
3. Build an islamic palace!
Build and design a special palace for a Caliph! What if the beautiful palaces of the past could fly?
4. CAlligraffiti with el seed
Beautiful Arabic calligraphy has been in the Islamic tradition for over 1,400 years - and it continues to thrive! Get to know one of the world's most talented artists and try your hand at some calligraffiti.
5. living islamic art
Muslims have been using complex geometry to create beautiful and intricate Islamic art for thousands of years. Create some of your own, and imagine how Islamic vector art could evolve in the future.
6. RECREATE AN OLD WORLD
Augmented reality allows you to immerse yourself in entirely new worlds without moving from where you're sitting! Imagine how you might teach someone about Islamic history using augmented reality.
7. calligraphy of the future
You might think that Arabic calligraphy is a thing of the past, but you'd be wrong! Use your imagination to create an Arabic calligraphy of the future.
8. INVENT WITH AL-JAZARI
Learn about one of the first inventors in history, and design a ground-breaking engineering project!
9. time travel with al-tusi
Al-Tusi was the first person to realise that animals adapt to their environment to survive. But this takes a long time! Build a time machine to take you to the future, so you can see how today's animals might change!
10. virtual reality makkah
One day people might be able to visit Makkah from their home. How, you ask? Through virtual reality of course! Think about virtual reality and what other uses it could have beyond entertainment.