Please feel free to download and use some of the Islamic art teaching resources that I designed for my year 7 classes. Last term, my students designed and made their own Islamic art-inspired tiles (see my previous post for pictures). Prior to making the ceramic tiles, I got my class to research designs using books and the internet. They collected images in their sketchbooks, then developed their own patterns inspired by their research.
Here’s a starter activity that I used to help get children thinking about the geometric aspect to the tiles:
The following files are pdf templates of a six-pointed star, an 8-pointed star, a hexagon and an octagon. My kids designed their tile patterns within the template, then used these designs to help shape and paint their ceramic versions. Thanks to my amazing art technicians, the templates were the identical size of the finished tiles (thank you Emma and Lucy!) Having a standard size for each shape meant that the tiles could tessellate easily once fired.
Finally, here are a couple of extension activities I made for children who finished early! These are nets for a 3D cube and an octahedron. Colour the surface geometric patterns using colouring pencils, paints or crayons, then cut out the shape (including tabs). To assemble: fold along the bold black lines, or gently score along them using a ruler and a sharp pencil. Add glue to areas labelled “paste”. Once you’ve folded back the edges of the shape, it should be obvious where you need to stick each tab to create the cube or octahedron. Happy making!
I hope you enjoy using these resources with your children and / or classes. To all the teachers out there: I will be adding these resources, along with PowerPoints to the TES website over the next couple of days. Enjoy, and I hope you find them helpful!
Thank you ..
Most welcome! Enjoy.
You’re a legend Ayesha
x
Teaching is Sharing. Thank you a lot. Great Instructor!
Salam alaykum dear sister,
I love you work masha’Allah. Your lesson plans were very helpful o me when writing my assignment on teaching Islamic Art to children. Your drawings and illuminations are truly inspiring.
Wishing you all the best.
Wa alaikum salam Saba,
Very glad to have been of help! Thank you for your kind comments, and do keep checking back for new art and lesson resources!
All good wishes,
Ayesha
I have been searching high and low for Islamic art teaching resources, these templates are brilliant. I will inshaAllah most certainly use these in my teaching over this term. Any hinters and guide about schemes of work for your resources or the resources themselves would be genuinely appreciated.
May Allah reward you for your efforts
XX
An absolute pleasure Rehana, and thank you for your message. It really makes me happy to know that people are benefitting from these resources and as soon as I have some time I will add more. Please feel free to email me if you have any specific questions about teaching Islamic art, differentiating for your classes etc… I’ve produced several Islamic art schemes of work and would be happy to share ideas! In the meantime, the same resources plus a powerpoint are on TES: https://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Islamic-Art-geometric-patterns-and-ceramic-tiles-6350831/
These are so lovely – a great midpoint for my kids between too-easy coloring pages and too-hard compass constructions. Thank you!
A pleasure! hope your kids enjoy it!