Materials

• Examples of Arabic art
• Pictures of prayer rugs, Islamic buildings, and other Islamic symmetrical art

Instructional Activities

1. Review with students the five pillars of Islam. Show them pictures of prayer rugs, Islamic buildings, and other symmetrical Islamic art. Discuss with the students the characteristics of Islamic art.
   
   
2. Direct students in creating an arabesque drawing. Explain that an arabesque is a form of symmetrical drawing that includes calligraphy designs, geometric shapes, flowers, vines, leaves, animals, and other things from nature. Images of people are not included in an arabesque. The designs of many oriental rugs are examples of arabesque. The following Web sites provide examples of Islamic art:
   • Islamic Art . The Metropolitan Museum. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/orna/hd_orna.htm>.
   • The Art of Arabic Calligraphy. Sakkal Design. <http://www.sakkal.com/ArtArabicCalligraphy.html>.
   To complete the assignment, have the students
   • fold a square piece of paper in half, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally
   &bill;draw the design on one-half of the folded paper
   • trace the drawn design on the other half of the paper
   • open the paper to reveal the whole design, which will be symmetrical|
   • color the design, making sure the colors in the two sections also match.
   
   NOTE: To challenge the more artistically gifted students, have them create a design that is identical in each of the quarters of the paper.
   
   
3. Provide an opportunity for students to display their drawings.