The first big 7th grade project was learning about Islamic art and architecture. The lesson started with some quick facts about Islam, then we looked at mosque architecture. In a mosque we find minarets or towers, domes, the use of repetitive geometric shapes (arabesque), the focus on interior beauty over exterior, calligraphy, and the absence of the human figure and animals. We had a discussion comparing and contrasting an Islamic mosque with a medieval castle, there were similarities in the elements and a huge contrast in the use of the two types of buildings.
We focused in on the interior beauty for Nasair Al-Mulk Mosque, sometimes called “Pink Mosque” for it’s pink tiles. The building is rich with stained glass and geometric design. Working in partners, the students developed a hypothesis for why Nasair Al-Mulk Mosque features stained glass and geometric designs.
After reviewing the concept of radial symmetry, the students practiced making a geometric design that represented the endless power of Allah, the elements, and they physical world. The children developed an appreciation for geometry and craftsmanship by drawing with pencils, rulers, and compasses.
This art in this blog entry was part of the introduction to the subject. The skills and concepts learned will be applied to a larger project next week.
Synergeyes (Synergy School's Visual Arts Blog) 
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