Islam and the Environment Key Stage 2
Suggested Duration: 60 minutes
Lesson Objective
To learn that as Muslims and as citizens we have a responsibility for the environment
Key Words
► Environment, litter, recycling, protect, natural disasters
Islamic Values
Islam teaches us that it is our duty to protect our environment as these resources are gifts and amanah from God.
Citizenship Values
Citizenship teaches us to protect the environment locally and globally, now and in the future.
Activities
Ask some quick questions to recap the last lesson. Share the lesson objectives.
A Starter Activity
Ask for a volunteer to look after your watch/pen, or something that is valuable to you. (You will come back to this at the end of the lesson to explain the idea of amanah.)
Ask pupils what we mean by 'the environment'.
Take feedback and stress that the environment is the surroundings in which we live. It can be local, regional, national and even international. It may include air, trees, parks, buildings, roads, houses, electricity, gas and water.
Ask pupils what would happen if they did not tidy up their room/house. What would happen if their classrooms were not clean and tidy? Now explain that as a nation it is our responsibility to ensure the environment around us is protected.
B Development
Activity 1: Global Warming
Ask pupils what 'global warming' means and why global warming is such an important issue for the whole world. Suggested answer: The effects of global warming are worldwide.
Some areas are being affected by cyclones, hurricanes and floods, while others are suffering from drought.
People are leaving some areas and moving to other safer areas. The glaciers and ice polar caps are melting at a frightening rate. Humans are consuming the world's resources at such a fast rate that they cannot be replaced.
We can take part in reducing global warming by walking, cycling and using public transport instead of our cars. We can: turn off taps to save water; switch off lights when not needed; and use our heating systems more efficiently. We should always recycle waste, where possible.
Question: Ask pupils to list ways in which they recycle at home and school.
Activity 2: Islamic Guidance
Ask a pupil to recite the following verses. Explain the meaning.
وَاللَّهُ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءِ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ
'And God has sent down the rain from the sky and given life to the earth after it was lifeless. Indeed in that there is a sign for people who listen.' (Surat An-Nahal 16:65)
Question: What is the meaning of a 'lifeless earth'?
Suggested answer: The lifeless earth means there are no plants, no water, no crops, no grass and no life on it.
Question: How would you revive a lifeless earth?
Suggested answer: By planting trees, taking care of planet earth, using fewer resources, not being wasteful, keeping our canals, rivers and seas clean.
'He who wastes is not one of us. ' (Abu Dawnd, Ibn Majah)
Explain that we have a clear message from both the Qur`an and the life of Prophet Muhammad that as Muslims we have a responsibility to protect the environment in which we live.
'Muslims will always earn the reward of charity for planting a tree or a field and then birds, humans, and animals eat from it.' (Bukhari and Muslim)
Activity 3: Drawing
Split the class into small groups and give out a copy of Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.1601 to each group.
Ask each group to draw a perfect playground, keeping in mind the responsibility of protecting the environment. They must work as a group to decide what the perfect playground should look like, and how they ensure safety and cleanliness. Ask them to:
- decide among themselves who would lead the group
- work together and discuss what kind of perfect playground they would like to have
- draw a playground - don't worry, the drawing does not have to be perfect (do not forget to label your drawings)
- ensure that the playground stays clean and safe.
Allow around fifteen minutes for the above task. Ask the class then to feed back what they have managed to do in their groups.
Share ideas around environment protection and why it is important for our future.
C Plenary
Tell pupils: We have learnt that protecting the environment is our religious duty.
Ask for your watch/personal item back from the person you gave it to at the start of the lesson. Ask the pupil how they felt while in possession of the teacher's valuable item. Responsible? Privileged? Worried? Why?
Suggest it was perhaps because they knew they had to return it to the owner.
Explain this is the idea of amanah' (something entrusted in your care) in Islam. Just as the volunteer had the teacher's possession on trust, we have the earth as a gift and trust from God. Just as you would make sure that the item entrusted into your care by the teacher was looked after, protected and returned back safely to its owner, we must do the same for the world and this process can start from our own streets, back yards, town centres, and so on.
Suggested Follow-up Work
Ask pupils to start a campaign - 'Litter free zone' - for a local area (their street, park, school playground) that is known to be heavily polluted with litter and fly tipping, and so on.
Tell pupils to design a poster and then (if you can facilitate this) to get in touch with the local councillor and explain that they want to organise a campaign to clean up the local environment.