Early Islamic Civilization
21st September 2023
This week in Year 6, the children have been diving into the world of Early Islamic Civilisation. They have been working hard during rehearsals for their upcoming production of: ‘Ali Baba and the Bongo Bandits.’ The children have been singing the songs, dancing the dances and putting their all into their acting. From camels to caves, the children have tackled all different roles with great enthusiasm and enjoyment. Props are being painted and created to ensure this will be one of the best shows BNIS has ever seen. We are so excited to take to the Podo Theatre and show off all their hard work in a few weeks time.
The play is set in part in the Old Baghdad bazaar, and the children have been learning how this fascinating city came into being in 762CE. During History lessons, the children investigated why the site of Baghdad was chosen; we read various descriptions of the ancient city and used these to create their own plan view of the city.
In Art, the children have been exploring calligraphy. They have learned how followers of Islam, are not allowed to draw humans or animals, but how they would use words written using the art of calligraphy to represent both humans and animals. The children have experimented using different calligraphy techniques to design a plate. Many of the children found using the calligraphy pens difficult at first, but with some practice, they were able to create some interesting patterns and designs. They were given a range of mediums to work with, including acrylic paints, calligraphy pens and felt tips. The designs were bold and unique and the children produced some great results.
In Science, the children have been investigating how light travels. They discovered that it was an Early Islamic scientist who first realised and proved that light travelled in straight lines. The children used this knowledge to create their own periscopes using mirrors and scrap cardboard. The children had to work together in order to create a periscope that worked. It took a lot of patience and trial and error.
