Reading & Conversation: Art of the Pen – Arabic Calligraphy
English Grade 8 (Super Goal 2) · Unit 6: What Was It Like? · Lesson 6-3 · Term 1
Also known as: Arabic calligraphy · Reading comprehension
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Lesson idea
Reading about the history and styles of Arabic calligraphy; a conversation about a new restaurant; writing a narrative with sensory details.
Key points
- Calligraphy means "beautiful writing"; it started to write the holy words of the Qur'an.
- There are six main styles today. Kufic is one of the oldest: straight, geometric letters, easy to cut into wood or stone; used for the first copies of the Qur'an.
- Thuluth: long and elegant, used for surah headings and the script of the Saudi flag. Naskh and Ruq'ah: common in printing and handwriting.
- Farsi (Ta'liq = "hanging"): sometimes used in literature. Diwani: very decorative, often on greeting cards.
Vocabulary
script
Kufic
Thuluth
Naskh
Ruq'ah
Diwani
geometric
cursive
decorative
expressive
Lesson questions (14)
- My uncle writes Quranic verses in beautiful Arabic ____ and hangs them on the wall.
Answer: calligraphy - Why did the art of Arabic calligraphy start?
Answer: to write the holy words of the Qur'an - How many main styles of Arabic calligraphy are there today?
Answer: six - Which is one of the oldest styles?
Answer: Kufic - Why is Kufic script easy to cut into wood or stone?
Answer: It has straight, geometric letters. - Which script did calligraphers use to write the first copies of the Holy Qur'an?
Answer: Kufic - Which script is used on the Saudi Arabian flag?
Answer: Thuluth - Which scripts are common in printing and handwriting?
Answer: Naskh and Ruq'ah - Which style is very decorative and often seen on greeting cards?
Answer: Diwani - According to the text, the name of the Ta'liq script comes from the idea of ____.
Answer: hanging - How is Kufic script different from cursive scripts?
Answer: Cursive scripts have connecting letters. - Why didn't Walid get Majid's messages?
Answer: His cell phone was turned off. - What was the new pizzeria like inside?
Answer: like the inside of a volcano - In a narrative, use ____ around the exact words that a person says.
Answer: quotation marks
More lessons in Unit 6: What Was It Like?
Questions about this lesson
What is Arabic calligraphy?
The art of writing Arabic letters beautifully, done with a pen.
Why did the art of Arabic calligraphy begin?
To write the words of the Holy Quran beautifully.
What is the difference between writing and calligraphy?
writing is ordinary writing, and calligraphy is beautiful, artistic writing.
Do students need an account to play this lesson?
No. The teacher shares the lesson link; the student types a first name and plays on a phone or computer, and the score reaches the teacher.
Which games suit this lesson?
You can play it in The Hunter, Complete the sentence, Match Up, Matching pairs and the other games and activities on Hessa Play.