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Festival WebQuests: Ramadan

In these web activities you will explore the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. There are three activities. The first is a treasure hunt in which you will discover what Ramadan is and how it is celebrated. The second activity deals with rules that Muslims have to follow during Ramadan. The final activity examines the health aspects of fasting, an important part of Ramadan.

Activity 1: Treasure hunt

Visit these websites to find the answers to the following questions:

Factmonster

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/ramadan1.html

Islamic Holidays and Observances

http://www.colostate.edu/Orgs/MSA/events/Ramadan.html

Ramadan on the web

http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/

http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm

Specifically, what does Ramadan mean?
When is Ramadan celebrated?
What differences are there between solar and lunar calendars?
When is Ramadan this year?
How do Muslims know Ramadan has begun?
What event is celebrated at Ramadan?
What is tarwih?
What is sawm and how is it organized?
Why do Muslims practice sawm?
What and when do people eat during Ramadan?
What is Laylat-al-Qadr?
What is Eid al-Fitr and how is it celebrated?

Now write a short composition about Ramadan.

Activity 2: Rules and regulations of Ramadan

Below are the descriptions of 7 different Muslims. According to the rules of Ramadan, they will behave in different ways: some will fast from sunrise to sunset, some will not have to fast at all, some will have to make up the fasting days that they missed and other will have to feed the poor. Visit the website and then complete the chart. Ramadan rules and regulations:

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/fasting/tajuddin/fast_1.html

	Has to fast from sunrise to sunset	Doesn't have to fast at all	Has to make up fasting days later	Has to feed a poor person
A woman who has a 5-day old baby
A schizophrenic 24-year-old man in a psychiatric hospital
A nine-year-old girl
A man in intensive care in a hospital
A businessman traveling to New York
A 90-year-old woman with a heart condition
A 20-year-old pregnant woman

Activity 3: Fasting and health

You are a doctor. It is Ramadan and you have many Muslim patients who have health problems during this season. What would you recommend each of the following patients do? Some health guidelines for Ramadan:

http://www.jamiat.org.za/hramadhaan.html

Patient 1: "Doctor, I get very hungry during the day. What should I eat?"
Patient 2: "I get muscle cramps at night."
Patient 3: "I get very constipated. What can I do?"
Patient 4: "I have a burning feeling in my stomach."
Patient 5: "I have stopped smoking for Ramadan and I have horrible headaches."
Patient 6: "I often feel very weak and tired in the afternoon and I almost fainted yesterday."