Early Islam: Why Did Islam Split? — Sunni and Shia Islam
Instructions for delivery — KS3
Overview
A full lesson exploring the origins of the Sunni–Shia split following the death of Muhammad in 632 CE, examining shared beliefs, key differences, and the diversity within Islam.
Running order
• Recall Task (5 mins) – pupils answer starter questions on monotheism, the Prophet, and the Qur’an
• True or False (5 mins) – pupils test prior knowledge on the origins of Islam and the leadership dispute
• Explaining the Split (10 mins) – teacher input on the deaths of Muhammad and the rival claims of Abu Bakr and Ali
• Sunni and Shia Islam (10 mins) – pupils compare the two viewpoints on leadership using the slide explanation
• Comprehension Task (15 mins) – pupils read the model paragraph and answer the three questions on the split, similarities, and the Ummah
• Video Clip (5 mins) – watch the linked YouTube video for consolidation
• Card Sort (10 mins) – pupils cut out and sort statement cards into three columns: beliefs/practices, Sunni, and Shia
• Knowledge Grid Task (15 mins) – using the Knowledge Sheet and class notes, pupils create a detailed grid covering similarities, differences, and key questions, with at least three symbols or images
• Plenary (5 mins) – pupils respond to the statement “Sunni and Shia Muslims are the same” (agree/disagree)
What to print
• Model Paragraph and Questions — Model_Paragraph.docx — 1 per pupil
• Card Sort statements — Task.docx — 1 set per pupil/pair, cut into individual cards
• Sunni and Shia Islam Knowledge Grid — Sunni_and_Shia_-_Info_Grid.pdf — 1 per pupil
What to prepare
• Slides loaded and ready — Varieties_of_Islam.pptx
• YouTube clip cued up (slide 7 link)
• Scissors for the card sort task
• Spare copies of the Knowledge Grid for the extension/mind map task