A class talk on Hijab at a Primary School where a student would be wearing Hijab

• Greeting - Salamun Alaykum

Who has heard that before – it means peace be on you.

Ask the students where they are from? Where were they born?

(The purpose of this question is to make them realise they are very similar and a large number of students will probably be born in the same town)

• There after shown the students pictures of people around the world in different tranditional dresses and describe what each is wearing, particular the Hijab picture e.g. –

Casual western clothes,

Sari,

Shalwar kameez,

Arabian clothes,

Masai,

Japanese,

Nigerian,

Mary in a Nativity outfit,

A woman wearing Hijab , e.t.c

(The purpose of this is to make them realise that people from around the world dress differently. This could be due to their culture or due to their religion)

• Explain why you have come in to talk to them today:

I have come in today to talk to you all about something special that (name of child who will be wearing Hijab) has chosen to do in her life. She has chosen to start wearing a head scarf at school. These people (referring back to the pictures) choose to wear their clothes the way they do. And we have no right to say they are different to us or they are not nice or do we have a right to be nasty to them. It is the way they have chosen to wear their clothes.

Women have been wearing hijab for years. It is a sign of respect for women. Hijab doesn't stop muslim women from doing anything they want to do. They can go out as usual. They can go to school and grow up and gain a profession they like. They are just like you and I but believe they need to be protected by hijab as they feel it is a way they respect themselves.

For example:

(To help them understand what hijab is and why wear it)

Think of a diamond, wear would u find a very expensive diamond? Lying around in a house, on a supermarket shelf? Needs to be protected because it is beautiful and someone can easily steal it.

What about a pearl? Deep in the ocean hidden in a beautiful shell.

What about gold? Found deep in mines mixed with other metals. Gold has to be purified from the other metals before it can be used for ornaments.

Think about normal everyday things. An orange has a skin to protect the delicious fruit inside. This is a case for many fruits. What about a lollipop left on a window sill without a wrapper? You would probably find ants or bees around it.

A woman in islam is regarded as a very special creation of God. A woman is special and is beautiful. And like a diamond not for everyone to see and has to be protected by being covered.

In our religion girls from the age of 9 (when they turn islamically) are recommended to wear hijab. No one can be forced.

Hijab is also a way a muslim girl is constantly reminding herself of her religion and God. For example if a girls wanted to be mean to her friend then maybe if she is wearing hijab and it may remind her that she shouldn't lie because that would not be the right thing to do.

• How do u wear it?

Cover arms, legs and hair and neck. So only part showing would be the hands and face. However the clothes also shouldn't be tight.

• Who to wear it infront of?

Males not related to her. So she wouldn't wear it infront of her dad, brother, grandfather. E.t.c.

So at school you will be seeing her wearing a headscarf all the time. Even during P.E. She will be trying really hard to make sure that her hair is not showing and that she is well covered and her clothes are not tight. You all have really helped her during ramadhan. I was so thrilled that she has such wonderful friends at school to help her and support her when she is trying to do something she really wants. So I hope you really help her with wearing hijab as well.

• How do u think you can help her?

What colour do u think she should wear at school? She is going to pick the one she likes?

Do u want to have a look and try some? (take some different style head covering and abayas for the students to try)

• Are there any questions you would like to ask?

You can also read a story to them for e.g. – The Meat Eating Vegetarian, By Caroline Maryam Ward