Preschool Lesson Planning for Muslim Homeschoolers (Part 2) - The Lesson Plan

Assalamu alaikum,

I was asked to do a sample lesson plan that provides ideas of how to incorporate Islam throughout the curriculum for preschool age children insha'Allah. This lesson plan is a sample that is meant to provide an idea of how a day in preschool might look.

For this lesson plan I used the story of Prophet Hud (alayhi salam), published by Dar-us-Salam.

I designed just a few resources to illustrate certain parts of the lesson plan. I left the lesson plan somewhat general to give parents the choice to choose what they wish to teach if they use this guide insha'Allah. Here is a sample of some of the activities insha'Allah:

Pictured is a puzzle where children are invited to put Prophet Hud's name in the right order (spelling) and the back of the puzzle has a picture of a caravan when put together correctly. There are also cards that show sand dunes and children are invited to complete the pattern (i.e. which picture would come next in the pattern). Also pictured are camel number cards where children are invited to make a caravan by correctly lining up the camels from 1 to 10 insha'Allah. There are other activities that are not pictured and these are all provided to give you an idea of how you can bring this story to life in a preschool classroom insha'Allah.

Before continuing insha'Allah, I'd like to mention a few words about Circle Time, what is accomplished/ taught in circle time, its importance and benefits insha'Allah.

Circle Time: This is a time that has proven to be very effective in setting the mood for the day in a preschool setting. Circle time can be implemented in a homeschool setting to achieve the same goal. What does circle time accomplish? Circle time allows children to settle in to their day/routine and lets them know what their day will be like insha'Allah. From this vital few moments, children know what to expect in their day. For preschool aged children this knowledge is emotionally important for them. It contributes to their sense of security knowing that the events of the day, as much as humanly possible, are not going to be random and unpredictable insha'Allah. During Circle Time, there is a lot of learning taking place. This is the time when a parent/teacher teaches about weather, the passage of time (days of the week, the months of the year, etc.) and takes time to point out important events that may be forthcoming or have passed (i.e. Ramadan will be in x number of days insha'Allah). For Muslims, circle time can be a platform to teach adthkar as-saba (morning supplications), the dua that we say when we conclude a gathering, and the greeting of salam, for example. Circle time is also a time when parents/teachers can teach social values (i.e. taking turns, saying jazakum Allahu khayr, speaking good words, etc.) and help children learn how to deal with their emotions in an appropriate way insha'Allah. Short stories are also told that are directly related to the learning that will occur in class that day insha'Allah. Lastly, circle time is a time when parents/teachers teach children how to transition from one activity to another in an orderly, organized fashion insha'Allah.

The remainder of the lesson plan is straight forward and very familiar insha'Allah. Quran memorization is included, storytime (I suggested a few books that can be read each day that directly relate to the story of 'Aad, the people that Allah sent Prophet Hud to), math activities and some suggested literacy activities for the letter 'ha'.

For art activities (not listed in the lesson plan), you may wish to try the following ideas insha'Allah:

- Give children leaf cut outs and invite them to colour/paint/decorate them. Attached the completed leaves to a yarn vine around the classroom insha'Allah.
- Invite children to design a desert scene using paint, sandpaper (the sand), construction paper (for palm trees) and hang the completed pictures up for display insha'Allah.
- Invite children to use play-doe to make the letter 'ha' (this is excellent fine motor skill work).

If you have ideas that you would like to contribute to this lesson plan please do leave a comment and if you'd like to have the file of an activity you've done shared, please email me insha'Allah, as I would like that we share ideas that may be of benefit to each other insha'Allah. I wish I had more time to design different activities but insha'Allah, perhaps I may have an opportunity to update this post with other ideas before or after Ramadan.

Here are the files for this lesson plan (they are very simple activities for pre-school that can be easily done to your specifications but you are welcome to use these insha'Allah):

Prophet Hud Lesson Plan

Prophet Hud Activities

Prophet Hud Story Arabic Words Worksheets (pages 1 & 2) - these files are too large/heavy and I'm having trouble uploading them...please check back...jazakum Allahu khayran.

Prophet Hud Story Arabic Words Worksheets (pages 3 & 4) - these files are too large/heavy and I'm having trouble uploading them...please check back...jazakum Allahu khayran.