Monday, July 12, 2010

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 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.

10 comments:

  1. As Salaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmahtuallahi Wa Barakatuh
    This is nice masha Allah. I don't have this particular book, but I do have some of the Prophets of Allah books. Can't wait to see what else you come up with insha Allah. *hugs*

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  2. Assalamualaikum,
    I'm a muslim homeschooler from Malaysia. This is very useful for me because now I'm trying to teach my son about our prophets story.
    Thank you for sharing.

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  3. Assalaamu Alaikum

    Masha Allaah Ukhti so wonderful. I am sure we can do this with all the other Prophets mentioned in the Qur'aan. Actually I wanted to compile a scrap book with little details, pictures and activities with all 25 Prophets so that it would be easier as they grow to increase the depth of learning Insha Allaah and would be easy to revise and keep things in mind too. Jazzakillaah khayr for guiding me ukhti.Hope to hear more from you Insha Allaah.

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  4. Waalaikum assaalm wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

    Jazakum Allahu Khayr dear sisters. I tried this out here and subhana'Allah, since then the book keeps being brought to me to be read aloud along with the activities (the book and activities are in a tray on the shelf together). I am happy about that alhamdulillah b/c we wish for our children to desire to know about the anbiya of Allah.

    Sisters, do you wish to add anything to/about the lesson plan? Do you think it was not detailed enough for example?

    I would like to make a large (toddler sized) tree and place it on the wall with its branches bare and each time we study a prophet, we will hang a leaf on the tree insha'Allah until the tree is complete. Umm Maimoonah, I think we would all enjoy seeing your scrapbook insha'Allah. Sisters Umm Abdul Basir and Mahani, have you all done anything about the anbiya that you think could add to this lesson plan?

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  5. Assalamu 'alaykum

    This is great. Thanks for making this up and posting it so we can benefit too. I did this with my toddlers yesterday: I read the goodwords book story about Huud a.s. and then we made a city out of blocks. Then I asked them to blow to destroy it, but they could not. The wind from their mouth was not strong enough too destroy the big and sturdy buildings. Something stronger was needed. They used other blocks to destroy it but I wanted to use cardboard and to blow it with that. Also, I found this website online with lesson plans about the prophets: http://prophetsofallah.tripod.com/prophets/id18.html.

    Now do you think we could add the letters of the alphabet into this too, so they can learn them altogether. I see you have used Arabic letters and numbers, do you think it's OK to mix Arabic and English or is it better to separate.

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  6. Waalaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

    Jazakillahu Khayr Kur'anki ajet. I like how you asked your toddlers to try to blow the buildings down to show them what force is needed to destroy something. Insha'Allah, this will help them to understand the Power of Allah.

    With regard to mixing Arabic and English, this is the age (time period) that it is best to introduce more than one language to children.
    The brain is able to accomadate this with ease subhana'Allah. When we get older however, this is not usually the case.

    But I would like to ask if you can clarify what you intend when you say "mix Arabic and English or is it better to separate". I want to make sure I answer your question properly insha'Allah.
    Do you mean teach both at the same time in one lesson?

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  7. MashaAllah very nice lesson plan for prechoolers.

    Thank you writing about the Circle time, inshaAllah will try to implement it.

    Well, we have covered about 10 books of Prophets Sent by Allah published by Darussalam. The books are very good and easy to read for our kids alhamdulillah.

    I actually made lesson plans for studying the lives of Prophets (so far finished about Adam alayhissalam, Ibrahim alayhissalam, Nuh alayhissalam and Musa alayhissam.)We started with Adam alayhissalm. Our plan was first study the 5 Ulu'l Azm Prophets then continue with the rest of the Prophets.
    We took about 1-2 weeks to study about one prophet according to the lesson plan. The lesson plan contains some activities (arts and crafts), studying Quranic verses and questions and answers etc. They are in all in Uzbek.
    http://islomiyoila.blogspot.com/search/label/payg%27ambarlar%20hayoti

    With other Prophets we have been reading from the books Prophets sent by Allah (often) ask questions, talk about what happened etc. Read Quranic verses when we come across (for example when we recite the Sura al Qamar, it contains many verses about Prophets) We talk about them. This happens daily. Kids are able to take the books and tell the story by looking at the pictures.

    I like the lesson plans, they are so simple and nice, just right for preschoolers inshaAllah.

    Just a little something I want to say: inshaAllah, after prophet Hud alayhissalam we'll take another Prophet and do some more activities. Do you think or plan to do similar activities as you did for this lesson plan such as counting (arabic numbers), letters etc. For us if I use activities that in one format (counting different things often in Engish or in Arabic) is not very helpful :(. We have lots of activities on numbers, letters, shapes and if I invite them to do the same format activies they are not very interested (that's what I think at least) But if there are some new acitivities they are very motivated.
    Do you think this is how children react?
    I don't know if I could explain what I wanted to say.

    Arts and Crafts for us helps a lot. When studying about Ibrahim alayhissalam we built Ka'bah, did Hajj rites, made the hill scene etc. Sun and the moon can be made, during the process parents can explain to kids that they are the creation of Allah and some people take them as their gods, but Ibrahim did not take them as his god.

    We did seperate activites on the duaa's of Prophets and took some examples. Learned how they made dua, what they asked, what happened with them then and etc.
    http://islomiyoila.blogspot.com/2010/01/duo-mavzusi-2.html

    These are some things that help us to learn and understand the stories of Prophets in general.
    I'm not sure about making a scrapbook for each Prophet, I guess other materials and the books will suffice inshaAllah.
    But when kids are able to draw/write I want them to write/draw whatever they learned about a particular prophet in one sheet, and then put all these sheets in one folder as a summary book on lives of Prophets just to go over them once a while.

    sorry for the long comment sister,
    jazakhAllah for the wonderful activities,
    assalamu alaikum

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  8. Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

    Barak Allahu feki dear sis Umm Sara for such a wonderful comment. Great information that I hope others will take benefit from insha'Allah.

    As for the next prophet we will cover insha'Allah, I do not plan to use the same format. This format was used b/c the age group I am working with right now is just beginning their introduction to Arabic letters and numbers. Insha'Allah, the next lesson plan will probably be more tactile and/or art related.

    If you have any ideas or have things that you would like to see incorporated into the next lesson plan, please do not be shy to let me know *smile*. You have great ideas masha'Allah!

    Jazakillahu khayr dear sis and there is no need to apologize for the length of your comment. *smile*

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  9. As salaamu 'alaikum Sis,

    I just wanted to say JazakILLAH Khairin for all the work that you do.

    Take care,
    Nakia

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  10. Waalaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

    Wa iyaki wa Jazakillaahu khyar dear sis Nakia *smile*.

    May Allaah reward you for your kind words.

    Truly, all of the Praise and Thanks are due to Him Alone.

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