Preschool Activity ideas for the story of the Prophet Muhammad

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Tayyib, here is what I've come up with so far alhamdulillah (but I am aware that I need more insha'Allah). Really, I enjoy reading this story aloud....it is so touching masha'Allah.

Tayyib, the ideas (so far):

• Opposites activity (card game). In the story it says the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa salam) was a trader selling far and wide.
• Making good choices game (cards showing children making good/bad choices). Discuss what we would do, why, Islamic evidence for/against what is being done on the cards, and any ahadith related insha'Allah.
• discuss the excellent, unparalleled outstanding character of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa salam). Perhaps do a mini-book where children circle things/actions that they could do that will help lead - biithnillah - to a good Islamic character.
• Telling the truth (the Prophet was the most truthful). Talk about why it is not always easy to tell the truth, what Islam teaches us about telling the truth/justice (i.e. brief tafir of the following ayaat:  ۞ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا and يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ and also وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۖ وَبِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْفُوا ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ / O you who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do {4:135}. And: O you who believe! stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety; and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do {5:8}. And. And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence), say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfil the Covenant of Allah. This He commands you, that you may remember .{6:152}). 
• Tawheed: this is what the Prophet (and all other prophets of Allah) called to. I think we will follow/adapt/build upon what sis Umm Maimoonah is doing insha'Allah.
• Tell the story of the five daily prayers and maybe make a mini-book about this story with some cut/paste activities to help children learn/remember the five prayers (if they don't already know them). In the book include some ayaat and ahadith relevant to the salat insha'Allah.
• The Prophet's farewell sermon and touch on hajj insha'Allah (Insha'Allah, we will be doing a whole unit on this during the hajj season).

That's all I've come up with so far alhamdulillah. Can you add to/modify what you've read/suggest anything insha'Allah?

Storytime: The Story of Muhammad

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Today we read, The Story of Muhammad, from the Prophets Sent by Allah series.

This is a beautiful story masha'Allah. It is nicely written with an ending that was so touching it caused tears. Because this was not a planned read aloud - some of my read alouds are planned, so I do activities with them but most are child selected or teacher suggested - I did not have any activities planned for this story. During the read aloud I found myself wishing that I had planned to read this story today but alhamdulillah, that is one of the many beauties of the read aloud: you can read the same story over and over and over again insha'Allah. So, dear sisters, have you read this story before? If so, what activities did you do with it? And for which age group?

Mulitsensory Activity for the Letter Meem

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Multisensory learning (learning that involves using as many of the five senses possible) is thought to help children make deeply rooted connections to the material they are being taught. In turn, this is believed to aide children in the rapid recall of the information and thus make the experience lasting. If these multisensory activities are happy experiences then the child will love learning insha'Allah and of course...waallahu alim. This is an example of a multisensory activity for the letter meem that compliments our lesson on the Prophet Musa (alayhi salam).

After a very brief lesson on the letter meem, it's sound, look, etc. toddlers are given a large construction paper letter meem, construction paper miniature masaajid and tape (toddlers love tape! The sensory part is that it is sticky). They are invited to tape the masaajid around the letter meem (or on it). As they tape the first few masaajid to the letter meem, I say the letter meem (its sound) and the word masjid - placing a bit of stress on the meem sound. I give a small piece of tape each time the child decides where they want to put their masjid. Afterward, we hang a masjid next to the letter meem as a reminder that masjid has the beginning sound of meem.

This is a very simple activity that requires few materials but provides toddlers with a joyful experience insha'Allah.

What type of multisensory activity would you do with the letter meem?

Preschool/Kindergarten Lesson Plan for Nabi Musa

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Dear sisters, jazakillahu khayran for your patience with me as I took a bit of time uploading this lesson plan. But alhamdulillah, here it is (I remembered to include some geography but let me know if you had something different in mind *smile*). Here is the lesson plan for Nabi Musa - alayhi salam-:

Click here to download the lesson plan insha'Allah.

And here are pictures and explanations for some of the activities alhamdulillah:

Explanation/Instructions for activities insha'Allah (I think only two things need explaining but I'm reading the lesson plan quickly so tell me if I miss something *smile*:

1). The activity Musa watered sheep: You need a small square of construction paper for each child, 2-3 cotton balls, and markers or crayons and non-toxic glue (you may wish to put the small dot of glue on the paper for the child and allow them to place the cotton ball in the glue). After teaching about sheep, invite the child to make a scene of a sheep (sample pictured above). Please be sure to remind children that we do not draw facial features on animals or humans in obedience to Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa salam).

2). The Harf Meem word reader (pictured above): Print this file, cut out the masjid and the cards. With an Xacto Knife, make two slits on each side of the masjid that is solid blue and has the meem on the right hand side. Be sure to measure before you cut the slits to make sure your cards have enough room and the entire word can be seen once the cards are inserted into the reader insha'Allah. Invite the child to insert the cards one at a time and read the word (the pictures should stay visible to aide in comprehension insha'Allah).

3). The Story of Musa supplimentary reader is not intended to stand alone. Is meant to aide children in re-telling the story in the proper sequence insha'Allah. It has ayaat from the Quran - please destroy it by buring the book when done insha'Allah...jazakum Allahu khayr.

4). The links that are in the lesson plan can not be accessed through the PDF file (and some are not free). Here they are:
- For the Story of Musa and Al-Khidr Puzzles click here
- For the Names of Allah colouring sheets from Easel & Ink click here
- For Ordinal Numbers worksheets click here
- For Learning Roots click here
- For Game: Going Right, Going Left, click here

Here are the files to download insha'Allah:
Harf Meem Word Reader
Egypt Geography Activity
Sheep Puzzle
Story of Musa Supplementary Reader (this file is large, so it is in ZIP format)
Egypt Same and Different Math Worksheet

and....as usual, I forgot to make a transliteration chart for the Arabic words....subhana'Allah. Insha'Allah, tonight or tomorrow I will upload that.

Lesson Plan for the Story of Musa coming soon insha'Allah!

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Insha'Allah, I hope to post the lesson plan (with activities) for the story of Musa - alayhi salam - some time this week. Check back insha'Allah!

Next book in the Prophets Sent by Allah Series: Musa (alayhi salam)

Assalamu alaikum,

The next book I'd like to do a lesson plan for in the Prophets sent by Allah Series is the book about Prophet Musa (alayhi salam).

Right now I'm introducing the Arabic alphabet but I know that many of your children are past this stage alhamdulillah so I wanted to collaborate with you all to see what you would like to see so I can possibly make the lesson plan multi-age appropriate insha'Allah.

Please leave a comment if there are certain aspects you'd like to see covered in this lesson plan insha'Allah, and/or you have ideas you'd like to share with others insha'Allah. I'll be sure to list where each idea came from insha'Allah (and link to your blog if you have one). I will also try to make as many of the activities (files) as I can, black and white *smile*.

Jazakum Allahu Khayran

Storytime: The Story of Prophet Hud (alayhi salam)

Assalamu alaikum,

Today we read The Story of Prophet Hud (alayhi salam)

To be honest with you, I have heard parents/teaches express concern about the text level of this series (and a few other aspect of the series). This led me to explore a way to make the story enjoyable for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners. After having read the story, I honestly do not feel that the text level is inappropriate for toddlers, preschoolers or kindergarteners if the stories are being read aloud. In fact, when the storyteller (i.e. parent/teacher) varies his/her tone, pitch, etc. while reading, I think the stories can be easily enjoyed by young children. I am in agreement with sister Saara about the illustrations in Islamic children's books. You can read more about that here on her blog insha'Allah. This is just my opinion and of course waallahu alim. 

The story of Hud (alayhi salam) is also the story/book that I will be using for the preschool lesson plan I intend to post here in a few days biithnillah. I'm working on various activities to supplement the book insha'Allah, and I'm working on circle time activities and art activities as well insha'Allah.

This book can be purchased world-wide in Islamic bookstores or directly from Dar-us-Salam insha'Allah.

Please check back in a few days and insha'Allah, I'll have the lesson plan (preschool) posted.