As our Muslim friends celebrate the end of Ramadan, my kids are interested in learning more about Islam and its festivals and celebrations. I came across a few resources I thought I would share.
Crayola has a nice selection of colouring sheets and craft projects, including Henna Hands and construction the Five Pillars of Islam. An excellent place to start.
A beautiful bookmaking project to teach young children some of the elements of Ramadan and Islam.
Tissue stars to decorate a window.
Make a meal together and don’t forget to make some stars and moon cookies.
There are some lovely books in the Guelph Public Library which can help teach our children about Islam and Ramadan.
My first Ramadan by Karen Katz. Look! There is the new moon in the sky. It’s time for Ramadan to begin. Follow along with one young boy as he observes the Muslim holy month with his family. This year, the narrator is finally old enough to fast, and readers of all ages will be interested as he shares his experiences of this special holiday.
The white nights of Ramadan by Maha Addasi and illustrated by Ned Gannon. Looking forward to the festival known as Girgian that comes in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan, Noor and her brothers prepare by decorating bags they’ll carry to collect candies, while learning about the true meaning of Ramadan.
Muslim child: understanding Islam through stories and poems written by Rukhsana Khan; illustrated by Patty Gallinger; with sidebars by Irfan Alli. A collection of stories and poems about Muslim children from a variety of backgrounds, focusing on the celebration of holidays and practices of Islam.This insightful collection of stories and poems is a child-centered introduction to Islam. In one story, a boy feels guilty when he short-changes his prayer. In another story, a girl buys candy she can’t eat because it contains pork by-products.
Celebrate Ramadan & Eid al-Fitr by Deborah Heiligman Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the fast’s end, are sacred times for millions throughout the world. Celebrate Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr examines the reasons for the month-long dawn-to-dusk fast and observes some of the wide variety of celebrations at the end of the fast worldwide. Deborah Heiligman’s text examines the historical, religious, and cultural aspect of this Muslim holiday. The book’s beautiful photographs are complemented with a map pinpointing the exact locations illustrated. The extensive back matter also includes a list of further resources such as books and Web sites, useful for the research student and paper writer in grades one to four. The book’s consultant, Dr. Neguin Yavari gives an explanatory note about the religious and cultural significance of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr. National Geographic Society.
Moon watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan miracle by Reza Jalali and illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien. Nine-year-old Shirin wants to join her family and other Muslims in fasting for Ramadan but is told she is too young, and so she seeks other ways to participate including, perhaps, getting along better with her older brother, Ali.
Holidays for children ~ Ramadan: Over one billion Muslims worldwide observe Ramadan, a month-long religious observance. Children discover the religious significance of song and prayer, along with the principles and traditions that mark the holiest of the Islamic holidays. (Playaway video)
What makes me a Muslim? by Catherine M. Petrini. Fourteen hundred years ago, Muhammad was visited by an angel bearing messages from God. Those messages became the Muslim faith, now practiced by more than a billion people. This overview touches on history and beliefs, the Five Pillars of Islam, Muslim holy days, and challenges faced by the Muslim community today.
Ayat jamilah = Beautiful signs: a treasury of Islamic wisdom for children and parents collected and adapted by Sarah Conover and Freda Crane ; illustrations by Valerie Wahl. Drawing from not only the Qur’an and the traditions of Islamic spirituality, but also from mystical verse and folk tales, this collection of stories gathers traditional stories from the farthest reaches of the Muslim world. Includes explanatory notes.
Youtube has a few videos to help explain the Islamic faith to kids. We liked this one and this one about the prophet Muhammad which has been a great conversation starter.
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