Sister Reminder blogs

If you haven’t read my first post about activity ideas for 100 Days of School, then read here. These are 25 more ideas on how you can celebrate 100 Days of School with an Islamic twist.

26. List and Write 100 things in Arabic Language

Use your Arabic lesson to make this list of 100 Arabic words and illustrate them into a pretty picture book that can be shared with younger students or siblings, and teach them a word or two!

27. 100 prayers I would make…

Make a chart of 100 Rakahs, and collectively decide how kids can make extra voluntarily (Nafl Prayers) and pray these 100 Rakahs!

28. 100 ways we can take care of the earth

Going green is key to our future and Islam endorses it. Plan on finding ways to take care of the earth and its resources the class can implement.

29. Remember Allah 100 times

Gain Allah’s blessings by making Dhikr. Learn the meanings of  Subhan-Allah, Alhumdulillah, Allahu Akbar, La illaha illAllah, etc. and recite them 100 times!

30. Make a craft using 100 recycled things

Fun class project idea to make using 100 items of recyclable products like cans, plastic bags, newspapers, magazines, bottles, etc. Allah does not like the wasteful.

31.  Name 100 countries & highlight the Muslim Countries from this list

Name the 100 counties’ capital cities. Have a fun question trivia round for each of these countries (their currency, where they are located on the map, interesting structures, fun facts, etc.)

32. Have a reading Marathon and read 100 Books that teach us about kindness and having good character

Make a list of these books. Borrow them from local libraries if they are not available at the school. Read and discuss the class’ favorite books out of them.

33. Write “100″ in different languages (including Sign Language) & Highlight the languages spoken by the students in  the school

Make a wall chart and display it on a bulletin board.

34.  List 100 things that you want to see or wish in Jannah!

Great activity for the little ones to learn about Jannah and its unimaginable possibilities!

35. How would you help 100 orphans?

List ways in which the community and the children can help orphans around the world. Look up projects like “Sponsor an orphan” and see if the students can collectively sponsor an orphan in another country and keep in touch with him/her.

36. Collect and print 100 different faces that Allah created. Not one of us is alike! SubhanAllah!

Post this on a bulletin Board and write the words “SubhanAllah! Not one of us is alike! 100 faces of mankind that Allah has created”

37.  100 goals I would like to accomplish as an American Muslim

Great idea for language lesson writing prompt. The children can even display each of their goals (illustrated) in the school corridor.

38. Collecting 100 toys for charity

Collect 100 toys and donate it to a popular charity for sick kids or homeless children.

39. Collecting 100 coats for Coat Drive

Join hands with your local Charity to take part in their Coat Drive

40. 100 minutes spending time reading Quran

Use this time to reflect on some Quran reading and then have a discussion on the Ayah or Surah they found inspiring.

41. Write an essay (100 words per paragraph) on “100 ways to make the world a better place”

Write an essay using only 100 words per paragraph and read it out to your classmates!

42. Write a letter to United Nations and to the White House (make sure they get it on 100 days): 100 ways to achieve world peace

Write and send a letter to Mr President or the UN as a class project on the 100th Day of School.

43. 100 ways to save energy & resources and not be wasteful

Research ways to conserve energy and the earth’s resources that Allah has blessed us with. Learn how doing so is being “Islamic”.

44. Press 100 flowers and leaves

Reflect on the beauty of nature and observe the many details of Allah’s creation in this project.

45. Collect 100 rocks and make a rock collection

Use the rocks to spell Allah’s name with it, and other such activities.

46. Find 100 different languages to say peace

Begin with Salaam, and find out how to say peace in Mandarin, Japanese, Malay, Portuguese, Bulgarian, German, French and even Asturian.

47. Imagine what it would be like 100 years from now for Muslims.

Discuss this topic as a class and write down your own views of what the world would be like. Also discuss signs of Qiyama and include some of these concepts and hadith in your writing.

48. Research 100 ways to cure simple diseases using the Prophet’s (pbuh) Medicine

Studying about the Prophet’s methods of simple cures is quite interesting. Go on a journey and discover these ways. Include them in your project or presentation to the class.

49. 100 Art Pieces

Auction kids art pieces and use the money for a charitable cause.

50. Make a t-shirt that says: 100 Days of Blessing-List on the back 100 Blessings

Wear these T shirts on the 100th Day of School

Sister Reminder blogs

The Quran teaches us that Allah has created everything in numbers, and nothing is left without His knowledge.  It states in Surah Jinn Ayah 28, “Allah has counted exact number of things…”  One of Allah’s attribute is “Al-Muhsey” or The Keeper of Counts.  It means “He who knows the number of things even if it’s infinite”  Subhan-Allah!

I was  always curious how to make 100 School Days with a twist of Islamic culture. Sometimes we get so caught up in the academic, we forget the perspective of the spiritual side to teaching. I came up with these 50 ideas…maybe you can send your ideas to jannahsteps@gmail.com and we can complete to 100!

1. I would give in charity, 100 dollars to….

Teach lesson on Zakah and Sadaqa. Discuss charity options, organizations, people in need, projects that need our help, etc.

2. 100 things from Allah’s nature (100 acorns, 100 popcorn seeds, 100 leaves, 100 small stones, etc.)

Go on a nature walk around your school campus or backyard/neighborhood. Discover and collect 100 things in nature. Talk about the different textures, shapes, sizes, smells and beauty of each article in nature.

3. 100 Good Deeds to Jannah

Discuss what it means to do a “good deed”. Place child’s hand in paint and make a hand print, when paint is dry, write their good deed inside it. Decorate the school corridor or classroom bulletin board and write “100 Good Deeds to Jannah….celebrating 100 Days of School”

4. 100 things to thank Allah for

List 100 things we should thank Allah for (although Allah’s favors are plenty and we can never thank Him enough) and create a bulletin board with the children’s illustration and ideas.

5. 100 Blessings you can’t deny

Allah provides us with countless blessings.  We often take them for granted. In this topic, reflect on the countless blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us and thank Him. Allah says in Surah Ibrahim, Ayah 34; “But if you count the favors of Allah, never will you be able to number them.” So we will only attempt to list 100 here.

6. 100 creatures Allah created

Great topic for the little ones. List these animals, collect pictures or little toys of them. Research some interesting facts about the favorite animals and learn to say SubhanAllah to the amazing way Allah has created them!

7. 100 words from the Quran

Learn some popular words used in the Quran including, opposites in the Quran, A-Z Quran words (words that begin with each letter of the alphabet- A is for Allah, B is for Bismillah….etc.), colors in the Quran, animals in the Quran, numbers in the Quran, and so on.

8. 99 names + Allah = 100 Names of Allah

Memorize the Asma al Husna. Learn and understand the meanings of each glorious name of Allah, you can extend this activity by also searching for these names in the Quran and see what Surah the children can find them in.

9. 100 footprints of the Prophet (pbuh)

Draw each child’s footprint on paper. Cut the shape out. In these 100 footprints, write 100 things the Prophet (pbuh) did that we should follow. Make a footprint track collage on the classroom walls or in the corridor and name it “Following in the footsteps of the Prophet (pbuh). Celebrating 100 Days of School”

10. Write 1- 100 in Arabic

Time to master those special numbers! Write them in Arabic and learn to say them in Arabic. Each child can write one number on square card stock, and decorate it. Place them on the school walls, different classrooms, the playground, principal’s office door…..and at recess, go on a hunt while counting them in order to see where they take you!

11. Make Dua for 100 seconds

Teach kids about the power of Dua. Teach them the etiquette of making Dua- when the best time is to make Dua, how to make it and what to say. Help them make Dua for 100 seconds.

12. List 100 things Allah created

Make a project out of Allah’s creation lesson. Collect pictures, draw or make a 100 page book on the various creations of Allah.

13. 100 mosaic tiles to make a Masjid

Use mosaic tiles from any craft supply store, and create a masjid picture on the floor of your classroom, and take a picture. You can create mosaic tile masajid with paper mosaic and glue each child’s creation on paper to display and take home.

14. 100 popsicle sticks to make a 3-D Masjid

Fun project to do with the older kids. Although time consuming, it can bring amazing results. Show off the creations in the school’s lobby and write “Celebrating 100 Days of School…Making a Masjid with 100 Popsicle sticks”. You can even announce a competition and allow this to be held on the day of the 100th Day of School.

15. 100 Kind Words and Gestures

Discuss the many ways kids can show kindness to Allah’s creation. Kindness to animals, kindness to classmates, kindness to parents, kindness to siblings, kindness to teachers and adults, kindness to the neighbor, kindness to the stranger, kindness to the environment, and so on. Discuss kind acts and the possibility that kind acts can bring you closer to Allah. Create a book of kindness- each page created by one student. The student will illustrate how he can show kindness to Allah’s creation, or Words/sentences he can say to make someone feel better.

16. Name 100 halal ingredients to put in a meal

List the various halal ingredients and discuss what ingredients cannot make it on the “halal list”. Make a project book with the various ingredients glued on the pages, or taken a picture of.

17. 100 Dishes from Muslim Countries

Have a cook off party and invite everyone! Discuss Muslim countries and their food. Look up recipes and make them at home. Bring them to school on the 100th Day of School and invite everyone to come taste the dishes. Decorate each classroom and display dishes from these countries. Even try dressing up in the traditional garb while serving!

18. There would not be 100 without the Muslim (Muslim invented Number 0)

Teach students the history of numbers and how the Arabs invented the number 0. Help students look up and research this information and give a small presentation on numbers! Also learn about the present day English numerals and how they came into being.

19. Name 100 things your parents do for you that you never thought about.

Time to reflect on the many things our parents do for us. Create a beautiful book illustrated by each student as a gift for their parents. The book can read “My mother cooks me a yummy meal every day” (and draw mother cooking a meal), “My father works so I can go to school” (draw father working)….and so on. Then the last page will read “Dear Mommy and Daddy, You never thought I noticed. But I want you to know that I love you and appreciate everything you do for me. Thank you Allah for giving me my parents! Love, Child’s Name”

20. Make 100 cookies to share and give out

You can bake different kinds of cookies and share, or you can have a Cookie Bake off! Sell 100 (large size) cookies at school recess for a $1 each. Decide as a class what you can do with that $100…see #1.

21. Mail 100 postcards/letters to people you know

Why not write a small note to all the child’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and relatives to let them know that they are fondly remembered..

22. Name 100 important events in Islamic History

Have fun tying in all the important historic events to make a list of 100. Think about why these events were important in our history. What can we take from these events and how can we apply them in our lives today.

23.  Make 100 Islamic Art Cards using Islamic Patterns

Display the art cards in the school hallway. Sell them to make money for charity if you like or just take them home and enjoy them in a frame.

24.  Name 100 Famous Muslim figures from World History

Use the 1001 Inventions website to find some famous Muslims in our history. Or add local Muslims who have dedicated their lives for a cause.

25. Name 100 Famous Muslim figures from Seerah History

Make a list of the top 100 Famous/Important Muslim figures and see who scores the top #1 position in your class (I can guess who…!!!)

To be continued…

* COMING SOON*

Look out for 1001 Inventions classroom worksheets, activity ideas and downloads for ages 4-7 in this space.  We will post them soon.  We are currently awaiting the response of 1001 Inventions  in regards to the materials we created and used in classrooms before we put them up here.

Thank you!

Sr Alif blogs

It’s such an honor to have 1001 Inventions come to New York City! I had the blessing of attending this wonderful showcase of Muslim Science exhibition. (Also read Globe Girl’s Post on her trip to the 1001 Inventions here.)

To really take advantage of the exhibition and this wonderful information, these are a few suggestions to make the trip extend into your classroom or to your homeschooling group. Even if you did not have the chance to go, some of their resources are very interesting and can be explained without the Museum trip. Here are some suggestions on how it can be applied in your very own learning environment.

For Ages 8 to 14

1. Assign one week  or one month (depending on your Science and Social Studies Curriculum) to the theme: “Dark Ages or the Golden Ages?”-Brain storm information using a KWL chart on the Dark Ages.

2. Watch the video Secrets of the Library and then go back to the KWL chart to add more information.

3. Break into groups according to the different zones of the Museum, and have them read as much about the zones  and the Scientists that contributed to each zone. Use the link here to download topics explaining some Muslim inventions and how they have helped form many of the products we use today like cameras, clocks, cars etc. Have them share their findings on poster board.

4. If you have a chance to go to the Museum and experience the different zones, download these wonderful worksheets, as they can be used for students to find information on their own at the Museum. If you cannot go, you can easily have them do the search online. Use the Muslim Heritage website (http://1001inventions.com/), as they have all the information the student will need to answer these questions.

5. Enrich your teaching skills and Science curriculum by downloading the Teacher Pack here.  It contains well organized lesson plans on how to teach these topics at an elementary and junior level. Although tailored to a junior or middle school audience, the lessons can easily be tailored down to a younger age group.

6. Finally, each group can do a presentation on different Muslim scientists and their discovery and invention from the different zones. It would also be wonderful if they dressed up in a costume of these Muslim Scientists as well and even create a play!

This is a great way to combine Multi-cultural perspective of Muslim civilization and their contribution to the science world. It’s well worth the trip, and if not it can easily be incorporated into your science curriculum using 1001 Inventions teachers resource kits.

For more information on the 1001 exhibition,you can go to http://www.1001inventions.com.

For the museum trip and fees you can go to  http://www.nysci.org/visit/events/1001

Globe Girl blogs

As I was trudging through the snow piled parking lot,  I viewed the groups of  teachers and children lined up in front of the Hall of Science Museum in Queens, New York.

Amidst the usual crowd, there were Muslim women with brightly colored scarves waving like the United Nations’ Flags. I gave salaam to all my beautiful sisters and waved to the children. “Which school are you from?”  I inquired. “Al-Islamia from Brooklyn,” ” Jamaica Muslim Center from Queens,” “Hamza Academy from Long Island.”  Mash-Allah! They were teachers from three different Islamic  Schools and from all tri-bourough areas of NY! All of them were waiting to see the 1001 Inventions exhibition, showcasing the long forgotten scientific legacy of Muslim Civilization. You could feel a sense of dignified pride in the students that they would finally see Muslim role models that ranged from scientists, explorers, thinkers, mathematicians, physicists, astronomers and scholars far more than what was offered in their science and social studies textbooks.

I have to really honor the Hall of Science Museum to allow this opportunity to bring Multi-cultural  perspective and allow different cultures to show case their history and its contributions. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted with a sign of “1001 Inventions” lighting at the front entrance as well as the posted figures of ancient Muslim Scientists. I was grateful to see that they even offered a prayer room next to the exhibitions.

When we were in, we sat  down to watch a 15 minute movie “The Library of Secrets”,  and Oscar winning  actor Ben Kingsley plays a mysterious librarian who takes the school children to an enlightening  journey to meet different scientists in the Muslims Golden Era of the Middles Ages. Even little Pre-K and Kindergarteners were sitting quietly enchanted by Aladdin and Genie like figures explaining their contributions. They especially liked Abbas Ibn Firnaas who made an attempt to fly but … did not land too well!

The highlight of the exhibition was the large Elephant water clock invented by engineer Al-Jazari from the 12th century.

The exhibition had several different minaret structures which were divided into different zones (home, school, flight, hospitals etc.) that represented the different types of inventions that led other technological inventions we use today. In the school zones, students rushed to touch buttons that light up the angles in a series of numerals, revealing the reason why we write the numbers the way we do today. In the home zone, they watched a video on Ibn Al-Haytham and how he discovered the working of the eyes, which lead to the idea of ‘camera obsecura’. Some students went to view the admiral ship that a Chinese Muslim Zheng who made the world’s largest fleet, while other children admired the large scale reproduction world map made by  Moroccan scholars Al-Idris in the World Zone. I especially love the lit up poster of pictures and names of scholars from all faiths working together to advance science technology during the height of the Muslim Civilization.

My little group of Muslim girls seemed to be wowing a video of Merriam Al-Lilliyah. They were no older than 4 years old, but found a new super star besides Dora the Explorer or Princess Cinderella. They kept pushing one another to hold the phone and  listen to how she constructed astrolabes for the ruler of Aleppo in Northern Syria in the 10th century. Whether they understood it or not was not the point. They were just excited to see a beautiful woman in a colorful traditional Muslim scarf holding the scientific tool that she created. I asked them which Muslim scientist they liked the most, and they all shouted “Merriam-I want to be an astronomer like Merriam!”

I walked out of the Museum feeling “enlightened” that Dark Ages were not so dark after all, and there were more tales than the crusades, war, and blood shed in this time period. This exhibition really lit a passion in me to study the Muslim Civilization and all the famous scholars of all faiths. Maybe we can learn from this golden period of Islam to build a better inter-faith world with peace through Science and Education. Maybe it would not be so bad to take an astronomy course although I’m not too keen on math-and yes…Merriam Al-Illiyah is my new heroine!

For more information on the 1001 exhibition,you can go to http://www.1001inventions.com.

For the museum trip and fees you can go to  http://www.nysci.org/visit/events/1001

Sr Alif blogs

Sr Sarah’s  6th and 7th Grade class was smelling very sweet during their “Around-the-World Masjid Project’.  Students were asked to choose a masjid that was well known historically, and do research on it’s historical significance as well as its architecture.

After the students had about a week to complete their report on the masjid, they had exactly one hour in the afternoon to create their masjid completely out of sweets. They were told that they could not share their ingredients so they better come prepared!

This one hour turned into quite a productive assembly line of students frantically smearing frosting on their graham crackers, and trying to keep the walls from falling. The biggest challenge was to make the dome. Some used bread buns cut in half while one opted to use a giant Hershey kiss covered with yellow frosting. He was making “The Dome of the Rock”, so he wanted to make sure it looked grand. He even had a chocolate covered Marshmallow cookie to use as the ‘rock’.  Another student used gummy bears as little Muslim worshipers.

In the end, the students some how proved to be talented confection architect artists as they created very similar replicas of the famous masajid.

Sr Alif blogs

A conversation with Sr Maryam Khaliqi ( a Kindergarten teacher) and the PreK teachers jump started an idea to do something memorable at school for our Hijri Calendar. Her thoughts were that people go all out and celebrate New Years and it’s just sad that we don’t emphasize our own calendar dates for our kids to remember, experience and enjoy. Often kids won’t even be aware of when the start of the new Islamic month is. So it was the perfect solution to create some buzz and excitement in the corridors of the PreK classroom. We were going to have a fun Hijri party and get those little kids learning the Islamic calendar faster than you can say “1432 A.H.!”

We were off to a great start, in the morning the kids colored their 1432 AH Party hats in English and Arabic numbers (Download template below). The teacher took the children out for outdoor activities while her assistant set up the tables and decorated it with table cloth and decorations. When the kids returned, they got to wear their 1432 paper hats and sat down around Sr Zahra Biler’s homemade cake with delicious whipped cream and blueberries. The children decorated it with green M&M’s carefully making the numbers 1432 (Great for eye-hand coordination). Then they sang “It’s an Islamic New Year, It’s an Islamic New Year! !1432….After Hijra!!” This was a song they sang to the tune of Happy Birthday!

Finally, they all returned home happily with party blowers in their mouths and goody bags in their hands. The bags were decorated with 1432 A.H. tags. You can download party hats and gift tag templates that can be used for class or just a fun kids get together.

Download 1432 Party Hat Template here: Islamic New Year 1432 Templates

Busy Baby Mama blogs

Move over Dunkin! Here come DeeN’ Donuts. Chef Musa is busy in the kitchen again teaching his toddler sister ‘Princess Jannah’ the arabic alphabet in this fun activity. After discovering that the hot chocolate and Bavarian cream donuts at Dunkin Donuts will cost him one third of his weekly salary, he opted to create his own and in the process- he ended up making them into arabic letters. The recipe only calls for 2 ingredients! Watch recipe video below. He made the ‘haa’ perfectly…but when fried, it turned into ‘meem’. His sister enjoy making the nukhtas (small dots)-which he told her were like baby ‘munchkins’. He also enjoyed dusting them with confectioner’s sugar as well just like the real thing. However, his sister was not convinced that they could taste as good as “Dunkin”, poked them suspiciously until he melted some chocolate frosting in the microwave and glazed the top and added the sprinkles. The ‘princess’ gave the nod of approval as she crunched on the letter ‘taw’, and washed it down with a glass of organic milk. She took the rest of the alphabet donuts to share her sweet knowledge with her class friends!

Personalize your own free printable recipe card