Sr Alif blogs

ACTIVITY #5: WHAT SHALL I WEAR TO THE BIGGEST EVENT ON THE PLANET?

What do Hajjis wear when they go for Hajj? In this activity, children familiarize themselves with the unique hajj dress code. Cut these cute Muslim Popsicle puppets and allow children to pretend play as their Popsicle puppet buddies go on Hajj with them. Learn to recite the Talbiyah. Help children repeat the Talbiyah and memorize it. Ihram Puppets DOWNLOAD HERE

Extension Activity: Children love to dress up! Demonstrate with 2 pieces of white towels, how men must wear the Ihram. Allow girls to try out different hijabs and jilbabs or long dresses! Girls cannot cover their face during Hajj. Boys cannot wear anything on their heads during Hajj. Contemplate with them as to why these rules apply during Hajj. Help them understand why people from different walks of life (whether a King or a pauper) all come to Hajj and are viewed as equal in the eyes of Allah- the Hajj dress code only promotes this equality.

ACTIVITY #6: WE’RE IN AL KABA: “LABBAIK ALLAHUMMA LABAIK!”

What is the shape of the Kabah? What color is it? Do you know how to say that color in Arabic? How many doors or windows does the Kabah have? Does anyone live inside the Kabah? Who built the Kabah? These are some of the questions kids can be  asked. Journey along with them as they seek answers. Download the Kabah template and decorate it with gold paper strips or glitter glue.  Kaba Template DOWNLOAD HERE

Here are sample Kabahs made at Hamza School in New York by Preschoolers.

Older children can make a 3D model and do the following extension activity.

Extension Activity: Using online resources help your children learn about Al Kaba and find pictures that help them understand what the inside of the Kaba may look like. Also learn about the history of Al Kaba in the recent past. Understand what it may have looked like in the early 1900′s and compare it to images from today.

Hajj Countdown Links for the rest of the activities:

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-4-of-10/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-6-of-10/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-8-of-10/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-10-of-10/

Sister Alif blogs

ACTIVITY #3: ON A CAMEL, ON A PLANE, ON A SHIP…              WE’RE OFF TO MAKE OUR FIRST HAJJ TRIP!

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-6-of-10/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-8-of-10/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-10-of-10/

Sister Alif blogs

So, you wish you can make hajj- You watch one of your friends or family preparing their visas, and packing their suitcase. When you hug and shake the Hajjis good bye, your heart feels that slight pang of sadness that some how you didn’t get to be invited  to the best renown world conference ever. As you pull out from the airport and you look at your children sitting in the back seat talking excitedly about the airport scene, you wonder, “Is there anything I can do before Eid ul Adha to  remind them about Hajj?”

Use these 10 days of Dhul Hijjah  to have teachable moments with your child. It can be a short 10 minutes activity or extend it to an evening past time.

ACTIVITY #1: CREATING YOUR VERY OWN HAJJ PASSPORT

Have your child look at his/her own passport. Talk about each page and what it might be used for. Talk about how this book is an international document that confirms your identity and citizenship.

If you use a passport to visit other countries, it may have some national stamps and seals to show where you are going or have been.

Extension Activities: Print and use the passport template Hajj Passport Template- DOWNLOAD HERE (I used a rounded edge corner cutter to make my passport). Look at passports from various countries. Find out how people get passports in your country.

ACTIVITY #2: PACK YOUR SUITCASE- WE’RE GOING FOR HAJJ!

Although we didn’t get to make Hajj this year, we can always use our imagination and pretend to take this wonderful journey from the comfort of our own home or classroom! Talk to your children about what some things you would need to take with you if you were to make a journey. Now discuss what you would pack in your suitcase and what would be considered Hajj essentials. Download the worksheet activity Lets Pack For Hajj- DOWNLOAD HERE . Cut and paste each important item in the bag. Ask the children why they feel each item is essential for their journey. 

Hajj Countdown Links for the rest of the activities:

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-4-of-10/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-6-of-10/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-8-of-10/

http://blog.jannahsteps.com/2009/11/hajj-countdown-10-hajj-activities-for-kids-10-of-10/

Sr Alif blogs about Hajj Journal

We’ve been flooded by an over whelming request- to share hajj connection worksheets and materials for Islamic school teachers and parents.

So check out our journal worksheets that we have created. Reflect on the unique Hajj phenomenon as you complete the journal with your child/student. Look out for more Hajj activities in the posts that follow Inshallah!

Hajj Journal Pages DOWNLOAD HERE

Sister Reminder blogs

Official Announcement from the High Judiciary Council  of Saudi Arabia…

Wednesday 18 November 2009 is 1 Dhul-Hijjah.  Muslims performing Hajj will be in ‘Arafah  on Thursday 26 November 2009 (9 Dhul-Hijjah 1430),   and the Muslim Ummah shall be celebrating ‘Eid ul-Adha  on Friday 27 November 2009, (10 Dhul-Hijjah 1430).  Insha-Allaah.

PS: Beautiful Hajj pictures from last year. Please view here.

Umm Professional blogs

It’s always fun preparing for Eid, and even more so when you are preparing Eid gifts for your non-Muslim friends, neighbors or teachers- you can use it as an excuse to do “The Dawah Power” as I call it to teach my kids the importance of spreading Islam the friendly way. Don’t make excuses, ” I don’t have money or the time to give anything to my non-Muslim friends-they would never be interested in Islam anyway…”

In this difficult financial time, we can still find ways to give a little, and still get a big smile and appreciation from our neighbors and friends. My favorite ideas are made by the children, who have the zeal of giving. Here are a few ideas from different sisters who have emailed us…

1. Eid Mubarak E-Card ($0- free!)- one sister emailed her non-Muslim family members and friends Eid Mubarak e-cards and they responded, “Thank you-What is Eid Mubarak?” Ahh…now all the possible answers to that question!

List of Best e-Eid Card Sites:

www.123greetings.com

www.eidgreetings.com

www.eidwishes.com

2. Sweet Treats ($2.50 per gift -cake mix, paper box, cellophane wrapper, ribbons)- This sister found cupcakes, brownies, and muffins to be an inexpensive but well appreciated gift. “Even if you use instant cake mix, you can’t go wrong with decorated frosting. Put cupcake with frosting on a nice paper plate with cellophane wrapper, or muffins in a bakery box” she explains. One cake mix box can make enough cup cakes or muffins for about two neighbors….that’s less than $1.50 per person!

3. Eid Cake ($3.00 for cake mix and frosting)- You just don’t have time putting the batter in those cupcake liners? Just pour it on to a square or circular pan, and get your kids to frost and decorate it. Says one young chef here who made a desert and date palm tree scene on the cake with fruit loops and dates, “We just took whatever we could find in our kitchen! Our downstairs neighbors’ kids were ecstatic, and did not want to eat it because they said they didn’t want to mess it up!!”

4. Eid Gifts ($6.00 for gift wrap- bought here)-This clever mom looked for any stashed away gift items that she had in the attic or basement that she had not used and were brand new. She found perfumes, dishes, pocket books, scarves, framed art, vases. Then she wrapped them up with colorful gift wrappers and the children gave it to the astonished neighbors. She gave a short explanation, “After Hajj, we celebrate our Holiday called Eid. We give gifts to our family member and friends, and we just want to let you know we consider you as part of our family.”  Suddenly your unknown neighbor is your best friend!

5. Fruit Bouquet ($5.00-$10.00)- If you want to get a little more fancy as this sister attempted to make her own fruit arrangement with the help of her little girl. She explains, “What started off as fruit kebabs became fruit flower gifts. Actually my friend showed up a day before Eid with box full of fruit. Knowing there was no way we could eat all these fruit, we decided to give them away. I got some ideas from fruit decoration companies (They charge $50-$100!), and took out some old vases, Styrofoam and bunch of sticks, and put my little assistant to work. She happily stuck the grapes one by one, and after she completed them, decided to eat them as well. Oh, well… that’s what I get for relying on ‘child labor’!”