The Approach of Ramadan; Sighting the Moon

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Today's Quote:

 

“When there comes the month of Ramadan,

the gates of mercy are opened,

and the gates of Hell are locked

and the devils are chained.”

 

Narrated on the authority of

Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu anhu)

 (Saheeh Muslim, #2361)

 

 

Goals:

To prepare for Ramadan; learn about the phases of the moon and how to tell when Ramadan begins and ends.

 

Overview of Today's Activities:

Activity 1: Make a Ramadan Bulletin Board

Activity 2: Listen to audio lectures about Preparing for/the Approach of Ramadan

Activity 3: Learn about the phases of the moon

Activity 4: Language Connection

Activity 5: Ramadan Coloring Page

Activity 6: Arts and Crafts

 

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Activity 1: Make a Ramadan Bulletin board

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 A Bulletin board is a handy place to put all sorts of useful Ramadan goodies.

 

Sample Bulletin Board Layout

Included are some suggestions for things you can add. 

Be creative and personalize it to fit your family.

 

 

Ramadan Board Attachment ideas:

 

• Ramadan Calendars:

Ramadan Blank Calendar

Ramadan Calendar I - Ramadan Crafts

Ramadan Calendar II - Ramadan Crafts

(or make your own)

• Family Fasting Tracker:

  keep track of the days everyone has fasted

   

• What Breaks the Fast Reminder Poster

• Duaa for Breaking Fast

• Suratul Qadr Poster

• Command to Fast Poster

• Artwork and crafts made during Ramadhan

 

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Activity 2:Preparing for Ramadan

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Read or listen to and discuss the following article and/or audio:

 

• Approach of Ramadhan

by Shaykh ‘Abdullah Ibn Saalih al-Fawzaan

(this links to the download page from Troid.org. where the file (PDF, 55k) is located

• Preparation for Ramadan

  by Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Abdur-Raheem al-Bukharee

 

�Older Kids:

Take notes on the above article and lecture

and make a “Preparing for Ramadhan” Poster to hang on the bulletin board.

 

�Younger Kids:

With parents or siblings’ help, make an illustrated “Preparing for Ramadhan” Poster

for the bulletin board.

 

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Activity 3: Science: Learn about the phases of the moon

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We know that Ramadan (or any Islamic month) begins when we sight the new or crescent moon.

 

Learn about the phases of the moon and how to tell when the new month starts through the following activities and sites:

 

Facts about the moon’s phases:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/time/moon/phases.html

 

Phases of the moon diagram for each month in 2006-2007: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/moon/moon_worksheet/moon_worksheet.html

 

Make your own Lunar Calendar: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/moon/moon_worksheet/moon_worksheet.html

 

Take the Moon Challenge Drag and drop the moons to the correct place in the lunar cycle: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/moon/moon_challenge/moon_challenge.html

 

Diagram of the different moon phases around the Earth: http://www.hermit.org/Eclipse/Graphics/diagrams/SolSysPhases.png

 

Animation showing the different moon phases around the Earth: http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/anisamples/astronomy/moonphase.html

 

DLTK’s Moon Phases Crafts (ages 2-8)

http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/moon/mphases.htm

 

Moon’s Life Cycle: Hover over each of the cycles to see what the moon looks like

 at that time. http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonlif.htm

MacGraw Hill School: links and lessons about the moon and its phases, 1st grade level http://www.macmillanmh.com/reading/2005/teacher/teachres/tes/activity.php3?story=47

How long does each phase of the moon last?

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/phonedrmarc/2004_march.shtml

Phases of the Moon (NASA):

 http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/science/phases.htm

Moon Phase Activity from NASA for older kids

http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/educators/moonphase.html

Moon Phase Shockwave Presentation:  http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/science/exp2.htm

 

Moon Images from NASA http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/educators/teachers_moon_images.shtml

 

2Sight the Moon Project: 

 Make a telescope with a cardboard tube. Decorate, and try to sight the moon each night before Ramadan begins.

2Make Moon Phase diaries to record what you observe.

Older kids: http://magaxp1.msfc.nasa.gov/outreach/girlscouts/moon_phases.html

Younger kids: http://magaxp1.msfc.nasa.gov/outreach/girlscouts/smpl_moon_chrt.html

 

 

Continue with your diary throughout Ramadan, insha Allah.

 

 

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Activity 4: Language Connection

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English

• Writing: Discuss and copy today's quote neatly. Younger children can copy letters or words from the quote.

• Writing: Write the following words in sentences: month, gate, mercy, opened, locked, chained

• Grammar: Have student tell the part of speech of each word listed above

• Listening/Spelling: Dictate words from the quote for spelling. Have student practice with words he/she does not know how to spell. (See TJ's Language Arts spelling page on the main TJ site for practice activities).

• Reading: Have older children do repeated reading on quote to increase fluency, insha Allah. Younger children can tell you the names of letters and/or sounds in select words.

• Phonics: Review the sounds of wh, ck, ch, th, a_e, er, ai

• Grammar: Teach/review subject/verb agreement with forms of verb to be: is/are.

  Give student sentences with verb missing and have him fill in with the correct form of "to be"

  Examples:

  The masjid _______ far. (are/is)    

  We ____ going to break our fast at the masjid,insha Allah. (is/are)

Arabic

 

Try to obtain a copy of today's quote in Arabic.  Modify the above activities, as possible, for Arabic.

 

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Activity 5: Coloring

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Color: Ramadan Coloring Page

(Tip: Color and laminate to make a Ramadan placemat)

(created by Iluvpandas, age 11)

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Activity 6: Arts & Crafts - "Chains"

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Calendar Chain

Date Chain