July Together We Read: Who Made the Builders?

Assalamu alaikum,

*Post Updated Alhamdulillah - Files Added!*

We read the book, "Who Made the Builders?"

and here are activities that can be used as extensions to the book insha'Allah (these activities are suited for children ages 3,4 and 5 insha'Allah):

A file folder game about places in the neighbourhood.

The control of error in this file folder game is that each square fits only the piece that is correct. If the child places a piece in the incorrect square he/she can self-correct because he/she will, at some point, notice that the game piece and the square do not match:

The shopping basket and the carton of eggs have been placed in the wrong square and the child can see that the pieces do not match the square they placed them in. They can now self-correct insha'Allah.

The next activity is a word/picture matching game in Arabic:

These are the picture cards with the Arabic labels. The cards and labels are placed on the table in random order/fashion and the child is invited to match the label with the correct picture insha'Allah.

Here the label cards are matched to the pictures (click on the photo for larger view insha'Allah).

There is a little booklet that is the control of error for this activity. The child gets the book and can check to see that their work is identical to the answer booklet. If not, they can self-correct insha'Allah.

Next, there is a sorting game (for math):

I just used a box, glued some of the pictures that show things in a neighbourhood on the lid and then on the side, it says, 'What is in our neighbourhood?'

Inside, there are large cards that show places in the neighbourhood and smaller cards that show things that would be found in these places. In the picture on the left, the cards are in random order. In the picture on the right, the small cards have been sorted to match the place they are found.

The control of error for this activity is:

On the back of the large cards there is a coloured dot. Each large card has a different colour dot. The small cards also have dots that correspond to the large card that they should be matched with. When the child completes the activity he/she turns the cards over and if the dots on the small cards match the dot on the large card for that group they know they have completed the activity correctly alhamdulillah. If they notice that the dots do not match (like in the pictures above) then they simply self-correct and check again insha'Allah.

Next, we built a masjid out of blocks (not pictured).

Here are some other activities to go along with this book insha'Allah: 

- Talk about the adthan/iqama, how both were established and go over the words.

- Work on memorizing surah al-Fatiha and also on saying the shahada.

- Locate and talk about the hadith that mentions the reward for building a masjid.

- Make several masaajid or cut them from magazines and invite the child to make a collage insha'Allah.

- Use a blank masjid template and write the ad'iya (plural of dua) for entering and leaving the masjid. These can be found in Hisn-ul-Muslim I believe. If your child is older (i.e. 4 or 5) and can write in Arabic, invite him/her to write the ad'iya on the masaajid and hang them on the refrigerator or other place where they can be easily seen to aide in memorizing the dua.

- For younger infants/toddlers, make a masjid pillow by taking the blank masjid template and enlarging it. Use this as a pattern for sewing the pillow insha'Allah. 

- For younger toddlers, cut out felt shapes showing a masjid, a library, school, etc. that are found in your neighbourhood and retell the story on a felt board insha'Allah. 

I have not attached the files we used only because I am trying to make the file folder game in black and white. The other pictures are actual photos so I cannot make those files black and white and I need to indicate the photo credits. But...I

Updated Alhamdulillah! Here are the files that we used:

File Folder Game (colour)

File Folder Game (black & white)

Math Sorting Game ( Black Border)

Math Sorting Game (White Border)

Language Labeling Activity (White Border)

Arabic Words Pronunciation Chart & Photo Credits

In the meantime, if you've read a book (remember: it does not have to be the book we read, it can be any book you choose insha'Allah) and have done an activity with your child, link up and share with us all insha'Allah.

The linky will be open until the day before the next "Together We Read" post on August 15th insha'Allah.

So what did you read? Link up insha'Allah!

Oh! Have you entered the Smart Ark giveaway?