Outside My World (Book 22)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Alhamdulillaah, this is book #22, 'Outside My World', that supplements the Islamic Studies Curriculum used by sis Umm Maimoonah. This is the last book for this curriculum but please check back as I will be posting book 18, 'Allaah Gave Me Clothes' soon insha'Allaah (this book is currently not available).

 

In this book, 'Outside My World', children are invited to complete many activities related to the solar system. Children learn two more of Allaah's Beautiful Names; they are invited to make a solar system mobile to hang from the ceiling; they have a chance to write their own space story (for children who are not writing yet, they can dictate the sentence to a parent or sibling who can write it for them insha'Allaah); they learn about and label the parts of a space shuttle, and more alhamdulillaah! 

Parts of this book are in colour with the reasoning that I was not sure if it would be easy to distinguish the characteristics of the different planets in black and white. If you feel this will be no problem (i.e. distinguishing each planet's characteristics in black and white), printing the book in grey-scale should save your ink *smile* insha'Allaah.

Download book #22, 'Outside My World', here insha'Allaah

Check it Out: Bring on the Birds

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

The illustrations in this book are.....beautiful.   

Bring On the Birds is a rhyming picture book that introduces children to exotic and some familiar birds.The book is intended for children 2-6 years old and the crisp, bold and very colourful illustrations will definitely draw young reader's attention. Each bird, in all of its splendor, is presented in its natural habitat and the short rhyming text teaches children a little about each bird. Children will see yet another example of Allaah's power and ability to create as they observe and learn about yet another part of His creation....beautiful, stunning....birds. 

During your next trip to the library, check the shelf for Bring On the Birds and if you see it...check it out...and if you don't see this book on the shelf, stop by and ask the librarian about this book. Insha'Allaah, they may be able to obtain it through an inter-library loan.

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Weather (Book 21)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Alhamdulillaah, here is book #21, 'Weather', that suppliments the Islamic Studies Curriculum used by sis Umm Maimoonah.

In book 21, 'Weather', I've tried to reduce the level of this book a just a bit so that early to mid twos can also enjoy it and do more of the activities independently insha'Allaah. And there is a lot to do alhamdulillaah! Children learn that although we do our best to predict the weather accurately, in reality only Allaah knows what the weather will be. It is pointed out to children that we are often wrong in our attempts to predict the weather.

Children also have the chance to identify different types of weather, they learn two more of Allaah Most Beautiful Names and they learn (and are encouraged to memorize) the ad'iya for when it rains and when you hear thunder. They also have a chance to describe what types of weather occur in which seasons. There is a dot to dot puzzle and sand castle tracing for children to complete, a seasonal sorting exercise and more!

Download book 21, 'Weather' here insha'Allaah

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

-ap Family Word Book for Beginning Readers

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

This is the beginning reader for the -ap word family alhamdulillaah.

Children encounter the familiar short and repetitive sentences, with pictures accompanying them, to help them read independently with comprehension insha'Allaah. In this book children are invited to find the word in a hadith (provided in the book) that ends with the -ap sound and there is tracing practice, word/picture matching. There are also cards in the back of the book that the child can complete and make into flashcards.

Download the -ap word family book here insha'Allaah

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Basic Salat Sequencing Cards for Toddlers

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

The salat (and wudhu) sequencing cards from Learning Roots are excellent and beautifully crafted masha'Allaah. For children three years and older these cards are a wonderful way to teach the sequence of the salat (and wudhu).  

But as many parents will tell you, many older infants and toddlers begin to show an interest in praying with their parents before they turn three. Admittedly, they often exit the salat quite early and perhaps skip a few steps *smile* but they seem to really put their heart into it (especially the sujood masha'Allaah!). 

I thought for the little ones (under threes), we certainly want to encourage this early interest in the salat. This interest is also a great way to include a bit of math and cognitive work for them by letting them work on simplified salat sequencing cards. With simple language to help them understand ordinal words (first, next and last) we can teach them the basic sequence of a rakat of salat insha'Allaah. The cards can also be used with infants as well. If you print them in black and white you can show each card to the infant one at a time and simply name the position of salat (i.e. Qiyam, Ruku, etc.).

I made four large cards (I did not make the pictures on the cards) showing the four basic steps in a rakat and an answer key for the child(ren) to self-correct if needed.  

 Using very simple language you present the activity to the child in the following manner insha'Allaah:

1). Ask the child to bring a work mat to the area you'd like to work in insha'Allaah.


2). Bring the tray containing the sequencing cards and answer key sheet to the work mat. 


3). Sit on the child's right hand side. Explain that together, you will learn how to make salat insha'Allaah. Take out the cards and place them on the mat. Make sure the cards are not in the correct sequential order. 


4). Show the child the card that shows the first step in the salat and explain, using as few words as possible, what we do during this step and when we do this step (i.e. this is the qiyam. This is the first step we do in the salat. We stand like this and then make the takbir -  i.e. say "Allaahu Akbar"). 


5). Place the card in the first spot in the upper right hand side of the work mat, starting from the child's right hand side.


6). Complete each card this way, moving from right to left, until you have shown and very briefly explained all four cards and they are on the mat in the correct order. Take out the answer key sheet and set it underneath the cards and show the child how you check to make sure you have put each card in the correct order (i.e. place the key under the cards and point to the first card and then point to the first position on the key. Alternately, you can even take the each card and place it next to the first, second, third, etc. positions on the key to compare them).


7). Mix the cards up and invite the child to try by himself or herself insha'Allaah. When the child is done, invite them to check (and self-correct if needed) their answers against the answer key. When the child gains proficiency, you can add cards (i.e. another qiyam, ruku, etc.) to show more steps of the salat as it progresses.

  Here the sequence of cards was not done properly.

 Provide the answer key and allow the child to compare and self-correct insha'Allaah.

Self-corrected activity

Leave this activity out on a low shelf for the child to access and play with as often as he/she would like insha'Allaah.

I printed the cards on cardstock and then mounted them onto poster board just to make sure they can withstand frequent handling insha'Allaah. I would even suggest that after those two steps, the cards be laminated if possible, especially if they will be used in a classroom insha'Allaah. 

Here are the cards pictured and the key. You can download the same cards in black and white here and the black and white answer sheet here insha'Allaah.

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Check it Out: Kitten's Summer

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Kitten's Summer, is the third in a series of delightful books by Eugenie Fernandes.

Each book is filled with wonderful collage art work and each story is a fun rhyming story that follows kitten as he romps around the farm encountering delightful adventures. In Kitten's Summer, children encounter many words that describe how different animals move from place to place. Nicely written, the words in the story are not the common words used to describe movement and in this way children have an opportunity to build a rich vocabulary of verbs insha'Allaah.

There are three books in this series, Kitten's Spring, Kitten's Summer, and Kitten's Autumn and each one has proven to be a delightful read. Children as young as two years old may enjoy these stories...waallaahu a'lam.

The next time you're at your local library, check the shelf for all of the books in this series and if you can....check them out insha'Allaah!

-ake Family Word Book for Beginning Readers

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

This is the beginning reader for the -ake word family alhamdulillaah. 

Children encounter the familiar short and repetitive sentences, with pictures accompanying them, to help them read independently with comprehension insha'Allaah. There is tracing practice, word/picture matching and there are also cards in the back of the book that the child can complete and make into flashcards, and a complete the sentence activity too.

Download the -ake family word book here insha'Allaah

** Sis Umm Suhailah, did you still need the books in colour? If so, here is this book in colour only insha'Allaah.

Allaah Gave Me A Healthy Body (Book 17)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Alhamdulillaah, here is book #17, 'Allaah Gave Me A Healthy Body', to compliment the Preschool Islamic Studies Curriculum used by sis Umm Maimoonah. 

In this mini-book children learn about the healthy body that Allaah has blessed them with. They have a bit of math review for the numbers 1-10, they have a chance to review healthy eating, they learn two more of Allaah's Beautiful Names and more!

Download 'Allaah Gave Me A Healthy Body' here insha'Allaah

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Things and People in My Neighbourhood (Book 20)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Alhamdulillaah here is book 20, Things and People in My Neighbourhood that compliments the Pre-School Islamic Studies curriculum used by sis Umm Maimoonah.

In 'Things and People in My Neighbourhood' children learn about people who live in their neighbourhoods and communities and the jobs they perform. They also learn about the rights of the neighbours in Islaam. They learn two more of Allaah's Names and have fun making new words insha'Allaah. 

Download 'Things and People in My Neighbourhood' here insha'Allaah

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

-ar Family Word Book for Beginning Readers

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

This is the beginning reader that teaches the -ar word family.

Like the other books, the sentences are short and repetitive, with pictures accompanying them, to help children read independently with comprehension insha'Allaah. There are cards in the back of the book that the child can complete and make into flashcards, and a complete the sentence activity too. 

Download the -ar Word Family Book here insha'Allaah

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

-an Family Word Book for Beginning Readers

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

This is the beginning reader that teaches the -an word family.

Within, children will find repetitive sentences with matching pictures that help them read easily and independently insha'Allaah. There is also handwriting practice, shadow-picture matching, and more.

Download -an Word Family Book here insha'Allaah

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

-at Family Word Book for Beginning Readers

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

For the sister who requested a beginning reader that teaches the -at word family, here is a little book that, insha'Allaah, will help in your journey. If you like, I can make a book for each of the word families insha'Allaah. Please just let me know and for the sake of Allaah I will be happy to do so. 

Download "My Little Book of -at Words" here insha'Allaah

The language is repetitive (i.e. the sentences) to help the child be able to eventually read the book independently insha'Allaah. Also dear sis, I included some tracing practice for each of the words, a word-picture matching activity and a rebus story as well. Please let me know if this little book is what you had in mind.

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Allaah Gave Me A Family (Book 16)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Alhamdulillaah, here is book #16, "Allaah Gave Me A Family", for the Preschool Islamic Studies Curriculum used by sis Umm Maimoonah.This book will (eventually) most likely have two different book covers too. Insha'Allaah, I will add the second (different) book cover soon (the interiors will be the same).

Download, "Allaah Gave Me A Family" here insha'Allaah

Alhamdulillaah, here is the same book with a different cover (Barak Allaahu feki ya ukhti Mabsoota!)

Download "Allaah Gave Me A Family" (Same interior, different cover) here insha'Allaah

In this book, , "Allaah Gave Me A Family", children have the chance to learn about the people who make up a family. They learn that the family is a blessing from Allaah and they learn two more of His Beautiful Names. Children also get a chance to show how they fit into their family and how they are unique. They also have a chance to learn how to keep the ties of kinship with family members who may reside in a different country. There is word work, letter writing practice and more!

Enjoy insha'Allaah! 

Check Back! Book 20, "Things and People in My Neighbourhood" Coming Soon insha'Allaah!