In the Kitchen Posts Updated (Files Added Alhamdulillah)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Alhamdulillah, I've added the files for the "In the Kitchen" file folder game and the Tot Book (Arabic only).

Insha'Allah, I'll add the English version for the tot book later today.

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Felt Food: Hmm...this could be fun

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Well, this could really be a fun hobby subhana'Allah. Last night I found several sites with free felt food patterns and even though I didn't use the patterns (only because I haven't any idea about how to even begin to use a pattern...lol), these were easy enough to do free hand alhamdulillah.

On the plate: Another egg, two orange slices and two sugar cookies

Insha'Allah, I think I will now try that piece of bread that sis Talibideen Jr. suggested...hehe....

Felt Food: First Egg

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

I think I could really enjoy our "In the Kitchen" theme! There is so much you can do with this subhana'Allah!

To go with our tot book and other activities, I decided to give felt food a try (making it that is...lol). Are you ready?

Tayyib, into the skillet with you little egg....

This was so easy to make and so much fun alhamdulillah! Now, what else can I make insha'Allah? I'll have to find something easy because this was my first felt food attempt so I don't want to get ahead of myself....

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Tot Book: In the Kitchen

Assalamu alaikum,

Here is the tot book for things we find and do in the kitchen:

This is the front with the cards for the book

The middle and left page/flap

The left flap: A refrigerator. The door opens and inside...

A little accordion book unfolds to show things that are found in the fridge.

The middle page activities: "What is in the cabinet" and "What is in the oven?"

There are word cards and matching picture cards. I put the picture in the cabinet first and then I closed the cabinet door. I placed the word card in the box and pointed to (i.e. ran my finger under the word from right to left) the word as I read it.

I then invited the child to open the cabinet to see the picture that matched the word. This was to begin a foundation for reading words insha'Allah.

The oven door opens and I hide a card showing a type of food that is cooked in the oven (no words). The child is invited to open the oven door and we say the name of the picture we find inside. Hmm..we can also talk about why these foods were not in the cabinet...

These cards are in the right hand flap in a pocket. They show things we do in the kitchen with simple sentences describing the actions shown on the cards.

Here is the poster that accompanies the tot book and the file folder game for this unit study.

This poster hangs next to the play stove and shows some of the items that are in the play kitchen/stove (the items are all real, child sized items - not toys).

A close-up of part of the poster

I did not post any of the files for this tot book or the file folder game because I do not know if I will have time to type the transliteration (my apologies).  I guess this is more of a sharing an idea kind of post (maybe not..lol)...

Alhamdulillah, here is the Arabic version (English coming soon insha'Allah *smile*) of the tot book:

Download Fil Matbagh Tot Book (Arabic)

Enjoy insha'Allah!

File Folder Game: In the Kitchen

Assalamu alaikum,

Toddlers have this interest in housework that is focused, intent and adorable masha'Allah. A bit after Eid, I noticed this interest becoming very strong and so I made a stove using a large sturdy cardboard box (I'm not showing that so you won't laugh too hard...lol) to compliment this interest.

There is a principle in Montessori education called "Follow the child". I like this because the way the child takes to the activities you present is a joy to see. Because the activity presented is flowing off of a child-initiated interest, there is little need to try to entice the child to the activity - they come to it willingly and with joy subhana'Allah.

To compliment and extend this suddenly strong interest in housework, I put together a tot book, file folder game and poster to be used with the stove and other practical life materials we use alhamdulillah.

Here is the file folder game:

This game incorporates language (the sentences), counting and recognizing the symbols that represent quantity.

Insha'Allah, I'll post the tot book later today and the remaining activities. Check back....

Alhamdulillah, here is the file for this game:

Download 'In the Kitchen' File Folder Game

(in the PDF file, the cups - if I remember correctly - appear to have lines around them but do not worry those lines do not appear when you print the file alhamdulillah)

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Sunny Days, Slow Week

Assalamu aliakum,

The sunny weather has me antsy and I've been a bit relaxed and keen to get outdoors. So a trip to the library was first on my list:

I only put 3-4 books on the shelf at a time. This way children have time to focus on the books and not be overwhelmed by the sheer number of books presented to them. Doing this, I find the books get read again and again and children have the opportunity to really enjoy the books alhamdulillah. From this stack, there are sure to be a few 'Recommended Books' posts coming soon insha'Allah.

Indoors, we've been blessed to witness the spouting of 4 of our plants alhamdulillah:

We then had some lunch time learning as well. In Montessori education, the teacher usually eats with her/his students at the same table. In this setting children have an opportunity to learn and practice courtesy, grace, manners and, as I learned, other practical life skills too! The activity below was borne of a lunch time experience late last week. As I sat eating my own lunch I noticed a small spoon make its way over to my bowl and in a very natural and nonchalant manner, take some of my food and transfer it to the plate of my toddler neighbour. "Well", I thought, "this can only mean one thing: this child may benefit and enjoy a transferring activity insha'Allah".  So I sat out an activity to help practice transferring and mentioned nothing of my missing piece of food (smile).

A regular sized teaspoon was initially put out with the activity but I quickly realized my mistake and replaced that adult teaspoon with a toddler spoon.

The toddler was successful having been given a spoon they could handle with ease alhamdulillah.

I've also been noticing that the salat (prayer) is quickly becoming a favourite here alhamdulillah. Of course, I want to encourage this so I provided a mini prayer rug and we read the book, "My Blue Prayer Rug". You can imagine how much the miniature prayer rug was enjoyed (smile).

My Blue Prayer Rug is a simple book I put together for my Kindergarten classroom but it's a hit here too masha'Allah. I did one for the colour green as well. The clip art is the same for each book as the main focus is repetitive text with many sight words and helping students learn the colour words. I have a bound copy for classroom use but you can download the books below insha'Allah.

My Blue Prayer Rug

My Green Prayer Rug

If the weather remains sunny, I think it will be increasingly difficult for me to focus on crafts and not want to just go for a walk insha'Allah...hehe.

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Sharing Beautiful Things

Assalamu aliakum,

Often I have spoken of how infants and toddlers appreciate beautifully crafted materials. Well, I'd like to once again show you some beautifully hand-crafted materials for infants and toddlers. These (and many more) wonderful materials were made by sister Eva from Handmade Beginnings masha'Allah:

Wooden Memory Numbers Game (Beautiful Yes?)

 I can set the table placemat

You can find (and buy) these beautiful materials from her Etsy story here. I think you can guess who is planning a shopping adventure in the near future insha'Allah yes? Jazakillahu khayr dear sister Eva for allowing me to feature your gorgeous work here on 'A Muslim Child is Born'.

Enjoy insha'Allah!