Snow Day Art Activity

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

This is a snow day art activity that was inspired by an activity I saw last winter ( I do not remember where I saw it to link back) but I didn't consider using it because it required using white-out to make the snow. But as winter is here in this part of the world alhamdulillaah, I was trying to think of suitable art activities to do and this idea came back to my mind (and a way to modify it came with it).

I made the activity for toddlers to use shapes to design a snow day scene (in the one I saw, the children coloured their scenes onto the page and the scene therefore could not change). I wanted the children to be able to use shape cut outs to redesign their backgrounds as often as they'd like insha'Allaah (this is also a fun activity for children learning their shapes). For the snow, instead of white-out, you can use non-toxic white paint! The fun is that other than being able to change their background scene, children can make it a clear winter day by peeling/lifting up the film or make it a snow day by simply lowering the film back down.

This is a fun, quick, snow day art activity that uses photo album pages, white paint, construction paper cut outs and imagination:

 Snow Day!

To make this, children simply paint white dots onto the film that covers the photo album page. While the paint is drying, give children different colour construction paper and invite them to cut out shapes to use to design their background scene insha'Allaah. 

Once they've cut out their shapes, they can design (and redesign) background scenes.

Once they are done, they lower the plastic film down and they have their snow day!

Note: The film that covers the photo album page is plastic. Please closely supervise young toddlers to ensure the film does not become a choking hazard.

And I forgot! *smile* If you do this and would like to share with us please do by using the linky tools below. We'd love to see your little ones art work. If you want to show a picture of this activity that your child has done, use the first linky tool. If you do this actitivty and want to link to that post only on your blog or website, use the second linky tool insha'Allaah. Please only link directly to the post showing this activity to make it easy for us to find your child's Snow Day art work. Jazakum Allaahu khayran!

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Monday Morning Math: Make your own pizza manipulative!

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Math is fun alhamdulillah. Especially when your week starts off with art and pizza! Well, the pizza is not real but still, making it can be lots of fun alhamdulillaah. This is an idea that I got over the weekend at a strange time (there was nothing related to pizza going on!)....lol...but it seemed like it would be so much fun so...I tried it.

This activity is for Kindergarten students (and can be used in grade 1 was well insha'Allaah. It can also be used with preschool students to teach sharing). It helps introduce fractions to students in a fun way. The art part of this activity is a two day project (or for homeschoolers it can be a one day project insha'Allaah). When the art part is done, students use their pizzas to solve the problems in their mini-math workbooks.

First: Students make their pizzas:

To do this you will need:

- Two paper plates per child/student
- Brown, Red, Green and Yellow non-toxic paint
- Markers (optional)
- Real empty, clean pizza box (optional)
- Imagination!

The first step: Students take one of the paper plates and paint it light brown (or any brown you have).

After the brown paint has dried, paint on a layer of red paint. Remind students not to paint the rim of the plate. That is the crust of their pizza. After the red (pizza/tomato sauce) has dried, students paint on a layer of yellow for the cheese. Again, remind students to leave a little of the red showing all the way around insha'Allaah.

Next: Students can use a pencil and very lightly draw in their toppings. If they draw them too darkly, the paint or marker that they use next will not cover the pencil outlines of their toppings.

If using paint, students then paint in their topping outlines with the appropriate colours. If using marker, students colour in their toppings.

 Now, the students use a ruler to draw lines across their pizzas to make the slices

Next, they cut out each slice, using the lines as a guide.

I've set up a way to store these pieces so they don't end up in places I would prefer not to see them *smile*. Using the second paper plate, affix Velcro circles to the backs of each slice of pizza and to the plate (in the appropriate spots). When students are done, they put the pizza back together on the second paper plate and if you've got an empty pizza box from your local pizzeria, they can put it in the box and place it on a shelf insha'Allaah.

This should make it easy to keep your pizza all in one place insha'Allaah

Now, insha'Allaah, students are ready to answer the questions in thier workbooks using this fun to make manipulative!

Download Brother Ahmad's Pizzeria math workbook here insha'Allaah

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Preschool Lesson Plan for Over in the Meadow

Assalamu alaikum,

I've mentioned the book Over in the Meadow before. I decided to do a lesson plan using this book as it has many teachable concepts throughout alhamdulillah. This lesson plan also proved to be a springboard to a lesson plan on the Prophet Sulaiman alhamdulillah (I'll hopefully be posting that soon on The Well Read Muslim insha'Allah). The lesson plan below includes ayat from the Quran, ahadith, Islamic Studies, Math, and colouring activities for the book Over in the Meadow.

Click here to download Over in the Meadow Lesson Plan insha'Allah

Here are some of the activities that accompany this lesson plan:

For Literacy:

This activity is called, 'Colour Seen ( س ) Green' . Children make this paper and foam turtle and colour the letter س green (all of them).  They are then invited to colour the the remaining parts of the turtle shell any other colour after their work has been checked for comprehension insha'Allah.

To make the turtle, give children the template of the shell to cut out insha'Allah (in the file to download below). After they have cut the shell out, invite them to glue it onto a piece of cardboard and then cut the shell out again insha'Allah. Give each child a foam head and four foam feet for the turtle and assist them in gluing them in the right position on the turtle insha'Allah.

Draw a head and four feet on a piece of green foam and cut them out. Then turn the turtle over and help the child glue the body parts in the proper place insha'Allah.

The next activity is:

A letter س (Seen) windsock/kite

Each child is given a س construction paper cut out and they are invited to glue/tape crepe paper to the end and paint them. Afterward, children are invited to take them outside and watch the wind rush through them insha'Allah.

Next play:

Seen Charades

All of the cards are put into a paper bag. Children take turns taking one card out of the bag without looking insha'Allah. The child then describes the picture on the card without saying what the picture is (i.e. on my card I have something that is white, and comes in a bag, you buy it from the store, etc.). Others take turns guessing what the child is describing and the person who guesses correctly gets to go next insha'Allah.

With this age group, it is a good idea if you introduce these new words (and pictures) prior to playing this game so that children are familiar with each new picture/word insha'Allah. In your lesson show children how they might describe each picture. Allow children to practice prior to playing the game and encourage them to come up with new ways to accurately describe each picture insha'Allah.

For the activities above you will need the following materials:

- large letter seen made from construction paper or cardboard

- crepe paper or other lightweight paper

- non-toxic paint or markers

- green foam

- a sponge (for applying the paint)

- construction paper

- glue

- scissors

- green crayons

- clean brown paper bag

and if you'd like to use them insha'Allah, here are the files for the activities:

Relevant Ahadith

Over in the Meadow Felt Story Pieces

Over in the Meadow Literacy & Math Activities

Letter Seen Charades Cards

Transliteration For Arabic Words

The Lesson Plan for Over in the Meadow

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Preschool Lesson Plan for the Story of Hud

Assalamu alaikum,

I've been working on a lesson plan for pre-school that incorporates Islam across the curriculum. I've posted it on my other blog, The Well Read Muslim. I didn't want to double post due to time constraints but please stop by 'The Well Read Muslim' to read the details of the lesson plan and download all files related to it insha'Allah.

I used the story of the Prophet Hud (alayhi salam) to design the lesson plan.

Here is a sample of some of the activities that are included in the lesson. There is a puzzle that has Prophet Hud's name. The cards are mixed up and the child is invited to put the Arabic letters in the correct order to spell Prophet Hud's name insha'Allah. The back of the puzzle shows a picture of a caravan (because caravan's are mentioned in the story) when it is correctly put together insha'Allah. There are also pattern cards using sand dunes and camels that have the Arabic numbers on them. We lined them up to make a caravan. There are other simple activities for preschool ages children included as well (not pictured).

Included in the lesson plan, there is Quran memorization, literacy ideas, and storytime book recommendations as well. There are also some art idea suggestions too (in the post not the lesson plan). I think I will go back and add to that section later (time permitting insha'Allah) but please feel free to leave a comment with any suggestions you may have insha'Allah.

I decided to make the lesson plan general to allow for flexibility. So for example, I suggested teaching a certain part of the story of Hud (tawbah for example) but I did not give an activity idea. I thought this would allow the parent to feel free to decided how she/he wants to teach this part of the lesson insha'Allah without feeling restricted by my suggestion.

Again, please stop by The Well Read Muslim if you'd like to read the lesson plan insha'Allah. I'd also like it very much if you can contribute your ideas of how you might bring this story to life in your home/homeschool setting insha'Allah.

You'll Almost Always End Up With A Masjid Insha'Allah

Assalamu alaikum,

Most kids love to paint alhamdulillah. This love of painting (and all things messy) can really work in teachers and parents favour alhamdulillah (especially on those days when outside play is not an option). This little activity is called "It will always be a masjid insha'Allah" because the template used ensures that no matter where the children paint on the page, in most cases, the end product will be a masjid insha'Allah.

Materials you will need insha'Allah:

- Masjid template(s)

- Non-toxic paint

- Paint brush(es)

- Newspaper or large garbage bags

(to cover the area where the painting will take place insha'Allah)

- White construction paper or computer paper

- Water in a bowl or other container

How You and Children Do the Activity insha'Allah:

1). Print the masjid template of your choice (or make your own) on cardstock. If you want to use it over again, or you will use it in your classroom, laminate it insha'Allah. This way, you can wash the paint off of the template and reuse it insha'Allah. You can use baby wipes to remove the paint as well insha'Allah.

2). Cut out the inside of the template only.

3). After you have set up the paint area, lightly tape the template onto a piece of paper. Tape it strong enough so that when the child is painting the template will not move about but not so strongly that when you remove the template you tear the paper.

4). Invite the child to paint the template insha'Allah.

5). Remove the template and allow the painting to dry completely insha'Allah.

6). All done! Clean up time insha'Allah.

If you laminate your template, you'll have pieces left from cutting out the template that can be used as:

A Puzzle insha'Allah!

Here is the file if you'd like to try this with your child(ren) insha'Allah. There are three different masaajid templates in the file.

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Yarn Snowman

Assalamu alaikum,

This little winter craft is great fine motor skill work for children three to six years old insha'Allah. The 'snowballs' are easy to make and take about 3-5 minutes per ball (for an adult) insha'Allah. You can find the tutorial in this post insha'Allah. For the little hat, I stumbled upon a blog (*Note: the blog has unislamic content.*) in December that had a tutorial about it and when I went back to try to find it...I couldn't. I think if you Google tiny yarn hat and I think the woman's name was Adrian, you may find it insha'Allah. Try those words in Google and maybe you'll be more successful in finding the blog than I was insha'Allah.

Completed Yarn Snowman

The Stages of a Yarn Snowman

and finally....

A completed yarn snowman alhamdulillah!

How to make a yarn snowman insha'Allah:

1). Invite your child(ren) to make the yarn apples shown in this post but use white yarn and white pipe cleaners instead. Make a large, medium and small snowball/apple. Do not put stems or leaves on the apples and cut the white pipe cleaners off very close to the snowball. Push the exposed wire into the yarn with the handles of a pair of scissors insha'Allah.

2). With a hot glue gun (an adult must do this part), glue each of the snowballs on top of each other insha'Allah.

3). Make a little hat for your snowman. If you can't find the tutorial for the hat pictured here (I'll try again to find it insha'Allah), you can improvise and the children can make hats from cardboard or cereal boxes insha'Allah.

4). For the arms, use pipe cleaners. Twist the pipe cleaner around a few pieces of the yarn where the snowman's arms should be. Make sure you push any exposed wire into the yarn completely with the handle of a pair of scissors insha'Allah. Use smaller pieces of pipe cleaners, in the same colour as the arms, to make fingers insha'Allah. To do this, fold the pipe cleaner in half and twist it around the lower part of the snowman's arm inshaAllah.

5). For the snowman's buttons I used black felt and cut 2 little circles out. Again, use a hot glue gun (an adult does this part also insha'Allah) to glue the buttons onto your snowman inshaAllah.

Your Yarn Snowman is done alhamdulillah!

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Make your own Islamic Sewing Cards

Assalamu alaikum,

You know those nifty Sewing Cards that we use so often to help children refine/practice their fine motor skills? Well, why not make your own Islamic Sewing Cards? After a long absence, I've taken a few moments to post this wonderful summer craft idea that is great for road trips or just giving the kids some quiet time. And why restrict them to summer? Use them all year round insha'Allah!

Sewing cards give children time to focus on an activity that is repetitive and calming. The repetition gives them practice at mastering a skill and they will need to settle themselves (internally) and focus because of the fine motor skills required. Sewing cards are also used with children who express an interest in learning how to sew. No matter what you use the cards for, an extension to an Islamic activity you've just taught, a road trip activity or just a quiet time activity, your child will benefit in several ways insha'Allah. Among the benefits are: the use of sewing cards helps children work on their fine motor and finger skills - both of which are important for later use in writing and drawing insha'Allah. And more importantly, seeing their religion represented in everyday activities reinforces the universality of Islam and fosters their sense of belonging insha'Allah.

What I've done is give you some shapes/pictures to get you started in making your own Islamic Sewing Cards insha'Allah. Download the shapes/pictures here insha'Allah and the directions are below insha'Allah.

What you'll need insha'Allah:

• Cardboard or Card Stock
• Islamic Pictures/Images (download here insha'Allah)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Yarn
• Blunt needle or tape
• Hole-punch

How to make Islamic Sewing Cards:

1. Find some cardboard or card stock that is durable and the size you will need for the shape/picture insha'Allah.
2. Cut out the picture/shape that you would like to use insha'Allah
3. Glue the shape/picture onto the card board and cut the cardboard or card stock around the image.
4. Use a hole-punch/paper-punch to make evenly spaced holes around the edge of the shape/picture. Make sure the spaces are far enough apart to allow your child's hands to manipulate the needle through the holes insha'Allah.
5. Cut a piece of yarn so it will be long enough to be stitched around the edge of the entire shape/picture insha'Allah.
6. Thread the piece of yarn through a blunt needle (or you can tape the end of the yarn that the child will put through the holes insha'Allah).

Show your child how to do the activity and once they engage in it, move away and allow them to focus and enjoy insha'Allah!