Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatUllah
This was the fourth game planned for "Harvesting Month Game Day." We actually didn't play it with the kids yet (we are saving it until next week) -- so no one disclose this top secret information with the kids yet!
We wanted to develop a game to encourage the children to think out of the box to solve a real life problem, similar to how the Prophet Yusuf (as) had to solve the problem of the forth coming famine after he interpreted the king's dream.
Through discussion and scaffolding, we hoped to encourage the children to realize a number of things:
- characteristics of good leadership
- hadith that states how leaders will be asked about those under their guardianship
-importance of implementing justice based on the shariah when judging between people
-importance of be compassionate
- not all problems have only one right answer
- great leaders are people who consider all the options and find the best answers, which benefit everyone involved
- leaders should not be arrogant. rather, they should seek help when someone else may know more than they do.
All of these lessons are present in the story related in the Qur'an about a situation that the Prophet Dawud (As) was faced with during his kingship.
The discussion prompts are posted below in the first comment.
jazakAllah khayr
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Zakah on Crops Math Problems
assalamu alaykum wa rahmatUllah
This was our second club day this month and we planned an all day game day - with games related atleast somewhat to this month's theme: "Harvesting."
One game was questions related to the Story of Yusuf (as). The kids, who were asked to study the story at home, were divided into teams and competed against each other to answers questions about the story correctly. Hopefully the sister who prepared this game will be able to post those questions to the blog soon insha'Allah.
The second game was Arabic Fruits and Veggies Bingo. The kids really had fun with this one!
The third game that was planned (but we actually decided to save it until next time because the kids were a little too tired to focus...) was a problem solving game. Details will be posted in the following blog insha'Allah.
The fourth game, which is posted here, was a number of math problems related to zakah on crops. Zakah on crops is due at the time of harvest. To solve the problems, the children needed to learn some of the basic rulings of paying zakah on crops. They also needed to:
- learn about the concept of percentages and how to calculate percentages
- use skip counting by tens and fives
- demonstrate knowledge about "greater than" and "less than" to determine whether a farmer owes zakah
- use addition to determine the total weight of each farmer's harvest.
There are two different sets of problems for children at different levels.
I still have a problem cutting and pasting into the blog, so the actual document is pasted below in the first comment. Hope that many of us can benefit insha'Allah
This was our second club day this month and we planned an all day game day - with games related atleast somewhat to this month's theme: "Harvesting."
One game was questions related to the Story of Yusuf (as). The kids, who were asked to study the story at home, were divided into teams and competed against each other to answers questions about the story correctly. Hopefully the sister who prepared this game will be able to post those questions to the blog soon insha'Allah.
The second game was Arabic Fruits and Veggies Bingo. The kids really had fun with this one!
The third game that was planned (but we actually decided to save it until next time because the kids were a little too tired to focus...) was a problem solving game. Details will be posted in the following blog insha'Allah.
The fourth game, which is posted here, was a number of math problems related to zakah on crops. Zakah on crops is due at the time of harvest. To solve the problems, the children needed to learn some of the basic rulings of paying zakah on crops. They also needed to:
- learn about the concept of percentages and how to calculate percentages
- use skip counting by tens and fives
- demonstrate knowledge about "greater than" and "less than" to determine whether a farmer owes zakah
- use addition to determine the total weight of each farmer's harvest.
There are two different sets of problems for children at different levels.
I still have a problem cutting and pasting into the blog, so the actual document is pasted below in the first comment. Hope that many of us can benefit insha'Allah
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
BismiAllah Placemats
Today we made placemats to help the children remember to always begin eating in the Name of Allah, and remember to thank Allah Most High for the food and drink He provides for us, insha'Allah.
Below is a link that will give you instructions on how to make a woven placemat out of construction paper.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/kwanza/placemat/
Obviously, the children can select any colors they like instead of the ones mentioned on the link.
We printed "Bismillah" in Arabic and "Alhamdulillah" on card stock and let the kids glue these words on their placemats once they have finished the woven pattern.
You can also add reminders about proper manners for eating on the mat.
Its best to have the mats laminated if you actually plan on using them...
Below is a link that will give you instructions on how to make a woven placemat out of construction paper.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/kwanza/placemat/
Obviously, the children can select any colors they like instead of the ones mentioned on the link.
We printed "Bismillah" in Arabic and "Alhamdulillah" on card stock and let the kids glue these words on their placemats once they have finished the woven pattern.
You can also add reminders about proper manners for eating on the mat.
Its best to have the mats laminated if you actually plan on using them...
ANGEL SCAVENGER HUNT
Assalamu alaykum. Great club day today! I am going to try to start posting the weekly activities that I prepare to the blog so that we can refer back to them, in case anyone wants to re-do or reinforce. Hopefully it will also be a benefit to other homeschools who check our blog. A lot of us put a lot of work into our activities, so insha'Allah we can increase our reward by sharing it with others.
Below are clues created for an ANGEL SCAVENGER HUNT. These clues will have to be modified when used in any other setting, because they were made to fit a particular house and a particular group of kids. But most of them will work...
We used a special perfume that all the kids got to smell and put on at the end of the scavenger hunt as a "prize."
I think its best to present the activity as a cooperative effort instead of a competition. The kids work together to find the clues and share the prize at the end.
Questions and answers were adopted from the information presented in the book: "The World of the Noble Angels" by Omar Ashqar
Below are clues created for an ANGEL SCAVENGER HUNT. These clues will have to be modified when used in any other setting, because they were made to fit a particular house and a particular group of kids. But most of them will work...
We used a special perfume that all the kids got to smell and put on at the end of the scavenger hunt as a "prize."
I think its best to present the activity as a cooperative effort instead of a competition. The kids work together to find the clues and share the prize at the end.
Questions and answers were adopted from the information presented in the book: "The World of the Noble Angels" by Omar Ashqar
Monday, October 5, 2009
"Homeschooling and Loving It" Book Review
assalamu alaykum sisters
A sister in our group recently gave out several copies of "Homeschooling and Loving It," written by Rebecca Kochenderfer. I was able to read it this past week, and I encourage other sisters to take a look at it when they get a chance.
Copies are still available at homeschool.com - I believe they are free but you need to pay for shipping.
Since most of us are homeschooling elementary-aged children, not all of the chapters and activities will apply because some of it is definitely targeted at parents homeschooling highschool aged children. I might plan on revisting them several years done the road...
The goal of each chapter is to help the homeschooling parent formulate and achieve goals that will make homeschooling more efficeint, effective and enjoyable. The first chapters actually focus on goal setting in and of itself, both for the long term and the short term. Later chapters discuss things like organization and time management. Each chapter includes suggestions and advice from other homeschoolers, and an activity to help you acheive the goal of that chapter.
I think many of the suggestions and activities are helpful, but only some will work for our unique situations. For example, the author encourages children to set semester long goals in different subjects... I dont think that will work for a five year old.
Of course, as Muslim parents, we formulate our goals and standards based on Qur'an and Sunnah. Alhamdulillah, we already know the major end goals of our homeschooling efforts. So we don't need to brainstorm and day dream about what we want our children to become... Still, I think the activities are helpful because its good to state these goals clearly and be specific. Yes, we want our children to be Mu'mineen... but how do we get there? Do you we our children to memorize the entire Qur'an? Do we want our children to love the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) more than they love themselves? Stating clear goals and making a plan to reach those goals will help us plan the smaller steps to get there insha'Allah.
Lastly, I believe we need to add a big dose of humbleness to this book for it to be an effective tool for us, insha'Allah. All guidance comes from Allah Most High, not from our efforts as homeschooling parents - no matter how hard we try or how much we do. And I don't agree that we should strive to support our kids in whatever desires or passions they may have at that time, and try to blow up their "Self esteem" as high as possible. Of course, its good to follow their interests, and create a passion for learning... but in the end, I want my daughter to have taqwa, to be humble, and to have restraint.
You will probably understand this last comment more as you read the book. I just noticed myself getting attracted to the dunya when I start to think about how I could help my daughter do anything she wants to do... become whatever she wants to become... try whatever she wants to try. And I had to stop myself and realize that while I love the flexibility of homeschooling, that attitude is extreme.
Hope this review helps in some way and has some benefit. Anything good I said was from Allah Most High and anything incorrect or bad was from me. May Allah protect our families, ameen.
A sister in our group recently gave out several copies of "Homeschooling and Loving It," written by Rebecca Kochenderfer. I was able to read it this past week, and I encourage other sisters to take a look at it when they get a chance.
Copies are still available at homeschool.com - I believe they are free but you need to pay for shipping.
Since most of us are homeschooling elementary-aged children, not all of the chapters and activities will apply because some of it is definitely targeted at parents homeschooling highschool aged children. I might plan on revisting them several years done the road...
The goal of each chapter is to help the homeschooling parent formulate and achieve goals that will make homeschooling more efficeint, effective and enjoyable. The first chapters actually focus on goal setting in and of itself, both for the long term and the short term. Later chapters discuss things like organization and time management. Each chapter includes suggestions and advice from other homeschoolers, and an activity to help you acheive the goal of that chapter.
I think many of the suggestions and activities are helpful, but only some will work for our unique situations. For example, the author encourages children to set semester long goals in different subjects... I dont think that will work for a five year old.
Of course, as Muslim parents, we formulate our goals and standards based on Qur'an and Sunnah. Alhamdulillah, we already know the major end goals of our homeschooling efforts. So we don't need to brainstorm and day dream about what we want our children to become... Still, I think the activities are helpful because its good to state these goals clearly and be specific. Yes, we want our children to be Mu'mineen... but how do we get there? Do you we our children to memorize the entire Qur'an? Do we want our children to love the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) more than they love themselves? Stating clear goals and making a plan to reach those goals will help us plan the smaller steps to get there insha'Allah.
Lastly, I believe we need to add a big dose of humbleness to this book for it to be an effective tool for us, insha'Allah. All guidance comes from Allah Most High, not from our efforts as homeschooling parents - no matter how hard we try or how much we do. And I don't agree that we should strive to support our kids in whatever desires or passions they may have at that time, and try to blow up their "Self esteem" as high as possible. Of course, its good to follow their interests, and create a passion for learning... but in the end, I want my daughter to have taqwa, to be humble, and to have restraint.
You will probably understand this last comment more as you read the book. I just noticed myself getting attracted to the dunya when I start to think about how I could help my daughter do anything she wants to do... become whatever she wants to become... try whatever she wants to try. And I had to stop myself and realize that while I love the flexibility of homeschooling, that attitude is extreme.
Hope this review helps in some way and has some benefit. Anything good I said was from Allah Most High and anything incorrect or bad was from me. May Allah protect our families, ameen.
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