Montessori homeschooler Kiran shares with us the importance of Ramadan and show how she incorporates it into her homeschool.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims around the world fast from dawn until sunset. It is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and increased devotion to worship. It was in this month in which the Quran, the holy book of Islam, was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid al-Fitr, a festival that celebrates the end of fasting. Muslims typically gather for special prayers, feasts, and social gatherings to mark the occasion.
I incorporated the Ramadan printables from Trillium Montessori to introduce Ramadan-related vocabulary. It’s important to me that my daughter learns the language of the Quran, so I intentionally include Arabic in our lessons.
Ramadan banner printable is from Lamia Tatari.
Phases of the Moon
The moon holds significant symbolic and practical importance in Ramadan, particularly in determining the start and end of the fasting month. The Islamic calendar is lunar, so months are determined by the sighting of the new moon. Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon, marking the start of the fasting month. Fasting in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and the moon plays an important role.
Furthermore, the end of Ramadan is marked by the sighting of the new moon, which signals the start of Eid al-Fitr, a festival that celebrates the end of fasting and is determined by the lunar calendar.
To help her learn the phases of the moon, we completed an Oreo activity that visually showed the different phases. I always incorporate Arabic to expose her to the language, so we used our Arabic cards to spell out moon in Arabic. Additionally, she completed an art activity where she traced a circle, painted it white, and then stamped it with tinfoil to add texture, giving it the appearance of the moon.
Ramadan - 9th Month
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered the holiest month for Muslims.
For this activity, I centered on Arabic numbers and introduced the number nine in Arabic. We read books, completed an Arabic number worksheet, and she practiced writing numbers in Arabic while solving some simple addition problems.
Masjid
A masjid is an Islamic place of worship, also known as a mosque, where Muslims gather for prayers, community events, and religious activities.
For this activity, we used materials from Trillium Montessori, including 3-part cards, to introduce vocabulary. We read a captivating book, explored the cards featuring beautiful masjids from around the world, and spelled out the word “masjid” in Arabic using the Arabic moveable alphabet.
This printable Ramadan Mini Unit from Trillium Montessori is available for the members of our Hands-on Kids Activities Club for Primary (3-6 year olds). The members can find it in April Seasonal section.
During Ramadan, the role of the masjid becomes even more significant. It serves as a central hub for Muslims to gather for the special nightly prayers called Taraweeh, which are held after the evening prayer (Isha). The masjid also hosts community Iftar meals to break the fast at sunset, providing a sense of togetherness and communal worship during this holy month.
This engaging activity allowed us to explore the diverse beauty of masjids around the world. We delved into their history, marveled at their architecture and design, and used tangrams to create representations of these magnificent structures.
The FREE masjid pattern block template is from the Muslim Learning Garden.
Laylatul Qadr
Laylatul Qadr, often translated as the Night of Decree or the Night of Power, is a significant night in the Islamic faith. It is believed to occur during the last ten nights of Ramadan, with the exact date most likely falling on one of the odd-numbered nights, such as the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or 29th night.
Laylatul Qadr is considered the holiest night of the year, as it is the night when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH by Allah. Muslims around the world spend the night in prayer, recitation of the Quran, and reflection, seeking to maximize the blessings of this special night. It is a time of intense devotion and spiritual reflection, as the rewards for worship on Laylatul Qadr are multiplied thousand times over.
To emphasize the significance of this month, I included several activities. We used the golden beads thousand cube to illustrate the profound rewards of this night, practiced writing in Arabic using the sand tray, read the dua (supplication) for forgiveness, completed coloring and Arabic worksheets, and read a beautiful book explaining the significance of this powerful night.
Arabic is a central part of our household. Whether she’s reciting Quranic verses or reading from the Quran, she is consistently immersed in the language. To strengthen her connection, I incorporate the Arabic moveable alphabet in our classroom. After she learns a new Surah, we select key words for her to write using the moveable alphabet, followed by discussing their meanings.
The metal insets are well-known for their numerous benefits in a child’s development. They enhance fine motor skills, pre-writing skills, shape recognition, preparation for letters, concentration, focus, and more.
I utilized the designs created by Mindful Montessori Me to introduce several key components associated with Ramadan. This cultural extension work allows her to engage independently, learning about the importance of Ramadan while enjoying the activity.
You can find more Montessori activities ideas with printables for Ramadan at Trillium Montessori Blog.
Meet Kiran, a dedicated homeschooler residing in Florida. She homeschools her seven-year-old daughter and has three older boys who are currently in college.
Originally from Pakistan, Kiran moved to the United States when she was a young child. She pursued her studies and majored in psychology with a minor in biology.
Kiran follows the Montessori philosophy and integrates it with her Islamic views. Today she’ll be sharing about the Muslim holy month, Ramadan, and how she incorporates it into her homeschool.
Very well explained thank you for sharing this wonderful ramadan activity Katherine
May god reward you