5/10/2014

Meditation Jar (Indirect prep for long-term meditation or Prayer)



  Supplies:
 1 Mason Jar
 Glitter Glue and dry glitter
Left over colored sand
Food coloring (optional)
Hot Water




Mix Sand and glitter. Add Hot water and glitter glue. Mix thoroughly. Let the mixture cool before using. Duh.

 

1.  This is our mind at rest when we make silence or pray.


2. Shake the Jar so the contents begin swirling around. Explain to your child that each sparkly and sandy grain inside is 'a thought.' All day long all of these thoughts are running through our mind, and sometimes all this activity can make us feel restless and not - peaceful.  We may begin to feel cranky and tired. How can we calm ourselves?



3.  Next put the jar down and allow the contents to settle. Observe the glitter and sand settle in silence. Explain how prayer helps us to calm our thoughts and settle our minds.  



4.  Watch your thoughts settle in silence. Make silence 5 times a day. If your child is not ready to pray but ready for a challenge, then, while praying, have them sit next to you with their meditation jars and practice saying small phrases (Subhaan-Allah, Alhumdulilah, La ila ha...) (If not Muslim then use a phrase from your own religion, etc.) (if not religious then use your personal affirmation).



Happy Meditating!

Homemade Thermometer

N made this thermometer when she was 4. The water level in the straw rises when the water is heated, it lowers when the water is cooled.






                               COLD                                                       HOT

Making concepts/texts come alive

Last Hajj season we were gifted Zam Zam water and Medinan dates from some of our friends. Instead of simply sharing the gifts with the kids, we first read books on Hajj and the significance of Eid Ul Adha.  We then discussed how cool it would be to visit this place someday.

We also wondered collectively if the spring called Zam Zam still exists today?

What ?!?!
We have a sample?
No. We can't be that cool!

Bam! Stop. Zam Zam time!

5/09/2014

Mathod Play - May

 

Method Play – May




Which Prophet can talk to animals? Learn 5 details about his life.


How many ‘astagfirullas’ can you say in 3 minutes?

Memorize 5 names of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala.

Clean your block. With a parent go around you block and pick up all the trash.

Count the windows,
Door-knobs, and rooms in your home. Display your results in a chart.


Sort your trash. Take all the plastic bottles to the recycling depot.



Play the silence game: Try listening to three different birds and three different cars. Stay silent until you spot all six.




Why do you think birds have different beaks?
Explain your ideas to someone in your family.


List as many things as you can that a tree does for you.

Will an egg float or sink in water? Find out.
Then add salt one teaspoon at a time. What happens?

Go on a treasure hunt. Collect 10 objects. Play outside for at least 1 hour with your family!

Retell the story of Ibrahim (as) to someone in your family. Include the beginning, middle, and end. Use Stuffed toys as props.